PAINTED PRISON CHRONICLES

CHAPTER 30

MISADVENTURES OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

BETWEEN THE LINES OF AYU ARC

Hello everyone! Good to be back with another chapter. The writing was slightly slower for me dur to high temperatures, but it's finished. 30th chapter and breaking point of over 600K. I am so happy to be here on my writing journey. I put some research into this story and it's amazing how much it develops my understanding of the world and series itself.

As for the content, this comes with rather unorthodox situation. Originally, this chapter was meant to be all about Ayu. However, due to various circumstances, I decided to slightly shift Ayu into the part of the next chapter, mainly because I needed to talk about some events in the middle of Ayu's arc that are not directly connected with Ayu herself and as it turned out, majority of things that were to be spoken of in third chapter of Ayu arc were already covered in the 2nd one. Mitsuari Ayu III: LIFE is still happening, but it will probably be a part of the chapter rather than the entire chapter in its own right. However, Ayu will still be prominently featured, and will be a key to some great things in the future. This chapter is still very much a promising part of the story, featuring some romantic developments, and key plotpoints, alongside comedy and romance mixed with a good pinch of adventure.

I would like to thank you for your very positive reaction in regards to last chapter. Writing about Mitsuari's emotions was one of the most touching and rewarding experiences throughout this entire story. She is a wonderfully challenging and complex character when it comes to her psychology, and that's what made her slow return to normalcy such a gratifying process.

I think more things will be covered by the chapters end, so that's it up here.

Some Q&A:

Nicko2545: I am glad that there are people who are happy or at least accept the fact that I related Shokuhou with Bologna. This is only meant to be a crack theory, but I found deep joy in writing something that will not be covered in the show.

SuddenBetrayal: Next chapter will possibly have Mikoto too (no definite promises yet). And Kuroko's 'romantic' scenes are always great, because she has such a unique dynamic with Touma, even while making her attracted to him.

BlueJack22: Well, the story will probably slowly (maybe even very slowly) but also very steadily go towards the end. In the future, we will have few lighter events, but also a confrontation with KNT. There are also quite a few plotlines (like Gokusai Yua, Komoe + Rita, and so on) that will be resolved. For now, focus will also be given on girls' gifts for Kamijou.

Commander Lance: Thanks for all those different remarks of moments in last chapter. It's always nice to see that I brought you satisfaction in so many parts of the chapter.

Fullbreaker: I am very thankful for your attention and praise. I do frequent on Reddit occasionally, and I am familiar with Toaru sub, yet I was not aware that my series was spoken of even on Youtube. Such a pleasant surprise! And truth be told, it's my great pleasure to work with underused characters. Bringing out their potential is an amazing experience. It's a challenge to still keep this fanfic mainly about Gokusai sisters, but from what I hear now, the ratio is more or less okay. My research covers psychology and philosophy. Anyone interested in those topics can always find some easter eggs and theories sprinkled in the text.

Mr. X: As far as I am aware, and I can be mistaken of course, Ayu was only aware of Touma's amnesia after meeting Index (the one in which he lost 16 years worth of memories). I don't think there is an evidence that Ayu was aware of the specific amnesia Touma had in regards to Shokuhou.

KHVSFF: Yes, writing Misaki and Ayu was great. Because I thought: 'wow, those feelings and their love stories are simply beautiful'. And I agree, each Mugino moment is a glorious moment.

5had0wHand: No problem, it's very nice to see you again and thank you for your best wishes regarding 30th chapter, I appreciate that.

Without further delay, let's begin!

"Everyone... it's so nice to meet you. I am..." Mitsuari Ayu bowed in front of the people gathered around the table at the restaurant.

"We know who you are. By this point everyone in close contact with Touma knows about you." Kaibi spoke back" He went of her way to make you recognizable among all of us and assured that you will be treated kindly. He really tries for you to be recognized and remembered by everyone now that you reunited with us."

"H-He does?" Ayu blushed, shyly looking away" He doesn't have to..."

"Kouhai took this very seriously from the very beginning" Kumokawa Seria smiled, eating a salad with dainty nibbling" His dedication is commendable. Be careful though, as some might get jealous of it"

"Are you sure you are okay now, senpai?" concerned Ayu asked the older girl, who waved her hand dismissively.

"That doctor knows his stuff. If we weren't in this city, it could be really dangerous, but I have fresh and new pancreas right now. I have to be dieting for some time thanks to it needing to adjust to my body and truly synchronize with my hormonal system, but it's not something really problematic."

"Oh, that's a relief... but that wound looked bad before... it will leave a scar, won't it?"

"It's not as bad looking as it appeared to be. Besides..."

Kumokawa smiled, gazing down at the small, four-armed, star-shaped scar around her navel.

"... don't sell me short. If it's me, I can make anything about my navel look attractive."

"Ghh, I want to have this kind of confidence!"

"It's just practice over time. Got to admit though... " he looked at Shokuhou Misaki in the middle of chatting and laughing with other middle school girls" I can't believe I had such an enormous advantage over that girl. To think that boy could not remember her for this entire time... well, it may be for the better that I did not utilize it. I have no qualms of morality, but that one could leave just a slightly bad taste in my mouth"

The party was going at full throttle. Gokusai sisters, girls from the IDEAL lab, Mitsuari Ayu, Shokuhou Misaki, Kumokawa Seria, Maidono, Hasako, Hanatsuyu twins, Scavengers, Index, Othinus, Itsuwa, as well as quite few members of Shokuhou clique and other special guests were present at the party, that was thrown in celebration of Mitsuari Ayu being cured from her prosopagnosia and Touma regaining the ability to retain memories of Shokuhou Misaki. Some of the guests were knowledgeable of the situation of two telepaths, others were simply there through the invitation of their own friends, mainly Touma or Gokusai sisters, and enjoying the joy of others, primary examples being some of former dark siders or Arisa Meigo.

It was a merry occasion and there was a lot of fun involved, with singing, dancing, and eating to their fullest. Despite coming from different backgrounds within the city, everybody soon focused on having fun and simply enjoying the party in the spirit of celebration. Arisa found herself in conversation with Itsuwa, two gentle-spirited girls soon finding common ground. Itsuki collaborated with Rikuri to create beautiful spectacle out of their chemicals for all to watch. Index ate to her heart's content, with some of the gathered placing bets of how much she could consume in one go. Meanwhile, Kaai and Youen made everyone, especially Tokiwadai ladies who were mostly 3 or 4 years older than them, wide-eyed because of their appearance, with bust size exceeding large majority of their senpai acquaintances.

Misaka Mikoto also found her way to the party, led by Shirai Kuroko, learning of what she missed out and exchanging casual, relaxed talk with Rita and Junko, with whom she shared undying love for Gekota (the former inspired into joining the obsession train by Mikoto herself). She was also happy to see Arisa, the two of them being on good terms even since beyond the start of the series of events related to Endymion.

Kuroko and other girls also introduced Mikoto to some of the people she didn't really interact with before. Although she was weary around Maidono for quite some time (she in fact did met her before and even fought against the girl), the same didn't apply to Hasako, who politely greeted her, expressing warm interest and respect for the Railgun. The same was true for Mikoto, as when Maidono bragged about abilities of embarrassed Beginning Child, Mikoto got really excited in fighting her. Being a well-mannered and honourable lady, Hasako could not say no to her younger comrade of the highest echelone of power, and promised to face her on some occasion, which put the chestnut-haired girl in a particularly good mood.

Of course, Mikoto, similarly to Kumokawa Seria and Mitsuari Ayu, was quite astounded by the revelation of Touma's former inability to remember Shokuhou. Now that she looked back at lots of times the three of them (that is, herself, Shokuhou, and Touma) had shared adventures, a lot of confusing reactions of Touma towards her fellow level 5 made surprising amount of sense. However, again similarly to Ayu and Seria, Mikoto couldn't particularly relish the fact that she had an overwhelming advantage throughout all that time. It would be far too messed up, even in regards to the rivalry she shared with Shokuhou.

So when the girl in question, panting yet grinning like mad, arrived among their midst, Mikoto did not make any gloating remarks. Instead...

"Shokuhou..."

"Hmm?"

"I just... regarding what I heard about the cause of our celebration... you can be a privileged, morally ambiguous, dauntingly annoying pain in the ass..."

"Well, I have the absolute adoration ability for you as well, Misaka-san"

"But... taking into account everything as it was put... I just want to say... I am happy. I know that we have our differences, but in this particular instance... I am glad that you got what you wished for."

Misaki blinked in surprise, looking at Mikoto in bewilderment.

"I... didn't expect that sort of understanding ability out of you, Misaka-san. Thank you. Truly, I am grateful... for not having being all consumed by tomboyish lack of romanticism"

"Aaaaaaand there goes that bit of sentiment I had for you in one moment"

"Everyone, did you see Touma?" Misaki asked, wiping sweat of her brow" I think I recovered enough strength to ask him for another round of a lovely dance"

"Hmm, I actually don't know where he went to" Kaibi looked around" He was here, just moments ago. Hmm, actually, while he is not here, I have something to talk about to everyone..."

(MEANWHILE ON THE BALCONY)

Touma had nothing against parties. In fact, he enjoyed them. In a way, they embodied the ideal of joy, laughter, and smiles he fought for against every enemy and while helping out every person saved.

However, attending a party and being one of the main starts of the party were two different things, amongst the fact that while he was immensely overjoyed, both Misaki and Ayu's affectionate happiness started to get other girls a little bit too... ticked off, for various reasons. Of course, no one said anything because this was their party, and the occasion warranted all sorts of warm gestures of love towards Touma, but the boy knew he had to get away for some time to cool his head.

He was aware that the time to make his statement over girls' feelings was drawing near and something told him that the revelations from their side will not stop any time soon. He just needed some time to sort it all out in his head.

"Hey, Kamijou... do you have a moment?"

He turned around to notice Konori Mii, standing in the entrance of restaurant's balcony.

"Oh, hey SG. What are you up to?"

"Would you stop calling me that?" the girl blushed, walking to him and lightly punching his shoulder" This is beyond embarrassing! So... you had to clear off your head?"

"Something like that. I owe a money to Naru for losing in an origami contest, had to make a swift escape"

"You challenged a paper manipulator to an origami contest?"

"Not challenged, more like... got roped into it. Anyway, were you looking for me?"

"O-Oh... yes, actually, I wanted... to ask..." Konori tidied up her hair, after it was blew onto her face by a stray gust of night wind" I wanted to ask if you-"

And then she froze. But not because she didn't know what to say. Konori froze with lips parted in the middle of uttering a sound.

Touma sensed that something changed in the air. It was as if he was suddenly dunked into chilly water, except there was no liquid actually surrounding him. By peaking inside, he could see that everybody froze in place. Index was in the middle of taking a bite, Kaibi was stopped in the middle of the discussion between herself and other girls, Amazora was about to trip after sliding over a spilled drink. Them and all the others remained completely motionless.

"What a nice party you have going on"

With a voice came a small wave of jasmine and bamboo fragrance, as Touma looked up to the ceiling, seeing a girl with violet-hued skin, wearing a long-sleeved dress and sporting a black hair with a yin-yang ornaments on each of two long braids, who was standing upside down on the ceiling.

"Niang-Niang? What are you doing here?"

The Magic Goddess landed on her feet, before walking up to him.

"Just happened to be in a neighbourhood, which covers quite a lot when you are able to be nigh-omnipresent... and I thought to drop by. Bring out some fun!"

"So... why is everyone frozen in time?"

" It's... emm..."

He could be seeing things, but Touma could swear that Niang-Niang's eyes darted to the side, as if she was... bashful. But that simply could not be.

"To play a prank! You should know me by now, silly human!"

Shijie-Xian snapped her fingers and few details changed in still frozen guests, as their bodies and faces shifted.

Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki were making kissy faces to each other, Musujime Awaki's twin tails somehow got tied over her eyes, Shirai Kuroko got rotated upside down in mid air, skirt completely down. Maidono got the panties on her head, Hasako had her face stretched into most cheeky smile she ever showed on her calm face. Ayu somehow got on the shoulders of Kumokawa, who had a large "BAKA" written on her already prominent forehead. And those were only few examples.

Touma followed Niang-Niang back to the balcony, where Konori, also affected by Niang-Niang's prank, got her hands holding up her breasts, while looking at Touma with a coy smile.

"See? I made everything look funnier." Niang-Niang smirked at the boy.

"You came here just to did that?"

"No... No, of course not. I also want to invite you to..."

The xian paused for a moment. Touma looked at her with concern.

"Niang-Niang... you seem a little different than usual. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, peachy, just got a bit... sidetracked. I want to invite you to... a training session, with no other than your glorious and amazing me."

"T-Training session with you?"

"Duh, you still have some powers to practice before showdown. And I want to teach you something useful that may come in handy when that time arrives. Be honoured, I didn't have any disciple in centuries"

"That's... great." Touma smiled at her" I... it's a really awesome and considerate thing out of you. Should we meet somewhere or..."

"I will notify you. Right..."

"Why don't you go inside and have fun with us?"

Niang-Niang shook her head.

"Nah, I have other things to do for now but you enjoy your little human gathering"

"Wait, Niang-"

The goddess disappeared, and with her departure, the time resumed.

"want to go with m-" Konori almost finished her sentence, before realizing what she was doing with her hands and squealing, turning bright red. "W-W-WHAT?!"

Simultaneously, a series of curses and terrified screams resounded throughout the entire rented restaurant.

(MEANWHILE)

Niang-Niang reappeared in the bamboo groove somewhere in the southern China and sighed resting her head on the plant.

"Why couldn't I say it? That never happened to me before" she muttered angrily.

"You are right Niang-Niang, what was that?"

"You were eavesdropping?"

"You were avoiding me and sulked in secrecy when you thought I wasn't watching"

"I was not sulking. I merely... expressed my disappointment" Niang-Niang said without turning away and crossing her arms.

The air behind her bent and Nephthys stepped into physical world as if the reality was a curtain of tangible cloth.

"I just happened to be in the middle of particularly invigorating massage and I wouldn't want its effect to be ruined. Let's move somewhere dryer"

SNAP!

They were suddenly at the desert oasis. Nephthys stretched her arms in with a pleased expression.

"Much better"

SNAP!

They were back in the bamboo tropics, as Niang-Niang lowered her hand.

"Oi. Just because I am the undead, doesn't mean I want to become a dried mummy"

Nephthys pursed her lips and snapped her fingers again.

Niang-Niang raised an eyebrow and snapped hers back.

When the scenery shifted between desert and bamboo groove for third time, Nephthys sighed.

"Compromise?"

"Yeah"

Compromise happened to be a randomly chosen location, in that case, a riverbank of Seine in Paris.

Two goddesses rested themselves on the stairs, listening to sound of distant accordion.

"You wanted me to be honest about the Feeling" Nephthys began" but now you are evasive. Tell me, what is going on with you? You were actually awkward with him and you never bother enough with anything to be awkward. You are the most straightforward person I know"

"Why do you think something is different?" Niang-Niang muttered, turning her face away.

"Niang-Niang, we know each other for... what? 3500 years?"

"3600 years"

"Right. And in all of that time, you never acted like you are acting now. If I didn't know any better... I would say that you were shy around him. Or got the cold feet"

Niang-Niang stared at her friend, before exploding into a fit of snickering laughter.

"Me?! ME?! Shy over something?! Let me tell you something, I am the force of destruction. I am a warrior, not someone who can get shy or get cold feet. I was feared and revered throughout bloodshed and battlefields in the East and beyond. Muye, Guandu, Red Cliffs, Yamen, Talas. I am force of oblivion, mystical being of higher power, someone..."

"... who apparently is shy over asking someone out despite the though exterior. Admit it, you wanted to ask him to spend time with you in way humans to when they want to go out. Did you get jealous of all those other girls?"

"J-Jealousy is overrated motivation. I prefer to describe my motivation as disdain for not appreciating fine woman such as myself when it comes to Kamijou." Niang-Niang grit her teeth" I mean, we had a nice moment, but that was something over 20 chapters ago! So it's about time for my time to shine. I am a god, but even divine patience is limited. I am seizing the reigns of fate into my own hands!"

"Oh, look at you being so fired up about this!" Nephthys commented." It's not like the author forgot about you"

"Don't look all smug just because you had your attention and that bastard of a writer clearly fancies you!" Niang-Niang looked at the dark skinned beauty, while pointing at the sky.

"Oh my~" Nephthys blew a kiss into the air

"Don't 'oh my' me! In this friendship, it's my role to be a smug one"

"As far as I am concerned, you a snarky one, and I am the smug one"

"I give you snarky!"

"Well, putting the meta-discussion aside, you are mixing words, but you felt left out. Did I also contribute to it?"

"Well... do you consider becoming closer with him? With Kamijou Touma?"

Nephthys ran fingers through her silver hair, with her heterochromic eyes focusing on the sight of the couples sitting on the stone stairs on other side of the river.

"It is not... out of question. As much as I felt conflicted, I do feel myself... drawn to him"

The taoistic undead didn't say anything.

"Niang-Niang, I know that among Magic Gods, you were one of the most vocal ones against fraternizing with humans to the extent we are speaking of and I know that given your history, you have scars when it comes to those sorts of relations. But fooling yourself will do you no good. You are developing feel-"

"Nephthys, we are gods. Matter, energy, time, space, power, souls, minds, history, logic, life, death, harmony, and chaos. They are all toys in our hands, we transcend beyond normal rules of magic. And you're suggesting that we can get jealous?"

Now it was Nephthys' turn to laugh. As the sweet sound resembling delicate bells flew over the waves of the river, the goddess of tears spoke.

"Well, you seem certainly possessive over Kamijou's bond with me or the others. I, on the other hand, went beyond petty limitations of envy when it comes to him"

"Damn right, I am possessive. This human will learn my greatness. And speaking of envy... so what exactly are your feelings when it comes to Othinus then?"

Nephthys remained perfectly still for a moment, not a muscle on her flawless face twitching, before sighing and taking a bite out of the baguette that appeared out of thin air.

"That's something I still have to talk about. In the meantime, you should really act on your feelings instead of bottling them up. Being too proud and not admitting the jealousy can bite you back"

"Hmph, if you say so. I will train Kamijou to be ready and bestow upon him I-Ching arts"

"And then go on a romantic walk?"

Niang-Niang screamed out in frustration and disappeared in the gust of the wind.

Nephthys took few more dainty bites of her sandwich before sighing and getting up, not minding some of the tourists staring at her bewitching body.

"She might be right, that sweet friend of mine. Let's have another chat with Othinus. And this time... no more hiding of what needs to be said"

(THE NEXT DAY)

Touma groaned slumping down on the desk.

"Why... do I feel so tired? It's still morning and I feel as if I was through the whole day"

"What-" Fukiyose began in the irritated tone, before taking a deep breath, and continuing in a much kinder manner" What happened to you this time?"

It seemed that the tough-as-nails girl took to heart their heart-to-heart conversation in the Lagune, because she was making a genuine effort to communicate in an approachable manner. And the number of times she hit him throughout the day went from three to one, so Touma couldn't complain all that much.

"One of my roommates accidentally dissolved our keys..."

"D-Dissolved?"

"Yeah, and we had a bit of trouble getting out to schools. I was late for my transport so I had to run at full speed."

Fukiyose looked at Touma and sighed.

"If you need to rest, I will cover for you. Try to pay attention, but if you really won't be able to... I bet Aisa can help you out, she makes great notes"

Himegami's head jerked up, as if the mention of her name was some kind of unprecedented cosmic phenomenon. She looked at the two, as Fukiyose discretely motioned towards Touma with her head.

"I... I... if Seiri says I am of help, then I... will gladly do whatever I can..."

"Really?! Thank you so much, you two. I will try my best, I am just not sure if I will follow the lesson entirely."

Fukiyose winked to Himegami, who blushed and mouthed a soundless 'thank you' towards her best friend.

And so, Touma could allow herself slight bit of daydreaming.

Before he knew it, he began to write something down on the piece of paper.

The contents of this message were in no way connected to the lesson, and he got so focused, that he missed new presence practically breathing over his ear.

"Oh... what do we have here?"

Touma nearly got a heart attack when Nephthys suddenly rested her head on him, her silver hair draping over his shoulder. He was certain that she was not there a moment ago, but since long time he observed that people exactly didn't mind her popping in and out in the middle of the class, assuming that she was never or always there.

"A love lett-"

Touma covered her mouth. He could almost hear Fukiyose's blood pressure rising with only Nephthys leaning on him, he did not need the girl to actually get consumed by the killing intent.

However, it seemed that everyone froze again. Nephthys momentarily stopped time, just like Niang-Niang did on the day before.

"It's not like that Nephthys-san. It's just... the expression of appreciation for someone's skill... owoaaaaah?! Did you just kiss the inside of my hand?!"

"Since you so conveniently put it straight over my lips" Nephthys smiled, moving his arm aside" Or would you prefer real thing?"

"Yes, plea-... s-stop distracting me! You always do that!"

"And it never ceases to be satisfying. It's rather adorable."

"What are you doing here, Nephthys?"

"I came to see you. You see, me and Niang-Niang had a rather important discussion about feelings, jealousy, and future... and I just wanted to stop by before going on with it"

She looked at the message Touma wrote and wrinkled her nose, looking at Touma with a single lifted brow.

"You know, I told Niang-Niang that I am beyond feelings of envy, but if you keep paying attention to other women in my presence, I might happen to move my finger and acidentally erase the concept of 'dorm manager' from the face of the earth. I am clearly certain of my superior advantage" Nephthys continued with a tone of sweet-laced" confidence" but when you have an attention of the goddess, you should not keep her empty handed"

Touma paled at that.

"No... anything but 'no dorm managers'..."

Nephthys snapped her fingers, sending the note to the trash can, before taking Touma's face in her hands, forcing him to look at her.

"Then focus on me. This is important."

Touma gulped, not really sure what to expect.

"I think it's rather obvious that you are attracted to me. At the very least, this human body of yours is. I've saw how you react to me numerous times."

"Wha... Wait..."

Touma was relatively proud of his self control, but he wasn't a saint in terms of desires by any means. However, he didn't get the chance or needed to defend himself, because Nephthys put her finger on his lips.

"Let me finish. Normally, if it was just that, it wouldn't stand out all of that much. After all, this physical form of mine is a body of which beauty some of the ancient hymns were sung and you weren't the first to notice its appeal. However... you got my interest in a way that exceeded even my millennia's worth of experience. You wasn't swayed by our offer when we wanted to made you your scorer, and you proved time and time again to be one of the most bizarre humans I saw in my long life. There is something that makes me want to cry from happiness when I see you. You caused me to cry tears of joy for first time in centuries, and something in my heart compelled to bond parts of my souls with yours. I feel..."

She suddenly burst into tears, swaying slightly from side to side.

"... some incredible yearning in my soul. For the first time in forever, my feelings are telling me something new. What is the nature of it and where it will lead us... that's what I am set to discover. So I have a question for you... do you wish to learn more about us and spend time with us? Me and Niang-Niang, that is. Right now, we are at war with your darker self. But my inquiry extends beyond that. So?"

Touma closed his eyes and backed away from a goddess, who was alive admittedly longer than the existence of concept of personal space, and by the end of the sentence

"Nephthys-san...in truth, I do wish to know both of you better, since you seem to... mellow down a bit since we met. But... you Magic Gods often hide meanings behind meanings. And I am just not sure if I..."

"Can trust what I am saying? I assure you, it's not that difficult. But if it's the insurance that you want, I will explain everything more clearly after I speak with Othinus."

"O-Othinus? You better not think of doing anything to her"

"As tempting as it sounds, I did not plan to hurt her, I promise. The two of us need to settle some things, goddess to... toothpick ex-goddess, I guess. Well then, for now I am satisfied. See you later"

"Nephthys, don't just-"

"Kamijou?"

Fukiyose's voice brought him to reality and made him realize that he shouted into thin air, standing up in the middle of the class.

"E-Ehm... sorry, everyone... carry on, please..."

Touma could not really calm himself down for some time, and only be the end of the class he began to steer his thoughts away from whatever plans Nephthys and Niang-Niang had.

As the bell tolled...

"Kamijou..." Himegami softly tugged on his shirt" Shall we go?"

"Oh, right. Thanks Himegami, you are the best."

The inconspicuous girl looked like she was on the verge of fainting from such simple yet effective compliment. Simplicity of being noticed was one of the most pure form of love. Such was the beauty of Himegami Aisa that while unnoticed, she directed her entire attention onto Touma and wanted him to cherish the love she had for him in that quiet form.

'Huh...' Touma thought to himself before exiting the classroom with Himegami' I think that through all these emotions I forgot something important...'

An observant reader would probably realize right away that Kamijou forgot that his note was sent to the trash can meant for paper by Nephthys. This, and the fact that he later chose to write yet another one of his notes, was the beginning of series of mishaps befitting Touma's luck.

Before continuing, it is crucial to explain the true nature of notes that Kamijou created from time to time. Simply put, while all of them had letter form, vast majority of them were not actually meant to be sent. For some people, especially those who didn't realistically believed in their chances of success, pretending to be in a scenario described could mean almost as much as actually sending a letter.

It was probably not the most sensible thing in the world, but there were many people out there who played pretend, writing to their muses of love and relishing in the fact that they put the words forward, compliments, invitation, and such, before destroying the messages.

As for Touma, he was still considerably braver than most of this self-doubting bunch. After all, he did in fact send some of the letters to the object of his affection, without actually signing them. In part, he didn't believe that the letters were in fact going to arrive, or even if they were to arrive, that they will be taken seriously. Such was the power of his self-depreciating esteem when it came to romantic life.

The letter sent to the trash by Nephthys was not from the category meant for sending. And it was why this interesting misunderstanding, that crossed the path of two women and one boy, was about to create some romantic chaos.

A teacher was walking past the trash-can, holding a pile of documents and books in her hands. The pile wobbled and in that moment, swayed slightly too far to the left.

"N-No... d-don't fall... kyaaaaaaah!"

Making an admittedly cute scream, before tumbling down in her attempt to stop the tower of books, mail, and documents, the female teacher massaged her aching body.

"Oh no, it's such a mess... I need to pick all of them up..."

During said tumble, the trash can for paper was also hit and tilted over, spilling its contents.

The teacher in a rush did not notice that one of the messages from it got inside the pile she was carrying earlier.

(SOME TIME LATER)

Touma sighed, sitting on the bench in the park.

"I should really get Himegami more credit. She really knows what she is doing on the lessons. Still... I can't believe I forget about that message. Well, simple bad luck and it's totally my fault."

He looked at the note in his hand, before shaking his head.

"Why the hell am I writing this again... what is the point of fooling myself with that if I am never intending to actually achieve this? Me and dorm manager. Dreaming is one thing, but... oh, let's just forget it altogether."

"Kam... Touma? Is everything alright?"

Touma looked up from the piece of paper, noticing Mitsuari Ayu standing on one of the park's many paths. Sun was behind her and it seemed to double the warmth of girl's smile, directed at Touma and Touma alone. Given what Ayu was capable of in grief and maddening anger, this pure, warm, compassionate smile, tinged with a bit of inviting affection, seemed like an otherworldly sight. Such loving gaze, if Touma was to be honest, actually made something resonate within his own heart. Albeit he had similar reactions to Kaibi, Rikuri, Misaki, and many other girls, Ayu's smile, in recent times, was especially gratifying, given how hard-fought it was.

"Can I join you?" the girl asked, coming closer.

The boy smile, putting the message down and shuffling his bag over.

"Sure, always"

The pair sat together for a moment, simply enjoying each other's presence and the sun.

"So, how are things going for you?"

"Great, it's more amazing than I anticipated. To be able to properly see everyone's faces again... there are still some I don't recognize, the ones that neither you or Shokuhou saw before... although I do recognize surprising amount of girl faces... wouldn't you know why is that?"

"A-Ayu-san, d-don't look at me like that, Shokuhou may know more than me..."

"Oh, I am just kidding. Speaking of Shokuhou, are you two planning something together?"

"Well, Misaki is very excited now that I can remember her and made a lots of plans for us to spend time together. I think she wants to make up for all of her waiting. Which is totally understandable. You want to join us?"

"Heh, I will try, if that starry-eyed hoarder gets distracted. We are not at war anymore, but we are still rivals for your love. That being said, I can tag along with you only if I have time. I mean, I'll always have time for you but-"

"You are busy with something? That's great! It's good for you to focus on new things instead... emm..."

"Hating Shokuhou? You are right with that one, I admit. Rivals or not, I have to give it to Shokuhou, she promised to get the formalities done to enroll me back in Tokiwadai. Misaka-san offered to introduce me to some of her friends and help readjust too. I am happy to be back."

"That's what's taking your attention now?"

"Not really, I have to organize yo-"

The girl's eyes widened as she quickly turned away.

'I-I almost babbled it out! My secret task!'

"Ayu? Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah, just... something got into my throat"

The secret task that Ayu feared to not reveal was something that Gokusai Kaibi told her yesterday, before all of them suddenly fell victim to the inexplicable (for them) pranks of Niang-Niang.

"We all want to prepare gifts for Touma" Kaibi explained to her on the party" There was a lot going on, but now, I think we all agree that it's a high time to do it"

"You want to give him presents?"

"Yes. After all, it's foolish to not acknowledge how much he did to me and others. I think we don't exactly lack ideas, we just need to get the timing right. I wanted to ask you if you want to help me synchronize everyone together and organize a party for Touma"

Ayu looked at the girl in a pink dress with a smile.

"When it comes to making him happy, you don't even have to ask"

"Same for me. Glad to be on the same page with you. So here's to our first shared mission... one that doesn't you being my target that is"

"You sisters have a scary sense of humour, you know? But it's good to work with you"

"D-Don't worry, I am fine. I just have a project to do alongside Gokusai-san"

Although Touma was curious what the girls were preparing, he decided not to be intrusive.

In that moment, another fragment of unbelievable mishap occurred. The strong wind picked up and before Touma and Ayu realized, it sent to the sky some of Touma's papers... including Touma's message meant to go into the cupboard. The poor piece of paper was once again sent to the sky.

"A-Ah! Your papers!"

"Fukou da... well, nothing to be done now. Let's catch those that land on the ground fast"

Ayu and Touma collected the school work and graded tests. But, as if through some strange curse, the fated message was lost for the second time.

"Are... are you sure you don't want to search further?"

"No, not worth it. Instead, I better go home and make something to eat for the girls. Itsuki wanted to help me today, so I am looking forward to it"

"Hmm... those assassin sisters really love you, you know?" Ayu mused out loud" They really aren't the same people that wanted to kill me back then. Seeing you and the little one laugh and play together makes me regret that I am the only child. And Kaibi-san is very protective of you"

"S-She is?"

"You may not see it, living in the same place and in the same system, but she is always claiming her territory when she is around you. Also... she looks at you in such manner as if you were lighting up her world. It's a subtle gaze, but it is constantly present. She really loves you a lot... and well, Rikuri-san certainly is not holding back either. When it comes to staring at you, she sometimes looks like she wants to eat you or something"

"I-I-Is that so? Woah..."

"By the way, can you carry me?"

"Why? Did you do something to yourself?"

"No... just a fancy."

"Rather taxing fancy."

"Hmph, Shokuhou is clearly heavier than me. Plus... it brings back memories. You lost them, but I clearly remember. I ridded on your back during our first adventure."

"Somehow, I can clearly picture that"

"I guess I was quite spoiled back then, huh... well, in that respect, I think I might allow myself a little bit of selfishness. Yo-i-sho!"

The girl pounced at Touma, before wrapping her arms on his chest and pressing herself against his back.

"Ayu-san?!"

"Onwards, valiant hero!"

"Huh?! You are making entire fairytale background for making me a taxi?"

"Maybe~"

Despite the banter, Touma carried Ayu all the way.

Why was that?

Because throughout the entire time, Ayu never stopped smiling and laughing.

Which was truly a dazzling sight for the eyes. And Touma would not be the one to stop it.

(SOME TIME EARLIER...)

Not so far back, maybe an hour or so, an already encountered female teacher dropped a pile of documents on her desk in the faculty room, wiping sweat of her brow.

"Ah... finally some break. It's time for some coffee to wake myself up"

The woman was in her 20s. Tall, with black hair that had a steely, glossy look to itself. She had a light-toned skin covered in makeup, focused, dark eyes, and attractive, rosy lips. At that moment, she was wearing red glasses, white suit and skirt that gave her a look of a biologist or researcher, beige stockings over her legs, and black high-heeled shoes.

That woman, emanating mature beauty, was Certain High School's math teacher and her name was Oyafune Suama.

If one looked at Academy City's adminstartion, more specifically at its main governing body, Board of Directors, one could recognize the surname Oyafune as the one belonging to one of the senior members, Oyafune Monaka. And more so, one wouldn't be mistaken in making the connection in that place. Oyafune Monaka was in fact Suama's mother, the relation often used by less than well intentioned members of the City to control the influence of that Board member. But as much of an interesting and key figure in the city Monaka was, the spotlight here will belong to her daughter. That is not to say that mother herself will not play any role at all, mind you. At least as much as it is important to Suama.

Before we answer the question why we focused on Suama, it would be first give you a look over who Suama was, at least the basic outline, as more of it will be crucial to us later on.

In the eyes of both students and her fellow colleagues, Suama was strict yet considerate, professional yet just, distant yet with an endearingly clumsy disposition. As a woman of great beauty, she enjoyed relatively stable popularity from male part of the ones frequenting to the school. She was also amicable enough to have a handful of friends and, although not exactly a party person, she wasn't considered a recluse.

As mentioned before, Suama was considered rather attractive. However... she was single. As if with no partner in a relationship. It was not something truly unusual, since she was still rather young, but she truly wanted to have dates lasting longer.

One of Suama's defining characteristics was her pursuit of beauty. The math teacher spent considerable amount of time, money, and energy to achieve the desired standards, that were impeccable and crystal clear in her head. That trait also came with a side-effect of being scared of everything that could disturb that beautiful image, such as rain that could ruin her hair or makeup, stains on her clothes, and many, many other things. Suama didn't realize it herself, but her pursuit of the beautiful ideal could yield opposite effects to ones desired. However, she was about to discover something new about herself through someone who she thought she knew... but was in for a surprise.

While browsing through the papers, she found a few letters. It was surprising that in that age, and in Academy City, some messages was still sent that way, but one would be shocked to find important notifications (or bills) still existing in the paper form. The technology in that metropolis was so advance and some of the people so skilled in hacking that having a paper letter was in some instances actually safer than sending it through the internet.

Then, as Suama looked through the letters, certain paper caught her attention.

She knitted her eyebrows (which, as a curiosity, were extended in length through drawing) as she looked at handwritten text.

And as her eyes moved from one portion of the signs to the other...

"D-Did this come with the mail... h-h-huh?..."

Her cheeks became hot as she finished the message. Her sensual lips formed a small 'o'

"W-W-W-W-W-W-W-WHAT?!"

She looked at the message again. But there was no mistake.

"Oyafune-san, is there something wrong?" Yomikawa Aiho, who was just about to exit the room, turned to look at the back of her colleague, who suddenly started to smile brightly.

"Wrong? No, Yomikawa-san... on the contrary... this might be the best day of my life!"

(MEANWHILE, IN TOKIWADAI MIDDLE SCHOOL)

The steady steps. The straight posture. The intimidating aura.

No one in Tokiwadai could mistake this woman for anyone else.

The maids all bowed as she passed by them.

"Good afternoon, Ryoukan-sama"

"Likewise" the brown-haired, green eyed woman, wearing glasses and a suit, answered curtly" I trust that my study is already cleaned?"

"Of course, Ryoukan-sama"

"Excellent. Listen, every one of you! Do not ever forget that the external state, that is, the cleanliness of this building, is equally reflecting of Tokiwadai's grandeur as is the level of education that is demonstrated here. There is no room in mistakes when it comes to fulfilling your duties! Now, I will be in my room."

Dorm Supervisor crossed the hand-carved mahogany door and then closed them shut, before turning to face one of the walls.

"Now then... let's resume the progress..."

Her studio was a spacious room with windows on the first wall, now half-opened, and large wooden desk.

Other wall had two doors, first leading to the smaller room, which could be used as a bedroom, should she need to recover from work, while the second was connected to her own personal bathroom. It was essentially home away from home for this diligent woman.

Third wall, the one that had the main doors leading to the hallway, also contained bookshelves, filled with various records and documents regarding the school and its students. The last wall had few paintings and large board, currently covered in photos, memos, and red threads, as if in some criminal thriller.

Dorm Manager adjusted her glasses, examining various pieces linked on the board. Photos depicted many of Tokiwadai's students. In some, they were alone, in some accompanied by a certain boy. In fact, while some of the photos were linked together, all of the threads converged in the center, while there was a blurry photo of a running teen with spiky hair.

"Recently, girl's concentration and progress in their studies began to stagnate. I don't have certainty of the cause, but... I am always certain that this boy is a center of it all." Dorm Manager muttered to herself" Curses, I don't have any decent quality photo of his face. If not for that I would caught him a long time ago. Because if my predictions are true... if they are all involved in that boy... then unprecedented chaos my befall Tokiwadai!"

She traced the threads with her finger.

"Misaka Mikoto and Shokuhou Misaki, our level 5s. That individual's contact with them is most frequent and strongest. I am sure that besides what I've learned, something happened between them and that boy that I am not aware of. But as of recent times, that's not all. Shirai Kuroko and Hokaze Junko still need investigation... but there is a case of Kongou Mitsuko. There is a rumour that she proclaimed someone from lower levels her fiance-to-be. Her attitude and remarks are also indication of his involvement. Same story with her friends, Wannai and Awatsuki. Wannai was always a bit of dreamer, but she and Awatsuki are more distracted than ever... the latter of them even hogged a chocolate set for couples. There are many others, of lesser degree, but nonetheless. Yumiya Iruka got so flustered on the mention of that individual that she almost shot her colleague on the leg and she never misses in her archery! Mei from Shokuhou clique was seen writing a love letter, while Kii from the same clique was punished because improperly sleeping with a pillow with crudely drawn face of that boy! And then... here, here, here and here! Kobayashi Satori, Kirifu Megumi, Mibuki Kazan, Asato Kisa! There are even voices that he managed to interact with Tsukasa-san, even though she insists that she was lost... I can actually believe that given because her sense of direction is close to none, but still... this is not the issue here!"

She slammed her fist on the wall next to the board, her glasses flashing slightly.

"It is not like Tokiwadai explicitly bans dating. However, if this situations affects our students performance, then it's a different story. We can't afford them to be distracted lovestruck fools! Additionally, if they are all interested in one person... then we can have a civil war here. It would be the end of Tokiwadai, and maybe part of the city itself. I cannot let this happen!"

Was it dystopic? Possibly. Fatalistic? Presumably.

But not unthinkable.

Because if those ladies got enough motivation to discard their elegant manners and let their emotions take hold... the results could be catastrophic.

After all, the sum power of the abilities of 180 students of Tokiwadai combined was speculated to equate roughly the military might of... a thermonuclear bomb.

"It's not like I have anything against you personally. But for the good of Tokiwadai" Dorm Manager clenched her fist" I will crush you, spiky haired intruder, and judge you so harshly that you will never get involved with this maiden sanctuary again. Just you wait, when I get my hands on you... my honour depends on that!"

She then exhaled and dusted off her clothes, walking over to the desk.

"I am getting really worked up over this... huh? Seems like the mail is here... let's see... let's see..."

You may already suspect what found its way from that park, floating on various gusts of wind, to find a half-open window. You may also think... how impossibly absurd of a chain of events that was? What were the odds that this message got there, even after the one who wrote considered it a lost cause.

Then again... what about the balance of Kamijou Touma's fortune and misfortune wasn't absurd?

Dorm Manager's eyes widened when she recognized the handwriting displayed in front of her eyes.

Do you know anything of psychodynamic model of self, dear reader? It's the cornerstone of freudian psychoanalisis. To describe the change that occurred in the moment Dorm Manager read Touma's unintentionally sent message, let's refer to the classic concepts of id, ego, and super-ego. Very roughly, Id consists of unconscious, primal, and instinctive urges, as well as desires, not restricted by anything and yearning to be fulfilled as quickly as they appear. In contrast, super-ego is conscious, socially imposed array of rules and limitations, that restricts one's freedom. Those forces war for control and symbolic battlefield is one's actual self, ego, partially conscious, partially unconscious.

What is important is that woman like Dorm Manager was laregly driven by super-ego. It was her job, as she followed the rules and regulations and turned herself into their herald. Thanks to following those guidelines, she was cold, precise, relentless, strong, and fearsome.

But her id, her inner cravings and desires, where also present. And the fiercer one repressed their inner desires, the stronger they were to rebound in a moment in which they were allowed to spring into the conscious surface.

"Huaaaaah! I love him so much!"

Currently, that one woman army, terrifying woman was completely swooning, with hands over her slightly red cheeks. Which, given that most people never saw her like this, was quite possibly more terrifying than her usual self.

"I can't believe it!" she cooed, unwillingly shaking her body from left to right as she re-read the message" he wants to meet me! His messages... his letters... his appreciation for how terribly hard my job can be... he sees all sides of me even if we never met. He sees that there are both toughness and love required here. Oh, how I long to meet him! He was the only one keeping me sane throughout all of the craziness that was happening... this wonderful man might be want I need to find strength to crush this impudent troublemaker that distracts the girls. I want to see him so badly. And when I do-"

The doors creaked behind her, as she was about to kiss the message.

"Ryoukan-sama?" a young maid-in-training was peaking inside" I heard strange noise, is everything al-"

The glasses were put in their place, as the long haired supervisor got to the door in the blink of an eye, forcing the shocked girl to back away, as the arm slammed right next to her head.

"What am I always saying about entering this place?!"

"T...That we have to knock... I-I am so sorry, Ryoukan-sama!"

"You are new, so I let this slide, but you will be disciplined for not following the etiquette. Also... you didn't happen to see or hear anything in here, did you?"

"R-Ryoukan-sama, the reason I entered in the first place was-"

"You DID NOT see or hear anything while in here... RIGHT?!"

"N-No, I d-d-d-didn't" chattered out the terrified maid.

"That's what I thought. Dismissed!"

The girl disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Those young maids, they never learn... well, I actually it doesn't matter. I doubt anything can sour my mood now. Because tomorrow... I am going to have a first date since that fiasco girls tried to help me with. He wants to meet me!"

(THE NEXT DAY)

"What is Nephthys thinking? There is no way I am jealous. It's just preposterous"

Niang-Niang spread her arms, staring at the ceilling in Kamijou + Gokusai apartment. If not for the fact that she was floating roughly 50 centimetres above the floor, she almost looked like laying on the sofa.

"*munch*..."

"I mean, it can't be that, can it? Sure, I had a slightest feeling that my heart actually beat and got warmer when I told him my story. And that's kind of impossible in my case! I thought he was fun for a human since the very beginning and I thought that through this moment, we will have even more fun together. So why is it that I got overshadowed by puny mortal girls?"

"*Munch, munch...*"

"A-And there is Nephthys, acting all compassionate and teary eyed for me! Gracious friend my ass! She got all cozy-cozy with him and stole all my fun. I wanted to test this human in so many games and duels, but he is too busy with her. Sure, I don't have her over the top sexy body... but I am cute too. I am awesomely cute. I could change my form, but I have my pride as a xian! It is kind of strange to be prompted to act to have some reaction from him... but I can do an exception for him. Yes, I will do whatever it takes to make him have fun with me!"

"*Munch, munch, munch*..."

"But what should I do? I doubt a throughout tampering with reality would be to his liking. And I don't really... have that much experience in all of that mushy stuff. I am a warrior, you know? What do you think?"

Amazora wiped her mouth and extended her hand.

"If you want me to listen on... more oysters and sweets please!"

Niang-Niang looked at the youngest Gokusai.

"You are a little, sneaky, catapalistic, devious little demon. And that's why I like you so much. It's as if looking at myself 3 millenias ago. Oh, I might just adopt you by force and take you away!"

"No! I want to be with my onee-chans and onii-chan"

"Right, right... then, there you have it"

Niang-Niang snapped her fingers, materializing two bowls: of oysters and sweet dactyls.

"How do you do it, auntie? Are you an illusionist?"

"Something like that. A very bizarre one at that"

"Bizarre?"

"Strange, if you will. Now, getting back to the important topic, that is, myself... what should I do in this situation? I mean, the only time man truly got involved with me, he almost violated... well, he burned my hometown and slaughtered my friends and family."

"Oh?!"

"But don't worry, I slaughtered him and his man back"

"Oh! Auntie is amazing!"

The enthusiastic clapping from Amazora at the confirmation of bloodshed only showed her dark side upbringing.

"So, despite being old, I have no experience like Nephthys. In fact, I was opposed involving myself with mortals like that up to this point. So what should I do?"

Amazora thought for a moment

"Well, Riku nee-san always said that it's good to set some things you share as a starting point... and if you want to go on a plus side, you can always do something for onii-chan that really says: 'onii-chan'. Something he would like"

"Something... that's just like him..." Niang-Niang mused for a moment, before her eyes lit up" Hmm... that might be it!"

(MEANWHILE)

Caring for ones beauty could be a daunting endeavour. Various individuals across the city, giving Gokusai Rikuri or Kumokawa Seria as only a fraction of an example, could testify to that. But it was especially challenging for Oyafune Suama.

This elegant math teacher valued the beauty of her appearance beyond anything. And so considered getting ready for the special occasion as the trial and challenge in itself. Because Suama didn't do this merely for herself that day. She also did it for the kind admirer who sent her the lovely note. So there was no expense wasted.

She washed her body and hair throughout and in a meticulous fashion, being sure to not leave any spot without a touch of soap and lotion. Then she delicately dried her hair with just the right temperature of the blow-dryer, and put the rejuvenating mask for 10 minutes.

Then came the tricky part, and it wasn't even trying on clothes. Suama was obsessed with the beautiful state of her own body as well as her surroundings. That was why she tried to keep her apartment in perfectly clean condition. 'Tried' was a key word here, because even though Suama had all the intentions and willpower to travel to the ideal she chose to pursue, she was also rather clumsy. Spilling stuff, tripping or letting go of things happened far too often than she would like to admit.

So one could only imagine the perils that laid before her in her process of getting ready for the meeting.

With one bad stroke, eyeliner or mascara could get into her eye, which would make it water and ruin the entire effect. Suama could not count the times when she accidentally went beyond the line of her eyebrows while using a special crayon, which prompted a truly unholy scream to echo through the room. The same thing applied to the lips and nails, as well as toes, cheekbones, and brow. Each area of her body had the exact proportions of specific that should be applied to it and only it. If Suama's clumsiness got the better of her, the specific step of the procedure had to be done again.

Possibly the most hazardous was applying face powder. For the reasons unknown to her, she could never get the right amount of it. There were times where she had to repeat the application over dozen times, and sometimes, it basically went all over her face. Sensitive nose was a blessing when it came to enjoying the fragrant coffee in the morning, but here, the abundance of the powder never failed to make Suama sneeze. And every beautician knew that each sneeze and each closing of the eyes threatened still drying mascara and eyeshadow to be ruined. If that happened, all the steps regarding her face had to be repeated anew.

And even when she got through with that, there were still many technical details to be taken care of. Both clothing had to be fashionable, aligned with the weather, and the context of her outing. Similarly, the colour palette had to be perfectly aligned with lighting created by the weather or place where she was invited. When it came to beauty, no detail was unimportant to Suama.

But finally, finally, she was standing in front of her mirror, with a somewhat giddy smile on her face, unusual sight on her rather stoic façade.

"Hmm, I am going out! Wait for me, mysterious admirer!"

(MEANWHILE)

Tokiwadai's Dorm Manager wasn't a festive type of woman. She did not own more clothes than it was necessary. So it didn't really take her long to decide.

She opted for white shirt combined with an indigo skirt, black pantyhose, and shoes, more comfortable than ones she usually wore, matching the skirt's colour.

After taking a shower, dressing herself up, combing her hair, and applying only slight bit of lipstick, she stood in front of the mirror, before nodding in approval.

"I am...ready. For whatever it takes!"

As if it was a military drill, entire procedure took an efficient and quick period of time, after which that strong minded woman pulled the door opened and stepped outside, venturing on her one day vacation to meet the sender of the note.

(SOME TIME LATER)

"Thanks for making me a bento, SG... I-I mean, Konori" Touma quickly backed away after the girl glared at him.

"While I appreciate the change, you can use my name. Call me... Mii."

"A-Alright, Mii-san... seriously though, thanks a bunch for the food. Why did you make it for me anyway?"

Konori shook her head.

"If anyone should be thankful it's me, for walking me to my branch office. Truth be told, most friends that I have are either younger or older than me, so speaking with someone my age is refreshing"

She smiled warmly at him.

"And as for my reasons, it's because I noticed something that warms my heart... your reaction when you receive kindness. You try to hide it, but you cherish it so deeply."

"I...I don't show it that mu-"

"Hmm..." Konori's eyes shone slightly behind her glasses" I have good eyes. Didn't you notice?"

"You wear glasses"

"Oh, come on!"

"No, really, what's up with that? Why someone who can see through things wears glasses? Is that some sort of diversion?"

"Shut up!" Konori chuckled, elbowing the boy slightly, before getting serious again" You know, I also think that I wanted to be kind to you, because... well... sometimes I think that you are not used to kindness. And that's... so sad and heartbreaking..."

Touma flinched slightly, but kept the steady face, as they approached the edge of the park with beautiful fountain, that was just shooting a pillar of water, which refracted light into beautiful rainbow.

"Mii-san... you have no reason to concern yourself with my feelings that much-"

"Oh, that's how you are gonna play it? Fine, then let me borrow your words. If you don't need a reason to come to mine or anyone else's rescue... then I don't need a reason to care about your feelings"

"Mii-san..."

Konori looked around with a smile.

"What a nice place"

"Huh... woah, I didn't even notice we were here. Yeah, I know, it's a nice square. I often thought that if in some strange, distant timeline, I were to go on a date... then this place would be a nice starting point."

While looking around, he didn't notice that Konori got silent and swallowed, trying to steady her breath.

"T-Touma-san... there is actually one more reason for which I like to walk with you today... because there is something I have to ask..."

"Huh? Ask me?"

Konori opened her lips... then closed them...

'Come on, stupid. You wanted to be alone with him to ask him out on a proper date. You may not get another chance like that so speak up!'

"I-"

There was a loud notification sound from her phone and the girl jumped.

"T-They want me urgently in the office..."

The atmosphere vanished, and Konori could not hide her disappointment.

"I must go now. Don't worry, I know the way, it's just around the corner."

"But...your question..."

"It's fine, there will still be chance"

"Oh... okay..."

And so, Konori Mii ran away, as Touma scratched his head. He debated over running after her, as she seemed in distraught mood all of the sudden.

But before he could do so...

"Oh? Kamijou-kun, is it? I didn't expect to see you here"

In the entrance to the alley leading to the fountain appeared a familiar silhouette of an elegant woman, causing the boy to look in surprise at exceptionally beautiful display in front of his eyes.

"Suama-sensei? What are you doing here?"

He of course knew the woman. She was his math teacher after all. They also met at few other occasions, usually involving him together with Tsuchimikado and Aogami. While Suama was not the strictest teacher, he couldn't say they were on good terms either. Neutral would be better.

"Hmm, well, after some time, it appears I have a date..." Suama smiled bashfully" I received an invitation to come to this place"

"O-Oh..." Touma mumbled, feeling absolutely out of place" T-That's great! I wish you the best. And that guy better be completely in love, because you look absolutely amazing, sensei"

Suama blinked in surprise, hearing such encouraging words from the student she knew only vaguely. She was aware that her older colleague in the faculty, Tsukuyomi Komoe, had certain soft spot for the boy. Suama didn't strictly think of Touma in any ill manner, but he always appeared to be a bit of an unsophisticated troublemaker to her.

"W-Why... thank you, Kamijou-kun. So back to my questi-"

"IT'S YOU!"

In the next moment, Touma managed to jump to the side only by his extremely keen precognition, as long female leg struck the ground in place he was just seconds before, making the pavement crack a little.

Tokiwadai's Dorm Manager looked at Touma, adjusting her glasses as she clenched and unclenched her fist.

"I finally found you! A source of chaos in the minds and hearts of Tokiwadai! Now, I shall discipline you to make those stupid ideas leave your head for good! What, boy? Are you speechless from fear? Do not faint on me!"

Touma was indeed speechless but not from fear. Well, maybe a little, but mostly...

'H-Holy crap! I only had Misaka's stories to give me basic outline and I once saw a photo... but this woman is a true Do... Dodo...Dodododo... Dorm Manager onee-san! In the flesh! My... my vocal chords don't work, I am too stunned to speak!'

In his daze, he barely noticed that Suama stood up and slid between him and the angry woman.

"Miss, this is unacceptable! I do not know what he did, but he is a student at my school, and I will not-"

The eyes of two females meet.

They narrowed... and slowly became colder than sea depths.

"Oh... it's you..." Dorm Manager muttered in annoyance" How long has it been?"

"Three years." Suama smacked her lips in disdain" And it's too soon to see you again. What are you doing here?"

"I am not here to see you, thank you very much. I am here to see a very kind gentleman who happens to appreciate what I do. What about you? Celebration of another day of being single?"

"Ah hah hah, on the contrary, I happen to have a date too!"

"Huh? In the same spot as I do? Over my dead body!"

'W-What?' Touma finally managed to somewhat shake off the daze he was in' They are... arguing? I never saw that face on Suama-sensei before'

"That's your problem then. I got an old-fashioned, romantic message that told me that this would be the perfect spot to begin the date"

"Really?" Dorm Manager titled her head, anger leaving her and being replaced by confusion" I actually also got invited here by the same manner. See?"

She pulled the message out, showing it to Suama.

"Right, as if a brute like you could ev... er..."

She suddenly paled, which was impressive given that her face was of delicate, light complexion.

"T-This message... it's just like..." she stuttered, pulling a piece of paper out of her outfit.

"What? Speak clearly so I can... hear..." As the brown-haired woman briefly glanced at the paper, she froze in shock.

"Gah... h-how?"

"What's going on? What's wrong with the messages?" Touma asked.

"They... they are..." Dorm Manager spoke in astonishment.

"... the same! Down to the handwriting!" Suama finished in horror.

Touma frowned at that.

"What? Does that mean that some womanizing bastard invited both of you at the same time and into the same place?"

"I-If you don't believe us, look!" Suama said, snatching the other piece of paper despite the angry yell and quickly showing it to Touma.

Boy looked at them and...

It was his turn to go deadly pale.

The messages read:

I've been long since enchanted by your skills, beauty, and work. Even if it's only a foolish dream, I can't help but want to meet you. I wish to know you better, to thank you personally for what you're doing by being such wonderful woman, embodying virtues I find ideal. Please come to the fountain patio in district 7, at one o'clock, and we shall discover ourselves to find true happiness. Please come, for I can't help but regret every second I am not seeing your face

Sincerely,

K.T

'H-How can this... how even... why did this...'

"Kamijou-kun?"

"Oi, boy! What's gotten into you?"

Sweat appeared all over Touma's face as he slowly looked at two women.

"Y-You see... I may just have an idea where is the person who wrote this... and... b-better grab onto something... that person is..." he chuckled with fear in his eyes, before taking a deep breath and opening his mouth.

(5 MINUTES LATER)

In the end, Konori Mii came back running to the spot she left Touma.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid! Work was just a lazy excuse. No, I am asking him out even if it's the last thing I do. You are a brave girl and... huh? H-He is not here! Come on, he was just here a moment ago!"

(MEANWHILE...)

Three people sat by the table inside one of the caffes, with varying degree of seriousness on their faces.

After Touma nervously explained the situation to them, the two women went into state of shock. Almost mechanically, all three walked to the inside of the caffe to sit down and reflect about what just occurred.

Suama took it hard, as she looked at her perfectly polished nails.

'So that message was from the student? From Kamijou-kun, too? I should've figured it out, I should know his writing... although to my defence, I have lots of students, and I mainly see written numbers, not letters, unless it's algebra... Oh gods, what should I do now?... h-he is my student, I can't just go along with it, I think... not to mention since she is here... Kamijou-kun says he has no idea how there were two messages delivered, but to think we both got them, and arrived here... the probability was thrown out of the window'

Dorm Manager attempted to drink tea, but her hand was shaking far too much.

She was also thinking hard, but for different reasons.

'W-What irony! K.T is also the troublemaker I need to punish? And a student too... this is cruel even by my standards! What should I do here? My duties demand for me to crush him, but I can't obliterate him as easily as before. Not after learning that he is the one who sent me so many heartfelt messages that helped me preserve my mental health and willpower needed for me to believe in the purpose of my mission in Tokiwadai. I need to behave like I usually do, so why the hell am I feeling flustered by a goddamn 16 year old? W-Why can't I look at him directly? So humiliating!'

Meanwhile as for completely terrified Touma

'Crap, crap, crap, crap! Suama-sensei looks like one step away from depression and I bet this dorm manager lady is so pissed at me that she can't even glance at me right now. Oi, oi, oi! W-What do I do now? What is going on in here? Why were those messages... why did they get them? They were just my fantasy, never meant to see their recipient! What are the chances for that? And why did they appear to hate each other's guts? Suama-sensei never stroke me as that type of woman. Is there some kind of mysterious past involved? Why was I thrown in the middle of such clash? If there are any gods who love me, I beg you, do a better job, damn it!'

(ELSEWHERE...)
"Wah-choo!"

Niang-Niang sneezed in a loud and absolutely uncouth manner while teleporting, currently in the middle point between everywhere and nowhere.

Sniffing, she rubbed her nose with a cheeky grin.

"Hmm? I guess someone praises my genius, it's only natural. After all..."

(AND IN YET ANOTHER PLACE...)

"Kshi!"

Nephthys stifled a little, elegant sneeze that suddenly overcame her as she was finishing watching an old telenovela that she fancied, getting ready for one of the most important conversations.

"Oh my, seems my body is reminding me of my popularity. After all...

(IN KAMIJOU + GOKUSAI APARTMENT)

"Achoo!"

Othinus covered her small nose as she sneezed. She just got out of the teacup that served as her makeshift bathtub. Well, given her size, calling what she did sneezing would be quite strong. It was a barely audible sound.

"Are you alright?" Index asked, munching on the onigiri, as she watched the episode of Magical Powered Kanamin on apartment's sofa. "You are not catching the cold, are you?"

"Do not be ridiculous. I withstood norse blizzards without getting one. No, what compelled me to sneeze could only be something positive. After all..."

The divine light seemed to descend from heavens, as three goddesses smiled blissfully with eyes closed.

"After all, I am such a benevolent and adored goddess" they all said at once.

(BACK WITH TOUMA)

'AAAAAAH, SCREW THIS! Even if my prayers reached some gods, I bet they thought they are awesome in that twisted pride of theirs.'

Touma then felt that he needed to say something, to at least somewhat disperse the awkwardness in the air.

"I am... sorry for the confusion. Really"

"W-Well, it's not what I was expecting... I guess I was too optimistic..." Suama replied tried to sound sure of her own words, but not doing so convincingly.

Meanwhile, Tokiwadai's main supervisor battled through her soul just what to communicate and finally...

"Huh, you are quite daring, toying with woman's feelings"

'No, no, that's wrong, that's not what I wanted to actually say! He will feel that I hate him. W-Well, I am mad at that boy, but I still... ghh, why I care so much for him not to leave?'

"I can only apologize" Touma bowed his head, before looking up and asking" Yet... I couldn't help but notice... you two know each other?"

Suama and Ryoukan exchanged exasperated glances.

"We were childhood acquaintances and then we frequented to the same teaching course." Suama finally answered" I suppose that she was my senpai"

"So... you were friends?"

"No. We were people who happened to be in the same room for quite some time" Dorm Manager explained coldly" Nothing more than that."

"Huh..."

"It was like that only because that gorilla of a senpai was an unsophisticated brute with no empathy"

"Better than overbearing whiner holding onto mom's skirt, Cryfune."

Touma sighed. Why did universe pit him against quarreling women all the time?

"Well, I suppose there is no use crying over spilled milk" Suama got up, dusting off her skirt" Well... if you excuse me, I will be on my way"

However, she didn't manage to take her leave because Kamijou blocked her way.

"I am sorry, sensei, but I can't let you go like this"

"W-What? Get out of my way this instant or-"

"I can't, Suama-sensei. Because of me, you are about to cry"

Suama blinked, only now registering that her eyes were in fact slightly moist. She quickly wiped them with a napkin.

"I-I am sure something got into my eye-"

"No, it didn't! You were excited, weren't you? For that meeting..."

"I...I... I suppose... but there is no use to think about it now! So why do you-"

"Suama-sensei!" Touma shouted, before taking a deep bow in front of the stunned woman" I can't leave it like this, because I wouldn't be able to go on knowing that I hurt your feelings, even if unwillingly. So please, allow me to make you have a good time through the rest of the day."

Suama reddened and started to shout, while shaking her fists.

"W-W-W-What are you talking about, Kamijou Touma? I... we are... you are a student... that's completely inapropriate..."

"Will you tone it down, Bakafune?" snarled Dorm Manager" We are not alone here?\"

"It's Oyafune, you uncouth gorilla! Kamijou-kun, what are you thinking?!"

"S-Sensei, it is not a date! I just want to do something nice to you to make it up for the disappointment you surely felt when I told you the truth. I just want you to have the nicest day you can have, besides it not being what you really hoped it to be. Just that, believe me!"

Suama got quiet and thought about what Touma said.

Willingly or not, she was disappointed that the whole thing was not actually meant to happen. But putting that aside... seeing through her own bitterness, she couldn't really blame Kamijou. He didn't seem to lie about not knowing of whole situation. Besides... if he actually meant the words in his letter, despite not wanting to share them... Suama, despite knowledge that she was a teacher and the reaction could be considered wrong, could not help but be slightly flustered and pleased.

Even if she was to reject those feelings, she was happy that Touma could have them (she had no idea that they were not initially meant for her). And now, Touma bowed his head and said that he wanted to make it up to her by doing something nice to her. Why did she have to link it with intimate undertone? She should just think of it as student giving a gift to the teacher.

"And of course" the boy continued, extending his hand to Dorm Manager" I want to do the same for you, miss..."

The stern woman half-opened her lips, before sighing. Externally, she adjusted her glasses, while finally grasping Touma's hand and allowing

"Tch, fine. I do need to keep my eye on you. And it's better than to leave you with this crybaby"

But internally...

'I am so glad! Even if I know I should not go along with this because of my duty, I am not ready to leave yet. It's a pity he is a student, but I can't help but feel... strange. As if I want to just... talk with him about all those things he wrote to me. I...I must be careful. He might think I am rude to him and while I'll figure out what to do with him later on for now, let's just... relax a bit...'

Meanwhile with Touma...

'She-She is holding my hand! This right hand is usually bringing me trouble, but now I feel so lucky that I have it so it could be held by that person!'

"Boy... I conditionally agreed to your offer, you can let go of my hand now"

"Do I have t... I mean, of course"

(MEANWHILE)

Othinus gasped, looking around frantically.

"W-Where am I?"

It was dark around her. But not before long, she saw the stars and a face over herself.

"Nephthys?"

"Hello there, Othinus."

"What happened? I was just in a living room..."

"Oh, that? I allowed myself to borrow you for a little talk. I chose the quietest place possible. I can see why High Priest went out using the comet"

Othinus looked to the right and her one eye widened.

They were both on the small, car-sized asteroid, that was floating on orbit around the planet. The stars were above, and below, as they were in cosmic vacuum, and right in front of her, colossal because of her small size, was Earth.

"Let's talk about Kamijou Touma... and us"

(BACK ON EARTH, IN SPAN OF FEW HOURS)

Touma went out of his way to show two women some of the places around town. He threw in some propositions, and after a while, both of his companions started to also suggest things to do. They went to karaoke club, had some ramen, played in some arcade machines, visited the library, and strolled around some of the quieter sides of the City that the ladies did not have time to visit.

Touma noticed that despite his initial fears, both women seemed to relax after a moment in relation to his conversations with him.

Suama actually smiled at him with gratitude when they walked out of the park they rested in for a moment.

"I didn't think I will say it but... I am actually having fun. It's not as I hoped, surely... but I am giving you credit for trying, Kamijou-kun. Thank you very much"

"Not bad for such a troublemaking rascal" Dorm Manager glared at Touma.

However...

'STOP IT, WHAT THE HELL! For the first time in forever, you can relax, so just do so! Talk with him. Why do you act like a firstgrader? You were never with that with anyone, so stand up to this and talk' screamed the lightheaded voice inside her mind.

"Kamijou Touma, was it? Regardless of me having to discipline you... I think you might be... the author of certain appreciation letters that concern my person"

Touma thought he was going to faint, but he bravely nodded, answering in a higher tone than usual.

"Y-Yeah, that would be me..."

"In them, you describe my line of work and challenges I face quite vividly. You express heartfelt encouragement and praise for things I was never, ever praised for. No one dared to do this before. You are still very much on my radar, but... I can't deny I am greatful to you. Do you have any experiences... did you witness the dorm managing yourself?"

"N-No... I only imagined and what about what I've heard."

'T-Thank god, I thought I totally creeped her out!'

"That's quite the imagination then. You also have guts to look me in the eye..."

"You are not looking him in the eye though" came a comment from Suama.

Dorm Manager coughed and looked back at Touma

"In a way, I am quite grateful to you. This is why I came along. Although... it really would be nicer if we dropped the unecessary weight."

"Huh?!" Suma crossed her arms, her gaze cross and angry" You were the one who dragged us through all the baseless stops! We lost time, that just me and Kamijou-kun could spend much better. If we are doing this whole pay off thing, we should do it right."

"Right?! You went into an absolute hysteria when you got one drop of soy sauce on your skirt, Crazyfune."

"It's a white skirt! I did not panic, panic does not suit beauty! I was merely attentive and alarmed. At least Kamijou-kun tried to help me, instead of some brute who thinks the only solution to things is brute force out of the army, gorilla senpai"

"Watch what you are saying!"

Yes, the afternoon was going great... except for two things that Touma realized.

Firstly, there was an abundance of accidents on their pay off trip. It ranged from minor ones, like slipping on the banana peel or spilling the sauce to almost being robbed and crushed by a falling flowerpot. There were lots of others too, and what surprised Touma was not the fact that they happened (this could be easily explained by merely adding his presence to the equation) but the fact they were resolved easily. Too easily. He managed to catch the falling Sauma, pushed the Dorm Manager out of the way, while sauce and robbery incidents were resolved by respective ladies by finding spare skirt on sale and punching the way through the problem.

Those resolutions bothered him for some reason. But the more tangible issue was...

"You two... don't like each other" Touma stated the obvious. They arrived at one of the artificial canals connecting to the major river through the sewers and entered a small steel bridge. It was then 10 meters long or so. "May I ask why?"

Two women looked at him.

"Well, for starters..." Dorm Manager looked at Suama" She always needed to be in the center of attention. That irritated me to no end. She kept whining about not being attractive enough and always settled for scraps, if only that meant that she was noticed. She couldn't resist not being adored after being spoiled rotten by her mother. As if being the daughter of Board member wasn't enough. Even if you were considered prettier by everyone, you still didn't see it and you acted like a gutless, spoiled brat! A manipulative fiend!"

"You... you got this all wrong!" Suama answered in a tone of offended bitterness" It was you who took my friends away. You got all of them terrorized and following you like a gang. They even laughed at me and you just watched it. You were the reason I was given up on. You resented me because I got better grades than you! You were always so monstrously strong that you probably never even registered others needs. No empathy whatsoever!"

"I would never resent such a coward. Not worth my time"

"Better than being a tyrant who bullied others."

"I didn't bully anyone. They were just too weak."

"Result was the same. Kamijou-kun... I see that you admire senpai. But do you know what was called by her peers when we were younger? Twister of Steel. And do you know why?"

"She was good at that game where you put your arms and legs on various colours?"

Dorm Manager's lips twitched slightly in amusement, as Suama shook her head.

"She was the most militaristically inclined in the whole course when we were together. Alongside of the teaching curse, she also undertook an extensive Anti-Skill training. Her favourite immobilization technique was partial dislocation of the neck, which temporarily paralyzes the victim."

Touma slowly looked at brown haired woman, who scratched her cheek but didn't look all that ashamed.

"It's is effective, and helped a lot many times."

"She can subdue any girl, no matter how bad or destructive she is. There are even gossiping voices that she clashed with #4 of Academy City despite how dangerous she is rumored to be."

Ryoukan shrugged.

"It is the truth. Two of Tokiwadai students accidentally destroyed the salmon that was meant for her and Meltdowner beat them up badly despite their apology. So I ventured outside of school to teach that girl some discipline for messing with students in my care. And then we fought. I admit, it was a little draining, she was very strong. We both got trashed, I also got one mark..."

Very strong was an understatement. In Touma's eyes, Mugino was one of the stronger, if not the strongest, girls he ever met and fought with. She had absolutely amazing physical prowess and was crazily powerful even without her ability. If this dormitory overseer could even think of challenging her...

The brown haired woman lifted her white shirt up to reveal a thin scar, from burned tissue, running from the height of the liver to below the base of an armpit.

"But all in all..." she smiled, sunglasses gleaming ominously" she learned her lesson. And was given something to be afraid of"

(ELSEWHERE)

Mugino Shizuri, who dozed off while reading a fashion magazine, jumped on the sofa, waking up with a grunt.

"Mugino? Are you super okay?"

"Tch... a nightmare. A fucking fever dream." the girl muttered, checking her neck as if feeling phantom pain" I didn't think about this crazy bitch for some time now..."

"Mugino... are you sweating?"

"W-What? Hell no, of course not! What a stupid... horrible dream..."

(AND BACK...)

There was a loud, screeching noise.

"I-Is this bridge sturdy?"

"Well..." Suama looked at the screeching metal" It is not new, that's for sure..."

"But it should be alright" assured Ryoukan" For something like this to just break, we would have to have the worst luck in the universe"

Touma closed his eyes, smirked in resignation and sighed, uttering a single phrase

"Fukou da..."

SCREECH! WOOSH!

Suddenly, the metal dropped into the river, causing Suama to squeal and bump into Touma. Meanwhile, the shocked but collected Dorm Manager did not fall, as they rose on the surface again and went along with the flow of rapid canal, soon entering the tunnel in the wall. The moist, circular passageway was illuminated by dull, green lamps.

"W-We are floating on water! W-Why are we not sinking?"

"It's a special alloy, extra light" came the scream of Suama" possibly hollow too... ah, my hair! Such a waste of effort..."

"Listen, you two!" came the voice of Dorm Manager, who threw them a pieces of the railing" Try your best to steer this close to the wall of the canal?"

They were gaining speed, as the tunnel turned in one direction and then the other.

"Did you just ripped that off? H-How strong are you, actually?"

"That's not important right now, just synchronise with me!"

"That's impossible!"

And it turned out that Suama was right. It was clear that they were unevenly matched, and their metallic raft began to spin around, so they were forced to stop and just follow the flow.

Until...

The obstruction came into distant view.

"A WATERFALL!" all three of them, even the less emotional Dorm Manager, screamed at the sight.

In truth, the waterfall was merely a side effect of a small filtering device across the now large tunnel. The water came through and then fell down to the large, deep pool.

The brown haired supervisor cursed and wrapped the hand around Touma.

"It's risky, but we may have to jump for it. I may be able to absorb the impact and then will try to punch through it"

"Miss Ryokuan... y-you didn't just seriously mentioned denting steel with your fists, did you?"

The woman's glasses glowed slightly in the dull light.

"No" came the suddenly stronger voice of Suama."There is a better solution. We will jump over it! If you do exactly as I say, we will get through this together! Even the brutes who wanted to run away with Kamijou-kun in tow"

"That's crazy! What makes you think that you are capable of being in charge?!"

Suama tossed her wet hair, as the distant obstruction became more and more visible.

"In this instance... I am a math teacher of the city of science, a rather good one at that!"

Suama acted quickly.

She took a fragment of the railing and submerged it in water almost entirely. Then she took it out and handed it to Dorm Manager.

"Senpai, throw this beyond that purification device"

"Tch, you better have something good in mind"

"Just do it!"

The strong woman threw with mighty swing and the fragment of metallic bridge soared far away and they heard, barely but still, a splash louder than the sounds of the canal itself.

Suama's eyes quickly darted to left and right, her smooth lips muttering something under her breath.

"Sensei... what do we do?" Touma asked, as the wall was now fully visible.

"There is a difference in the water levels, the one beyond the obstructing wall being deeper, it should be deep enough to fall into." Suama was talking very quickly, motioning to various things around them" Based on the estimated depth of this part of the canal, the intervals between which those equadistantly placed lamps pass us by, as well as the rough incline of the passageway, we are gaining great velocity. If we jump in the right moment, we will go rather high into the air."

"Meaning?"

"Falling into the water from great enough height can be as deadly as falling into concrete. This water is falling turbulently, which is good because water with oxygen is always softer. But we need more data. We need to know exactly how far are we going to have to jump and how fast we will fall. That's why I needed to throw something on the other side. It's not ideal, because the flight was parabolic... but based on the rough mass and density of this kind of alloy, resistance, and fall time to impact into the water... I have more or less the idea of the distance from here to wall and over to the middle of the deeper pond. Can you give me your weight?"

Her two companions shouted respective numbers.

"Again, not ideal, because I don't know how much force can your muscles generate... but taking into the fact the estimated wind resistance of the human body of our sizes, atmospheric density, strength of gravity, and our rough acceleration... I think I've got it!"

They were getting closer and closer... and closer... and closer...

"Sensei..." Touma muttered, as the fast current began to roar around them.

"Not yet..."

1 second passed... then 2... 5... 10...

And...

"NOW!"

They jumped just as the raft/former bridge went upwards and smashed into the wall.

They soared high, Suama screaming despite her earlier coolness, Touma staring widely as they went over the wall, while Dorm Manager grit her teeth, bracing herself as they ascended to the peak of the parabolic flight...

Suama-sensei was apparently more capable and prodigious than she demonstrated. If they jumped in the moment Touma assumed was the right one, they would still smashed into the wall. She calculated all of that in such a short period of time. It was incredible...

However, Touma didn't get all that much time as they dropped down.

"Be careful to position yourself upwards. Otherwise, chances of reminaing conscious are-"

"What?!"

However, he could not ask anything else as they all plummeted into water and all of his senses went away.

(MEANWHILE...)

Othinus and Nephthys were sitting on the edge of asteroid orbiting Earth and observing the entire planet. They were breathing because the power of Magic Goddess was protecting them.

Nephthys extended her brown hand towards Earth, tears falling down her cheeks.

"So beautiful... and yet so fragile. And this is nothing..."

She snapped her fingers and they suddenly all space zoomed out, and two divine females looked at the darkness of the cosmic void.

"Where are we?" Othinus asked.

"20 943 701 940 kilometers away from Earth. If I am not mistaken, this equates 140 Astronomical Units."

"Why here, specifically?"

Nephthys waved her arm and the beam of light spread through the darkness.

"This is the place in which furthest photo of Earth was taken. You see this tiny dot over there, suspended in a beam of light?"

Othinus narrowed her eye. And then she saw it. It was tiny, similar to a speck of dust.

"That's Earth. Every single human being who ever lived existed there, whether good or evil... it all went down on that single drop of dust in the void."

Othinus stared at the Earth, who from that perspective appeared smaller than she was, and asked.

"I doubt that we came here to talk about the cosmos, however beautiful it is."

"I suppose not..." the egyptian goddess blinked and in one moment, they travelled over 20 billion kilometers in an instant, once again stationing themselves on Earth's orbit." I also suspect that you know what I want to say"

Othinus and Nephthys started at each other in the deafening silence of the vacuum around them. When taken into the account that Nephthys was (and Othinus used to be) beings so powerful that mere motion of their body could destroy the universe, that tension gained new gravity. It was as if the continents, no, entire planets collided into each other. Either stripped of her divine glory, Othinus retained the hardness and pride of god that she used to be.

"It's fairly simple. For various reasons I won't bore you with... and some of which you may already figured out..." Nephthys traced a finger across her lips in contemplation" I seem to become attracted to Kamijou Touma. It would be futile to discuss over that fact itself, that's just how it is now. I am so touched by it I might cry anew..."

"It seems that he really is unlucky..." Othinus said, not really hiding the contempt in her voice" aside from his usual misadventures, he caught the egyptian plague."

Nephthys caught one of her tears on her fingers and flicked it into space, where it froze into a solid marble-like drop after exiting a certain radius.

"Othinus... I don't exactly hide the fact that I don't like you. Our divine domains and attributes are too different, so are our personalities... you thought you could be better than us, you shook us off and discarded other Magic Gods, always tried to do things in the way of individual brutality. Just looking onto that overconfident face of yours made my cry in anger"

"At least I chose an option instead of staying in that blackness like all of you. Why would I want to be someone even remotely like you, a divine primadonna who cries on the first occasion when something is not going according to her plan?"

Nephthys narrowed her eyes, as the space around them seemed to creak, as if it was suddenly stretched out.

"Othinus, I am not here to act on provocations. I can assure you that being here alone with you is not the greatest form of spending time I can imagine and I am certain it's like this for you too. This is why, I will get straight to the point. Two points, actually, interconnected with common core. Firstly..."

She smiled, her hair blew backwards by movement of the medium that should not exist within a cosmic void.

"I thought about all my interactions with Kamijou Touma, and decided to pursue him. In all of the senses. Initially, I was only interested him as our scorer. But after interacting with him long enough, and taking into account certain comparisons between me and you...myself and Niang-Niang... who I am sure is pursuing him already, she does not like to wait... decided that we want the stability this human as his own person, on top of being Imagine Breaker's incarnate, can bring into our existence... we decided that we want to become the Understood"

Othinus stared at Nephthys for a moment, before standing up with clenched fists.

"Out of the question!"

"Whyever not?!"

"B-Because that's already my position! If you want it, go find somewhere else"

"Now, now..." Nephthys drew two, partially overlapping circles in the air" You and I both know that for our kind, majority of creation are ones that can't even dream of comprend us. Imagine Breaker is one of the only forces capable of completely withstanding the altering of phases, that is, something genuine. So to properly qualify, we have to have both Imagine Breaker and host with optimal personality overlapping. Kamijou Touma fits both perfectly."

"But still... you just can't waltz in like that on me-"

"Othinus... I think you don't realize the position you are in from my point of view! Ugh, that's why I hate war gods. Egoists, thinking purely in the terms of victory and loss."

"Position?"

"The one who chose to accept you and understood you was him. Of course, he was also understood by you, but this was a byproduct. Without his motivation and attitude, you wouldn't be saved. Even if, in my personal opinion, he should never associated himself with someone who took his life so many times, of all people or gods. Do you honestly think that you, his murderer who he graciously accepted despite all the cruelties you did, have any saying about whether or not he can associate himself with someone? Surely, he can consult it with you, but it's his decision. Not yours! Even I, a goddess who still has enormous power, had enough respect for his judgement. Don't you, miss Understander?"

Othinus stiffened and shook her head.

"No... I didn't assume..."

"I think you did. Is it because deep down, you are worried that he will discard you when he will get a taste of someone else. I get that. However, the image of someone who horribly violates the person by infinite deaths being forgiven, no, rewarded even, while someone like me, who never even dreamed of taking his life and offered him to be a scorer in much more agreeable terms, someone like that being in a lost position..."

The eyes of the goddess of mourning shone brightly in two different hues, as if two new stars appeared in the void.

"... doesn't seem very fair, does it?"

Othinus got deadly pale, while Nephthys panted slightly. Both goddess took few deep breaths to steady their emotions.

"However, I am not here to trample over your insecurities. Myself and Niang-Niang will became the Understood and I care very little about your opinion on that. I say 'very little', instead of 'not at all' because Kamijou cares for you, and this is why we are even having this conversation. We don't want you to step down from that position, just share it with us. And there is another thing. I heard that Kamijou's human friends are making an effort to gift him for saving them. Myself and Niang-Niang decided to incorporate this idea. While Niang-Niang has her own plan, my idea is to use my abilities to do the opposite to what you did. For each death, I want to bring pleasure. For each world of suffering, I want to bring out a world of wonder. In other words, I wish to embark on a journey with him, in pursuit of shared understanding, and to make him see that Magic Gods can not only bring death and chaos, but also joy and love."

Othinus was silent for a moment.

What Nephthys was suggesting was indeed the exact opposite of what Othinus did with her power upon encountering Touma for the first time, bringing him endless death. And now, right before Othinus's sight, another suggested to bring about happiness and adventure.

Nephthys thrown a silent challenge into the face of Othinus.

And yet...

"If I could..." the small girl spoke quietly" If I could take it all back, I would. I had to give up my power, and if not for that, I would have what done what you're describing ages ago. It's not the most thrilling option, but if you really mean to do it, if you really have those intentions... then let's do it. He deserves to be happy, he deserves... everything. And maybe... not being able to bring it about myself is part of my punishment. One which I accept, as long as the human I love is happy."

Nephthys smiled slightly.

"Huh..."

Instead of throwing a tantrum, Othinus, somewhat begrudgingly, accepted and moved forward with the idea that Nephthys was ready to make Kamijou happy in the way that she couldn't. As long as she was still important, and she decided to trust that it will always be the case, she opted to choose the option that would potentially increase Touma's happiness, even at the cost of her pride. Such was the love that the former Magic God Othinus had for a human, Kamijou Touma.

"Made no mistake though. I am coming with you. And if I sense even for a moment that your intentions are not what you stated... if you want to toy with his emotions... I don't care about this form of mine, the wounds I may sustain... I will destroy you." Othinus snarled her side warning.

Nephthys sighed and waved her hand.

"This will not come to pass. I swear on my souls that I would never do something to him once I decided otherwise. But don't worry. When I meet up with him again, I will give him insurance that may be more tangible sign."

(ELSEWHERE)

Touma awoke with the feeling of warm lips filling his mouth with air.

He coughed and turned to the side, big stream of water leaving his mouth.

He noticed Suama and Dorm Manager both looking at him.

"What happened?"

"You blacked out because you fell in head first . But senpai immediately went down to grab you before you sunk to the bottom. Then we dragged you out and I..." the math teacher unwillingly reddened in shyness" I helped you cough up the water"

"There was absolutely no need to for you to do this. Or were you that desperate for mouth-to-mouth, Erofune?"

"H-How dare you! Besides, I was already on it and if you were to perform CPR, you would probably break his ribs."

"What I am getting from this is that you both helped me out. I am really grateful, thanks a lot" Touma cut another quarrel before it could begin.

Two women looked at one another.

"Well, you are a student. It's only natural for us to take care of you like this" Suama smiled reassuringly at Touma.

Despite all of them being in wet clothes, Tokiwadai's Dorm Manager decided to discard the shirt, staying in strange combination of skirt and bra (which caused Touma to almost black out again for a wide variety of reasons) before instructing the other two to stay put as she ventured into the tunnel to do familiarize the terrain.

It didn't take long for Touma to realize that Suama was shivering. The math teacher looked at him as he watched her in concern.

"I am sorry, would you-" the both spoke, pausing after a moment.

"After you" Touma motioned at Suama.

"W-Well... I was just wondering, if you aren't cold..."

"I was... actually thinking the same thing..."

"We... we can't set up the fire without knowing if there is a concentration of methane here. And there isn't anything flammeable around anyway..." Suama muttered, her teeth chattering slightly" I... I take full responsibility for allowing this. So to boost our body heat..."

"Let's hug..."

"I-If that's okay with you... let's be in each other's care"

They hugged each other. Touma consquently massaged math teacher's shoulder's, until she slowly stopped shivering and sighed in relief. Their clothes and hair were still wet, but their own body heats combined, making it much more bearable.

"Thank you, that was wonderful" Suama said, having her head over Touma's shoulder. When he tried to look at her, he was forcefully stopped.

"Don't! I am probably dirty and look absolutely awful! I wouldn't be presentable to anyone"

They sat still for a moment, silence only disturbed by the sound of the waterfall.

"Suama-sensei... is what I've heard true? Did you really wanted attention that badly?"

"Huh? No, I was... I shouldn't burden a student like you..."

"Sensei, we still have to warm up and wait. I am all ears"

Suama sighed and touched her red glasses, beginning to speak

"My mother, Oyafune Monaka... she was and still is a responsible but busy woman. She divorced my father when I was little and we moved here when I was a teen... she quickly advanced, and even if she never neglected me, she was also never overly close. So it is no stretch to say that I did seek her company whenever I could. But I certainly did not use her name to my advantage. On the contrary... Puberty was not very kind for me and I didn't look like I do today. Because of this I felt that the only attention I got was either out of pity or because of my mother's surname. I hated that! I hated the fact that I was surrounded by false friends. Meanwhile, some of the girls had everything they wanted because of beauty and prestige. I didn't want to be associated with ugliness and weakness, I did NOT want to rely on my mother... I was well aware that as a Board member she dealt with dangerous situations and that my existence did not help her safety. So I wanted to gain the influence of my own, to be able to gain the advantage so my mom wouldn't be in danger. So, to work out with my own strength, I used all I learned to improve my image and beauty. I refined my body through bathing, regularly put lotion, scheduled healthy sleep, ate breakfast every day, kept my weight down so it didn't affect my skin, invested in clothing and cosmetics... and look! Now everyone is respecting me. Kamijou-san... do you think I am beautiful?"

Touma, still not facing her and instead embracing her in a warming hug, nodded. He decided to be honest.

"Yes sensei, you are"

"You see? The power of beauty can't be stopped. Now I finally-"

"But..." Touma interjected, recalling something" I have a question for you: are you happy?"

"Huh? I just told you, I am very-"

"Not with your beauty. Are you happy and satisfied overall? Because this sounds very demanding lifestyle."

"W-Well, I admit, it is a challenge and it takes some time, but it's worth-"

"I don't deny that the change was needed. There is nothing wrong in wanting to improve oneself. I just wonder if this whole beauty thing is working for you, not the other way around. You get very distressed whenever you get dirty, and then you forcibly stop your emotions. You keep straight face and a smile, because this is what beautiful people are supposed to do. You act to uphold one ideal and get stressed whenever something threatens it. That means your happiness is really dependent on outside world. Don't you feel tired sometimes? Of the amount of effort you put that can be ruined so quickly."

Suama's eyes widened. Her sensual lips trembled slightly.

"Maybe..." she whispered quietly" But even if that was the case, what can I even do? I love being beautiful, it makes me feel good. I won't give that away"

"And you don't have to. I have a friend. Her name is Lessar, and she had a very similar worldview"

"Similar?"

"Well... a bit more drastic..."

(FLASHBACK)

Touma's decision to spend one night in his old dorm with members of New Light to oversee the reconstruction of his dorm appeared to be a mistake.

"Ooooooh... aoooooh... woaaaaaah...hyaaah..."

He was trying to sleep for 3 hours now, but neither he nor other girls of New Light got any luck in falling asleep. All except Lessar that is.

With her hair loose, the horny teen was grinning in her sleep, with right hand practically over the face of poor Lancis, and the other...well, somewhere, going under the covers and to the level of her pelvis. Aside of making a very questionable noises, she talked in her sleep. A lot. And in a very descriptive fashion.

"That's good... oh, I like that... haaaah... and now, let's get to next position... we all come from four directions, but I take the main dish, the front... Floris, don't be so forward... Lancis, you have only a moment of kissing before I get to it... Bayloupe, don't bite him that hard..."

Floris had completely red face and was on the verge of passing out, Bayloupe had her head under the pillow, meanwhile Touma and Lancis had completely wide open, bloodshot eyes.

"Oaaah... Lover Boy, do you know what is the difference between me and mosquito? Because if you slap me, I-"

Bayloupe sighed, covering Lessar's mouth and Touma thought it was impossible, but he was almost certain he heard her say.

"Let's do the deed some day, so we can finally sleep in peace..."

(END FLASHBACK)

"A-Anyway, sensei, I can tell you very similar thing to what I told her. Because of her upbringing, she learned to value her body too much. But being beautiful has many sides to it. Sure, you can be physically attractive and serious... but there is no point if you become obsessed with it to the point of having your life controlled by your rituals. You don't have to be serious or restrictive all the time. Beauty that is cutely adorable is also great"

"A-A-A-A-Adorable?!" Suama cried out.

"And also, you can be beautiful in your personality. Your body will age and wither away, but that kind of beauty can be retained to your death. The beauty of spirit is by acting kindly towards the others, or at least that's how I see it. I witnessed it quite a few times today. It was simple gestures, but adding it to what I already seen at school, you are a generous and kind person. And when you act on that kindness, you are more beautiful than ever"

Suama was absolutely speechless, opening and closing her lips with a blush on her face as she separated from the hug and quickly turned around.

As mentioned before, she considered Touma a troublemaker, alongside his friends. When Yomikawa Aiho once described half-jokingly that Touma would hit absolutely anything in a fight should the situation call for it, actually invoking some cases of females being the target of the punches, Suama was terrified. That was as far from her ideals as it could get.

But now? His way with words, despite everything she previously believed was...

Well, beautiful. It stirred something deep within her heart and despite being almost 9 years older than the boy, she blushed even deeper.

"I... I will think about it. Thank you for such kind words, Kamijou Touma. They mean a lot. I am also grateful for listening to me. Should I know you earlier, I probably would see my problems with Haganemiya-senpai"

"Hagane...miya?"

Was that... the surname of Tokiwadai's Ryoukan?

"Oh, right, senpai didn't actually introduce herself, did she? She is called..."

Suama paused and then a devious grin, quite uncharacteristic, stretched across her face.

"You know... neither in childhood or adulthood have I ever heard Haganemiya senpai's first name. She is apparently super secretive about it... and she probably has her ID in the clothes"

They slowly turned their heads to the neatly folded clothes of Dorm Manager, now identified as Haganemiya-san.

"Sensei... we shouldn't..."

"I know I'm giving a bad example... but I must know... I must know because the curiosity will be killing me for all eternity..."

The brunette took the wallet out of the clothes and after a moment found the official Tokiwadai ID.

Both Touma and Suama gulped and looked at the ID.

They looked... and looked... and...

Touma never before and after heard Oyafune Suama laugh like she did back then. The laughter practically burst out of her like a water from besides the broken dam, as she fell to the ground, not even minding the potential dirt on it, as she rolled around still giggling and cackling in cheerful howl of joy.

"Hey? What the hell do you think you are doing? Who allowed you to peak-"

Dorm Manager/Haganemiya-san, who just returned, got to them as quick as lightning, snapping the ID from Suama's hand.

"I can't...I can't... I will pee myself..." Suama wheezed, managing to stop herself just to look at Haganemiya. Tears welled up in her eyes and the laughter began again" I...you can't be... this can't be your name..."

Haganemiya looked at Touma, flashing her glasses, and cracking her fists.

"You saw it, didn't you?"

"W-Well..."

"I asked you a question!"

"Y-Yes, I did. It's clearly unusual, but-"

"Ahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

"Shut up! There is nothing remotely funny about this!"

On the ID, plain as day, was written:

鋼宮 可愛い

Haganemiya Kawaii

"Ryokuan-sama..." Touma asked cautiously" Your name is... Kawaii? As if the adjective 'cute'? "

Dorm Manager roared in anger, for the first time appearing actually flustered.

"That was not my idea! My parents thought that it would adorable for the newborn baby. I like my surname, it means Palace of Steel. But why the hell is my name 'Cute'?. Do I look cute to you?!" she snarled at Touma, who backed away slightly.

"I-Interesting question. Bit sinister. What is the answer that doesn't get me pulverized to death?"

"An honest one!"

"O-Okay then..." Touma said, praying to whatever scrap of fortune had for his answer to work" Right now, I don't see it, but I can really see it when you engage in your duties, Haganemiya-san. I thought that when you follow your desires and heart... in certain way, it can be cute."

Dorm Manager Haganemiya Kawaii listened before slowly approaching him...

And huffing under breath, before turning around.

"Hmph... I guess you will live to see the other day..."

Meanwhile, in her mind...

' M-My heart! Except my parents, no one ever dared to call me cute in any form or way. I-It's so nice to have an admirer, if I am to be a bit selfish. It feels like all the strife was worth it'

And as for Touma...

'Oh my god! I actually managed to say that to my dream type. To the bona fide dorm manager onee-san! W-Wait, since I know her name now, can I ask for her autograph?!'

Touma noticed that Haganemiya's skin was still wet.

"Would you like to come and warm yourself up?"

"I am completely..."

The sentence was cut in half by a loud sneeze. Haganemiya rubber her nose and turned back to them.

"... warm and fine"

"You still wanted to finish that sentence despite it being an obvious lie? Just how though do you want to appear?"

"Come on, Haganemiya-san. It will make you feel better."

"I-If you insist..."

"Come on..." Suama winked to Haganemiya" Kawaii-senpai!"

"You really want to have your neck snapped!"

"You did not change it, does it mean that you actually want someone to tell you that you are cu-"

"One more word and you are landing in the water again!"

And so, Touma found himself in the middle of two women (who absolutely refused to hug one another) and was trying really, really hard not to focus on the fact that he was basically sandwiched by their chests. If it bothered them, they didn't give any sign of that.

"Haganemiya-san, I think Oyafune-sensei wants to tell you something"

"W-What?"

"Come on, sensei, tell her what you told me. I think your entire conflict may come from misunderstanding your intentions."

"O-Oh..."

"For crying out loud, if you want something to say to me, Scaredyfune, just spill it and be done with it

(AND SO, ONE STORY LATER...)

Haganemiya didn't say anything at first, only sighing loudly after Suama finished speaking

"So it's like that... well, even if it's the truth, you were one irritating woman, you know that?"

"W-What about you? You were so scary... and why were you even so mad at me?"

"Haganemiya-san..." Touma asked the Tokiwadai's supervisor" Do you have a story from your perspective to share as well?"

Another moment of silence.

"Even if I have, it's probably not as grand as Cra... I mean, Oyafune's. I come from small city on Shikoku, which could have contributed to some of the more traditional views of its residents. For some reason, ever since childhood I was always very strong, fast, and agile. However, this was not something that neither my parents or my peers appreciated. I don't know if it was out of stereotypes or not, but ever since it became evident that I could best most of my colleagues, people started to avoid me. They said it was unnatural and that being so strong will make others think I have a bad character. But... I was proud of my strength! It was something I was better with, and I hated that those losers told me to stop being something. So... let's just say... I had quite a few anger issues when I was younger. By the time I changed schools, I gained notoriety as a troublemaker and bad girl. I suppose that from the gossip I hear of you, Kamijou Touma, I wasn't unlike behaving unlike you... and by the time I got tired of roaming the alleys and picking up opponents, my name of a scary bad girl seemed to be sealed... and I was completely alone"

"What?!" Suama protested" But by the time I met you, you were always surrounded by people!"

Haganemiya clicked her tongue and waved her hand.

"Them? Those were not friends, not at all. You said that some people wanted to socialize with you because who your mother was? Well, it was the same yet different for me. People around me wanted to please me and followed me because they feared me. No one, not even the teachers, wanted to oppose me. You were mad at me for that? But can you imagine how dull and empty that was? People change, you know. I was proud of my strength but I didn't want everyone to frantically agree at everything out of fear. Luckily, after I graduated, I accidentally went to practices in the municipality police. There I discovered that what I lacked was the set of precise rules. By knowing what to do and what not to do, I felt less lost and I could channel my physical attributes into something that I was praised for, even if some apprehension remained. Because of that revelation, I went to train for special forces, where I mastered many skills and braved through many dangers. I was there for almost 2 years, but even though I felt much better, I realized that I still lacked greater purpose, something that could make me feel fulfilled and needed. I quit the commando squad and went into restless period of travelling and finding myself. And finally, few months later, I heard about the announcement that some special girl school in the secluded city searches for supervisor for their dormitory. Said supervisor had to be disciplined, had certain aura of dignity and elegance, but above all, be exceptionally powerful in her own right, because the students were not ordinary girls, but high-level espers, wielding mighty supernatural abilities. Apparently, since the school's foundation, no other dorm supervisor lasted more than month. Yet, when I saw that notice, I knew that this was the challenge I needed. They demanded to go through a teaching course... during which I met you again, Oyafune"

"Alright..." Suama appeared much more mollified than in her earlier interactions with Haganemiya" Why did you hate me back then?"

"Why, you ask... well, I don't know if hate is the right word. I just couldn't stand the fact that you were making a big deal out of few pimples and-"

"Gyaaah! Don't say this in front of him!"

"Anyway, you made a big deal out of the beauty, even if you already had the potential to be attractive. Intelligence goes well with beauty. It's not like I was jealous of you. But for someone like me, strength always overshadowed both my intelligence... and femininity. Even if I am strong, I still have feelings. I still have a heart."

"Of course you do! Work of the Dorm Manager is not only brute force. It requires maturity, emotional intelligence, and motherly instincts-"

Touma spoke enthusiastically before managing to stop himself. He looked unsurely at the woman in question.

Haganemiya looked back at him and gratitude flashed in her eyes for a moment.

"Yes... thank you for bringing that up. Punishment is not the only thing about my job. Keeping people in line is important, but so is overseeing the maintenance of the dorm, the relations with various couriers and repairmen, speaking with the teachers... and most importantly, caring for those girls. I am responsible for their safety, not only from external forces, but also from their own foolishness. You could say that while they are away from home, in the time they are in my housing, I am a single mother of 180. Some group of those girls doesn't live under my strict jurisdiction, because we have two dorms, but I am still obliged to see if they are not sick or unable to perform student duties."

She then looked into the edge of the tunnel, before standing up.

"We wasted enough time. Let's get moving!"

"H-Haganemiya-san... c-can you dress yourself first? It gets a little hard to keep looking elsewhere..."

"Hmm... right, you may be speaking the truth..."

After few minutes, they moved forward to the tunnel. However...

The ground suddenly started to shake... and the ceiling split apart.

"An earthquake?!" Suama screamed, grabbing her head" What is going on here?!"

"This is bad! We will be buried here!"

One big fragment of rocks and cement was heading in their direction.

Touma clenched his fist. Suama was right, what the hell was going on with those random disasters?

'I don't know what to do. Imagine Breaker alone will not stop it... should I use my other abilities for this? I don't want to, but it seems like I will be able to-'

And in that moment, something... or rather someone zoomed at great speed throughout the tunnel. The cheeky smile was almost as bright as multiple weapons extending from the sleeves of white-and-gold dress. The girl got low onto her legs and then jumped, spinning through the air, as she brought her arm back...

"Lake into Wind, zhongfu, 61st form..."

Suddenly, over the clamour, beautifully clear sound of metal cutting through the air, as the swing was performed in the direction of oncoming fragment of the ceiling.

"...Inner Truth!"

In that moment, the world... no, reality itself... seemed to be slashed through. The world around the collapsing tunnel shattered, broke, and then reformed within the vortex of light and sound that reminded Touma of tolling of the bell.

In one moment, there was a collapsing tunnel over their heads. In the next, they were standing under the sky, with the water flowing without any shading.

Niang-Niang, because she was the one who came to their aid, sighed with satisfaction, until she looked at the horizon and bit her lip.

"Oopsie... I overdid it."

Touma looked too and his mouth got dry.

It seemed as if the entire city, or at least upper portion of it, was sliding down. This attack, whatever it was, left a shining mark that stretched throughout city wide radius... no, maybe even wider.

Niang-Niang snapped her fingers and everything returned to normal.

"Oh well, no damage truly done."

Turning to absolutely terrified Suama and Haganemiya, she waved her hand with a smile.

"To avoid any tiring questions, you will forget this and take a nice nap."

The women collapsed to the ground, falling asleep. Touma shook his head.

"What?"

"Impressive, wasn't it? Although I overdid it with that collapse, so I had to intervene."

"What?! Niang-Niang... I have a terrible premonition... were you behind all of those strange happenings today?!"

"Well, not all of them! Your misfortune can take some credit, but the bridge, the falling objects, putting that obstacle in front of you, and making some idiots go after you? All me! But I also made those two ladies more convinced to get comfortable with you. You're welc- OW! How could you chop the head of a god?!"

"YOU IDIOT! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Touma roared in anger, pointing at two sleeping women." What if something happened to them?!"

"There is no way anything would actually happen to you, you an extremely pretty divine safety net!"

"But why did you even do all of this in the first place, you maniacal blueberry?!" Touma yelled, stretching Niang-Niang's cheeks.

"Who are you calling a blueberry?!" Shijie Xian yelled back, also stretching the cheeks of the boy.

"What would you prefer, Tinkie Winkie?!"

"You did not just go there! For your information, I did that to become closer to you!"

"What?!"

(ONE EXPLANATION LATER)

Niang-Niang sent both Suama and Haganemiya home. She explained that they won't remember her or the collapse when they wake up, but instead will feel as if they went home after exiting the tunnel.

Now, boy and the goddess both sat on the bench with aching cheeks.

"So... all of this... was your idea of bonding with me? Niang-Niang, just because I am constantly in misfortunate situations doesn't mean that I want this to be defining part of my life! Why do you Magic Gods have to complicate things so much?"

"I didn't want to take you by force and I wanted to make it the way you humans do it..." Niang-Niang said while pouting.

Touma sighed once again throughout that day.

"If you wanted to spend time with me, all you needed was ask. If you promise that you will not complicate or endanger others like you did, then I am all yours. What do you want to do? Go to the cinema? Or to arcade?"

Niang-Niang looked at him with hope in her eyes.

"Really?"

"Sure. But first... I want to ask you something..."

(LATER, IN THE DESOLATED SQUARE WITHIN DISTRICT 10)

They arrived in the place with no people or buildings of use. And then, Touma asked.

"What was that attack? The one you did before?"

Niang-Niang snickered into her sleeve, visibly happy at the question.

"Oh, interested? Well then, you are in luck, because I want to teach you those movements anyway. The attack I conducted is one of the forms from my own fighting style: I-Ching martial arts. It takes inspiration from I-Ching, taoistic holy book of prophecies, and the glyphs known as hexagrams. There are 8 possible stances, or starting positions, taking the names of 8 directions expressed through 8 trigrams: Heaven, Flame, Lake, Thunder, Wind, Water, Mountain, and Earth. Those can be followed by 8 continuations, or derivative styles, of the same names, which gives you 8 times 8... that is, 64... combinations of offensive, defensive, and neutral forms. The one you saw was Lake Stance, Wind Style, 61st form, Inner Truth. What I did back then was cutting through the event of you being crushed by those rocks. Or in other words, I slashed through single cause-effect relation and destroyed it."

"And you want to teach me that as well?" Touma said in amazement.

"Your enemy will use all of Imagine Breaker's hidden resources. When you face him, your fighting skills have to be on another level. I-Ching martial arts is tailored for my usage in conjunction with Pao-Pei... and you will use only a fraction of its power, since you can't refine mana... but if you imbue those movements with your dragon abilities, your power of hand-to-hand combat will skyrocket. So now, observe and try to counter. There is one specific power that I want you to master that would be perfect for this exercise. I will help you bring it forth"

She closed her eyes and after a moment, Touma felt something pulsing within his arm. A voice spoke. It was one of the dragons that he already became familiar with within his head.

'Human, I am ready to assist you. I shall be your shield'

"Now... hiyaaa!"

The attack was quick as lightning.

But before Touma could register it, Niang-Niang suddenly froze over. Her Pao-Pei was in mid-swing to reach to Touma's neck, but she suddenly turned into shining, whitish-blue statue.

The ice-like surface spread instantly, freezing the ground, and crawling all over the high buildings, with big crystals sprouting from the earth like spears.

Touma looked at his body, only now registering that his right arm became living ice, covered in layer of white, shining crystals. Half of his body was covered in frost, and when he exhaled, mist left his lips.

In spite of this, he didn't feel cold.

The statue in front of him shook and Niang-Niang burst out with a smile.

"Heh, pretty cool, right? Ice crystal dragon has the greatest defensive power. His breath is fast, covers large areas, it has same physical characteristics as ice, except...

She flicked a nearby crystal with her finger. It made a low resonating sound.

"... It's many times harder than a diamond. One of the hardest substances in the universe... unless you are facing me and my Pao-Pei. It's still a challenge to cut through it though."

"So, what do you want me to do with this?"

"I need you to master it while protecting yourself from my attacks. And in the meantime, observe them to adapt them into your own arsenal."

"W-Wait... wait a second..."

"There is no waiting on the battlefield!"

Tensing her muscles, Niang-Niang struck quickly with her hands, her Pao-Pei extending into something resembling a miniature jaws of some digging equipment

"Thunder into Flame, shihe, 21st form, Gnawing Bite!"

"Khh!"

The jaws grabbed Touma's arm and tossed him aside, blood bursting from the wound.

"Too slow! Pure Heaven, quian, 1st form, Divine Force"

Touma was suddenly repelled backwards as if he collided with a heavy vehicle, smashing into the wall with a pained grunt.

But this time, he managed to recover and swung his arm. A huge glacier-like structure appeared next to him and he managed to begin running to the top.

"I think I am getting the basics of this crystal arm now!"

When he got to the high enough, spot he jumped. Multiple, sharp pieces of ice-like crystals shot at Niang-Niang from above.

"Ho? Better... but still..."

She spread her arms wide, before striking them forward.

"Heaven Into Flame, dayou, 14th form, Great Possessing..."

She then flickered like wildfire, jumping over the falling crystals, before placing herself upside down, in the middle of the sharpened rain.

"... followed by Flame Into Lake, ge, 49th form, Skinning!"

Suddenly, multiple crescent slashes were unleashed in all directions, Touma barely managed to erect bigger wall of crystals to shield himself.

All of the smaller pieces of ice crystal were shattered and deep scars appeared throughout the entire square.

"Let's give us more space. Pure Lake, dui, 58th form, Open Water!"

Niang-Niang performed circular slash on low legs... and suddenly, all of the buildings collapsed. The goddess snapped her fingers, sending them all into one pile, and making the square twice as big.

For the next 10 minutes, Touma tried to shoot crystals at Niang-Niang, shield himself, dodge, roll over, and do whole array of crazy manouvers with his body.

But the power of Niang-Niang was still unmatched.

"Pure Flame, li, 30th form, Blinding Raidance"

There was a sudden flash of blinding light, reflecting from the multiple crystals, and Touma was forced to close his arms. But when the light subsided, the goddess was already in front of him.

Touma jumped back, sending wave of ice at the goddess. However...

"Lake into Heaven, lu, 10th form, Treading Path!"

The path was forcibly created by a focused thrust of the weapons, as ice parted in two.

Niang-Niang stopped as the crystals managed to encase her leg.

"Good, very good. Again!"

Niang-Niang and Touma battled for over an hour more. The range of martial arts Niang-Niang demonstrated. Describing all of the forms she used would take time, but examples included Heaven into Lake, guai, 43rd form, Absolute Displacement, high stance horizontal attack capable of displacing and cutting through any material object; Wind into Lake, daguo, 28th form, Great Exceeding, that boosted the attack speed to absurd, above-observable level; Water into Wind, huan, 59th form, Dispersing, that allowed to split intangible forces such as wind or lightning; Pure Thunder, zhen, 51st form, Thundering Shake; An attack to the ground that unleashed a powerful quake capable of, according to Niang-Niang, levelling entire mountains; Thunder into Mountain, meng, 27th form, Swallowing, in which Niang-Niang unleashed streams of fire that, combined with Water into Mountain, yi, 4th form, Enveloping, could lock enemy into cocoon of fire; There was also Heaven into Earth, pi, 12th form, Obstruction, capable of digging out and erecting enormous walls of earth and creating a maze; Pure Water, kan, 29th form, Absymal Gorge, where Niang-Niang redirected the attack of the enemy into the ground, creating the cracks and gorges in the battlefield, reshaping it to her advantage. Pure Mountain, gen, 52nd form, Bound, in which Niang-Niang used lassos and rotated various objects around herself to attack the enemy. Thunder into Wind, yin, 42nd form, Augmenting, which could apparently harden the weapons through the energy of the body. As well as many, many others.

Touma blocked, attacked, and observed as best as he could. Although he could never manage to truly incapacitate the goddess, he manage to land couple of small hits on her.

It was incredible how graceful Niang-Niang was on the battlefield. No movement wasted, no thrust or evasion out of place. She was dancing, flying through air, smoke, and flame with various weapons moving through the air, and the lines of destructions that followed her blades seemed to form the ribbons of red and white, of blood and ice, encircling her silhouette.

It was a strange place to realize this, but maybe through this clarity of her movements and beautiful dance of destruction that yet held some form of harmony, Touma realized that Niang-Niang was, in her own way, really beautiful.

It was easy to miss it and only label her as mischievous and cute, especially since she looked smaller and less mature compared to her companion, Nephthys, but Niang-Niang had her own way of beauty. Flickering and quick as wildfire, you could blink and miss it, but if you glanced upon it, it would enchant you to no end.

"STOP!" Niang-Niang shouted suddenly, motioning on Touma" That's enough. If we went any further, your heart would freeze over! You would literally become one with the crystals and it would kill you"

Touma looked at his body, which was covered in hoarfrost and ice-like crystals. He exhaled and the icy armour broke apart, revelling his regular body.

Niang-Niang waved her hand and everything over them reverted to the state before their battle.

"That was... amazing..." Touma managed to breathe out" And I really can learn those moves?"

"Well, it would be a normal martial art for you, but still far more effective than anything humans could invent. Come on, if you are happy to such a great teacher... come give me a huuuuuwaaah?!"

Touma promptly collapsed on Niang-Niang, pushing her onto the ground.

The short girl actually blushed at that, faintly but still visibly.

"H-Hwah?! What are you doing on me?! Is this story changing genre all of the sudden?!"

"Sorry... I can't move, I really can't. You really put me through a lot"

"Hmm... I did, didn't I?"

"So, if you allow me to rest and teleport from under me, that would be-"

"Oh, no, I am afraid I can't"

"Huh? Why?"

"It appears that cutting through draconic crystals also tired me to the point of not being able to move... so I can only be here with you for a while"

That was an obvious lie.

Demonstrating great flexibility, Niang-Niang crossed her legs behind Touma, touching him with a sole of her foot.

"Kh! That's cold!"

"I am a liberated soul in a body that was feigned to die. I cannot generate my own body heat, I only heat up after some time with another body of warmth. Which is why snuggling with you is so rewarding!"

"So you admit that you're snuggling! And why do you keep using your feet!"

"I am quite proud of them. It's one of my biggest attributes!"

"F-For someone who has no strength left, you are surprisingly mobile, you know?"

(NEXT DAY)

Life carried on.

Within Certain High School's faculty room, one of the teachers, Saigo, looked at the quarrel in the corner of the room.

"Yomikawa-san, what's going on with Oyafune-san and Tsukuyomi-san?" he asked, motioning at the two teachers in frantic discussion.

"I believe Kamijou Touma should have supplementary lessons with me. His problems are clearly mathematical." said Suama

"No, his problems are with general ESP development, so it's within my expertise" insisted Komoe.

"His imagination works just fine, but his calculations need work. Again, back to mathematic"

"I am his teacher, so he is my responsibility."

"This is exactly why you are biased. He should work with me"

"Hmm..."Yomikawa smiled" seems like Kamijou grew in Oyafune-chan's eyes and heart. Sneaky guy, I tell you. I wonder what he's up to now"

(MEANWHILE, IN TOKIWADAI)

Touma was basically smuggled inside. Grabbed from the street, packed into the cart, and delivered into the Dorm Manager's office.

"Sorry for this. I could not allow anyone to see you with me." Haganemiya Kawaii, Tokiwadai's resident dorm supervisor, crossed her legs, speaking those words with twinge of sadness" Professional ethics, I think you can understand"

"Yeah... but coming into Tokiwadai within crate is absolutely the worst"

"You say it as if you were delivered here before" the woman behind the desk said coldly.

"A-Anyway, what can I do for you, Haganemiya-san?"

"As you are aware, I was thinking about punishment for you..."

"O-Oh?"

"And decided to spare you. However, this is under two conditions. Firstly, you have to work here with me for an hour once a week. You will help me organize and redact various documents regarding students and school"

"A-Aren't those private data?"

"Most of those is already known. But... it can be helpful to you in your second task. The main reason I wanted to deal with you was because I thought you caused the danger for school because many of our students got interested in you. So I will not get you punished, if you manage to make them satisfied and spend time with them. Spend time with them, in the limits of the rules! If that's what it takes to make them stop daydreaming, then fine. Instead of fighting the disaster, maybe it's best to tame it. Learning about the school, it's history, traditions, and inhabitants will be beneficial for you"

"This disaster is supposed to be me?"

"You are my responsibility when you will be having this punishment. If we get time, we can also..." the woman coughed into her hand" the content of your letters"

They went to work.

Despite the fact that he was giving her a major headache at times, Dorm Manager of Tokiwadai could not help but somewhat admire this boy's straightforward honesty, equal way in which he treated people and his rather pure admiration for her and her work.

She didn't mind his company, not in the slightest.

Bonding with him on deeper or more intimate level was, given their situation, out of the question.

But maybe, just maybe... if he waited a couple years and was willing to face the ostracism caused by dating an older woman...

'No, no, no, no, what am I thinking, even if it could happen, there is no way he would really go through with that. Besides, he is a student... although in the future... no, shut up!'

And so, the two were close yet far to the truth, both still convinced that the other would never be convinced.

(LATER)

"Touma!"

Konori Mii panted, as she managed to catch up with Touma in front of the park's vending machine.

"Where did you go yesterday? I was looking through half of the city!"

"It's a long stor-... wait, you did? So what you wanted to say to me was important after all?"

"Maybe..." Konori mumbled, before taking a deep breath and speaking" I wanted to go to the movie with you. Just with you. And maybe grab something to eat on the way back"

"Oh..." Touma nodded" Oh... yes... yes! I will gladly go with you!"

"That's great" Konori beamed at him." Well, I will not keep you occupied since you are clearly waiting for someone, but... I can't wait for that time! I shall send you time and place later!"

As the girl walked away, Touma became aware that both Nephthys and Niang-Niang stood nearby, observing him. To his surprise,

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Your lovely friend, Mitsuari Ayu-san, is undertaking a certain task while we are speaking. We want to take a page from her book." spoke Nephthys.

"What? Ayu-san?"

"Nephthys, ssssh!" Niang-Niang shushed her friend, who continued speaking to Touma.

"Oh, you will understand soon enough. Anyway, we had a discussion with Othinus and came to a conclusion that we want to achieve understanding in relationship with you"

"H-Huh? T-This is what you meant by asking if I wanted to know you better?"

"What else do you think we meant?" Nephthys smiled at him" and as the part of reaching said understanding, myself and Niang-Niang want to offer you a few things."

With a snap of her fingers, an anesthetic appeared in her hands, one than she then injected in Touma's arm.

"Niang-Niang, do you have it?"

Pao-Pei clanged as a certain sword emerged from it.

It looked as if it was made out of see through crystal, with black veins of dark stone running through its core encased in whiteness, spreading like shadow-looking lighting. It was long and had a rather thin blade.

Touma's arm was disconnected in no time. He didn't even feel the pain, as he looked around in confusion, not minding the gushing blood.

"W-What is happening?"

"My gift for you..." Niang-Niang smirked, preparing the sword in her hand" Is to grant you every possible future in which you have a happy ending."

"What? But this means..."

"They are going to create foundation for the Future Phase. They are going to spilt you and create multiple counterparts throughout layered structure of nigh-infinite hidden phases"

"That's right. This sword will split you... or, maybe multiplying you will be the right word... and relocate each counterpart into the phase-embedded timeline shaped for one specific ending to your story. We took the liberty to shape the phases in which you gain love in the end. Future Phase is... or will be, from this perspective... a unified result of those enormous layered phases being brought together. But for now, we shall diverge you. Each one of your counterparts will live to certain point, and later we will reintegrate the reality, enriching it with those hidden phases." explained Niang-Niang

"This phase will be the reference point. The histories of your counterparts may differ or be contradictory in regard to each other. Those contradictions will be eliminated, as much as it's possible, by comparing it to that world in which we are now. Thanks to it, we will gain one world... but you will have all of your lives at once. And all of your children too."

"Even if I have my personal objections regarding my relationship with those two, this opportunity is one of a kind" Othinus added" Thanks to this you... no, we... will gain the most wondrous family in history. Even I am looking forward to that."

"And all of that will happen without warring over you" Nephthys added" Because once we re-align the phases, no one except us and beings of our standing will remember it... unless we allow it, that is. Kamijou Touma, are you ready?"

Touma looked at the sword and breathed in before spreading his arms.

"If Othinus says that's okay... then let's do it"

Niang-Niang grinned even wider... before charging forward... and impaling armless Touma with the sword through his chest.

Through 10 seconds or so, nothing was happening. But just when Touma was about to comment on that...

There was a pulse of power within his chest. The sword got brighter and the veins of darkness became golden in hue.

And then, the world shattered, starting within Touma's heart. A lightning of golden cracks spread from his hearts. The pulsing sensation grew stronger and became burning.

Touma wanted to scream but found no voice in his throat, as he suddenly felt as if the entire world vanished and he began to fall quickly, his body feeling as if torn apart to pieces. He felt as if he was stretching, his body and mind reaching far beyond what they were supposed to, covering cities, continents... even planets and vast reaches of the universe. But at the same time, in some psychedelic sense, it was eaten away bit by bit and when Touma felt like he was about to die...

He awoke on the ground. He was fine, not only because he was alive... but there was no wound on him and his arm was back in place.

"And... all done. You've been a good boy" Niang-Niang commented, swinging the sword a few times before retracting it back to her Pao-Pei" Right now, we have enormous quantities of your possible selves working towards your alternative routes, which Imagine Breaker's host normally doesn't possess. You are not diminished in any way, so just live your life without thinking about it too much. And when the proper moment comes, we will put you back together."

"How? How are you going to put it back?"

"Hmm... let's just say we will use that mental link you and Mitsuari Ayu have. She will become the anchor we need."

"Ayu-san?"

"You don't need to know the details now. Just trust us on that like you trusted us now"

"But... why her?"

"Because, as I once said, gods like us should cause miracles out, not wait for them to happen" Nephthys stated" Mitsuari Ayu always felt inferior and even now, she is unsure how much happiness she can grant you when others girls come into play. But she will be a foundation for the entire world. For that single moment, she will become the most important woman in existence when it comes to you"

"I didn't think you would be as benevolent"

"Why wouldn't I? After all her story made me... made me... waaaaaaaaaah!"

An actual stream of tears flowed down Nephthys' face, as she wailed loudly. Touma turned to Niang-Niang, with another urging question.

"Niang-Niang... how many counterparts of me are there?"

"Heh... lots of them"

"But... how many?"

"Spoilers~"

Touma thought about all the girls that he saw in those visions of the future.

Index, Misaka Mikoto, Shokuhou Misaki, Othinus, Kanzaki, Itsuwa, Kumokawa Seria, Mitsuari Ayu, Leivinia Birdway, Lessar, Bayloupe, Lancis, Floris, Kongou Mitsuko, Wannai Kinuho, Awatsuki Maaya Hanatsuyu Youen, Konori Mii, Kankyougami Hasako, Maidono Hoshimi, Fukiyose Seiri, Himegami Aisa, Agnese Sanctis, Carissa, Rimea, Gokusai sisters, Nephthys, Niang-Niang, Shirai Kuroko, Saten Ruiko, the Scavenger girls, Yumiya Iruka, Sozty Exica, Shutaura + Arisa, quite presumably there was some connection with Orsola Aquinas that he did not manage yet to see.

Majority of those ladies seemed to bare sons and daughters, namely:

Takami, Kiseki, Tenma, Kenjou, Shishi, Kaizumi, Kanari, Elizabeth and Mary, Tannia, Aoife, Etain, Rhain, Miya and Tomoya, Mizumi, Hayate, Chousuke, Wataru, Val, Shizuka, Tsubasa, Ryodou, Sei, Angelo, Kira, Leo, Haruto, Chinatsu, Shmitsu, Sena, Misama, Setsu, Serina, Junya, Parvati, and Seika. As for what he knew, 37 children in total, in which there was 21 daughters and 16 sons.

Yet he had a feeling... no, he was almost certain... that this was not exactly the end of it all. That Niang-Niang's mischievous smile indicated that he was yet to learn certain things about the future.

"Well, one thing's for sure" he muttered" Boredom will clearly stay far away from us."

He wondered how will those other counterparts of him fare. For that matter, did they even possess Imagine Breaker? Those details seemed very complicated and he felt his head hurt just through thinking about them. Maybe it was better to just have trust in the divine meddling.

Nephthys blew her nose and wiped her tears away, before addressing him again.

"If that's taken care of, I think it's my turn"

She slowly walked to Touma before putting her hand below his chin, making him look straight into her heterochromic eyes. Othinus scoffed at the gesture, but didn't do anything to actively oppose it.

"There is something in you, Kamijou Touma, that I not yet encountered in any mortal, even more so in Imagine Breaker's vessel" Nephthys spoke quietly" I can't deny any longer that there is certain gravity when it comes to my attention to you. Because I can't deny it... and because I want to make something Othinus did right... I am proposing you a trip"

"A... trip?"

"Yes. A journey achieved through phase manipulation, in which we will search for wonder, pleasure, and understanding. If you agree, we will go together, you, me, Niang-Niang... and Othinus, I suppose."

"Go where?"

"Wherever you like. When we are not with you, me and Niang-Niang, we are travelling throughout the universe. You would be surprised how many places this world has to offer."

"We can go surfing in Nazare, go fishing over lake Saimaa, sail down the Amazon, go to the beach on Bahamas, walk in Kashubian forests, visit ancient sights in Rome, temples of Beijing..." Niang-Niang started to count down.

"Don't forget the pyramids. Or Uluru, Antarctica, California, Greece, Yellowstone, Galapagos, Hanoi, Venice, Machu Picchu, Kilimanjaro, Arashiyama, Fairy Pools... the world is vast!"

"And let's not limit ourselves to one planet. I want to go swimming on GJ1214b again. Kamijou, that planet has ocean hundreds of kilometres deep and no land! It's like one giant pool! Or HD189773-b. You never saw such a cool place. It has 2 km/s winds, 7 times faster than speed of sound, and it rains glass sideways"

"Pretty sure you are the only one who finds such places cool, Niang-Niang. Don't scare him away. Although, quick trip to Titan would be nice too... but anyway, we can take you wherever you want. And this time, your experience with Magic Godhood will be that of wonder. For every death, we will give you something to remember fondly"

"You would really do this for me? But I have no money, or clothes, or-"

"Such things are irrelevant when you are with us. The time is also relative. We can leave for 1 year or for billion years, and still make it back here before tea gets cold. You can think of it as extended honeymoon before the wedding."

Trying not to be overly flustered by this last remark, Touma picked Othinus up and sat her on his arm.

"Othinus... are you on board with this?"

"As I said, I am coming to have an eye on two of them. But... I think if there is a possibility like this, we should take it. If your dark self will show up in that time, there should be enough power to subdue him. Also... they said something about insurance"

"Yeah, I would almost forget" Nephthys said, extending her hand" We know that you don't exactly trust us. So we want to offer you some things as insurance"

Sand swirled in her hand, and after couple of seconds, a jar appeared in her hand.

It was cylindrical container with a lid resembling a face of a woman, similar to Nephthys herself, and covered with what Touma recognized to be the hieroglyphs.

"Take it"

"Nephthys... what is it?"

There was a rhytmic vibration from the container. Nephthys smiled and answered.

"That would be my heart"

"Y-Your what?!" Touma almost dropped the jar.

"In ancient Egypt, there were 4 canopic jars, containers in which organs considered important for afterlife was stored after being taken away during mummification process. Each jar had a god and companion goddess asigned to them. Hapi and myself, goddess Nephthys, guarded lungs. Daumutef and Neith did the same for stomach, Imseti and Isis for liver, while Qebenhseneuf and Serqet protected intestines. However, there was no jar for heart. That was because heart is the seat of the soul and was therefore left in the body. Kamijou Touma, what I am doing now would be considered a blasphemy, but it's the highest act of trust I can do. I can live without my heart in the body. I won't die if it gets destroyed, but my power would be greatly diminished and my souls will be tarnished. So I am quite literally giving my heart away to you and leave my souls with you to govern... for as long as we will be travelling, that is."

"... I gave you my heart in a jar, but the very next-"

"Shut up, Niang-Niang"

"Heh, I had to"

"I-I can't take your heart... your actual heart..."

"You don't have to do it now, I am just showing how far I am willing to earn your trust and make myself vulnerable for you"

The canopy jar vanished as the goddess winked at him.

"My heart, quite literally, is yours to command"

"As for me..."

Niang-Niang took both of her thin braids in her hand, and took out two ornaments, shaped like teardrops, that together formed yin-yang symbol. Her braids fell apart, and only now Touma noticed that without the braids, Niang-Niang had longer hair than she appeared to have.

She snapped her fingers and thin ropes appeared alongside each of the teardrops. The black, yin one floated towards Touma, while white, yang one stayed with Niang-Niang.

"I am giving you this necklace as a sign of friendship. It belonged to my late sister, almost 4 thousand years ago. Now, I am giving it to you"

The neckle found its way to Touma's neck, while its twin counterpart rested on Niang-Niang's body.

"Now, we match. I trust you to keep good care of it"

"Oh... thanks"

"And there is one last thing to seal the deal."

Both goddesses approached Touma, Nephthys from the right, Niang-Niang from the left, and whispered something into his ears.

The boy's eyes widened.

"Was that..."

"We just told you our magic names. Do you have any doubt of our intentions now?"

Touma shook his head. After such display of faith put in him, his worry and doubt greatly diminished.

"I don't know how much your human brain can handle eons of time" Nephthys mused, preparing to begin their journey as they gathered close" But let's have a test drive for my gift. Infinity and eternity, here we go!"

Not even one blade of grass moved when they departed and then returned.

Yet their adventures would take another book to truly describe. And this would still be only the surface of that timeless wonder in which Touma and three goddesses found the entire world and each other, too.

(TO BE CONTINUED IN SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY CHAPTER)

And there you have it!

This time around, the focus was mainly on two pairs, one human, one divine: Dorm Manager + Suama, and Nephthys + Niang-Niang. Before we say see you next time, let's have a few words about each of the important parts of this chapter.

Firstly, Touma's relationship with Dorm Manager (I went with Dorm Manager instead of Dorm Supervisor because it matched Touma's 'Dorm Manager Onee-san' and rolled easier on the tongue). I intended to write them as unknowingly fascinated by one another, to the extent that it could be given their positions in the city, and the DM being torn between her duty and the fact that she is thankful for Touma's straightforward admiration. For now, they are interested in each other, but don't believe that the other is truly interested. If Touma's dream was to come true, they would still have to wait some time. But it's a great start!

I also didn't intend to name the Dorm Manager at first, but calling her Dorm Manager or Ryoukan all the time just seemed awkward. I think she is the perfect person to have a secret in the fact that she has a name that literally means 'cute'.

Secondly, Oyafune Suama. As you can probably tell, she is one of the underused characters given the treatment that I became known for. When I first saw Suama in that scene with Delta Force and Fukiyose, I thought that not only was she very pretty, but the fact that she was such a beauty freak and daughter of Oyafune Monaka gave her great, not-utilized character potential. It was high time Touma charmed another teacher besides Komoe.

It was also a very interesting concept in writing Suama and Haganemiya (that is, Dorm Manager) as unwilling past enemies who got changed in their relationship thanks to Touma. It was quite funny to me, that writing process, because of just how much those two women are different from one another and yet prone to falling to both misunderstanding in circumstances (that actually made them much more similar).

Then, there is Nephthys, Niang-Niang, Touma's multiplication that yields the beginning of the Future Phase and their gifts. I am a big Nephthys fan, she is amazing both in personality and of course the beautiful design, but now it was high time I did Niang-Niang some justice. I read I-Ching and taking note from some of real life martial arts, I developed weapon-supported martial arts for her (more about it below). I wanted to have a story with Nephthys and Niang-Niang falling for Touma, while in the same time offering him a chance to see Magic Gods' abilities from a different angle. I consider this an amazing opportunity to introduce a parallel story about the adventures of Touma and Goddess Trio while on the journey that is the gift of Nephthys. For one, because it has an absoutely boundless potential as an adventure thanks to the Magic Gods' abilities. And secondly, because we need to have some good Touma x Othinus x Nephthys x Niang-Niang romance story.

Lastly, for now, I-Ching Martial Arts. It is a style of fighting developed in universe by Niang-Niang, thought to be used in conjunction with her Pao-Pei, but is also a useful hand-to-hand set of moves. It is based on the taoistic book, I-Ching, which deals with, among other things, divination and prophecy. It utilizes 64 hexagrams, who themselves are formed from two trigrams, with each line of the hexagram (or trigram) consisting of either one long line or two shorter ones. Within my story, each hexagram corresponds to the certain form of Niang-Niang's fighting style, with each serving different purpose. Each of the eight basic trigrams has representation with both beggining pose, or Stance:

Heaven: Legs in parallel, extended hands on the level of the heart, middle muscle tension.

Lake: Low on the legs, arms parallel to the ground level, perpendicular to the torso.

Flame: Slightly angled forward, with legs straight, but arms bent as if waiting to initiate the fast strike.

Thunder: Arms pulled back, head lowered, all muscles tense, ready to get into sprint

Wind: An airborne stance, jumping with widely spread arms, details depending on the following parade.

Water: A defensive stance, where ones arms act as currents along enemies attacks. The entire body is feeble and flexible, following the impact and inverting it.

Mountain: Arms high and crossed, muscle tense, wide leg stance, heavily shielded

Earth: Deeply rooted low stance, with bent knees and arms pulled backwards

Each of those stances is followed by a continuation or a parade, that modifies it and gives it a form, one of 64 possible. Some examples (taken from Heaven and Lake Stance) include:

Pure Heaven: Divine Force [1st form, quian]: Niang-Niang delivers a strike of pure pressure and energy by crossing and then uncrossing them through backing away her left arm while extending right

Heaven Stance, Style of Lake: Absolute Displacement[43rd form, guai]: Beginning with Niang-Niang holding arms high above the head and then unleashing a single slash while going down onto lowered legs, extending the body forward, this form is able to forcibly displace any obstruction, and cut through any matter.

Heaven Stance, Style of Flame: Great Possessing [14th form, dayou]: Meditation pose, beginning with arms going above the head, and then being lowered on the level of the heart and gut. While body is balancing on one leg, the hand of the same side of the body is put forward, palm down, in an attacking pose. This form channels the energy unlocks the battle trance, that allows one to bypass limits of their body for a while.

Heaven Stance, Style of Thunder: Great Invigorating [34th form, dazhuang]: Going from base Heaven form (upright, arms spread diagonally above the head), lowering the arms in the circular motion, and slamming palms together on the level of the chest, while firmly planting both foot on the ground. This form temporarily boosts stamina and is able to forcibly stop the bleeding if executed correctly.

Heaven Stance, Style of Earth: Pervading [11th form, tai]: Extending the Pao-Pei from Heaven stance, and slamming it into each other while going into tense, rigid Earth parade, Niang-Niang creates a gong-like shockwave that temporarily stuns opponents.

Pure Lake: Open Water [58th form, dui]: Low on the legs, with arms parallel to the ground, Niang-Niang rotates quickly in circular motion with her Pao-Pei weapons, creating a spherical wall of pressure that knocks people away in a certain radius. It is meant to clear the path out of enemies in all directions.

Lake Stance, Style of Flame: Polarising Adversity [38th form, kui]: Going from low-leg Lake Stance, Niang-Niang summons thin, long weapons from her Pao Pei, and launches a descending attack towards enemy's joints, with intent to strike them and hinder his motion.

Lake Stance, Style of Thunder: Maiden Conversion [54th form, guimei]: Attacking from low legs, Niang Niang spins around with both arms wielding Pao-Pei weapons, and slams the arms below the wrists of the attacker, disarming him.

Lake Stance, Style of Wind: Inner Truth [61st form, zhongfu]: Attacking from Lake stance, Niang-Niang gets airborne, rotating herself in mid air, and unleashing crescent strike with weapons enchanted with talismans. This attack allows to cut through one specific instance of cause-effect relation and negate the physical attack.

Lake Stance, Style of Water: Limiting Strike [60th form, lie]: Defensive form, in which Niang-Niang takes an attack from the low position, and then uses centrifugal force and momentum through selected weapons of Pao-Pei to send attack back, specifically to separate herself and the enemy.

If you want to know more about anything covered in this chapter or about I-Ching arts' forms, please write! I am thankful for any comments or feedback!

See you next time!