Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto or Toaru Kagaku no Railgun/Toaru Majutsu no Index
The Trinity of Tokiwadai
Chapter Seventy Nine: Carefree Days Before Ops AI&K
Chao Lingshen was a lithe teenager of Chinese descent and a student of the prestigious Tokiwadai Middle School in Academy City. She was also a Level 4 Electromaster and the deputy leader of her prestigious school's Rabbit Faction, the clique that had formed around one of their school's four Level 5s, the famous [Elemental Empress], Namikaze Naru. And today, she and her friends in the Rabbit Faction were all gathered together at a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym to have a good time.
"Namikaze-sama sure is having fun, huh?" Arai Azumi, Chao's short, green eyed friend with messy, long green hair that stuck out at odd angles despite her best efforts at taming it and which framed her round face, said in her typical shy voice as she watched their blonde leader systematically dismantle the opponent facing her in the octagonal arena in front of them.
"Wasn't that girl in the Karate club?" Chao pointed out at how easily Namiakze-sama dismantled her. Her pride probably took a hit after that display. Then again, the girl looked weirdly happy at Namikaze-sama laying hands on her. Honestly, some girls were such pervs for their idols.
"As expected of our leader. Level 5s really are head and shoulders above us, huh?" Onaga Sakuko, a girl with short brunette hair and a boyish physique though less so nowadays since she'd used Bust Upper to give her breasts a rather impressive boost, muttered with some astonishment.
"Though I think Emily-chan is putting others through the grinder too." Azumi-chan astutely pointed out as the other two turned just in time to see the American ginger suplexing her opponent as if she were a ragdoll.
"Um, should we call some of the medical staff for her opponent?" Sakuko-chan asked with a tinge of worry. "Because Emily-chan isn't gentle."
They knew that from sparring with her from time to time. The biokinetic was a monster to face in a fight. Almost as bad as Namikaze-sama. The Level 5 was something else entirely. She was a wall that was next to impossible to overcome after all.
"Hey guys~!" Emily-chan said with a tired wave with one hand even as she used her other hand to dab at the sweat on her face with a towel as she walked over after exiting her octagon. "What are you talking about?"
"Not gonna fight another opponent?" Sakuko-chan asked the plump, freckled, Irish American redhead with a cocked eyebrow.
"Nah," Emily-chan said with a shake of her head as she dropped into a seat onto the bench that Chao was sharing with Azumi-chan and Sakuko-chan, snatching up the water bottle that she'd left there when she'd run off to have her latest spar.
"My stamina isn't like Namikaze-sama's. How many people has she fought so far?"
"She's on her tenth right now." Azumi-chan happily chirped whilst adjusting her sports glasses. She wasn't much of a fighter, but Namikaze-sama liked those in her Faction to have some basic self defense skills outside of their powers.
After what happened with Saten-sama and her family? Chao readily agreed to that and kept track of those not putting in enough work. And if her survey of the spars her fellow Faction members had engaged in today were any indication, everyone was at least putting in an effort and were producing acceptable results.
"You still have more stamina than us," Sakuko-chan said with a roll of her eyes. "All of us took a break after three or four spars, but you kept going and had what? Five? Six consecutive matches?"
"It was five," Emily-chan said with a shrug after taking a swig of water from her bottle. Her freckles glowing from her flushed skin.
"And you won all of them," Azumi-chan said, sounding impressed as she gently clapped her hands. "You're so strong Emily-chan."
"Aw, you'll make me blush, Azumi!"
"You're strong too, Azumi-chan." Chao said encouragingly.
"Oh no, not like you all." The modest girl fretted with rosy cheeks.
"Don't sell yourself short, Azumi-chan." Sakuko-chan said, putting an arm over the greenette's shoulders. "You won two of your three spars didn't you? That's pretty impressive. I fought three guys too and only won once."
"Yeah, you're so analytical when we fight that it's like you have a counter for everything." Chao agreed. "You're a scary opponent."
"Totally," Emily-chan said with a nod. "I've still not beat you even once, have I?"
"T-True," the green haired girl said whilst beaming with warm fluffy happiness that just made people want to protect such a smile!
Everyone smiled back, pleased that they had managed to get their shy friend to see just how wonderful she was. Considering how awesome Azumi-chan was and how often she failed to see it, every success they had to do so was a victory in Chao's mind.
"And Sakuko-chan, your score was like that only because one of them was the unofficial gym champion." Chao pointed out. "The regulars at this gym are tough customers, so there's no shame in that. Plus…" Chao paused, looking pointedly at her tomboy friend's expanded chest. "You're still getting used to your new boobs."
Sakuko-chan smirked with pride. "Worth it."
"I-I think they look very nice and symmetrical." Azumi-chan said with a blush. "They fit you wonderfully."
"Azumi-chan, so you think I'm pretty?" Sakuko-chan said with a teasing smirk. "Does that mean you want us to go on a date?"
Azumi-chan blushed and looked at Sakuko-chan with a pout. "W-We're a-already going out t-this weekend! D-Don't be g-greedy, S-Sakuko-chan."
"Eh, whatever my cute Azumi-sama says~"
Blushing even harder, Azumi-chan reached over and lightly smacked Sakuko-chan's shoulder. "D-Don't call me t-that~! It's embarrassing!"
"But it's fitting, Azumi-sama~!" Sakuko-chan teased with a face splitting grin as she fanned her face. "You're my queen."
"Sakuko-chan!"
"Ah, there they go again. Lost in their own little world." Emily-chan muttered to Chao as Sakuko-chan decided to escalate from simple teasing into outright flirting, causing the shy greenette to turn crimson. A conversation that the Chinese girl tuned out, she didn't need to know how her friends got turned on, and nodded her agreement to her American friend.
"Yeah, but it's sweet." Chao replied with a smile. "I think Namikaze-sama still gushes whenever they flirt. Even though her tips would make Azumi-chan faint from fantasy overload."
"Namikaze-sama is a cougar in a loli body." Emily-chan deadpanned.
Well, she wasn't exactly wrong.
"Oh! Sakuko-chan, did you just say you are looking for a nice love hotel to go to on your date?" Emily-chan teased with a wide smile as something the tomboy said caught her attention.
"Yes." "Y-Yes." The couple replied with differing reactions, with Sakuko-chan looking eager and Azumi-chan appearing wary.
"Well, I have a nice suggestion. It even has a novelty room with a built-in waterslide! It's totally cool." Emily-chan said enthusiastically. "Want to give it a try?"
With her habits, the American was very much in the know about all the City's risque areas catered for couples. A unfortunate side effect of her biokinesis was that modifying aspects of her body often led to unexpected consequences, one of those had been an enhanced sex drive as a result of hormonal imbalances caused by said unknown consequences.
At first.
Nowadays even though she'd long since learned to avoid the issue, having taken a liking to all the sex, she was a nymphomaniac entirely of her own volition. Even Namikaze-sama wasn't in the same league compared to the American when it came to the carnal arts. Not when Emily-chan was not above abusing her self-biokinesis to appease certain fetishes and body types so she could better get her fix of sex from males, females, young and old, basically everyone she could. All consensual, of course.
"Oh! That sounds nice! Isn't it, Azumi-chan?"
"Y-Yes," Azumi-chan agreed with her girlfriend, shuffling a bit in her gym attire with some shy excitement. "But what else does it offer? Sakuko-chan and I, um, like our toys. Do we need to bring our own?"
"No need to worry about it," Emily-chan reassured the couple. "They have everything. I had an orgy there the other night and-"
"Too much information!" Chao said, the limits of her patience with her friends at an end. She was an innocent virgin damnit! She didn't need to hear this!
"Tch, don't be a prude just because you're still a virgin."
"Namikaze-sama is still a virgin." Chao countered with pink cheeks.
"Only by law. If that wasn't there, we all know what she'd get up to." Emily-chan snorted. "And all of us are thirteen. That's above the City's age of consent."
"Like you girls started only after you turned thirteen," Chao pointed out as she stood. "So that Namikaze-sama has held back is proof of her superior restraint."
"Not gonna deny that," Sakuko-chan replied with a shrug.
"I-It f-feels too good t-to s-stop." Azumi-chan confessed with a stellar blush.
"What Azumi-chan said," Emily-chan said with a nod.
"Whatever! I just don't want to hear about your sex lives, okay?" Chao said firmly and quickly glancing around was pleased to see that Namikaze-sama was without an opponent thus offering her a chance to escape this uncomfortable conversation "I'm gonna see if Namikaze-sama wants to spar with me."
"Yes, Sub-Leader!" They saluted jokingly.
Who needed enemies with BFFs like these?
Shaking her head in exasperation at her friends, Chao waved a temporary goodbye to them, causing them to snicker at her even as they waved back and she walked into Namikaze-sama's octagon causing the blonde to look at her expectantly.
"Mind if I have a go?" Lingshen asked with a grin as she fell into the basic stance of the Lóng Xíng Mó Qiáo.
"Bring it!" Namikaze-sama shouted as she charged at her like the force of nature she was.
"Come on, sub-section B, sub-section B." Mikoto muttered to herself as she walked through the vast library of Tokiwadai, searching for a book to serve as reference material for some homework that her class had been saddled with and the doing of which was eating into her weekend when she'd preferred to enjoy her free time like Naru currently was at the MMA gym with her Faction. Sure, she could search online for the source, but book references felt more professional. Plus the particular set of information that she was looking for was obscure and what she'd found out about it online just wasn't detailed enough for her needs.
"Ah~! Sub-section B at last." Mikoto said with a quiet cheer, she was in the library after all, as she found the section that contained the book she needed.
She was just walking down the aisle she needed and was zeroing in on the book she was hunting for when she sensed through her electromastery that she'd received an email on her phone that through its various tags told her it was a priority communique from Maniple.
That's rare. Mikoto thought with a frown as she came to a stop and fished out her phone from her skirt pockets. They don't contact me unless it's important. I wonder what this is about…
Flipping her Gekota themed flip phone open, Mikoto found that the email had actually been one that had been forwarded to her by Maniple. The original email was an all points bulletin that based on the timestamp had just been released to all Dark Side organizations with a simple message saying that "God's Right Seat is on the move. Prepare for hostilities."
God's Right Seat? Who are they? Mikoto said as she tabbed out of her mail client and opened up LINE, in particular the Trinity group chat, to ask her friends what on Earth that meant.
[Ruiko, Naru, what the hell is God's Right Seat and why is the City panicking that they're on the move?] - Mikoto
Mikoto had expected Ruiko, as their de facto intelligence chief, to reply first and thus was surprised when Naru beat her to the punch.
[God's Right Seat is a secretive magical cabal that functions as the Catholic Church's most elite force. So if they are on the move, then that means City's low-key conflict with the Church is about to see a major escalation.] - Naru
[And that means things can get very nasty. God's Right Seat is very dangerous.] - Ruiko
[It can't be that bad, right?] Mikoto sent back, frowning in disbelief.
[Yes, it can.] Naru replied, causing Mikoto's frown to deepen as the blonde followed it with a second message full of fire and skull emojis.
[Noted. I'll be careful] Mikoto sent back, signing off the app.
"Misaka-san, what has got you showing off your frowning ability like that?" Shokuhou-senpai asked as she sauntered over with a curious smirk.
"Do you know anything about God's Right Seat?" Mikoto blurted out.
[The Queen] just blinked at her in confusion. "Should I?"
"Probably," Mikoto said, looking left and right to be sure there was no one nearby that could eavesdrop and finding no one, she breathed a sigh of relief. "They're a bunch of super elite Catholic Magicians and I just got intel that they're targeting the City. So things are likely to heat up. I'd keep an eye on your clique for safety reasons."
Just because her fellow boob monster was a bit of a bitch, didn't mean her followers should get potentially hurt.
"So there's a bunch of Magicians that's going to pick a fight with us. What's new? Why are you expressing your worry ability?" Shokuhou-senpai asked skeptically.
"Ruiko and Naru are," Mikoto replied. "And that worries me."
Shokuhou-senpai frowned. "Now that's worrying."
"Exactly," Mikoto agreed. "So be careful and prepare for the worst."
"I'll do that to the best of my ability." Shokuhou-senpai said with a nod as she walked past Mikoto. "You should exercise your careful power too."
Mikoto nodded her agreement.
In response to the unnerving news of the mobilization of God's Right Seat, Ruiko decided she needed to spend some time with her family, particularly her siblings who she didn't get to spend as much time with as she'd have liked. So she had booked a private pool so she could spend some quality time with them.
With no one to impress, Ruiko had chosen a simple one piece for the occasion. It seemed her sisters, except for Park-chan who was taking her time changing, were of the same mind as they mostly came out of the changing room stalls in their school provided one piece swimsuits. The only exceptions to this trend was herself, who had opted for a one piece set with sporty blue highlights instead of the bland Tokiwadai issue swimsuit, which she frankly despised - Black just didn't suit her! -, and Ai-nee who had chosen to wear a gray two piece with a high neck, long sleeved top and high waist bottoms
"Ai-nee, any reason you're bucking the trend?" Ruiko asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"My old school swimsuit doesn't fit anymore," Ai-nee said with a smirk as she patted her newly expanded bust meaningfully. "So I had to get a new one and I decided to be adventurous."
"You overdid it with the Bust Upper, huh?" Khulan-chan said with a chuckle. "You should've been a little more restrained when using it."
"Big boobs aren't great." Banri-nee huffed, still a bit depressed at the loss of Haruue-san. She was doing better, but she would still wake up in the middle of the night crying for her at times. Knowing that hurt Ruiko, like being stabbed between her ribs. It would likely be a pain that would never go away, not for Ruiko and especially not for Banri-nee.
"Bras that fit are expensive too," Maki-chan, who by virtue of having had the biggest breasts of their family, even Kaa-san relatively speaking, before Bust Upper came into the picture, had experience with the matter. "I still don't get why you three used Bust Upper."
"You do know that I could get you an Indian Poker card for Bust Upper if you want, right? Or if you're not keen on using a card, we could teach you the technique."
Banri-nee shook her head firmly.
"No thanks, Ruiko-chan. My boobs are big enough already." Maki-chan replied with a snort. "Plus I don't really like using Indian Poker in general."
"It's not that bad. I liked the pen spinning one at least." Ruiko said with a shrug.
"Ah, all those silly little ones are great! Paper football was a fun one!" Banri-nee giggled.
"Why did you even use that pen spinning one, anyway, Ruiko-chan?" Khulan-chan asked.
"To show superiority." Ruiko said with all seriousness.
Ai-nee snorted. "Yeah, and to amuse your girls."
"Seal-mama~"
Ruiko blushed at Maki-chan's tease as it wasn't quite an incorrect description of her. She had managed to spin a pen on her nose, like a trained seal would a ball. It was a little embarrassing but her girls enjoyed it so she was more than happy to live with it.
"You all are so fast," Park-chan said as she belatedly exited her changing room at last in her school swimsuit before glancing around the room and freezing after settling on Ruiko, Khulan-chan and Ai-nee's Bust Upper enhanced bosoms. "Ruiko-nee?"
"Yes, Park-chan?" Ruiko asked as she walked behind her younger sister and began pushing her towards the door as the rest of their sisters began making their way out of the locker room
"Can you get me a Bust Upper Indian Poker card, please?" The Korean girl pleaded in a whine as she and Ruiko stepped out of the threshold of the locker room to find their brothers waiting for them in modest swim trunks.
"Don't listen to her, Ruiko-chan." Shengxi-nii snapped before anyone else could say a word.
"No way, you are too young for a boob job!" Banri-nee added, shaking her head as she crossed her arms. "You should let your body develop more before even thinking about it!"
"Banri-chan is right," Maki-chan insisted. "If my medical charts are right, my boobs didn't grow in until I was about a half year older than you are and they grew in fast. Give your body a chance."
"Yeah, your breasts haven't even started growing yet." Khulan-chan added. "At least wait until they start growing before making a choice."
"Plus you don't want to be a lolita with big boobs do you? That's not a label you want." Kenta-kun said with a frown, only to earn himself a smack over the head by Shengxi-nii for his insensitive phrasing.
"Kenta might not have phrased it well, but he's right." Ryo-kun said, shaking his head as his and Park-chan's agemate's latest gaffe. "Shaking that label wouldn't be easy."
"Especially with other girls," Takeshi-kun added. "Bust Upper is a known quantity, as is your relation to Eden Corp, Park-chan. Other girls will figure out that you used it and pin you as using it to reel in the boys."
"B-But that's totally not what I want to use it for!"
"And they won't care," Ai-nee pointed out, even as Ruiko and her other sisters except Ai-nee and Park-chan shot Takeshi-kun surprised looks. Apparently, he'd learned quite a few things from his girlfriend. "You're a girl yourself, you know how mean we can be to our peers when they stand out and will come up with all kinds of things to pick on them."
Park-chan pouted at that, the corners of her eyes prickled with tears.
"So don't even think about it, Park-chan." Akihiko-kun insisted.
"Yes, don't, Park-chan." Ruiko said, emphasizing her point by squeezing her little sister's shoulders lightly. "Like Banri-nee, Khulan-chan and Maki-chan said, at least wait until your breasts naturally start growing, then you can choose whether you want to use it or not."
"F-Fine! I won't." The Korean girl sniffled, wiping her eyes. "I just want to be a big girl like all of you."
"And you will be," Ruiko assured her as she used Dark Matter to conjure a handkerchief to wipe Park-chan's eyes. "Just don't be impatient and let yourself grow up in your own time."
"O-Okay," Park-chan said with a nod before she gave Ruiko a grateful hug.
A hug that as she pulled away from, the whole group of eleven siblings finally began making their way to the actual pool. And on their way there, Ryo-kun spoke up with a teasing grin.
"You know, all this talk about your breasts is honestly quite a shock to me. The way you all care so much about your bustline is even worse than us guys arguing over how long our dicks are."
Shengxi-nii breathed an exasperated sigh at this and reached over to smack him over the head at that. "Science, Ryo-kun! Did you have to bring that up!?"
"An ample bosom is a source of a woman's feminine pride," Ruiko replied to Ryo-kun's observation defensively.
"You're sure you're not just saying that because your boyfriend is a boobies man, Imouto-chan?" Banri-nee teased.
"Well, that's one of my reasons." Ruiko admitted with a blush. "But it wasn't my only one. I was serious about how it is a source of feminine pride. I feel loads more confident in my appearance and in being a woman now."
"I can relate," Khulan-chan nodded. "Now nobody can call me a boy anymore."
"Yeah, now they call you a tomboy instead." Takeshi-kun said with a laugh.
"That's still an improvement." Khulan-chan insisted.
"One you wouldn't need if you just didn't go around trying to be a yankee (Japanese slang for delinquent youth)," Akihiko-kun said with a shake of his head.
"It's called individual expression." Khulan-chan huffed.
"Maybe," Ai-nee hedged. "But you really should stop getting in trouble. Ruiko-chan can't always hack into the databases to clear your disciplinary records."
"I don't mind," Ruiko said with a shrug.
"Ruiko, ssh. You're not helping." Ai-nee said, shooting Ruiko a look that had her nodding with a pout. "That goes for the rest of you too. I know it isn't just Khulan-chan who gets Ruiko-chan to do it. Stop. We shouldn't abuse the system like that."
"Hai~!" Everyone save Shengxi-nii and Ruiko said in unison.
"Question!" Park-chan said, playfully raising her hand as if they were in class. "We know why Khulan-nee and Ruiko-nee used it but Ai-nee, why did you use Bust Upper?"
"Well~" Ai-nee said, blushing lightly. "I've been thinking of looking for a boyfriend lately and I wanted a bit of a leg up."
"Anyone in mind?" Ruiko asked curiously, while more than one of their siblings leaned in, eager to hear the answer.
"Not going to say," Ai-nee said coyly. "Otherwise, if there was, and I'm not saying there is, you'll go all overprotective and go dig up everything on him. Or Science forbid, go threaten him to treat me right. That'll just ruin my chances."
"She totally has a crush on someone." Shengxi-nii concluded with a chuckle.
"Yup, totally." Banri-nee agreed as everyone else nodded and Ai-nee blushed. "Imouto-chan, think you can figure out who and tell us about it?"
Ruiko was tempted to nod in the affirmative and look into it but Ai-nee shot her a pleading look and she relented.
"I could but I won't." She said to groans of disappointment from the majority of her siblings. "I'll respect Ai-nee's request for privacy."
"Thank you, Ruiko." Ai-nee said gratefully.
"But that won't stop me from checking this guy out myself."
Ai-nee sighed in resignation. "That I can accept. It's the price I have to pay for having an overprotective, paranoid Level 5 for a sister I guess. Just promise to not go and threaten him or anything like that until at least after I ask him out."
"Yes, it is." Ruiko said shamelessly. "And okay."
"You're not supposed to be proud of it." Ai-nee protested to laughter from everyone.
"Speaking of asking people out," Maki-chan said with a mischievous gleam in her eye as she turned to Takeshi-kun. "How are you and what's her name - Mizuki? - doing?"
"It's Shizuka," Takeshi-kun shot back with a blush. "And we're doing good."
"So you've gotten to kissing yet?" Khulan-chan asked, sounding both teasing and curious all at once.
"W-We have," Takeshi-kun replied, his face getting even redder. "Not that it's any of your business, Khulan-chan."
"It's not just Khulan-chan who is curious you know," Ai-nee chimed in and their brothers, sans Shengxi-nii who just looked exasperated, nodded. "We all are."
"Yeah, you're the only one of us who's got a girlfriend so spill!" Akihiko said with a grin. "Let your single brothers-"
"And sisters," Banri-nee added with a snicker.
"And sisters," Akihiko-kun said, correcting himself. "Live vicariously through you a little."
Takeshi-kun shot Ruiko a hunted look but she pretended she didn't see anything.
Sorry Takeshi-kun, but better they hound you about your relationship than they do me. Ruiko thought to herself.
Her attempt at deflection cost her though as Takeshi-kun took revenge.
"W-Why not ask Ruiko then!" He all but shouted. "Shizuka and I have only kissed, we all know that she's done way worse with her boyfriend!"
"Yeah, we do." Park-chan agreed, making a gagging motion. "And we really wish we didn't."
Everyone murmured their agreement to that and Ruiko pouted. Why was everyone always nitpicking her relationship with Accel?
"Mainly it's 'cos you're our sister and seeing you covered in hickeys every time we run into you and thinking about how you got them is kinda, well, unsettling." Kenta-kun told her as he noticed her pout. "It was endearing the first time, but seeing you almost perpetually sporting one is just a little off putting Ruiko-nee. Thank Science that since you're playing up being an ojou-sama nowadays you're not showing it off as much anymore."
"It doesn't help that you're twelve, Ruiko." Ai-nee reminded her.
Ruiko nodded but said nothing. It's not like she could say anything without lying that would assuage her siblings' concerns. She wasn't about to tone down her intimacy with her boyfriend! A fact that just garnered exasperated sighs from everyone.
"Okay everyone," Shengxi-nii said, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention. "That's enough chit chat. We came here to swim, so let's do that."
"Agreed!" Kenta-kun shouted as he broke into a run to cover the remaining distance to the pool. "Last one into the pool has to buy us all dinner!"
"Hey, no fair!" Park-chan cried as she raced after him. "You got a head start!"
Ruiko watched in amusement as her siblings all broke into runs, determined not to be last into the water and ending up having to forfeit a sizable portion of their allowances to pay for everyone's dinner tonight.
She waited until everyone was decently ahead of her before teleporting over the deep end of the pool and performing an Olympics worthy - Thank you remote internet access via emulate electromastery and emulated perfect muscle control! - dive into the water.
Like Rui-chan, Naru also had the idea of doing something sweet for her loved ones, in her case this being her girlfriends, in response to the mobilization of God's Right Seat. The problem however was that she didn't know what that something should be and so she had decided to approach some of her friends for advice.
"So, any suggestions?" Naru asked Rui-chan and Mikoto-senpai over a conference call as she paced in her dorm room whilst using her bluetooth earpiece. She would have preferred if Kazari-chan and Kuroko-chan were there too, but the two Judgment agents were on duty and Naru was a little too antsy to wait for them.
"You should just go do whatever Shutaura-san and Arisa-san likes." Rui-chan suggested over the sound of splashing and happy chatter from her siblings whom Naru knew she was spending the day at the pool with. "Maybe take Shutaura-san out to an explosives range? She seems to enjoy blowing stuff up. Maybe follow that up with a concert to satisfy Arisa-san's love of music?"
"Why do I feel this call is to make fun of me?" Senpai complained, taking a dig at her own lacking love life.
"Not everything is out to get you, Senpai." Naru chirped with a bemused look. "I just need counsel, that's all."
"Uh-huh."
"Senpai, please don't be salty."
"Yeah, Senpai, don't bitch. Do you have any suggestions or not?"
"Not really. I think Ruiko has the right idea here mostly. You should do something your girlfriends like. Can't say anything about taking Shutaura-san to an explosive range, I don't know her well enough, but I think taking Arisa-san to a concert is a good idea. fripSide is on tour in the City right now, aren't they?"
"They are," Rui-chan confirmed. "Their concerts are fully booked though but I can get you tickets from scalpers for a reasonable price. Just say the word. Need any help with securing an explosive range?"
"Yes to the tickets," Naru replied as the itinerary for the date began forming in her mind. "But don't worry about the range. I'll just bring Shu-chan to one of my testing facilities. I'll get Miyahara-sensei to whip up an exciting combat training scenario for us to take on together. That should more than satisfy her desire for action."
Nice and sweaty action.
"Okay. The tickets have been sent to your inbox. And using a combat training scenario to satisfy Shutaura-san is a good idea."
"Thanks," Naru said with a grin, already envisioning how everything was going to play out when things came together.
"You know that you and your girlfriends are weird af? I mean, most girls wouldn't even think of doing a combat training scenario as a good way to spend a date."
"Meh~! Normality is overrated." Naru replied with a shrug her senpai couldn't see even as she picked her phone up off her vanity and checked her emails, finding the tickets that Ruiko had promised waiting for her. "And Ruiko, in return for those tickets, I think thanks is called for!" Naru added as she typed up a quick email to her bestie and shot it off. "And there's a link to a hentai I know you'll enjoy. There's a really nice scene I'm sure you can pull off for Accelerator. He'll be putty in your hands~"
"Oh! Thank you. Here, I picked up that newly released yuri hentai. I knew you'd want it, so here's the download. There's a few scenes in it that can really spice up your dates if you do them."
"Rui-chan, you rock as always." Naru giggled in excitement. Her bestie was truly the best!
"Are you really trading hentai in front of me? Seriously?" Senpai asked with despair in her voice. "Why am I surrounded by perverts? Kazari-chan is the only normal one among us I can rely on."
"Whatever, Lonely Heart Senpai." Naru snorted. "And Rui-chan, I've heard of this show! This is the one with the scene where they use ice cubes to spice things up, isn't it?"
"Yup," Ruiko said with what Naru imagined was a smirk. "Frenda sent it to me if you'd believe it. I never even realized she swung that way!"
"We blondes do lots of fun things~"
"More seriously! Ruiko! How could you not know Frenda-san is bisexual!? Anyone with eyes can see that!"
Well, anyone who wasn't deliberately in denial about it like Naru was convinced her bestie was at least.
"Well, all her previous sexual partners were male…"
"And how many of those does she have exactly?" Naru asked knowingly, her brow quirked in amusement.
"One." Rui-chan said sheepishly.
"And that's far too small of a sample size to pass judgment, Rui-chan. You know that. Don't go making assumptions." Naru warned, though she was certain the Number 3 knew that. The reason she'd ignored that was likely born more out of a desire to further her denial of her and Frenda-san's growing mutual attraction than anything.
"Seriously, if I didn't snag my girls, I wouldn't have minded Frenda-chan." Naru confessed to her bestie.
Naru could just imagine the sour look on Rui-chan's face when hearing that.
"Oh, don't lie, Naru." Senpai said with a snort. "If Shutaura-san and Arisa-san were okay with it, you'd snap her up and add her to your harem in a heartbeat."
"Two blondes are better than one." Naru replied whilst nodding with cheerful agreement. "Sadly, Shu-chan and Arisa-chan will never let me have a harem despite my admirers. They are far too greedy~"
Rui-chan's silence on this was telling. Someone wasn't adverse to the idea of having a harem. But Naru wasn't going to say anything. If that's the route her best friend ended up taking then all the power to her. She just hoped [Multi-Skill] knew what she was doing. With her current boyfriend being Accelerator of all people, things could get super messy and bloody if things went awry. Though, with how whipped Rui-chan had the Number 1, Naru wasn't that worried.
If it was a show, she'd watch it for sure. Heck, she was gonna watch it even though it wasn't. No matter how it turned out, things would undoubtedly be incredibly entertaining.
"Okay, thanks for the help brainstorming, Rui-chan, Mikoto-senpai, but I think I should start planning out my date now. Love you girls~!" Naru said as she blew a kiss at the microphone.
"Sure, best of luck. Talk to you again soon." Senpai said with a giggle at Naru's antics even as she cut her end of the call.
"See you in class on Monday." Rui-chan said in farewell before she followed the [Railgun]'s lead and cut the call.
With the call ended, Naru pulled her earpiece off and put it into its charging cradle. She had a date to plan.
"Naru, this is truly a wonderful date!" Shu-chan said, causing Naru to preen as her girlfriend tossed a brace of her rare earth discs at the last of the combat robots that served as the enemies for the combat training exercise that they had just spent the afternoon finishing.
"And we're going to a concert too!" Arisa-chan said, taking over her girlfriends' mouth for a moment, even as in the background the last robot was blown to pieces. "Our Naru certainly knows how to please us, doesn't she?"
"I'm glad you two like the date I sketched up," The blonde said, smiling sweetly as their surroundings wavered as the holodeck where they'd conducted the combat exercise stopped projecting the 'underground lair' that the scenario dictated and it transformed back into the large bland, empty room that it truly was.
"Speaking of the concert," Shu-chan said, regaining control of her voice, as at Naru's urging they began heading towards the holodeck's attached locker room. "I presume you picked out something for me and Arisa to wear to it? I don't think my casual wear you asked me to wear today or my combat suit, which you somehow got a set of, is concert attire."
"I got a set of your suit by asking Crow Two for it. He was plenty accommodating once I explained what I wanted it for. And as for your clothes for the concert, you're worrying too much. It's a pop music concert, your casual wear would've been fine."
"'Would've been'?" Arisa-chan asked suspiciously.
"Let's just say I have something special in mind," Naru said with a smirk.
Shu-chan rolled her eyes at this but Arisa-chan was more enthusiastic. "I can't wait to see what you've picked out for us tonight, Naru-chan!"
"Trust me, you'll love it, Arisa-chan."
"I'm sure she will," Shu-chan said, amused. "Though what's the occasion today, Naru-chan? I mean this is way more elaborate than our normal dates. Why suddenly go to all these lengths?"
"Ah, well," The Level 5's face frowned, a solemn expression. "I just wanted to spend some time with you. There's trouble brewing. With God's Right Seat on the move… I just… Before shit hits the fan I wanted to do something special with you two."
Her shoulders were tense as even she would admit that the best of the best of the Church could no doubt give her a run for her money.
"Is this God's Right Seat that big of a threat? I know the City warned us to be wary of them but they can't be that much more dangerous than all the other Magicians we've dealt with, can they?" Shu-chan asked skeptically.
"They're around your class in magic if that helps to give you an idea of how dangerous they are. I mean, if you mastered your reality warping magic, you'd be stronger, but these people have had decades of training so…"
"Okay, that does sound scarily dangerous." Arisa-chan said with a shudder.
"Yeah, but let's not worry about it too much yet." Naru said as they reached the automatic doors of the changing room and they slid open. "They haven't attacked yet so let's just enjoy what time we have left until they do and things get hectic."
Shu-chan reached out and took her hand, giving it a soft squeeze. "No matter what, we'll survive this storm. Understood?"
"I understand," Naru said with a nod and smiled when she noticed the pair of garment bags that were hanging on hooks in the changing room and waiting for them.
"So, Shu-chan, Arisa-chan, ready to see our outfits for the night?"
"You look ravishing, you know that, Arisa-chan, Shu-chan?" Naru told her girlfriends for what felt like the umpteenth time since the duo had put on the outfit she'd picked for them as they made their way down the aisle of the auditorium of the concert hall the fripSide concert was being held in whilst they made their way to the seats.
Naru's words weren't exaggerations either. In fact, if anything they were an understatement! Her girlfriends looked positively divine in the outfit that consisted of a ivory striped jacquard patterned knit top with shoulder button details and a black brushed flap pocket straight slacks. It was casual as befit the event they were attending and yet elegant at the same time. And it fit Shu-chan's body like a glove even as Arisa-chan's carriage gave it just the extra something to make it transcend the realm of earthly beauty into something truly out of this world.
Argh! Must you be so over the top with your praise, Naru? I'd admit your mates look good in that, but they don't look that good!
Says you, Kurama! I meant every word!
I know, which honestly makes it worse. I am conjuring barf bags due to the sugar level.
Naru just blew a mental raspberry at her partner who in turn just sighed and retreated back into the deepest recesses of Naru's mind but not without making a passing shot as he did. Don't give yourself diabetes by being too sweet on your girls, alright!?
"Mm, that jean skirt really suits you. Hope it rides up well~" Arisa-chan said with a smoldering look. A look that very effectively pulled Naru's attention away from her partner to where it belonged, namely on her girlfriends.
"Rein in that libido, Arisa. And you too, Naru-chan." Shu-chan chided the singer and her girlfriend at once. Her face stern. "We're in public."
"Hai~!" Naru chorused alongside Arisa-chan in reply, causing Shu-chan to roll her eyes at them.
"By the way, Arisa is right, that skirt suits you." Shu-chan said with a smile. "As does that knit top. The yellow looks good on you."
"Thanks," Naru preened as she took a moment to admire the yellow short sleeve, round neck knit top and deep blue side slit denim skort that were her ensemble for the night.
Shuffling close to her girlfriends, she laced her fingers between theirs and smiled up at them. "Let's have a great time."
"Oh, we will." Arisa-chan assured her as they found the row with their seats and began squeezing their way towards them. "We're about to hear some great music and more importantly we're together, how could we not?"
"Arisa is right." Shu-chan agreed as they found and took their seats. "And if all goes well, we might even cap the night off with a trip back to my and Arisa's apartment where you can spend the night, Naru-chan."
"Now who's the one who should rein in her libido, Shutaura?" Arisa-chan said with a giggle even as Shu-chan blushed.
"Just because I said we shouldn't indulge in public doesn't mean I don't have needs too, Arisa. As my other half, you know this."
As her girlfriends bickered goodnaturedly, Naru closed her eyes, smiling in contentment at how blessed her life really was. It was good to be her right now. It truly was.
Like her fellow Trinity members, Mikoto took the threat of God's Right Seat seriously and following their examples had decided to take the time the Magicians had given them to spend some time with the people she cared about before they attacked and things inevitably got crazy. As such, she'd organized a meet up with the Sisters in the City, which had taken to calling themselves the Council of Misakas of all things.
"Kuroko, be on your best behavior, got it? Or else!" Mikoto warned her perverted roommate who she'd brought along for the meetup as the duo walked into the Underground Mall, part of the sections of the extensive underground tunnels under much of Academy City that had been converted into a shopping mall. Specifically, for today, the section in School District 7.
"Onee-sama, to assume I would be anything else." Kuroko said as she dramatically held a hand over her heart like Mikoto had just driven a stake through it. "You wound me."
Mikoto just cocked an eyebrow. "You're not exactly convincing me that my warning is unjustified right now."
"Onee-sama~!" Kuroko whined.
In response, Mikoto just nodded in the direction of the not insubstantial number of their fellow pedestrians that they shared the stairs leading down into the Underground Mall with who were shooting Kuroko strange looks at her odd behavior.
Essentially caught red handed, Kuroko blushed scarlet.
"Best behavior," Mikoto repeated.
"Hai, Onee-sama." Kuroko assured her sheepishly as they finished descending the stairs and walked into the Underground Mall proper. "So, ehem, where are we meeting up with the Sisters?"
"Military Otaku said they'd meet us at the Mall's Drawly Coffee," Mikoto said as she guided her roommate towards the aforementioned local branch of the international chain of cafes.
"Well it sounds lovely. Though I would have assumed she'd like a more underground type of shop instead of a chain." Kuroko hummed.
"Kuroko, we're literally underground." Mikoto said with a snort.
"You know what I mean, Onee-sama." Her kohai rolled her eyes.
"And yeah I do." Mikoto conceded. "But it's not like we're doing anything that merits us being clandestine. We're just a bunch of sisters meeting up to hang out."
"And the fact that the Sisters are your clones?"
Mikoto shrugged. "The existence of the Sisters and that they're my clones are open secrets by this point. Especially after the Clone Wars Incident. What's the point in trying to hide the fact?"
"I guess…" Kuroko said, unconvinced but clearly not feeling like debating the matter further.
"There they are," Mikoto said as she and Kuroko neared the cafe and she caught sight of her sisters seated around a table through the store's glass frontage. "Kuroko-"
"Best behavior. I know, Onee-sama. I know. I shall be chaste in all thoughts." The auburn haired girl said, hands clasped and Mikoto could imagine seeing a halo over her head.
She snorted.
Reassured that her roommate knew the score, Mikoto offered her sisters a wave that was returned by 10039 who had caught sight of her through the glass even as the [Railgun] pushed open the door to the cafe and stepped inside.
How did we end up here!? Mikoto couldn't help but think as she stepped out of the changing room in the boutique she, Kuroko and her sisters had ended up heading to after some catching up at Drawly Coffee.
"So how do I look?" The [Railgun] asked Genki Girl as she offered her sister a twirl to show off the formal dress she was trying on. It was a light blue embroidered gown which had a bateau neckline with a wrap detail, a fitted bodice cinched in an embellished accent and a skirt that flowed into a full length trumpet skirt with a sweep train finish.
"You look gorgeous, Onee-sama. Misaka gushes honestly." Mikoto's sister said, applauding lightly.
"Thanks, Genki Girl." Mikoto said, blushing at the praise. "So I should buy this one?"
"Misaka thinks so, Misaka opines joyfully. But Onee-sama should wait for the others' opinions too." Genki Girl said, tapping her chin consideringly.
"Yeah, that's true." Mikoto agreed. "Okay, I'll keep it on and wait for the others to come out and get their opinions. Why don't you try on the dress you picked out too." Mikoto added, gesturing to the dress hanging on a rack next to where her sister sat. "You can use my changing room."
"Good idea, Onee-sama. Misaka says with a grateful smile." Genki Girl replied as taking her prospective dress off the rack, she began making her way into Mikoto's recently vacated changing room. "Thank you, Onee-sama. Misaka adds."
"Don't mention it," Mikoto said, waving the thanks away with a smile even as she settled into the chair that Genki Girl had vacated, sitting carefully so as to avoid creasing the dress she was wearing.
Offering Mikoto one last smile, Genki Girl closed the dressing room door and got started changing.
"Onee-sama, you're done already? Misaka asks, surprised." 19090 asked, surprised, as she pushed open the door of her changing room in a platinum and gold dress with trailing vine embellishments festooned in glistening sequins and beads on meshed lace. A dress that showed off a jewel illusion over a sweetheart neckline with slim long sleeves, featured a circular open back, was handsomely cinched with a wide glimmering band, and ended in a sheath skirt in lace that flowed down divinely to a full-length hem and a subtle brush of train.
"Yep! Just wanted all of your opinions."
"Shall I make a poll on the Network? Misaka asks logically." 19090 suggested.
"If you want." Mikoto said with a shrug.
"It will save time, Misaka reasons." 19090 pointed out. "Outside of the Pre-ahem!Shirai-san, everyone here who might offer their opinions are linked to the Network. Even Onee-san is connected for the day. Misaka explains. So if we use the Network to poll the others, we need only wait for Shirai-san's opinion to give you an idea of our opinions. Misaka points out."
Oi, oi, no need to label Kuroko like that. Even if it holds a kernel of truth. The [Railgun] thought in amusement.
"Sure, go ahead then." Mikoto said with a nod as she stood and gave a twirl so 19090 could have a good look of her dress for the poll. "Though we wouldn't have this problem if we went to a store which had more changing rooms."
"You're being unreasonable, Onee-sama. Misaka scolds." Mecha Girl said as she exited her changing room in a sleeveless green bodycon dress with a scoop neckline and the appearance of a circuit board printed onto its fabric. "That a boutique like this has this many changing rooms is already something of a miracle. Misaka argues. And whilst offering an affordable and varied selection no less! Misaka adds."
"Man, you really pull off that dress. Looking good, imouto." Mikoto praised her sister with a grin.
"Hm, is this what narcissism is? Misaka jokingly wonders."
"Haha, 19090." Mikoto said in a deadpan. "So what were the poll results? Does the Network like my dress?"
"100% says it looks good on you, Onee-sama. 78% says you should buy it. 12% say you could do better. 8% are undecided. The remaining 2% are saying you should at least keep looking. Misaka reports." Military Otaku said as she stepped out of her changing room not in a dress like the rest of her sisters but a smart green skirt suit that was nearly identical to the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's (JGSDF) female officer's dress uniform.
"Isn't that because they commented unflattering-"
"We will not talk about that, Misaka firmly cuts off." Military Otaku replied, preventing Mecha Girl from finishing her sentence.
If it wouldn't give her a killer migraine, Mikoto would hop onto the network to see what was being said.
"It's not that bad, Onee-sama." Dolly chirped, clearly having guessed the direction Mikoto's thoughts had taken, as she exited her own stall in a simple but elegant watermelon colored one-shoulder dress featuring rhinestone accouterments, a relaxed fitting bodice with a natural waist, and a A-line floor length skirt. "They're mostly just complaining about how come we get to splurge on these fancy dresses."
"Ah, Dolly, looking super cute as always." She told her oldest sister, smiling softly at her clone. "And you can tell the complainers to go suck it. They aren't the ones who have to get a whole wardrobe of formalwear for Eden Corp events."
"To be fair Onee-sama, they have a right to complain. They do help with our contributions to Eden Corp as well." Dolly countered. "The whole Network pitches in computational power when we help them with their calculations. We're just the face of it really and only because we were lucky enough to be in the City unlike the rest of our sisters."
"I know, but it'd be a logistical nightmare to get them all here for a shopping trip." Mikoto replied as she crossed her arms and her brow knitted together as she pondered on the matter. "Maybe we could set up group trips for them? I mean, visiting shouldn't be too bad as long as it isn't all at once. I should be able to spend enough time with each Sister after all."
"Onee-sama is so nice, always thinking of us, Misaka praises." 19090 said with a giggle, looking at Mikoto like she was the epitome of a sister.
It made the Level 5 blush.
The door to one of the changing rooms opened and Neko-chan stepped out wearing a black strapless gown that featured a semi-sweetheart neckline with a fitted bodice and a tulle skirt that flowed into a ballgown silhouette which was accentuated with striped sequins.
"It's true, Onee-sama. Misaka assures." The cat loving sister said, offering Mikoto an earnest smile. "And what do you think about my dress, Onee-sama? Misaka asks."
"Mine too? Misaka asks.12873's outfit and 11132's dress as well? Misaka adds." 19090 asked, looking at Mikoto searchingly with Mecha Fan and Military Otaku both joining her in doing so. "Onee-sama gave her opinion on Onee-san's but not ours. Misaka points out."
"Oh right! You girls can query the Misaka Network for the other Sisters' opinion, but you need to ask me in person don't you?" Mikoto asked rhetorically even as her five sisters nodded. Mikoto chuckled at that response before replying. "Well, you all look good, imouto-chans."
All five of her sisters blushed prettily at that and Mikoto smiled indulgently, pleased that calling them her little sisters could engender such a reaction from them. She imagined they'd get used to it eventually but until they did, she'd savor every chance of eliciting such a cute response from such a simple thing.
"You all are so easy. Misaka observes teasingly." 10039 said with a chuckle as she took her turn to step out of her changing room in a iridescent orchid colored sleeveless sheath gown decorated by embroidered appliques with the appearance of stones on tulle and cracked ice, a plunging V-neck, a natural waist, a lace up back, a front slit, and a sweep train.
"Like you do not want Onee-sama's opinion, 10039? Misaka accuses." Military Otaku snapped.
"I never said that! Misaka hisses in denial." 10039 said, shooting Mikoto an expectant look.
"And that dress suits you, 10039." Mikoto informed her sister honestly, causing 10039 to preen for a moment before turning to glare at Military Otaku who returned the look wholeheartedly.
"Military Otaku-chan, 10039-chan, no fighting." Dolly countered, wagging a finger at the two as they glared at each other.
Both sisters flinched at the rebuke even as 19090 and Mecha Girl smirked at the two being scolded. A scene that had Mikoto rolling her eyes at her sisters' antics.
"Yes, let's not fight and upset Onee-sama on this rare chance for us to spend time with her. Misaka pleads." Tsundere said chidingly as she exited her changing room in a lemon colored strapless gown with a straight neckline. A dress with a bodice formed with princess seams for a structured fit while a rhinestone embellished belt added sparkle to the dress. The skirt featured fine pleats with concealed hip pockets on both sides, and immaculately created a grand A-line silhouette that finished in a floor length hem.
Preempting her sister's question, Mikoto turned to Tsundere and gave her a look up and down before offering her a pleased nod.
"You're looking beautiful, Tsundere."
"Thank you, Onee-sama. Misaka says with a smile." Tsundere said with a blush. "But what do you think Naru-sama would say? Misaka questions."
"10287's blonde fetish is showing again, Misaka complains." Mecha Girl said with a dramatic sigh.
Tsundere looked ready to burst into tears, "11132 is cruel to call her love a fetish, Misaka stomps her foot petulantly."
"There, there, Tsundere-chan." Dolly said, pulling Tsundere into a comforting hug. "But you do know Namikaze-sama has a pair of girlfriends, right?
Tsundere held her cheeks, looking away. "Misaka does not mind being a concubine. Misaka says while blushing at the thought."
"And what does Namikaze-sama and her girlfriends say about that? Misaka presses." 19090 countered with a frown.
"Misaka is still drafting the proposal… Misaka says, explaining away her hesitance with procrastination."
Mikoto shook her head at that. Science help me. Tsundere is totally smitten. How am I going to convince her that Naru is never going to accept her as more than a friend? Or that her two girlfriends might go for the throat for even trying to steal their girlfriend?
"Just leave it to us, Onee-sama. Misaka assures." Neko-chan whispered to Mikoto as she saddled up to her side. "As one of Namikaze-sama's best friends, 10287 will think you're biased. Misaka reasons. You'd be torn between your sister and your best friend after all. Misaka adds. We'd be more unbiased. Misaka points out."
Ah, these sisters of mine. They really know how to handle stuff. Mikoto smiled as a blossom of pride swelled within her. She patted Neko-chan on the head, making the Sister blush at the action. "Thank you, Neko-chan."
"Eh! Mikoto-san? Dolly-san, Neko-san, Military Otaku-san, Mecha Girl-san, Tsundere-san 19090-san, 10039-san? What are you all doing here?" The unexpected voice of Kazari-chan said from the entryway that separated the changing rooms area from the rest of the boutique.
Turning towards her, Mikoto found the perpetually flower crown wearing computer wiz standing there looking at her and her sisters whilst holding up a dress on a hanger.
"The same thing you are, I'd imagine, Uiharu-sama. Misaka notes." 19090 said after everyone had exchanged greetings with the new arrival, pointing at the dress that Kazari-chan was carrying with her. "We're here to pick out formalwear for formal events which we will be required to attend as key figures in Eden Corp. Misaka explains. And this boutique is famous throughout the City for having a varied selection of quality formalwear at an affordable price. Misaka adds."
"19090, why does all that sound more like something Conspiracy Nut would figure out?" Mikoto asked with a cocked eyebrow. Sure, it wasn't all that hard to conclude but to do so as quickly and easily as she had seemed like something more like her aforementioned sister would be capable of than 19090.
"13577 asked me to speak on her behalf whilst she finished changing. Misaka explains with a shrug." 19090 admitted.
Ah! That makes more sense.
"Well, Conspiracy Nut-san is right." Uiharu admitted without shame as she walked over. "Formalwear isn't cheap. I know I had to get some for Eden Corp functions but I want to avoid paying through my nose for it, hence getting it here. Though it's still a coincidence we all ended up with the idea to go shop for it on the same day."
"Sometimes coincidences just happen, Uiharu-sama. Misaka points out. Please don't become like 13577 and start seeing connections everywhere even when there are none. Misaka pleads." Military Otaku said with a frown.
Kazari-chan chuckled at that. "I promise I won't. But as a Judgment agent some healthy skepticism is a good thing. Anyways, any changing room I can use? You girls look like you're using all of them."
"Oh, you can use mine, Uiharu-san!" Dolly offered before any of Mikoto's other sisters could. "My clothes are still inside but other than that, it's all yours."
"Thank you, Dolly-san. You sure you don't want to change out of your dress first? Or take your clothes out?"
Dolly shook her head and released Tsundere, who had long since calmed down but had refused to let go until now, before she walked over to Kazari-chan and began lightly pushing her towards her empty changing room. "No worries. I trust that you won't mess with my clothes."
"Of course not. Thank you." Kazari-chan beamed, skipping into the changing room.
She had barely latched the door when that of the room next to hers swung open and Sentai-chan walked out sporting a purple lolita style one piece dress with white trim, a laced up bodice, a white inner skirt, black ribbons and black star shaped accourturements that hung from the hem of the outer skirt.
Mikoto cocked an eyebrow at the frankly overly elaborate dress. Sentai-chan's selection was really over the top. Even more so than Military Otaku's. Hers might be borderline cosplay with how close it looked to a JGSDF dress uniform but it was functionally still just a fashionable formal skirt suit and could be played off as such, but Sentai-chan's choice didn't even have that excuse! It was cosplay!
"Hm, hm! Misaka preens. Since Sentai-eque attire isn't a thing here apparently, Mahou Shoujo is the next best! Misaka declares boldly~!"
And she twirled on top of that. This sister of hers… Mikoto couldn't help but smile at her.
Sadly, her other sisters weren't quite as accommodating.
"14091… Don't you know the meaning of moderation? Misaka chides in exasperation." Military Otaku, of all people, said, palming her forehead. "Even Misaka showed some restraint. Misaka points out."
"12873 is right, 14091. It is a little… Much. Misaka says gently, wary of hurting her sister's feelings." Neko-chan said nervously even as the other present Sisters, save Dolly, nodded their agreement.
"Uwa, Misaka cries out! My sisters are always so mean and brutal, Misaka tearfully looks to Onee-sama for protection!" Sentai-chan said as she turned towards Mikoto with a pout.
"It's not that bad," Mikoto said encouragingly as Dolly nodded.
"Yeah, it's a little over the top and some might even call it childish. But I think it's cute and if you like it then that's all that matters. Anyone else's opinion doesn't matter." Dolly added, pulling Sentai-chan into a hug. - It seemed her eldest little sister was a hugger, who knew? - "If anyone at an event gives you flak just let Onee-san know. She'll have Misaki-chan give them nightmares for a whole month!"
"Dolly, please don't abuse your relationship with Shokuhou like that." Mikoto said with a sigh, before turning her attention back to Sentai-chan. "But really, if anyone gives you lip for this dress or your hobbies or whatever, let me know. I'll sort them out."
"Eh? But Misaki-chan always says to call her if people are being mean. She'd make them reasonable again."
…That was a can of worms Mikoto was not touching. Ever!
"Okay… Change of topic." Mikoto said hastily. Too hastily if her sisters' smirks were any indication. The brats. "Does anyone else need help in there?"
She looked to the changing rooms, desperate for a yes.
"No, Onee-sama. Misaka replies with a laugh." 13579 said with a giggle as she pushed open the door to her changing room to show off her navy blue sleeveless tulle sheath gown with crystal beading and stone accents, a sweetheart neckline, natural waist, and a sweep train. "But what do you think, Onee-sama? Misaka asks curiously."
"You look stunning, 13579. Just like all your sisters." Mikoto said honestly, earning smiles from all of them present, even Sentai-chan who was still sniffling a little in Dolly's arms.
"You keep saying that, Onee-sama. Misaka notes suspiciously." Genki Girl said as she exited the stall that Mikoto had offered her earlier, now dressed in the chic dusty blue one shoulder dress with a hi-lo hem that she'd picked out.
"But… Misaka stalls to ponder. Does it make Onee-sama narcissistic since she thinks we all look good? Misaka asks while frowning. Since we are all clones of Onee-sama? Misaka points out."
"Gah!" Mikoto felt struck in the chest upon realizing the real possibility of what Genki Girl said being true. "Th-That's-!"
At her stammering, all the Sisters looked at her. Their faces blank as if they were polling a yes or no from the Network.
"Yes, but we are empowered by looking good. Misaka explains with a smug look." Conspiracy Nut said as she pushed open the door to her changing room. "Thus Onee-sama looks good by proxy, Misaka waves away Onee-sama's budding narcissism."
"I-I don't have budding anything!" Mikoto complained with a grumpy pout on her face as she turned to her sister who was wearing a dark gray Brunswick style dress with a bright pink inner lining and ribbons.
"Yes, Misaka agrees, looking slightly enviously at Onee-sama's chest. Onee-sama is in full bloom now thanks to Bust Upper." Conspiracy Nut said with a slight disapproving frown.
"Don't be catty, 13577. Misaka chides." 13579 said, crossing her arms over her chest. A chest that Mikoto noted had grown quite substantially since Mikoto had first met her. Her sister's boobs weren't quite as big as her own Bust Upper enhanced breasts but they were certainly in the same league. "Just because your chest isn't growing as much as you like doesn't mean you should take it out on Onee-sama. Misaka said, defending Onee-sama loyally."
"Tch, big words coming from the cheater, Misaka scorns." Mecha Girl scoffed.
"Actually 13579's boobs are entirely natural. Misaka admits. She didn't even use Bust Upper." Conspiracy Nut said with a pout.
"Misaka still calls shenanigans! Misaka insists" Mecha Girl said with tears in the corner of her eyes as she looked at 13579's boobs enviously.
"How did you manage it, 13579?" Dolly asked curiously.
"Trade secret, Misaka winks, a finger to her lips like a mystery character from a novel."
Dolly pouted and predictably 13579 caved.
"I actually don't know. Misaka admits. They just kept growing. It's only been a couple months and I've already had to change the size of my bras three times! Misaka laments." 13579 said with a sigh. "I'm thinking I need to schedule an appointment with Heaven Canceler-sensei. Misaka said, worriedly."
13579's genuine worry silenced her sisters' breast envy and they shot her concerned looks.
Well, all except Conspiracy Nut who just scoffed. "No need for that, 13579. Misaka said, waving a hand dismissively. The reason is simple enough to decipher if you read your medical file.-"
"Conspiracy Nut, do I want to know how and why you've read 13579's medical file?"
Ignoring Mikoto, Conspiracy Nut pulled a tablet out of the folds of her voluminous skirt. Something that neatly explained why she'd chosen such a vintage style dress. Its sheer volume would give her plenty of space to hide the multitude of spy equipment and weapons she seemed to carry everywhere she went.
"-it's clear that it is due to the environmentally influenced expression of certain genes. Misaka explained." Conspiracy Nut said, handing the tablet, presumably with the relevant section of 13579's medical file on display, to her aforementioned sister. "Something in your environment, either at your school or dorm, is causing your bust to grow much larger than the rest of us Sisters. Misaka concludes. Heaven Canceler's team is already trying to narrow the influencing factor down to make sure it's not harmful, though based on your physicals it seems unlikely so it's a low priority. Misaka added."
"Can we convince him to make it a bigger priority? Misaka queries curiously. Misaka would like to have a bust like 13579 too. Misaka admits shamelessly." Military Otaku, of all people, said with a light blush, causing everyone to look at her in shock and prompting her to reply defensively. "What! Misaka hisses. Misaka wants to look womanly too! Misaka admits."
"I think you look pretty." Dolly told her sister with a smile as she patted Military Otaku on the head. "We all grow at our own pace! No need to rush."
Aw, leave it to Dolly to wrangle her sisters into calming down.
"And for those who can't wait, there's always Bust Upper." Mikoto pointed out with a shrug. "I can vouch for it being safe."
"Misaka will consider it. Misaka admits." Military Otaku said with a nod.
"Just let me know if you decide you want to use it. I'll get Ruiko to give you an Indian Poker card loaded with it." Mikoto assured her sister. "Same for anyone of you who wants one. Let the others on the Network know it applies to them too. That said, there are limits to how many cards we can realistically provide for free at any given time so-"
"The Network understands, Onee-sama. Misaka says with a nod." Mecha Girl said with a nod that all her sisters shared, with Military Otaku simultaneously offering her a grateful smile as she did. "Based on polls previously listed on the matter on the Network, there will be substantial interest at the offer but it is within reasonable limits. Misaka explains. If there are insufficient Indian Poker cards, we can share the information we learn via the Network even if the transfer is imperfect as it is with most hands on skills, it should be effective enough. Misaka adds. Either way, we will forward you the details at a later date after a more formal poll. Misaka adds. Or should we just ask Saten-sama via 20001? Misaka asks, consideringly."
"Better not do that," Dolly said with a shake of her head. "Saten-sama likes to keep Order-chan as pure as possible. To preserve her innocence. If you get her involved, Saten-sama will be upset."
"Onee-san is right. Misaka agrees with a nod." Conspiracy Nut said with a nod. "Leave 20001 out of this. Misaka urges."
"Yeah, just forward me the details. I'll pass them on to Ruiko." Mikoto assured Mecha Girl.
"Understood, Onee-sama. Misaka acquiesces."
Further conversation was halted when Kuroko exited her changing room and triumphantly declared, "Onee-sama! I have evolved!"
She was sporting a black dress with a deep V-neck neckline that showed off her bust to almost scandalous levels, but something like that was just par for the course with Kuroko. The dress' low cut was paired excellently with its short sleeve style and its fitted bodice led into a crystallized waistband and a mini skirt that was snug against the hips that ended in a hemline above her knees.
"Ah, I had struggled with so many dresses, but Onee-sama, this one no doubt best shows my beauty and majesty!" Her roommate flaunted as she did a pretty twirl and struck a pose that she no doubt thought was 'alluring'.
"Kuroko, stand straight." She chided, but still managed to smile for her. "It looks lovely though."
"Kyaa~ I knew it, this would surely set Onee-sama's passion ablaze! Just as expected of my tastes~" Kuroko said, cupping her cheeks and gushing as she twisted side to side in glee.
The things she did for her kohai…
"Um, I'm ready!" Kazari-chan said, nervously poking her head out of the changing room.
"Well, come on out and show us, Kazari-chan." Mikoto gently encouraged the usual shy girl.
"O-Okay!"
Mikoto had glimpsed Kazari-chan's dress when she'd brought it into the changing rooms area earlier but seeing it being carried on a hanger and it being worn by her friend were two completely different things. The dress was a floral-printed pale pink with frothy pleated ruffles and silk organza that was accentuated by black and gold tasseled straps and a graceful off-the-shoulder neckline, and which descended to a fitted waist and a flared tiered skirt. And it made Kazari-chan look fantastic!
Combined with the crown of plastic flowers that the computer whiz always wore, it made the petite girl look like some kind of nature goddess. One that would certainly steal the eyes and hearts of many a person when she showed it off at events.
"You look like Persephone, Uiharu-sama. Misaka notes with a gasp." Neko-chan said, looking mesmerized by Kazari-chan.
"Th-That kind of comparison is wasted on me!" The wonder hacker fretted, cheeks a rosy pink. If it was possible, steam would be pouring out of her ears from how flustered she looked.
"No, Neko-chan is being honest here, Uiharu-chan." Dolly said, shaking her head. "You look incredible! You should wear stuff like this more often!"
Dolly's words had Kazari-chan blushing even harder, even more so since it prompted the floodgates of praise to open and for Kuroko and Mikoto's other sisters to begin also showering her with their positive opinions. Not wanting to be left out, Mikoto also added her honest thoughts on the matter.
"I think you might be the prettiest of us here today, Kazari-chan."
"I can't believe you passed out, Kazari." Mikoto heard Kuroko tease Kazari-chan as she walked back to their table with their drinks that she'd gone over to pick up for them from the counter of the cafe they'd retreated to after finishing their purchases at the dress shop. It was only the three of them left, Mikoto's sisters having headed home after they'd finished paying for their dresses. Sadly, as much as they wanted to spend more time together, her sisters had their own lives to lead and had other things to attend to.
"I-I couldn't help it! So many ojou-samas attacked me at once. I didn't stand a chance!"
"Please rephrase that statement…"
"I was surrounded, their words like arrows to my heart! I could only hold out for so long! Kya!"
"Please. Please stop talking." Kuroko said, sounding exasperated beyond belief.
Ignoring her, Kazari-chan kept going. "Besides, I only passed out for a few seconds. I didn't even finish toppling to the ground before I snapped out of it and caught myself."
"And we're glad for it. You had us worried for a second. Though, I've got to say, I don't think praising you on how you look in your dress is an attack, Kazari-chan." Mikoto noted with an amused snort as she reached their table and began distributing their drinks. "Besides, since when did my sisters become ojou-samas?"
"You're an ojou-sama, Mikoto-san, so of course your sisters are as well." Kazari-chan said with a shrug as Mikoto took her seat. "And okay, maybe attack is too harsh a word to describe it, but really it was all too much! My maidenly heart is fragile, you know."
"You really do think too little of yourself if you think that's the case." Kuroko said with a shake of her head as she picked up her drink. "You're a pretty girl, Kazari. A little praise shouldn't overwhelm you like that."
"I don't know about pretty." Kazari-chan said hesitantly and with a blush. "Especially not when compared to beauties like Konori-senpai, Naru-san, Ruiko-san and Mikoto-san but I know I'm not ugly."
"Um, Kazari, w-where am I on that list?" Kuroko asked, stunned.
"You're definitely prettier than me Kuroko-san, but can you really say we can compare to those four beauties?"
Kuroko frowned but didn't dispute that statement.
Mikoto though could.
"I'm flattered you consider me prettier than you, Kazari-chan, but it's not true. You're plenty pretty in your own right."
"Maybe," Kazari-chan said, picking up her drink and sipping at it for a moment before continuing. "But I'm not as elegant or beautiful as an ojou-sama like yourself, Ruiko-san and Naru-san and there's no comparing me to someone like Konori-senpai. At best, I'm average compared to you girls."
"Even if that's true, and I'm not saying it is, average girls have their own charms." Kuroko argued chidingly. "And like I said, you're not average, Kazari. Not by any means."
"I've gotta agree with Kuroko here, Kazari-chan." Mikoto said with a nod. "Every girl that isn't an outright slob and doesn't take care of herself, and even then there might be exceptions there, has their own charm points. Like for myself, I'm sporty-"
"A real tomboy princess." Kuroko said in a dreamy tone that in another situation would have earned her an electric shock but in this case Mikoto replied with only a kick to the shin under the table.
"Ow!"
Ignoring her roommate, Mikoto continued. "As for Konori-senpai, she's got that mature girl next door thing going for her. Plus a hint of danger that comes from her being both a Judgment agent and a former Skill-Out."
"Having a killer figure doesn't hurt." Kazari-chan chimed in with a grin.
"That too," Mikoto agreed with a chuckle. "And then there's Naru who is the unattainable model. You call her an ojou-sama but like me, she doesn't play that up so even though we're both Tokiwadai students and we are generally classed as such, I don't think that's as big a part of our appeal as you think."
"That's true…" Kazari-chan allowed with a tiny pout on her face.
"And then there's Ruiko… Who honestly is a mess when it comes to her public image. On one hand, she's both a legitimate ojou-sama now, more so than Naru or I, and is playing that aspect up. But on the other hand, among other aspects, there's still the lingering reputation of her days as [The Robot]."
"I think people are describing it as her ice queen phase nowadays actually." Kuroko corrected. "At least that's what I've heard."
"Yeah, her fans in Cult Mechanicus are really pushing that idea." Kazari-chan nodded.
"Yeah, but people also remember her going on a rampage during the Mercenary Terrorist Incident, so she's sometimes labelled a righteous killer or if you're generous, a bloody defender of the peace too. Not helped at all by her dating Accelerator, who has a bloody reputation all his own."
"Then there's how it's an open secret that they've practically adopted Janie-chan, Frenda-chan and Order-chan." Kazari-chan said with a nod. "So she's got a little of a mum thing going on too."
"Exactly," Kuroko said with a nod. "So even if you ignore our earlier examples of Konori-senpai, Naru-san and Onee-sama, just taking Ruiko-san into account you can see what we're trying to say, can't you, Kazari?"
Kazari-chan frowned but nodded. "Yeah, we each have sides of us that make us charming. I guess mine is being able to look like a nature goddess?"
"I wouldn't be quite so specific," Mikoto said with a smirk. "Just that you look good when you play to your strengths as an innocent cutie."
Suddenly Mikoto's name was being shouted from the cafe counter followed by the staff there declaring that their cake order was ready.
"I'll get it." Kuroko said before teleporting away, leaving Mikoto and Kazari-chan alone.
"So you're good, Kazari-chan?"
"Yup," Kazari-chan assured her. "I'm with two of my closest friends and cake is on the way, how could I not be okay?"
On a rather overcast morning a week after news of God's Right Seat's mobilization got Ruiko all panicked and much to Accelerator's annoyance, and though he'd never admit it to anyone, and trepidation as well, he stood outside of the campus of Keigan Academy - Elementary School Division, or Keigan Elementary for short, with Ruiko, Janie, Febrie, and Last Order. Why was his family there? Well, that was because at Yomikawa's insistence, and relentless pestering, he and Ruiko had finally decided to allow the oldest of their brats to at least try to attend normal school.
"I want you to be on your best behavior, you hear me, Order-chan?" Ruiko ordered the Sister they'd adopted as she combed the younger girl's hair in a motherly gesture and tidied it a little, though it had looked fine to Accelerator's eyes beforehand.
"Yes, Mama." Order-chan promised in a tone that told her father she was going to at least try to keep her word. It was a very different tone than the one she used when she replied to his orders to her. Like all three of his daughters, Order-chan was very much a Mummy's Girl.
"Listen to Mama, Order-nee. But have fun too." Janie encouraged her elder sister.
"Un. Un." Febrie added, nodding enthusiastically and causing her ahoge to adorably bounce up and down. "Have fun, Order-nee!"
"What Ruiko and the twins said, Shortstuff." Accelerator told her with a head pat. "But don't take any crap from anyone."
This mussed up her hair a little and Ruiko shot him a disapproving look as he undid her work of the last few minutes and she was forced to rectify what he'd done. Maybe that's why she decided to totally contradict him.
"Don't listen to your Papa," Ruiko told their eldest. "Don't pick fights. If anyone does give you trouble, disengage and go inform the teachers right away. If it's the teachers or staff giving you trouble, call me. I'll settle it."
Order-chan, the brat, just rolled her eyes at all their advice. "Papa, Mama, you're being overprotective. Misaka Misaka whines. Last Order will be fine. Misaka Misaka assures them."
Accelerator just snorted at this whilst Ruiko just offered the girl a smile before she finished fixing her hair and leaned in to kiss her forehead.
"We'll be going now, Order-chan." Ruiko said as she pulled away and stood up from the crouch she'd been in as she adjusted the littlest Sister's hair. "See you later."
"See you later, Order-nee~!" The twins chirped in cute chorus as they waved with their free hands even as they stretched out their others to allow Ruiko to slip her hands into.
"Take care, Shortstuff." Accelerator told his daughter, idly letting his Redirection deflect an air bullet Ruiko shot his way even as he got the message and added something encouraging. "Try and have fun."
The smile that Last Order offered him at that as she returned the twins' waves told him that like usual his better half had been right and he couldn't help but smile back.
"See you later, Papa. Mama, Janie-chan, Febrie-chan!" Last Order said, that grin still on her face as with one last enthusiastic wave she turned and raced off towards the Keigan Elementary campus' main building.
Accelerator and the remainder of his little family watched her disappear into the building before Ruiko looked down to their twins with a smile.
"Let's go take you two to daycare, shall we?"
This was met with happy cheers from the nearly identical blondes as they began skipping and dragging Ruiko towards their daycare, chattering away all the while about how much fun they'd be having today. All whilst Accelerator trailed after them contentedly, though not without the occasional nervous glance back at Keigan Elementary.
I hope Shortstuff has a good day.
When the recess bell rang, Last Order fluttered with nervousness as she looked around her classroom. She didn't know anyone yet. Statistically, a new student had a hard time fitting into cliques, even at her tender age. Well, apparent age anyways. She appeared and was legally ten years old, but chronologically she was only about two and in terms of subjective experience, thanks to her connection to her sisters via the Misaka Network, she was decades older.
And her fears over becoming one of those statistics was causing her mind to wander.
That's just great… She thought with a mental groan and she began trying to smother her anxiety.
She was still in the middle of doing that when a group of girls from her class came up to her.
Wait, is this the bully scene? Last Order thought nervously. She was the new girl, clearly an unknown threat! And based on the experience and much of the media that she and her sisters across the Misaka Network had accumulated and read, there was always some kind of confrontation of the new girl by one of the established cliques. Most times, in real life at least, it ended alright but not always…
I really hope this doesn't end up like how it did with 18773. Last Order thought with a mental shudder at how that particular Sister's experience with the scene that was about to befall her had ended up in a brawl. Yes, she and the delinquent girls that had confronted her had become the best of friends afterwards but Last Order didn't want a fight. At her Mama and Yomikawa-san's insistence, she hadn't brought the combat multitool that Papa had got her as a self-defense weapon.
It probably won't come to a fight. These girls don't seem the type to get physical. 18773 said comfortingly, apparently having caught on to Last Order's thoughts about her as she inadvertently broadcasted them across the Misaka Network in a fit of nerves. At best they'll tease you.
Yeah, at worst they'll probably just throw insults at you. 10032, or as Misuzu-okaasan dubbed her, Neko-chan, agreed. But if a fight happens…
We'll be there in a flash. 12873, aka Military Otaku, assured her as the other Academy City Sisters expressed their agreement.
Thank you. Last Order told her sisters gratefully.
"Eeh, so you're the one that was with the Level 5s this morning, right? Right?" One of the girls asked in a snooty tone, as Last Order pulled away from the Network slightly to focus on her surroundings.
"Um, yes. Misaka Misaka nods as it was fairly obvious on her arrival." Last Order replied, feeling a little confused at why the other girl was asking such a silly question.
"So are they your older siblings or something? I mean, it's cool that they dropped you off." Another girl, a far nicer person if her tone was any indication, questioned.
"No no, Misaka Misaka shakes her head negatively. They are Last Order's Mama and Papa."
"Eh? Seriously!" The last girl said as she very rudely laughed. "What? Was she like two when she had you? Gross~!"
"Um, no, that's not scientifically possible, Misaka Misaka points out as she wonders about your education as she defends her family. You see, Last Order is adopted and-"
She was still mid-sentence when she suddenly got several urgent pings from the Misaka Network. A flood of "Cease"s, "Desist"s, "Exploitation"s and variations thereof filled her mental inbox from her sisters across the Network. Even Onee-san had chimed in, though her message had included a threat to call in Shokuhou-sama to punish the girls talking to Last Order that the girl in question had to hastily tell her was unnecessary. Last Order was sure these girls wouldn't survive a meeting with [Mental Out].
Struggling to see what all the fuss was about, Last Order brushed her sisters' warnings aside. As students in Academy City, certainly children her age should be able to understand the situation she was in if it was properly explained to them, correct?
They were all educated individuals after all.
She continued not even a millisecond after her initial halt, as if she had to take a breath. "-I am a Sister clone of the Number 5, and was happily adopted by Mama and Papa."
"Oh, that's sweet." The nice girl said, even as the others' faces twisted in distaste.
"The Number 3 adopted you, a ten year old, when she's only twelve? Really? Pull my other leg!" The snooty girl said with a snort.
"Yeah, you're nothing but her and the Number 1's charity case, is all!" The rude girl added.
"Hey, that's-" The nice girl began only to be silenced when the other two girls glared at her.
Last Order meanwhile was preparing to explain further how age wasn't an obstacle to love and despite the former, she loved her Mama as a mother and so that was what she was to her despite their relatively close ages and what the law said. It was how Mama had coached her to respond to such questions after all. But as the flood of warnings from the Network surged again, this time she decided to at least hear them out before replying to her classmates.
Why are all of you telling me to ignore them?
It's because they don't want to know what you're about to tell them, 20001.
That's silly and illogical. They presented an argument, and I am trying to give a counter argument!
They don't care, 20001. Onee-san told her with a huffy emoji. I can get a ride to come pick you up. I am super duper mad!
And now the Network was being filled with angry emojis and supportive cat GIFs to make her feel better. Last Order honestly didn't know what to make of it. What was even going on!?
It's like this, 13577, otherwise known as Conspiracy Nut, said in an exasperated voice. Your situation is not difficult to decipher, 20001. It's pretty much an open secret. These girls don't care about it. They are just making fun of you.
…So I'm just something to make fun of…
Yes. 13577 confirmed with an angry huff.
I wanna go home. Last Order declared to the Network.
"And your verbal tic… "Misaka Misaka says"? I know all you Sisters have one, I've run across some of your fellow clones before. But don't they usually just go "Misaka says"?" The snotty girl said with a smirk.
"Yeah, they do. So that you go "Misaka Misaka" means you're doubly defective as a human, doesn't it?" The rude girl added.
"That's too far!" The nice girl shouted, glaring at the two bullies.
"You should be quiet. You always yap!" The snooty girl snapped with a hiss.
Ignoring all three girls, Last Order just stood up and picked up her unopened bento lunch that Mama had lovingly prepared for her this morning. This prompted all three girls to look at her but continuing to ignore them, with bento box in hand, Last Order began leaving the classroom to search for a teacher. Her Mama had told her to seek their help if she ran into trouble and she was going to follow her mother's advice.
"Where do you think you're going?" The snooty girl demanded as she stepped in front of Last Order, blocking her way.
"Going to find a teacher to tell them about your and your friend's harassment and to find a quiet place to have my recess. Misaka Misaka announces fearlessly. Get out of my way. Misaka Misaka demands."
The snooty girl looked defiant but the nice girl proved she wasn't just all talk and grabbed the other girl's arm and pulled her out of Last Order's way.
"Leave her alone!" She hissed at her belligerent classmates before quickly glancing at Last Order. "Go! I'll keep them from following you."
Nodding her thanks at the nice girl, Anno Fumiki-san if she remembered from the morning roll call correctly, Last Order promptly left the classroom even as the sounds of a scuffle broke out behind her. She ignored it. She had a teacher and a place to eat her bento to hunt down.
Precisely one minute before Keigan Elementary's end of day bell rang, Ruiko arrived at its front gates via teleport to pick up Order-chan from her first day at school. She had to ditch some of her afternoon classes to make it, but it was a small price to pay to pick up her daughter from her first day of school. She could get notes for her missed classes from Naru-chan. They were classmates after all.
She smiled, seeing Accel already there, looking like the cool type of Papa. All he needed was a motorcycle and a leather jacket.
"What's with that look?"
Ruiko just smiled at her boyfriend enigmatically. If it had been a few weeks back she'd have told him and enjoyed seeing him get all flustered, but she was an ojou-sama now and she had a reputation to uphold. Confessing to how steamy she found her man was detrimental to that. Besides, if the way he adjusted his collar nervously was any indication, Accel figured out the answer to his own question easily enough.
A fact that brought a mischievous smile to Ruiko's lips. She was totally going to tease him about this later, maybe leverage it into something spicy~. Accel probably realized the direction her thoughts had taken because he began fidgeting more nervously and began looking around anxiously. But sadly there was nothing there to save him.
Thankfully for him, before he succumbed fully to his discomfort, the Keigan Elementary bell rang. Turning to the school compound, Ruiko saw children file out, including a grumpy Last Order who raced towards Ruiko.
Several worries filled her mind at the sight of her daughter and her frown. Did she not make friends? Was she bullied? Was the teacher too harsh? Was her bento bad?!
Worries that spiked as Last Order crashed into her, and she only avoided toppling over with some telekinesis, and pressed her face into her stomach as she wrapped her arms around her waist. Ruiko reached down to hug her back, shooting a worried look at Accel.
"Order-chan, what happened?" Ruiko asked her daughter worriedly.
"Last Order wants to go home. Misaka Misaka whines."
There was an urgency to Order-chan's tone that as her mother, Ruiko simply couldn't ignore. Thus even though she really wanted to know what had upset her eldest so she could fix it, she instead nodded and whilst patting the girl's back comfortingly, turned to Accel.
"Call Shinobu-san." Ruiko ordered her boyfriend. "Tell her to go pick up the twins. We're taking Order-chan home now."
A furious looking Accel nodded and moved to obey even as Ruiko bent down to pick up her eldest daughter with the help of some super strength and holding her close, teleported them both back towards Accel's apartment. Patting and kissing the girl in comfort all the while.
"I'm going to kill them all!" Aiho heard Accelerator declare with ominous sincerity as Order-chan finished describing her awful first day at school as they sat around the dining table in her apartment.
Aiho honestly expected the boy's daughters - Yes, the twins were there too. Shinobu-san had brought them over at Saten-san's orders after picking them up from their daycare - to dissuade him but instead they looked supportive of the idea. Heck! They looked practically eager!
"And I'll help." Saten-san added predictably. Aiho knew that she would be getting no help convincing Accelerator to be reasonable from the little family's mother. "If what Dolly-chan texted me about what happened over LINE is true, and I don't doubt it, Order-chan was playing down how bad it was."
Then again maybe I shouldn't be surprised, considering who their parents are. Aiho thought with a long suffering sigh. Why did she have to saddle herself with helping to look after this family of violent crazies again? Oh right! Because she was a responsible adult and had a conscience, both of which were rarities in this City.
"Onee-san texted Mama about what happened? Misaka Misaka asks, surprised."
"Yeah, she was worried you'd sugarcoat things. Which you did. If only a little." Saten-san said, looking at her eldest sternly. "She wanted us to know the real picture so we could make a truly informed decision on how to proceed."
"And whatever that is, you aren't killing anyone." Aiho cut in. "You're talking about little kids here!"
"Tch, as if you could stop me." Accelerator spat out with a snarl. "They ain't kids, they're little devils."
"Yeah! Our schoolmates can be mean sometimes too, but never that mean!" Janie-chan chimed in with a massive frown as her twin nodded in furious agreement. "Are we sure Order-nee's classmates weren't actual devils?"
"No, they were just kids." Kikyo said with a shake of her head. "Kids can be cruel."
"Not that cruel!" Febrie-chan insisted, bouncing up and down. "They were just-"
"They can be," Shinobu-san cut in, putting quelling hands on the twins' shoulders. "Not all kids. But when they choose to be, kids can be very cruel indeed."
To Aiho's surprise, the twins looked ready to continue arguing the point. It was rare that the Chemicaloids ever disagreed with their nanny but it seemed when it came to family, their feelings trumped even that bond.
"Enough." Aiho said, cutting off the twins, turning to look at their parents. "Curel or not, like hell you two are harming little kids. Don't care what blackmail and stuff you have. You do this, you're ending up in the Reformatory. You know how people react to hurting little kids."
Accelerator snorted. "Hasn't stopped the City."
Saten-san nodded, but more hesitantly. "Accelerator is right, morality in the City doesn't care about whether you're a little kid or not. But I see your point, Yomikawa-san. Escaping punishment for hurting elementary school children is expensive."
Aiho frowned at the, sady true, observation that targeting little kids in the City was totally an escapable offense if you had the resources to cover it up/pay for it. But she nevertheless was pleased that said cost was able to get Saten-san to at least start to see reason.
"So you're not going to target Order-chan's classmates?"
"Ex-classmates," Saten-san said, her eyes glowing with a rainbow color light. "There's no way I'm sending Order-chan back there after this. I'm pulling her out right now. That's the least I will accept if I am being denied retribution."
"Aren't you overreacting, Saten-san?" Kikyo tried. "Didn't one of Order-chan's classmates, Anno-san, come by just now to apologize? Isn't that enough?"
"No," Accelerator hissed. "Nowhere near enough. Just because one brat isn't a monster doesn't absolve the others."
"It was a nice card." Febrie-chan commented.
"Kitty pretty." Jaine-chan agreed with a sagely nod.
"Fumiki-chan is nice, Misaka Misaka admits." Order-chan said, clutching the card tight to her chest.
"Okay, say you pull Order-chan out of Keigan then," Kikyo persisted. "What will you do about her education afterwards?"
"She should just be homeschooled like I suggested all along." Shinobu-san chimed in. "Unlike the twins, Order-chan has an encyclopedic knowledge of most subjects implanted into her via Testament during her creation and with her access to the Misaka Network, she's far ahead of her peers academically anyways. Going to school would just bore her out of her mind."
"Classes were boring. Last Order knew everything already. Misaka Misaka agrees." The girl in question confirmed.
"School isn't only about academics though," Kikyo insisted. "It's also about socialization."
"And look at where socialization got her." Accelerator pointed out harshly, causing Kikyo to wince but she didn't back down.
"And she had one person willing to go to bat for her. You can't just put her in a gilded cage, Accelerator. She needs to put herself out there too. People suck, but they are also good. It's being able to spot that, that helps kids develop."
Unlike Kikyo, Aiho knew a losing battle when she saw one however, and turned to Order-chan.
"Order-chan, what do you want to do?"
If anyone could change her parents' minds, it was the girl herself. On the other hand, if she agreed with them then nothing the rest of them could say or do would sway them.
"Fumiki-chan is nice, but Last Order doesn't need to go to school to be her friend. Misaka Misaka reasons. She gave Last Order her phone number when she came by just now. Misaka Misaka reveals. Last Order doesn't want to go back to school. Misaka Misaka affirms."
Aiho sighed in defeat at that.
"I don't agree that this is the best course of action but if Order-chan says she doesn't want to go back then that's that."
Thus ended Order-chan's first and last day of normal school.
A couple days into the week after the Disaster at Keigan, as the twins had dramatically dubbed Last Order's one and only day at a normal school, Accelerator was just minding his own business and doing some research on his computer in his room. He wanted to surprise Ruiko with something on their next date and was trawling through the internet for ideas. His efforts were suddenly interrupted however when his phone beeped to signal an incoming message on LINE.
I wonder who it is. Accelerator thought idly as he reached for his phone. He had very few contacts and most of them were in school at the moment, so who could it possibly be?
From the Usagi brat? The Number 1 thought as he read the identity of the person who had messaged him via the notification as he unlocked his phone. What the hell could she want? Isn't she in school?
A quick glance at his phone's clock told him it was lunch over at Tokiwadai right now though. Since the Number 2 and Ruiko were classmates, Accelerator pretty much had their timetables memorized.
Their Japanese Literature class just ended. The Usagi must've sent this text just as she was leaving the class. Accelerator thought as he idly recalled Ruiko's timetable as he opened the message.
His thoughts came to a screaming halt though when he read the message's contents.
"...Son of a whore." Accel snarled darkly at the message and closed his phone. "I'm going rabbit hunting."
Standing up, he stalked out of his room with the aid of his clutch and made his way to the balcony of the apartment he shared with Yomikawa. As he did, he passed through the living room where Last Order was seated at the coffee table with her laptop, prompting his daughter to look up from the virtual lecture for the university module she was studying as part of her homeschooling and look at him curiously.
"Papa, you're going somewhere? Misaka Misaka asks."
"Yeah, I'm going for a walk." Accelerator declared as he pushed open the sliding doors of the balcony and stepped out onto it, already calling the winds to surround him.
"Okay, please pick up more milk, Misaka Misaka asks. We ran out. Misaka Misaka reminds."
He nodded. He'd get some on the way back from teaching that blasted Usagi a lesson she'd never forget.
"Right, see you in a bit."
"See you later, Papa. Misaka Misaka says with a wave." His eldest daughter said with a distracted wave goodbye as she turned her attention back to her lesson.
Nodding in his own gesture of farewell, he let the winds he was manipulating with his vector control pick him up and carry him into the air towards Tokiwadai. He had a rabbit to skin alive.
Aiho had been in her room clearing the paperwork she'd been racking up thanks to her Anti-Skill duties when the sounds of Order-chan talking to Accelerator out in the living room caught her attention. She hadn't been able to catch much, but she did hear him mention he was going out and that, for some reason, had her alarm bells ringing.
"Order-chan, did your Papa go out?" Aiho asked the Sister warily as she walked out into the living room.
"Yeah, Misaka Misaka replied distractedly. Papa said he went for a walk."
Aiho's eyes went wide and her blood metaphorically froze in her veins. She knew what "going for a walk" was an euphemism for when it came to Accelerator…
"No!"
It was the lunch hour at Tokiwadai and Ruiko was sadly eating it alone since Naru-chan was eating with her Faction today whilst Mikoto-senpai was having a lunch meeting with a group of her classmates to discuss a project they were working on. She could've eaten with her surprisingly growing number of Cult Mechanicum fans in the school that were rapidly forming into a Faction all their own, but Ruiko was determined to avoid getting drawn into her school's politics for as long as possible and endorsing her fans by eating with them would be detrimental to that goal. Besides, she didn't mind the solitude, it gave her time to chat over LINE with her siblings, most of whom shared their lunch hour with her.
[And then he squeezed my boobs. I punched him for that.] Khulan-chan sent as she described the latest fight she got into.
[What a loser. Let's teepee his dorm in retaliation!] Park-chan declared.
[Nah. We got talking after I bashed him to oblivion. He's taking me out on a date this weekend.] Khulan-chan revealed.
[You got a date!?] Ai-nee replied, her incredulity radiating through the airwaves.
[Yeah.] Khulan-chan replied warily.
[How!? Hisao-kun hasn't even committed to that yet! And I've been trying to hint at him to do so for almost a week!] Ai-nee lamented.
[I'm just more skilled, Ai-nee~ ]
[Ai, maybe if being subtle doesn't work, try being direct?] Shengxi-nii suggested.
[So violence works on getting boys? They're weird!] Park-chan surmised.
[Just some boys. I assure you. Don't judge us by Accelerator and Khulan-chan's new boyfriend.] Takeshi-kun replied defensively.
[He isn't my boyfriend yet!] Khulan-chan replied.
Ruiko was about to reply and tease Khulan-chan about her achievement of getting a date but something she detected along the periphery of the range of her AIM sense pulled her away from the conversation and she turned towards its source.
[I have to go. Something's come up.] She sent to her siblings distractedly as she closed LINE and pocketed her phone, before standing up from the dining table in the canteen where she'd been sitting after finishing her meal, she'd been a quick eater since her days as a Child Error, and began heading in the direction where Accel's rapidly approaching AIM signature was by her calculations set to land.
What is he doing here? Ruiko thought with a frown as behind her the maids that staffed the canteen cleared away the last of the utensils that she'd used for her meal and she made her way to where if she recalled correctly Naru-chan and her Rabbit Faction were having lunch together.
"Namikaze!" Accel shouted as he descended on a tornado just as Ruiko stepped out onto the terrace that served as an outdoor dining area which was their mutual destination. "Get out here so I can kill you!"
"What did I do to set you off?" Naru-chan asked with an annoyed look. "I'm trying to have lunch, you know? Go flirt with Rui-chan or something."
"Don't tell me what to do with my girlfriend! It's fucking rabbit season, you jailbait!"
"...Feeling a lot of unneeded aggression right now." Her BFF complained with a pout even as Accelerator shot a lance of air at her that she dispelled with a vacuum bullet of her own.
His attack prompted all of the gathered Rabbit Faction to launch into the attack in defense of their leader and all manner of Esper abilities were let fly. All whilst Accel shot wind-based attack after wind-based attack at Naru-chan who evaded them with remarkable grace.
For her part, Ruiko just stood there looking flabbergasted as her boyfriend fought her blonde best friend and her entire Faction. Watching as no matter what the [Elemental Empress] or her Rabbits shot at him, be they elemental attacks or something more esoteric, his Redirection universally deflected them harmlessly skyward.
Well, at least he's considerate enough to keep the property damage minimal. Ruiko thought with a sigh as someone finally tried a melee attack and was sent flying into a pond for her trouble courtesy of Accel's infamous Redirection.
"Foul knave, how dare you defy the sanctity of Tokiwadai!" Hokaze Junko-san, the second-in-command of Shokuhou-senpai's Queen Faction, shouted dramatically as she led her Faction onto the scene. "Prepared to be expelled from the premises!"
Despite their sub-leader's bold declaration however, the Queen's Faction's actions were just as useless as their Rabbit counterparts'.
"Take that Shakespearean shit and choke on it, bitch!"
"Why isn't it working!" Shokuhou-senpai said with frustration as she slinked over towards where Ruiko had been standing just outside of the increasingly chaotic battlefield, futilely pressing at the buttons of the remote she had pointed at Accel all the while. "Why isn't my ability working on your rampaging boyfriend, Saten-kohai?"
"I've used Mental Out on him before during training." Ruiko explained with a shrug. "So his Redirection automatically reacts to the AIM signature for it by scrambling it."
"I loathe you." Shokuhou-senpai sighed as she crossed her arms with a harumph.
Ruiko just shrugged. "He's Number 1. You think they'd let you have an advantage over him?"
Shokuhou-senapi just shot her a glare before harrumphing again.
Hm, maybe she should practice that? Did ojou-samas do that when they get annoyed?
Something to research later.
"Saten-san," [Mental Out] said, shooting her an annoyed look. "He's your boyfriend. Do something."
Ruiko shot her an unimpressed look but as her senpai waved to the scuffle next to them which had already claimed more than a dozen combatants who now lay unconscious in undignified poses all over the terrace, she nevertheless obliged. If this didn't end soon, the amount of effort she'd need to make to fix things afterwards would be annoyingly high.
"Accel-!" Saten began, only to be abruptly cut off by said boyfriend.
"Don't you even start." Accel groaned, apparently clearly aware of the can of worms he'd opened. "Dammit! The Chibi started this!"
"You can't just attack my school!" Ruiko scolded angrily, before she quickly changed tack and adopted her best sultry voice. "If you stop, I'll do what Aina did to Shiro when they were stuck in the log cabin in Mountain Boin the next time we get to have some fun."
"Can't," Accel shot back even as he continued trashing the Tokiwadai girls attacking him whilst simultaneously keeping up his efforts to smite Naru-chan. "We promised your mother we wouldn't do anything like that until you're sixteen. She, and more importantly, the girls will kill me if I do."
Shokuhou-senpai frowned in confusion at the direction Ruiko's efforts had taken for a moment before her face suddenly turned scarlet.
"Saten-san!" Misaki screeched, sounding scandalized. "Did you just attempt to promise to give Accelerator paizuri!? And he turned you down!?"
Ruiko cocked an eyebrow at that. "And how did you know that? I have a boyfriend and we have a healthy sex life, we watch the occassional hentai and adult video to get inspiration. What's your excu- Oh! Someone here is quite the pervert, aren't they?"
Misaki just nodded, still blushing hard.
"Okay, I have to ask. What in the world did I do to set you off?! Seriously, this was just not needed!" Naru-chan said, pointing accusingly at Ruiko's boyfriend.
She would need to research best friend/boyfriend protocols. She did not want to have to pick one or the other in a situation like this! Seriously! There had to be some way to de-escalate this, right!?
"You damn, bunny bitch, you know what you did! That mail you sent me about me being a pushover!"
"...Huh?" Naru-chan cutely tilted her head to the side, her hair flopping with her. "I mean, yeah. You are."
"Aha!"
"I was referring to you waiting in line for hours to help Rui-chan get that limited special anniversary edition of the Hellsing manga from that event signing with Hirano-sensei over the weekend. I mean, she was totally crowing about it this morning! I couldn't even get a copy!"
"So you weren't making fun of how I totally caved to Yoshikawa and ended up sending the brat to school and how that backfired in my face?" Accelerator asked, blinking.
"No! I love Order-chan like a sister. Why the hell would I make fun of that?" Naru-chan looked horrified at the very notion.
"Oh." Accel said, looking like the winds had been taken out of his sails as he realized he'd just done something immensely stupid over a misunderstanding. "I, uh, screwed up. Sorry?"
Things would probably have calmed down then and there. But of course, fate just had to be a bitch and that was when a shot of Mikoto-senpai's signature railgun hit Accel's Redirection barrier and was deflected skyward. This was however only the prelude and was soon followed by the [Railgun], Kuroko-chan and a number of the former's fans charging the still airborne Accel.
"Is it the Ojou-sama Wars in here?!" Accel cried out in exasperation, as his Redirection deflected the fresh barrage of attacks.
"You know-" Shokuhou-senpai began with an amused smile, only to be silenced by a warning look from Ruiko.
"I don't know how you're finding this amusing seeing as your Faction just got thrown around like rag dolls. But you will not crack jokes about this."
"Fine~!" Shokuhou-senpai conceded with a pout. "Spoilsport. Kill my amusement ability, why don't you?"
Closing her eyes and counting to ten to stop herself from imitating Accel on [Mental Out], Ruiko decided to just tune her annoying senpai out going forward. The situation was aggravating enough as is, she didn't need the Number 7's needling adding to her frustration.
This has gone on long enough…
"Aoo lu blf! Sglk! (All of you! Stop!)" Ruiko said as her skeletal Angel wings briefly manifested and her powers surged, suppressing everyone's AIM and thus their abilities for a second.
Catching those airborne or in awkward positions with telekinesis as they fell and righting them, Ruiko crossed her arms and stepped forward, glaring at the lot of them. "Accel, you're coming with me to the Headmistress' office to wait for Anti-Skill to come and give you the slap of the wrist you deserve for this mess. Everyone else? Go back to lunch and forget what happened."
Looking like a whipped dog, which was exactly the look he deserved right now, Accel nodded obediently.
Naru-chan and Mikoto-senpai looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Yeah, okay. I'm done here." Naru-chan nodded understandingly.
"Fine." Mikoto-senpai allowed, looking confused "What set him off anyway?"
"His inability to understand context."
Leaving Naru-chan to explain things to their Senpai, Ruiko grabbed Accel's arm and frogmarched him to the Headmistress' office. The myriad of Ruiko's other schoolmates that had been involved in the brawl looked mutinous and didn't look ready to obey her, but a few clicks of Shokuhou-senpai's remote fixed that.
The sly look that the Number 7 shot her as she did her the favor told Ruiko she'd owe her for that but it was a small price to pay considering how troublesome it would be to deal with her pissed off ojou-sama schoolmates instead. One she was willing, if not happy, to pay.
All in all? The whole thing, unnecessary and pointless though it was, was another crisis averted and Ruiko didn't even have to use that much effort to do so. She'd take what victories she could.
"Okay, so as recompense-"
"Recompense? Really? Can you be more of an ojou-sama, Usagi?" Accelerator scoffed, interrupting Naru.
Naru just cocked an eyebrow at him as she replied. "Considering your girlfriend is striving to be the model ojou-sama nowadays, do you have any room to talk?"
"Point," Accelerator had the grace to concede even as Rui-chan and their three daughters snickered at his expense. Mikoto-senpai, Kuroko-chan and Kazari-chan just smiled in amusement too. Only Chao-chan and the other members of Naru's Rabbit Faction present in the salon overlooking the Keigan Elementary campus where they were gathered had kept their cool, but Naru knew them well enough to know they were tickled pink by Accelerator being put in his place too.
"Anyways, as I was saying, as recompense for unintentionally setting you off, Accelerator, I've decided to take revenge on the brats at Keigan for Last Order where you and Rui-chan cannot."
"Um, Naru-san, I don't understand that bit." Kazari-chan said, looking confused. "Why can't they retaliate?"
Kuroko-chan sighed and shook her head in disappointment. "I should feel upset that we are cordoning retaliation at all, but after everything had happened, I honestly can't."
At this admission, Naru and Rui-chan exchanged a smirk. Especially at Mikoto-senpai's accompanying tired, agreeing nod. It seemed that their friends had finally adopted some of the Dark Sider mindset. It was about damned time!
"It's 'cos the Board will certainly hold it against us if we did." Accelerator, of all people, unexpectedly provided her answer. "They are always looking for ways to gain some leverage over us."
"And Naru-san acting on your behalf won't give them that?" Kuroko-chan asked, confused.
"My own connection to my boss shields me a little. And if they do make an issue, I'll just point out that the whole thing was set up by my Faction. It's far enough removed that they'll have trouble making it stick. My girls do what they feel is best. I'll just scold them as is proper and that's that."
"Ah, Naru-san you make yourself sound like a mafia princess like that." Kazari-chan confessed as she twiddled her thumbs. "An e-elegant one of course!"
"Hehe, Bada-bing to that!"
Rui-chan's daughters giggled along with the Rabbit Faction girls present at Naru's joke.
"Naru-sama," Chao-chan said as she stepped forward from the bank of monitors that she, Onaga-chan, Azumi-chan and Emily-chan had spent the last few minutes setting up. The latter of whom was grabbing a sports drink after having done the majority of the heavy lifting courtesy of her biokinetically enhanced strength. Monitors that were showing live feeds from Keigan Elementary's CCTV network and those from additional hidden cameras that Naru's Rabbits had set up to supplement the former. "We're ready to go. Just give the word."
"Ah, my top minions!" Naru said, playing into the role. "Excellent work as always! Now we make them pay for their sins with the surprise we've prepared."
"Naru, what 'surprise' did you prepare for the payback against Keigan?"
"Oh, don't be impatient, Senpai~! Just watch." Naru said as she spun enthusiastically towards Arai-chan who was manning a computer terminal that was controlling the rest of the set ups for their payback scheme.
"I fear for the children." Kuroko-chan told Senpai.
"Same."
"Boo, such a lack of faith in my restraint!" Naru said with a roll of her eyes. "Arai-chan~! Hit'em!"
"Yes ma'am~!" The adorable greenette said with a playful salute as she used her free hand to hit a key on the touchscreen keyboard of the computer - Arai-chan always did like her fancy cutting edge electronics. - she was manning and triggering the prank.
Spinning away from the mousy genius, Naru joined everyone in watching the bank of monitors and watched as the multitude of bombs that members of the Rabbit Faction had planted throught the Keigan Elementary campus exploded, showering its students, faculty and staff in sticky, smelly slime.
"Mwahahaha! Behold, the Sliminator Mark VI! These punks are going to smell for weeks!" Naru cackled like a Saturday morning villain.
She wasn't alone, as Rui-chan's twins copied her perfectly. Something that had Rui-chan shooting her a dirty look at. Naru just shrugged it off though, it wasn't like she was teaching the Chemicaloids anything bad! Just how to relax and be a normal girl. With Accelerator and No-fun Momma as parents, someone had to!
"Last Order is glad Fumiki-chan is home sick today. Misaka Misaka says honestly." The twins' elder sister and the subject for whom today's vengeance had been wrought said through a broad grin.
"Ah, yes, sick. How lucky." Naru smirked, brushing one of her twintails.
"Please tell me you didn't engineer her getting sick?" Mikoto-senpai asked Naru accusingly as she took a moment to look away from the mayhem caused by the slime bombs down in Keigan to glare at her.
"No. I engineered her to get a free spa day ticket from my model agency. You may thank my foresight." Naru said with a shake of head. "Though that was for next week, she really is sick today. Something about a tummy ache after eating something her friend gave her to try? That's what the data in the school records said when Arai-chan hacked into it."
Everyone turned to the greenette in question at that and she flinched back at the sudden attention a little, almost falling off the computer chair she was sitting on and was only saved from that fate by her girlfriend, Onaga-chan, catching her before she toppled over. Despite that, the greenette nevertheless nodded in agreement.
"Order-nee, what did you give her to try?" Janie-chan asked, looking at her sister disapprovingly.
"Fumiki-chan was trying to teach Last Order how to make French Toast yesterday. Misaka Misaka explains defensively. Last Order and Yoshikawa-san warned her not to, but Fumiki-chan insisted on trying some of my failed attempts to see what I did wrong. Misaka Misaka continues."
"Well, that explains that." Mikoto-senpai said with a sigh. "Did you at least figure out how to make edible French Toast by the end of it?"
"Yes, Onee-sama. Misaka Misaka cheerfully explains. It wasn't good, but Fumiki-chan, Yoshikawa-san, Yomikawa-san and Papa all said it was okay. Misaka Misaka adds enthusiastically."
"Good." Mikoto-senpai patted her head like a good sister.
Last Order-chan preened.
"You'll have to make me some later," Rui-chan said, looking at her daughter with pride.
"Me too! Me too!" The twins insisted in an adorable chorus.
"Last Order will be happy to do so~! Misaka Misaka assures." Order-chan said with a grin.
Turning to Accelerator, hands on her hips, Naru asked. "So are we even now, Papa-Accel~?"
"Never call me that." The Number 1 stated bluntly as he gleefully looked at the screaming children on the screens. Like some serial killer. "And yeah, I guess we are. This time, Jailbait."
"Yay! Naru-nee isn't in trouble anymore!" "Un! Naru-nee's the bestest!" The twins cheered, hugging the taller blonde.
Naru could only cuddle with them. They were too cute!
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
Man, this was a long one. But so, so worth it. Hope you enjoyed it. Seriously, lots of fluff to love. Again, despite the situation our girls get into, the Slice of Life just makes it all the more fun I think. I loved the MMA section, Naru's top minions really know how to do things, huh? Once more, Bust Upper divides friends. Will its madness ever end?!
Nameless: So, this is just a collection of Slice of Life short stories/scenes before the next serious super arc/collection of arcs. We had thought to perhaps split it up into at least two chapters, but then the separated chapters felt a little too short. So we decided to stick them together instead. Hope you guys liked it.
As for my favorite short story in this chapter… I'd say it'll have to be the whole Last Order's first and last day at normal school short story. That just hit all the right notes for me.
E4E: It was sad, cute and wholesome. And Daddy Accel is truly best Accel.
Nameless: For those curious, the chapter/arc title is a reference to Operation AI and Operation Konserve. If you know what that refers to then you should have a clear idea of the reason behind our choice. If not, then Google the names and you will. ;)
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!