Chapter 4 – Wild Queens, Wicked Messages

After being separated from Kamijou and Naru, the rest of the Scavenger faction's elite group walked cautiously through the city streets. They weren't willing to take any risks without their best fighters.

"Maybe we should use our cables," suggested Yakumaru, looking up at the tops of the buildings.

"Unnecessary," said Leader. "We're already very close to the radio tower. At this rate, we can get back to our base in plenty of time."

Using cables to navigate the tops of buildings was a safe but slow strategy. Survivors often used this strategy during the day where the concentration of PB is higher, but it was a waste of resources and time at night. There was also the risk of running out of emergency cables if they were slow and ended up stuck in the city streets just before dawn.

So they went on, through the night against the cold and the shadows. But something was wrong. Not that there was much right left in this world, but... that silence. It wasn't the peaceful silence of a quiet wood. It was an oppressive silence. Like one that a child cowering in fear of the dark would witness; as if the entire world had held its breath, and for a moment, time had frozen in a suspended sigh.

"I dare say, letting them go together might not have been the wisest choice," Leader confessed, quickening her stride.

That earned narrowed eyes in her direction. Yakumaru and Seike, walking a little behind Leader, almost raised their voices to complain, but they soon realized why the girl had said that.

They just had to follow her vision.

"Someone seems to be having fun," said Seike, a bit of irony in his voice. "Those are C-class, aren't they?"

There was a pile of bodies there, but not human ones. Although it wasn't common to find so many PB at night, if a straggling horde spotted someone, they would give up on returning to the nest and fight that person or group to the death. This time, the monsters had gotten the worst of it.

There were at least twenty of them, wrenched and gnarled like the slender branches of winter trees. The bodies were piled up in an unnatural pattern, which could only mean one thing.

"It was a deliberate action," said Leader, bending down to check if she had missed anything. "I wonder what idiot would choose to fight a group of C-class."

"We know very well what kind of idiot would do something like that, Leader," spat Seike, unconcerned about the whole thing. "They're trying to send us a message."

"That's not all." Leader put her hand to her eye and looked up at the sky. The two of them there knew what that meant. "They're trying to attract attention, it's true, but not ours."

Seike and Yakumaru locked eyes, the chilly night wind tousled the boy's long hair and bit at his face, but the tone Leader used distracted him so much that he didn't care.

"You don't mean..." Yakumaru hesitated, swallowing hard. "No, it's probably just a coincidence."

"Got it!" Leader blurted out, her expression twitching. She composed herself before continuing, her words laced with urgency. "Those bastards are playing with fire!"

In desperation, Leader slung her backpack onto her shoulders, terror etched across her face. Yakumaru and Seike understood all too well the gravity of the situation.

"Which direction Leader?" said Yakumaru, checking her utility belt.

"Northeast, 10 kilometers. We have to leave!"

"Where to?" Yakumaru asked in despair, accidentally dropping one of the vials.

"Pull yourself together, that thing isn't coming here." Leader pulled out the map and quickly scanned everything. "Let's finish the mission and then go to the outpost like planned."

"Whatever," Seike muttered, gazing northeast. "I wonder... if that guy is a match for it."

"No chance." Yakumaru shook her head vigorously, the cap on her head shifting out of place. "Defeating an abomination is one thing, but no one stands a chance against a queen. Not anymore."

x-2-x

The establishment bore the semblance of an ordinary department store structure. Kamijou had long since ceased to ponder the peculiar inclinations of these individuals, but a basic security system would certainly grant him some much-needed peace of mind.

"Are there mines here too?" he asked, stopping in front of the ruined place.

"Probably not." Naru's shrug made him a little worried.

"Probably?"

"I heard that someone broke into this outpost two weeks ago. A chemical mine blows a human body to bits, now that's one wild scene. I hope whoever disposed of the bodies did a decent clean-up."

The casual way she used to talk about horrible things sometimes put him off. She wasn't the first girl like that he'd had to deal with, and it reminded him of something.

"Naru, you were part of the dark side, right?" asked Kamijou, trying to ignore the fact that this could be a minefield and pushing the door open with his hand. It was locked.

"Yep." She shook her head and pointed her umbrella at the door. That was a strange way to lockpick. "Ta-da!"

Naru pushed the door open energetically. Kamijou hoped that this girl would elaborate on her answer, so he stared at the dusty place while keeping up the expectation. But nothing came.

With a sigh, he settled the other girl on his back, breathing peacefully. He had to climb several flights of stairs, taking care not to knock her over.

"She slept," said Naru, poking the girl's cheek in amusement. "I think it would be good to light a fire to keep her warm."

"Can you do this?"

"No problem, Kami!"

She made a gesture reminiscent of a military salute and then turned to look at a metal barrel in the center of the room.

That outpost was nothing like he had expected. First of all, there was no one there. It was strange, but he'd rather see several people sleeping crammed together than a place as lifeless as this. People in desperate situations like this always seek refuge in simple things. It's a shame that when he desperately wished for something like that, his hopes were snuffed out in an instant.

In the end, he decided to put his thoughts aside and focus on the present. The girl on his back, Kongou, was placed gently on an old sofa full of holes, a cloud of dust rising when she moved. That certainly wasn't a decent place for someone injured and weak to recover.

"We don't have much fuel left," said Naru, igniting the fire with her umbrella. Kamijou had no idea how. "But it should last the rest of the night."

"We can always use your papers as fuel," he quipped, smiling slightly as he extended his palms towards the flaming barrel.

"Huuh?! That would be a real bummer, Kami! I'd rather tough it out."

"What a selfish girl." He shook his head and looked away to the other girl, sleeping with a rigid expression on her face. Those two girls had a fundamental difference between them. "What do we do with her?"

This question kept repeating itself in his head all the way here. She was too frail, and a bit of sleep and warmth from a barrel filled with garbage wouldn't restore her strength. Letting her go was not an option, but continuing to carry her around posed a risk, as did allowing her to return to her faction alone.

"Is there any way we can communicate with these 'Garden Guardians'? I know one of the leaders, so it would be easy to get an escort or something."

"I have no idea. You'd better ask Leader, she'll know the answer."

Sometimes he couldn't tell if this girl was a clueless airhead or just didn't give a damn. She was relatively easy to get along with, and even quite obedient, but her relaxed way of dealing with everything was very dissonant with everything he was seeing.

But maybe that was a good thing, or at least he wished it was.

"I'm starving," she whined, rubbing her stomach. She turned to him with a playful pout. "You promised to whip up something for me."

"I don't see a stove here. Do you expect me to cook on this flammable garbage?"

"You promised!" Her eyes even sparkled and got as big as a puppy's in the rain. "Please, please!"

"All right, all right. This Kamijou-san isn't the kind of person to refuse food to a girl."

Kamijou had once been more resistant to attacks of cuteness, but his defense was at an all-time low now. He could attribute it to the fact that this type of childlike behavior was a bit off-putting for a girl who appeared relatively mature. Ironically, that made it all the more effective. Would he appreciate a young female dorm manager behaving in a similar manner?

"What the hell am I thinking?" He shook his head as he examined the girl in front of him, waving her hands from side to side in a strange sort of dance. "Does this place have a stock of food or something?"

"I have no idea."

"Huh? What do you mean?!"

"Tee-hee."

"Don't just smile and strike a pose!"

He pulled himself together when the door behind them suddenly opened. His heart raced and his fist clenched in reflex.

"They seem to be having a lot of fun."

That bored voice made him relax and breathe a sigh of relief. The other three members of the group had arrived at the outpost, one of them so tired that he collapsed on one of the battered sofas there.

"We're out in the cold night and you two are here flirting," Seike continued, closing his eyes and relaxing on the sofa. "If our best fighters keep acting like this, we're screwed."

"Are you going to stop complaining at some point, Seike-kun?" Yakumaru poked Seike in the forehead and smiled in satisfaction at the groan of pain. "Girls don't find that kind of thing attractive, ya know."

"Uh-huh, duly noted," he remarked, likely rolling his eyes even though they remained closed. "Could you, Kamijou Touma, explain why there's another girl in our outpost whom I'm not acquainted with? The ratio of boys to girls is getting a bit skewed here."

"Well... it was already somewhat imbalanced at 4 to 1, so one more doesn't really tip the scales."

Seike opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on Kamijou for a good five seconds. The intensity of his stare almost made Kamijou gulp.

"This is cosplay," Seike said with utmost seriousness.

"Cosplay?" Kamijou scrutinized the outfit from head to toe. How did this relate to their ongoing conversation? Wait... Oh! "Aren't you a girl?!"

"Only now do you notice?"

It was better for Kamijou to refrain from commenting on the fact that the boy's appearance was on par with at least half the girls in his class. He probably applied some special makeup; that had to be it. Kamijou refused to believe that he had been deceived so easily.

"Sorry to jump in, but we've got some important business," Leader said, at just the right moment in Kamijou's opinion. "There's a Garden Guardian over there, and it seems you encountered some problems on the way here."

"We solved it pretty easily," said Naru, puffing out her chest proudly. "You should've been there. Some pyro esper dude tried to roast Kami with his flames, but guess what? Not a scratch on him! Kami just decked the guy with one punch, and the rest scattered like scaredy-cats. Heehee, he's such a badass!"

If that girl kept acting like that, Kamijou would soon blush. Life seemed easier when he was criticized every time he did something reckless, there was definitely something wrong with the world… or perhaps with him.

"Predictable," said Seike, far from impressed. "If he can defeat an abomination as easily as one crushes an insect, a mere high-level esper shouldn't even pose a threat." He glanced in Yakumaru's direction, as if signaling something silently.

"What faction were those guys?" inquired Yakumaru, her eyes narrowing at Kamijou. "You didn't go around picking fights with people from the big factions, did you? What did I say about looking after my Naru?"

"I took care of her, okay?"

"Yes, I realize that. But this 'pleasant' tendency of yours to get into trouble is sure to be a great thing for us in the long run." She sighed after these sarcastic words.

"Don't be annoying," said Seike, nudging her waist with his big toe from his reclined position. "Boys don't find that kind of thing attractive, you know."

"It's not my intention to annoy anyone," complained Yakumaru as she crossed her arms.

"Okay, that's enough," Leader cut in once again, her tone calm. She approached the fire and held out her palms for warmth. "I won't criticize your recklessness, but the problem is what we do with that girl now. And here I thought that queen was enough trouble for one night."

That word again. Kamijou knew that the subject was being diverted, but he had to know.

"What do you mean by 'queen'?"

Their initial response was a strange grimace and a few echoing sighs.

"A special kind of PB," said Leader. "Every nest has one."

"Something like bees then? These things reproduce like... no, never mind..."

"We're not sure anyway." Yakumaru shrugged, moving closer to the barrel to warm up. "Queens are one of the most dangerous types of PB, perhaps the most dangerous. But seeing one is extremely rare. Our bad luck is horrible so we come across one wandering around."

"Huh?" Kamijou found that strange. "Aren't those things supposed to stay in nests or something?"

"That's usually the case," said Leader. "It would be great if we didn't have to deal with something like this, but there are specific situations in which queens leave their nests."

"And that would be?"

"If they feel intimidated, or threatened," replied Seike, still lying on the sofa. "And yes, I know this may seem counterproductive, but we're talking about a monster among monsters here."

"And what exactly can cause this?"

"For example," He gestured with his hand towards the girl sleeping on the other sofa, "that faction over there left a queen pretty pissed off when they killed a whole horde of PB in one of their ventures. Half of the northern part of District 7 was wiped out because of it." Seike let out an exasperated sigh. "And now... those idiots from New ITEM have managed to piss off a queen. Something tells me it was deliberate."

"It's reckless to go on asserting such things, Seike," complained Leader. "We have no way-"

"It was them," said Seike in a nonchalant tone. "That's obvious. We all know that their leader must explode with rage every day because of what Mai-sama did to her. Those bastards lured a queen away on purpose just to ruin our business."

Hearing all this, Kamijou couldn't help but acknowledge that there were more enemies present than just the apparent ones. It was naive to assume that people would naturally come together and cooperate, but deliberately putting so many lives at risk for the sake of revenge was a whole new level of bad faith. It was a world of monsters, and they came in many sizes, types, and shapes.

"Okay, enough about irrelevant things at the moment," said Yakumaru. She ducked down near a wall for some reason. "Time to replenish some of our energy."

There was a sort of secret compartment in there, but instead of a trapdoor, the girl melted the floor using some bright acid she took from her utility belt. Inside, there was a cardboard box. Kamijou spotted some metal cans without labels, as well as plastic packaging that resembled cereal bars.

"We have enough for all of us," said Yakumaru. She picked up a metal grate from the ground and placed it on top of the flaming barrel. "You could say we're in luck."

"Of course," spat Seike, finally getting up from the sofa. "There's a queen prowling around the area, but at least the food is guaranteed. How's our horoscope today, Naru?"

"Let's see."

Kamijou felt out of place as the group started interacting with each other. In this situation, he preferred to watch as they chatted and exchanged inside jokes that he wasn't familiar with. But there was another person present who was very out of place.

Her name was Kongou Mitsuko. Her eyes were tightly closed, but her face was too rigid for someone asleep. This made the boy approach her carefully, his narrowed eyes observing the quiet way she breathed.

"You're awake, aren't you?" he said quietly. If the others weren't talking to each other, they might have been able to hear the murmur.

"I used to be better at pretending."

The girl opened her large eyes to gaze at him, delicately brushing a lock of hair away from her face. Despite her haggard appearance and parched lips from dehydration, she possessed a certain graceful beauty. Her features retained an air of refinement, creating a striking contrast to the weariness that marked her overall demeanor.

"So, Kongou-san," he said hesitantly, taking a seat next to the sofa where she lay. "The situation looks dire but—"

"It's going to be okay. Yeah, I get it," she interrupted, her tone unexpectedly harsh. "I'm sorry, I'm not normally like this. I'd bow formally to my savior, but first, I need to make sure I'm safe."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you have a radio?"

"Even if I did, it wouldn't work."

Their conversation was interrupted by Yakumaru. She had two cans in her hands, but she was holding them with strange gloves.

"Here, Kamijou-san." She handed him one of the cans, the smoke coming out of it and leaving a salty scent in the air. "Get your strength back. We need you and Naru at one hundred percent, after all, you never know what we'll face next." She also handed the other can to the girl lying there, but she didn't seem too happy about it.

"Thank you," said Kongou, taking a seat on the sofa. "My faction will know of the kindness that was directed at me."

"Yeah..." It looked like she was going to say something more, but instead, she turned her face towards Kamijou. "Join us later, we need to discuss the plan of action."

She turned and walked across the room without saying another word.

The can in Kamijou's hand was lukewarm, the food there could hardly be considered a meal. To begin with, Yakumaru didn't offer any forks, spoons, or chopsticks, but Kamijou soon realized why. It was basically a gray paste that had a consistency closer to water than mashed potatoes. He couldn't say that it tasted bad, but rather "neutral". It was probably made from soy, perhaps mixed with cornstarch or oats, devoid of seasoning to impart a decent flavor, and with only a modest amount of salt.

"That makes me wonder if you were being ironic," said Kamijou, shaking the can in his hand.

"Huh?" The girl tilted her head and took another sip of that thing that resembled a shake that someone on a diet would drink. "No, I'm really grateful. I haven't eaten for days, so I'd be happy with even non-potable water with a little salt."

Kamijou's lip twitched a little; that girl seemed genuinely content with so little. But if he remembered correctly, he had been in similar situations himself. Perhaps the boy should stop trying to find something he could relate to, especially when it was so horrible.

An energetic nod brought him out of his reverie. Naru was gesturing for him to join the others.

"Do you mind if I leave you alone for now?"

"That's fine with me. I think it's for the best, actually."

"You don't like my company?"

"I'd better get back to being myself before we continue our conversation. A lady like me, Kongou Mitsuko, should at least keep herself presentable to talk to a gentleman, and this is far from being the case."

He basically had no idea what the girl was trying to say, but Kamijou wasn't an expert on girls, especially rich girls, or girls who had been rich in the past, so he just put a gentle smile on his face and nodded as he walked away.

"So," said Leader, placing the empty 'food' can on the floor and unrolling a map. "We delivered the parts without any problems. It was even too easy, by the way."

"If we take away the fact that there's a queen prowling around the district, of course," cut in Seike, taking a sip from his can. "Hey, Kamijou, it's a bit hasty what I'm about to ask but... do you think you have a chance against a queen?"

There was no way for him to know, so he replied with an ambiguous shrug.

A PB unlike any other, probably responsible for creating them. He imagined it would be like those huge elements over 100 meters in the past. His Imagine Breaker worked very well on them, but even so, he had a feeling that nodding confidently without knowing anything for sure wasn't smart.

"No one stands a chance against a queen, Seike," said Yakumaru, without looking in their direction.

Of everyone there, Yakumaru was the only one who wasn't worried about eating. She sat cross-legged at a distance, huddled in a corner with a notebook resting on her lap. The soft glow of the flickering fire illuminated her focused expression as she moved the pencil gracefully across the paper. Kamijou had no idea what she was doing. Perhaps drawing? Or maybe jotting down a survivor's diary.

"Have you forgotten what happened to number 1?" asked Yakumaru, her eyes still fixed on the notebook.

"Nobody knows what happened to number 1." Seike took another sip from the can and stared at the ceiling, the corner of his lip twitching slightly. "They're just rumors, just like that White Queen."

"White Queen?"

Kamijou had heard a similar name before, but probably from a fictional character. Here, the meaning was undoubtedly different.

"As I said, just a rumor," said Seike, finishing his meal and putting the can away. "Queens are the leaders of a nest. They say that defeating them is enough to make the PBs of that particular nest retreat until a new queen emerges. So what would happen if these things had a supreme leader? The Queen among Queens? Defeating that thing would give us a nice advantage in the fight. Just make-believe, that's all."

"Why do you think that?" asked Kamijou. "It makes a bit of sense, I mean…"

"Nobody has any proof that something like this exists, people just want to believe in something, to hope," replied Seike. "The rumor arose when some adults tried to go too far north. An entire group of hundreds was wiped out by a single PB. According to reports, it was unlike anything we'd ever seen before. Since then, various people have theorized what this creature might look like. Some say it's bigger than a skyscraper, with tentacles sprouting from its back, others say it's just an abomination alpha that has mutated."

"There's also that theory," Naru suddenly cut in. "Remember that guy with the blue hair? He said that the White Queen is actually a busty Loli with blonde hair."

"Really, Naru?" Yakumaru growled from the corner of the room. She even put her notebook aside. "I already told you to ignore that weird guy for your own good."

"Blue hair?" asked Touma, casting a quick glance at Yakumaru. "Does this guy have a fake Kansai accent?"

"Oh! Do you know him, Kami?" Naru was suddenly excited. Although that was pretty common. "Fun guy. He always tells us the best stories."

It was good to know that one of his friends was alive, but he was worried about what kind of story he was telling around. Kamijou was unsure whether this was a reunion he should be looking forward to or not. At the moment it was the second.

"Okay," said Leader clapping her hands twice, "I think that's enough small talk. Back to the point. Our mission is accomplished." She examined the watch on her wrist. "It's still a long way until dawn, but no one is hurt or needs a rest, so we'd better get back to our base. Does anyone have an objection?"

No one had any. Kamijou even thought of suggesting that they wait a while until the other girl was better, but a few more hours wouldn't make much difference.

"I guess I'll have to carry her again," muttered Kamijou. "By the way, is it okay to take her to our base?"

"I can't say for sure," replied Leader with her hand on her chin. "This is a very rare situation for our group. Honestly, if it was just the four of us, this girl wouldn't even be with us... we're not heroes after all. So I'm a little unsure how much her presence will be appreciated when we get back." She paused to look at the girl, her eyes suddenly narrowing as if realizing something. "By the way, you didn't tell us who you saved her from."

x-3-x

Factions set up their main bases in strategic places. Some chose tall buildings, reinforced them with traps, and took advantage of the privileged view. Others opted for more remote locations with easy access to neutral zones, or even laboratories that were reinforced to deal with espers in the past, adding an extra layer of protection. However, this faction chose this place on a pure whim.

There was a shopping center in District 7, it was called the 'Seventh Mist'. It wasn't a place that people who liked luxury and fashion usually went, that would be pretty much anywhere in District 15, but as said before, this place was chosen as a base on a pure whim. It was basically the equivalent of someone throwing a dart with their eyes closed at a map and saying: That's good.

The place was now very different from what it used to be. The multiple stores had been transformed into warehouses and dormitories, full of equipment used to keep everything they needed running and also a good amount of food that would last at least another year. Of course, the fundamental problem facing that faction, one of the big four, went beyond that.

A mature-looking girl shifted uncomfortably on her 'throne'. She had soft, tea-colored hair that cascaded down in waves almost to her waist. Maintaining such healthy, long hair in the midst of the apocalypse wasn't an easy feat, but vanity still held its sway over this girl.

"Seriously, I need a paperback version," she said in an irritated tone, quickly turning the page of a book in her hand. She was alone, so it was more of a mental note. "One-handed reading sucks. That little bitch."

She used to read often, but that was something that became commonplace after the world got into this state. Occasionally, she also used to play something on her handheld console, but this proved difficult at times now that she was back to being one-armed.

The days in the apocalypse were boring at times. She could walk around and kill a few PBs for fun, but that kind of thing lost its meaning for her over time. Ironic. And now, she found herself perched on this comfortable 'throne' within an 'empty room', an artistry of neutral hues playing out around her and perks that this girl was less and less likely to use.

Putting the book aside with a sigh, she rose from her 'throne' and ambled towards the fridge. Its contents were predominantly liquids. Despite being the leader of a big faction, acquiring fresh food proved to be a challenge. She'd heard that those School Garden brats had a huge plantation, but that wasn't the kind of fresh food she was craving at the moment.

"I'd kill for a piece of salmon right now." She slammed the fridge shut after grabbing a bottle of fizzy water.

By the way, that wasn't exactly hyperbole, she would probably kill if someone offered her a nice piece of grilled salmon as a reward right now.

A tedious life, one that kept putting challenges in front of her. It seemed contradictory. She wishes it were.

The tea-colored-haired girl was about to go back to reading her book, which, by the way, was about romance and adventure, but someone opened the metal door so quickly that she even became alert for a moment.

Another girl entered the room. This one had brown hair in a short bob cut, and wore an orange hooded sweatshirt and shorts that did a good job of emphasizing her slender legs. She was very serious, carrying two boys, one being dragged along the floor and the other on her shoulder.

Without warning, she shook off the load and sighed deeply before looking in the direction of the girl sitting on the throne.

"I super bumped into these guys in the middle of the street while I was on my rounds," said the bob-cut little girl. She walked over to the fridge and looked for something to drink.

"Why did you bother reporting this?" replied the girl on the throne, making a gesture of disinterest with her hand. "Take them to the incinerator, or throw them in the territory of those idiots, I really couldn't care less."

"They're not super dead."

Those casual words made the tea-colored girl close the book and narrow her eyes in the direction of the boys lying on the ground. She hadn't bothered to check, so her mind just locked onto the pattern of this world. If she had looked closely, she would have seen that the boys didn't even have obvious wounds.

"They fought with a small faction then?" She asked this and then went back to reading. Her interest was only momentary. "We're usually the ones who attack first, that was a lot of kindness."

"It wasn't us who super attacked first this time."

This seemed to be one of those days. As if this girl didn't already have enough problems to deal with at the moment. She watched as her friend drank water from a plastic bottle and looked carefully in the direction of the boys lying there.

"There were more. One of them is a level 4 super pyro, by the way."

"Kinuhata, could we skip all this? Do we have a problem here or not?" Even though her voice was slightly irritated, she didn't even take her eyes off the book.

"Maybe."

The ambiguous answer made the girl sigh tiredly. A girl couldn't have a quiet day while enjoying a good book.

The girl who thought she was the queen of the place got up from her throne and hurried over to one of the boys lying there unconscious. The sound of her high heels reverberated on the well-built white marble floor, and that same heel made another sound when it met the body of the poor black-haired boy lying on the cold floor.

A cry of pain later, the boy squirmed on the ground like a worm in the dirt and then looked at the girl with tear-filled eyes.

"M-M-Mugino-sama?" he said, his face a mixture of fear and pain. "W-W-Wha-"

"Quick question," said Mugino. She turned and walked gracefully back to the throne. "Who did this to you?"

The boy still seemed stunned by the pain, so Queen Mugino decided to wait patiently while she opened the book and crossed her legs elegantly, taking the opportunity to adjust the skirt of her purple dress.

"That bitch," cursed the boy, sitting down on the floor and massaging where Mugino had given him his 'reward'.

"Be more specific, there are too many bitches in this world."

"She... had short purple hair that was kinda pink. She said her power was psychokinesis like mine, probably specialized in paper."

"Super papers?" Kinuhata cast a peculiar glance in Mugino's direction. "Do you think it was her?"

"Sakuragi Naruha? Yes, probably. Although it's a bit strange that she left him alive. By the way, I forgot to ask, what were you idiots doing tonight when you were attacked?"

"We were interrogating that girl, Mugino-sama. You know-"

"That friend of Railgun's, isn't it?" interrupted Mugino. By now she had put down the book and let it rest on her lap. "What the hell is going on here anyway? Don't tell me that bloodthirsty girl saw you out there, decided it was time to play the hero, saved that damn brat, and spared everyone's lives on top of that?"

"Well, that's what it looked like—"

"Don't fuck around!" she shouted, her eyes sharp as daggers. "It's more than obvious to me that our 'little friend' Mai-san is trying to send us a message here. What do you think, Kinuhata?"

"That's certainly not her super style. She's usually much more direct."

"No, she's just pretending to be direct. That girl is a first-rate illusionist." Mugino started biting her thumbnail while growling softly. "Fucking bitch, I could have wiped that ridiculous faction off the map if I wanted to. But that's how you want to play, isn't it? So be it. "

"Mugino-sama—"

"WHAT?!"

"Eek! Um... it's just that... I forgot to tell you that there was someone else there with the paper girl."

"I really don't give a damn." She made a dissuasive gesture with her hand to the boy and started rubbing her temple. "Go away, I need to think. Take the other trash with you. Kinuhata you stay, I need your opinion."

"About super what?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Mugino crossed her legs once again and rested her chin in the palm of her hand. "If they send us a message, then we have to send them a message. Now I just have to decide how eye-catching that message needs to be."

x-4-x

After just two nights of trudging through the unforgiving cold, Kamijou Touma came to a stark realization: the coat he wore was ill-suited for this unfamiliar world. The biting chill seeped through the inadequate fabric, gnawing at his bones. The warmth he had derived from the girl's body pressed against his own now weighed on his conscience. It compelled him to quicken his pace to the verge of a jog, as if physical exertion could distract him from the unease settling in his heart.

"Hey, Kamijou," Yakumaru appeared from the side, panting. "Could ya have a little pity on me here? I'm a growing girl and I haven't been eating well."

"Oh, sorry." He slowed down a little.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of Kamijou's lips. Among the squad members, with the exception of Naru, suspicion was a constant companion, their watchful eyes never quite leaving him. Being as friendly as possible was crucial, particularly given his sense that Yakumaru wasn't pleased with his presence on the team. She treated him more like a random "strong" guy than a teammate, her tone consistently cold and distant.

Their journey to the base proved to be a lengthy trek, nearly two hours of winding through unfamiliar streets. They had deliberately chosen an alternate route, as directed by their leader, fearing the lurking threat of an ambush by a rival faction.

Upon their arrival at the lobby, Yakumaru wasted no time in offering her suggestion.

"You should go and talk to Mai-sama before you do anything. Do you remember where the office is?"

"Yes, I do. No problem." As soon as he said that, he sensed something odd. "Wait, why don't you come with me?"

The silence that met him in response felt strange.

"We have to report about the queen," Yakumaru replied, avoiding eye contact. "Which means we have to say that someone is behind all this. And if we're right about who that person is, Mai-sama will... react in an exaggerated manner."

"Yakumaru... Are you trying to use me as a bearer of bad news?"

"No. How could you think that of me? Me, using you in such a way? Of course, I wouldn't do that."

Yakumaru was making a lot of exaggerated gestures like a theater actress as she spoke, while Kamijou just looked at her with a face resembling someone watching a comedy play, not fully grasping the humor. But in this case, he understood that sarcasm very well.

"The person you're referring to," said Kamijou, "is the leader of New ITEM, right? Does Maidono have a grudge against her?"

"They don't like each other. So much so that they had a recent fight."

So that's what Seike had referred to earlier. Naru had mentioned the #4, which meant that Maidono had a Level 5 as an enemy, quite reckless. If he remembered correctly, she had faced Mikoto in the past, showing how troublesome that girl was. No wonder they didn't want to go with him.

"Who won?" Kamijou asked, his tone curious.

"We don't know," Yakumaru replied. "Mai-sama never touched on the subject."

"But we know exactly who won anyway," said Seike.

The boy seemed so certain that everyone suddenly surrounded him in that cold lobby, all looking at him seriously, lips drawn into straight lines. It appeared they didn't approve of discussing it, but Kamijou wanted to know.

"So do you know who the winner was?"

"Our leader is alive and kicking, so it's pretty clear she came out on top."

"Doesn't that work both ways?" Kamijou approached him, wearing a puzzled expression.

"Apparently, you don't know Mugino Shizuri." Seike seemed barely interested in conversing as he said this, but he continued while cleaning his ear with a finger. "Among those who were part of the dark side of this city, she was certainly one of the worst. I can see Mai-sama sparing her life, but the other way around? Not in a million years."

Although Kamijou had never interacted directly with the #4, he had encountered her more than once. It was impossible to define someone's personality so quickly, so for now, he would believe in his teammates.

"Okay, Ya-kun, you win, I'll go and try to keep Maidono calm."

"First, don't call me that," said Yakumaru with a neutral tone. "We're not friends if that was the impression you had until now. Second, it's better to leave her with us."

The boy winced, a frosty breeze of rejection lingering in the air with Yakumaru's blunt words. Nevertheless, he opted to overlook it for now.

"Is it alright for you to stay with them for now, Kongou?"

She replied with a confident nod. Kongou seemed much better after eating and resting a bit, but she was still too weak to walk around alone at night. Kamijou had to fix that.

"Naru, take care of her for me."

"Got it, Kami!"

Kamijou preferred to leave Kongou in the care of the friendliest person there. She was still a bit crazy, but she didn't hesitate at the time when they went to rescue her, and there was a certain tone of admiration at that moment.

Several flights of stairs later, Kamijou arrived at the first usable floor of their base. Direct access to the office was restricted, a precautionary security measure he found oddly comforting. It allowed him to observe the bustling hub of activity within. People with backpacks engaged in animated debates, studying hand-drawn maps sprawled across tables and the uneven floor. The once unpleasant smell from earlier had, remarkably, mellowed into a more tolerable aroma, an amalgamation of cooking fires, the mustiness of old books, and the comforting scent of shared meals. He'd better hurry, before he got carried away by the more pleasant atmosphere.

A few more flights of stairs later, he faced that decently preserved wooden door that led to the luxurious office. He knocked twice.

"Come in, Konori-san," replied a young female voice, but it wasn't Maidono.

"Um... it's actually me, Kamijou."

No answer came to those nervous words. Instead, he heard light footsteps and then the door opened. He didn't even have time to straighten up or put on a friendlier face.

"Oh, Imagine Breaker," said a woman with wavy orange hair, the same one who was here before. She adjusted her glasses as a thin smile appeared on her delicate lips. "I thought you were on assignment today. Did you have any problems?"

"No... I mean, yes... I mean..."

Kamijou nervously scratched his head, attempting to smile away the encroaching embarrassment. A disconcerting feeling lingered in the air with that woman. He could sense it. Feel it. The cadence of her speech, her movements, the gaze she fixed upon him. He knew this kind of pressure; it seemed as if an imperceptible chain, cold and rusty, was coiling around him. And the strange thing was, he felt something similar coming from practically every member of this faction.

"Can I talk to Maidono?" he asked after he had managed to shake off the feeling.

The woman looked at him as if she disapproved of something.

"Unfortunately she's out getting some fresh air, or whatever she does night in and night out. If it's something important, you can talk to me."

"Well... it's a delicate matter."

"Don't get all worked up, let's go inside."

Kamijou found himself gently guided into the room, a graceful gesture performed by the woman who possessed an air of elegance. Her touch on his shoulder was as delicate as a housekeeper who had mastered the art of her trade, and her other hand extended in a sweeping, welcoming motion.

Unlike earlier, the window was open, making the moon visible in the night sky. He wondered if they normally only did this at night, or had that woman chosen to do it now that Maidono wasn't here.

"So, what's this delicate matter?" The woman settled into the comfortable chair near the window and tilted her head. "Has the mission encountered a setback? Fear not, such occurrences are not uncommon."

"No, that's not it. Actually, our team delivered the spare parts."

"Fortuitous tidings indeed. However, it appears this is no ordinary report."

Doubt crept into Kamijou's thoughts like an unwelcome guest. While Maidono wasn't among his inner circle of friends, he had harbored a sense of trust in her, but, could he extend that same trust to everyone within these walls? The woman who now occupied the room, was she merely a secretary, or did her role hold deeper significance?

"Incidentally, I don't believe we've had the pleasure of a formal introduction," said the woman. Instead of extending a handshake, she clasped her hands together while leaning forward. "I am Therestina. Indeed, your observation is accurate. I have affiliations with the more shadowed facets of this city."

It was as if she had read his thoughts. A strange smile appeared on her face, her gaze keenly fixed on Kamijou's countenance. So that's what he felt. Come to think of it, Maidono was part of the dark side, as was Naru and probably the others on her team too. There was a pattern here.

"Do you have a problem with that, Imagine Breaker?"

"Not really." Kamijou shrugged somewhat nonchalantly. "And I prefer Kamijou, if you don't mind."

The woman appeared pleased with his response. Gracefully, she crossed her mature and statuesque legs, reclining in the plush chair with regal poise, exuding an air of ease and sophistication.

"Fascinating," she said, her tone measured and composed. "I shall address you as Kamijou-san henceforth. However, returning to the matter at hand, do you harbor any specific requests for my assistance?"

"Not exactly a 'request'." He took a deep breath and tried to keep as serious an expression as possible. "On the way here, we met a rival faction dragging a girl through the streets."

"And so, you chose to overlook what unfolded before you and continued on your path." She playfully gestured with her hand upon noting Kamijou's shifting expression. "Certainly not, one wouldn't expect otherwise, would they? Let me venture a guess. Like a prince in resplendent armor, you rescued the beautiful maiden. How delightfully romantic. And now, you've graced us with your presence to request our guardianship over her, haven't you?"

"Yes, it would be—"

"I'm sorry, but it's not going to work."

The woman, Therestina, even changed her tone of voice and looked at him with sharp eyes. The temperature in the room even seemed to drop.

"I want to make one thing clear, Kamijou-san, this isn't a charity shelter or anything like that. We can't just go accepting anyone into our faction. You were an exception, one that even I'm not sure is worth the risk."

Her words didn't have the same sophistication as before, now carrying a tone of discerning authority. The playful air faded, a switch had been flipped. But Kamijou Touma didn't let himself be intimidated, he made his voice pierce through those peeling layers before him.

"I'm not asking you to accept her into the faction, just to look after her for the time being."

"Be aware that this is in some ways even worse. The best thing is just to dump her and hope she finds someone from her faction, if she has one. She has one, right? "

"Yes. I think it was 'Garden Guardians', or something like that. But we can't just—"

"Garden Guardians?!"

The apathetic expression on her face changed to something like mixed suspicion and bewilderment. Her eyebrow rose slightly, her gaze shifting to the void in contemplation.

"Well, well," she said after a few seconds, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "One of those girls, mind you." She smiled mischievously, adjusting her glasses with an air of intrigue, and opened a dusty notebook. "Did she happen to disclose her name?"

"Yes, it's Kongou."

"Kongou Mitsuko. Excellent."

Suddenly, the woman gracefully clapped her hands a few times while continuing to smile. Kamijou had no idea why she seemed so excited.

"Very well, I suppose I owe Mai-san an apology," said Therestina, closing her notebook and directing her full attention to Kamijou. She pointed her slender finger at him and wagged it energetically. "She hit the nail on the head by recruiting you. Excellent, Kamijou Touma, excellent."

It was hard to know whether he could breathe a sigh of relief now or not. The atmosphere had shifted so abruptly that lowering his guard felt distinctly amiss.

The woman, however, had not concluded her statement.

"Not only have you swiftly accomplished your first mission so quickly, but you've also delivered to us an exceptional bargaining chip, all in a single night. Congratulations are in order. This warrants a fitting reward."

"Wait, a bargaining chip?" Kamijou leaned towards the table when he heard that. "That doesn't sound right. She's not a bargaining chip."

'Whatever that means', it was what he was supposed to say next, but he thought it unnecessary at the last second. In any case, it felt wrong. You really couldn't let your guard down around here.

"I don't comprehend your apprehension." But the woman just shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm merely stating that she holds a significant value for us. We shall ensure her well-being, so set your mind at ease. After all, the Garden Guardians are in our debt now, and we intend for them to be wholly beholden to us."

That sounded very good and very bad at the same time. But for now, it would have to do. If she was treated well, then he had nothing to worry about. After all, he had no idea how this new world worked, but as long as the people he saved remained saved, he couldn't ask for anything more.

However, it was better that he checked with Maidono afterwards just to make sure.

"You know, Kamijou, we may not boast an 'Employee of the Month' board, but if we did, you'd certainly be a strong contender," quipped the woman, offering him a more natural smile. She extended a jar filled with sweets. "Is there anything else I can assist you with, 'Hero'?"

Taking a bluish-white sweet from the jar, the boy began to ponder whether it was worth asking for some kind of reward that would help him in his mission to find his friend. Perhaps it was a bit wrong to use the girl he had saved without any ulterior motives to gain an advantage, but at the same time, if he didn't make progress, his heart would only get heavier.

"I just want to find my friend," he said sincerely. He looked at the candy in his hand and took a deep breath. "There must be something else you can do to help me."

"Hmm... Index, isn't it?" The woman's demeanor shifted suddenly to seriousness, Kamijou observing her without any inclination to question. "Now that communications are restored, I'll instruct them to disseminate the information. Regrettably, that's the extent of my current capabilities."

"I see."

"Hold your head up high, Kamijou-san. If she's alive, we'll locate her. I recommend you get some rest now and have a decent meal."

It was easier said than done. Maybe there was still something he could do, but for now, he needed to distract his mind.

x-5-x

Kamijou jolted awake, his body drenched in sweat, the echo of his rapid breath resonating within the confines of the small room. It was another one of those recurring dreams, typically a hazy replay of familiar scenes. But, this time, a single detail had begun to crystallize in his mind.

In every iteration of the dream, there was a girl's voice. He realized the futility of attaching too much significance to a dream; after all, it could be a jumble of random things. But the notion that dreams often contained fragments of memory and experience haunted him. In this particular dream, that girl's voice had been speaking about someone, a detail that refused to fade away.

"She mentioned finding Index," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he reclined. "And the way she called me… I can't help but wonder if that person..."

He raised his right hand, peering through the gaps between his fingers, attempting to grasp something elusive or simply lost in contemplation.

"My dorm. We were in my dorm when something happened."

His words emerged in barely audible whispers, as if Kamijou were striving to piece together furtive memories, but he had no idea what he was referring to by 'something happening'. Nevertheless, he was determined to find a purpose.

"I need to return there," he said, clenching his fist in determination. "Maybe I'll find something that will help."

It may have been a feeble lead, but it was a lead nonetheless. Another goal had been solidified in his pursuit.

Welcome to the bottom, good readers! This was a slower chapter, but I hope not too much. We had more interactions between the main group, and we also had a look at the point of view of another faction, the one that is the main rival at the moment.

Kamijou also seems interested in going to his dormitory to try to understand what exactly happened. And what is this girl who talks to him in his dreams?

I'll take a look at your reviews:

emiforce29: That would be a very unusual crossover. You're giving me ideas. I hope you like the story shaping up.

Dimz: *Blushing* T-thank you, reader-kun.

Sparity Ikari: That's a lot of compliments, I wasn't emotionally prepared for that xD. Seriously now, thank you so much for recognizing my efforts. I'm trying to make different dynamics for each character, so I'm glad you liked all of Naru and Kamijou's interactions so far. Yakumaru is still skeptical about the new team member for the time being, so we'll see where that takes us. Thanks again for your support.

WwEpsilonwW: I kind of like to make little references to lines from novels in different contexts, sometimes even unintentionally. I'm glad you found it interesting.

Zatil Hidayah Spensa: That's something I really enjoyed hearing (reading?). I love Kamijou's character, so I always make an effort to show every facet of his personality. I appreciate the compliment. Yes, we'll have those answers soon.

Uzunami1: Thank you. The new chapter is here, what do you think?

Emzt20x: Glad you liked it. We've had more characters here.

onilink500: Thank you very much. It's good to hear that you think they have chemistry. I'm trying to keep their interaction cute, using Naru's childlike manner. It will be a while before Kuroko appears here. Her faction is quite "busy".

5queso: Well, I have a slight impression that you like Kongou LOL. Minor spoilers, but she'll be with us for a while, with some action scenes with her planned too. I've already played Death Stranding, and that was kind of a reference. It seems that everyone is noticing the references to games that I make here. Thanks as always.

INFINITYKAPP97: Classic Kuroko. The "garden guardians" will eventually appear.

5had0wHand: Yeah, just maybe. Yes, parasites, and PBs in general, are very resilient. Removing them from someone's body is practically impossible, and yet they live on. Kamijou is always trying to do what he can, even in this ruined world. Kongou is here to stay. Thank you very much. See you next time!

By the way, something tells me that Kamijou's cheap food would please Naru. But she had no luck today. That's all for now. Moon leaving.