Painted Prison Chronicles

by Sparity Ikari

When Kamijou Touma and Gokusai sisters reunite after a long while, things certainly go crazy for all of them when they found themselves living together through random twists of fate. In their daily life, Touma, Amazora, Kaibi, and Rikuri will learn about each other, with their light, darkness, and pasts revealed. Among the misfortune, comedy, and romance, their bonds blossom anew!

27. Chapter 27

PAINTED PRISON CHRONICLES

CHAPTER 27

MITSUARI AYU: PRELUDE

Hello everyone! Last time I published, I hoped that I will be able to be back here in maximum two weeks. As it turned out, I was sorely mistaken. I can tell you that this was one of the most taxing and challenging months in my entire life, mainly because after I published last chapter, I had to spend weeks preparing to defend my thesis (I didn't suspect I will be doing it in July, it just didn't seem probable, but I managed to do a ton of obligations that allowed me to do so.) I will not bore you or mix real life in here, but my thesis concerned, among others, the relations between nature of fiction and alternative states of possibilities in philosophy and physics. One of the inspirations for this was a concept of Phases well known to us from Toaru. Everything went well and I managed to get through this taxing process with success, so right now I should really be able to write in a quicker pace, as my proper holidays began, allowing me to finish this chapter.

On the side note, it's important to note the milestone that is Yen Press's release of New Testament. Rest in peace, NT Bakatsuki. I will miss you and remember you fondly. I am happy though, as more novels in the stores may help the series to be more widely known and ultimately get us season 4.

This chapter is a semi-formal bridge between earlier story and proper Mitsuari Ayu arc. It is not yet a proper Ayu arc, but it does hint some elements that may be important to take notice of for this particular moment of the story. It consists of 4 separate stories, that in some ways are important to the motifs present in Ayu arc or characters that will appear in it. Of course, and that's crucial to point out, this chapter doesn't exhaust all those motifs. Some of them, concering Junko, Shokuhou, Kumokawa, Touma, and of course, the Gokusai sisters, will appear in proper Ayu arc, which will probably last 2 or 3 chapters. I hope this chapter will make the wait worth it, because, as I promised Kumokawa gets part of her time, and there are also some characters that are not apparent in the stories all that often. I already heard that it's my speciality, that's so nice to hear.

It was pointed out to me that Future Phase started to take too much space at some point. I admit, Future Phase is my guilty pleasure. It IS the stake, the goal of the story, and I wanted to make sure it was really fleshed out. But I understand that its exposure may divert the flow of actions too far away from the story's present at times. Thus, I will probably limit it for now, as there was a lot of it already showcased and many people got acquainted with future characters. Though there are few moments of Future Phase I would like to show before the ending of the story, which will focus on the future more extensively, I will give the present some breathing space for now, or give the bits of the future as the extra moments at the end of the chapters.

So yeah, there is a lot to say about this chapter, there are lots of interesting moments and concepts to dig through, but I think it may be more appropriate to discuss them in the ending section. So let's go with short Q&A for now...

Majin Othinus: I heard your complaint about the length of Future Phase. Except for a certain moments of Mugino and Junko I would like to have showed earlier, I will limit Future Phase moments till the ending. I would love to compile all the material I have on the Future Phase into a separate story. The only issue for the readers might be that for one to truly understand Future Phase, they should read this story, and everyone likes stories that can't be read independently (I mean, you can technically read future phase as separate story, it is a bit complex). I shall definitely think about it.

5had0wHand: To be honest, I was a bit overworked from the fact I had many exams and on top of that defended a thesis. That's why it took almost a month to complete this chapter... just like the last one (sighs). June and apparently half of July are hard in scholarly life. But I learned to take breaks when I am tired. I will not write anything good if I am tired anyway. But now I am getting my rest on holidays and hopefully will be able to bring you more of this story in more effective rate. I see that many people liked my portrayal of KNT. The confrontation of Touma and KNT is being based on Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, which is one of my favourite books dealing with good, evil, and psychology of human morality.

Mr.X: I don't think Ayu needs to suffer anymore. That girl really needs to be saved in some form or way.

KHVSFF: There are some loose ends that will be tying up when the story starts to resolve itself and sisters' mom is one of them. And my exams are finally over, so I can focus on resting and writing.

Without further delay, let's begin!

I. SINGULAR DUALITY

In one of the streets behind the artistic venue for Academy City's aspiring singers, a group of young women were crowding around black haired girl in a creamy dress and blue berette.

"P-Please, what do you want from me?"

"Just a quick chat." the oldest girl, in a very expensively looking clothes, stepped forward" Me and my friends have some complaints to fill, you know"

"Oh, I am very sorry to hear that... ah?!"

The other girl slammed a hand on the wall next to the brunette's head.

"You know that we have boyfriends? We came here to the concert to spend time on some quality dates"

"Oh, did you? Good for you then..."

"I think you are missing the point! Tell me, what is the point of date when the keep staring at you when we just wanted to have fun at the festival?! You think that just because you look good you can do whatever you want!"

"I don't really see how is this my fault... I mean, I am flattered but..."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU FLATTERED ABOUT?! We are positively pissed!"

"Also..." the surrounded girl squinted her eyes and gasped, upon seeing the big clock displayed on one of the venues in the distance. "Oh no, it's almost 7 PM already?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"No, no, no!" the raven haired beauty panicked, shifting her weight from one side to the other" I...I really should go..."

"Oh no you won't" the third girl lifted her hand, with sticky pink emulsion secreting from her skin" Not until we have a little... chat, to get your boyfriend-stealing vibe under control"

"I didn't intend to steal anyone! I..." the girl blushed coyly" I... I am already in love with someone I hold dearly. B-But more importantly, please let me go! The shift is coming... and she is usually very punctual..."

Suddenly, she staggered slightly, with a look of tiredness in her eyes.

"What are you talking about? What 'shift'? Are you working overtime? No one is coming for you to this remote corner!"

The girl did not answer but instead took out a small voice recorder and pressed the button, before speaking towards the device"

"We are in district 9, after my concert. Those 3 girls got mad for... emm... me being supposedly a boyfriend stealer. This a misunderstanding, so use minimum necessary force. I-"

"SHUT UP! You are freaking me out!"

The voice recorder was knocked out of the girl's hand when the patience of three girls reached its end. But at the same time...

The singer with glossy black hair smiled softly.

"W-Well, I am sorry that I can't talk longer but... my time is up..."

There was an electronic sound of bell tolling as brunette's eyes closed, leaving her oppressors baffled.

"O-Oi, what gives..."

But only 10 seconds later, the girl's eyes opened.

"What the hell... where did she took us this time?..."

Even those random attackers knew something was off, and involuntary took a step back.

"She changed the clothes... and took out most of my gear... for the love of god, seriously, what does she expect in that scenario? She was lucky that we switched in a situation like this!"

The way in which the mysterious girl kept her posture, her facial expressions, and tone of voice.

They were all very different from before.

The girl lifted up the recorder that was knocked out to the ground earlier on, ignoring the stunned girls, and checked the records, before nodding with a sigh.

"So... minimum necessary force? You never fail to be soft even if the enemy is literally breathing down your neck. So then, to be quite frank, I really have no time to deal with delusional crap of some misguided girls. This fight is stupid and pointless anyway"

One of the girls swung her arm, possibly attacking because of confusion and fear. But the mysterious young woman was faster.

In the blink of an eye, something was tossed in the air. It was a very small disc-shaped object.

"Being in such proximity, I don't really need wires for the effect I am looking for"

There was an explosion, not big enough to actually hurt the girl but sufficient to blow her back from the force of detonation.

With confidence completely absent two minutes earlier, the girl who detonated the small disc leaned over the dazed girl, while also glancing at her companions.

"If you still want to fight, do a smart thing... and let someone else try first."

Apparently, the will for actual fight was as short lived as the reason for it was stupid. The girls fled while screaming.

"Tch, what a way to wake up..."

The girl exited the alley, looking around. Then she blinked, before groaning in frustration and pulling out the recorder.

"Arisa, remind me why I allowed you to be taught how to drive our mobile weapons... would it really kill you, just once, to remember to tell me where you parked?!"

(...)

Such situations occurred sporadically throughout the city. Girl that suddenly changed her demeanour. A talented singer of incredible mirth and kindness that suddenly changed into someone strict and serious. An efficient leader and warrior suddenly disappeared, becoming confused and bubbly. Not many people could witness it, even less properly explain it.

But it was someone familiar, especially to the hero of this story.

With a miracle occurring on the top of Space Elevator, Endymion, two young women fused into one body.

Yet... this miracle was not as harmonious as it could appear.

But maybe the supposed failure could be actually a blessing in disguise...

(...)

In one of Academy City's bars, Shutaura Sequenzia woke up with her head on the table. Not only that, but her luscious raven hair was almost in the plate in front of her. Groaning, she lifted herself from the chair, to notice a barkeeper staring at her while polishing the glass.

"Hello..." she sighed, getting up" Where... am I?"

"You really don't know?" asked the barkeeper" You had quite a party here, lady"

"Well, I didn't have it" the Black Crow leader said, walking by the counter" Wait, should I pay you something? I honestly don't know..."

"Oh, that's fine. That young man you came with already paid when you gave him money earlier on"

"Young... man? Was it someone in military outfit?"

"Not at all. He is waiting for you outside"

Shutaura raised an eyebrow.

"Huh? He's waiting for me?"

She scavenged the recorder and played the last position while marching outside the bar.

"Hi Quen, I am sorry that you woke up outside and about in the city..." the cheerful voice of the miracle idol Arisa Meigo, that almost entire world considered missing or dead, sounded through the speaker.

"You think?" Shutaura knew that arguing with a recording was pointless, but she still made her opinion vocal" And don't think of new nicknames. I know my full name is hard for casual conversation, but shortening Sequenzia to Quen is just..."

"I know that you might be confused" Arisa's happy stream of words interrupted Shutaura's rant" but I assure you that it is worth it. I had so much fun because I reunited with someone very special. This reunion is in the past for me, even if I am still relishing it, but for you it's in the future, at least from the point of making the recording. But I am so happy I can dance and sing and hug everyone arou-"

Shutaura paused the recording and sped up her walk.

"She is all happy-go-lucky, but to this degree... who could possibly..."

In her contemplation, she didn't notice that she already went outside. She would probably carried on with her thoughts, if not for her to be stopped by a voice.

"Are you... Shutaura now?"

She froze.

Voice... that voice... his voice...

She slowly turned right.

Of course. Of course, who else could have be to entice such excitement and glee in Arisa? Who else, if even usually stern heart of Shutaura sped up a little when she finally see him

Kamijou Touma smiled at her from under the streetlamp.

"I was told you would change, but... wow, it really is you."

"You... you found me..."

"Well, yeah... me and Index were kind of looking around for you. For both of you."

Shutaura's face was probably way more confused than she ever let out, because the boy smiled at her.

"Now that's a rare sight. From what I remembered, you are that warrior ice queen type, so it's rare to see you so shocked"

Shutaura sincerely hoped that her cheeks didn't change hue, as she smirked back

"And who's talking? Took you long enough!"

"You were rather evasive. But, like I said, me and Index were rather intent on finding what happened to you after Endymion. so we kept our eyes... and ears... open"

"So you went here today to look for me?"

"Well, not exactly. It all started this morning..."

(MANY HOURS EARLIER)

Touma opened the door, suspiciously eyeing living room.

"Index? Are you coming for breakfast?"

That question should be rhetorical... but it was not, for some reason.

The living room was quiet. It was morning, but no one was up. Did everyone slept in?

Finally, Touma spotted a familiar figure in an elegant dress sitting in a chair in front of TV.

"Kaibi! I knew that you will be up by..."

The girl's head lolled to the side in a limp fashion and Touma's smile fell.

"Kai... bi..."

As he walked in front of the girl, he shuddered.

Her eyes were blank. And there was a red trace on her neck...

At the same time, descending terror caused Touma to register Rikuri covering in the corner of the room. She was bleeding and her clothes were slightly torn in many places.

She was covering Amazora and they looked as if they fought someone earlier on.

"Girl's, did someone attack you? What is-"

They backed away. Amazora was shivering and Rikuri had such look of fear and broken-hearted repulsion that Touma's heart froze solid.

"What... What..."

"How could you do this? How could you?"

"What... what happened here?"

"WHY DID WE EVER TRUSTED YOU?!"

"I don't under-"

"Why did you kill Kaibi-chan?!"

Touma stood there, before laughing nervously.

"What are you talking ab..."

He suddenly noticed something on his hand.

It was a smear of lipstick. For some reason, he knew to whom it belonged to. Not only that, but his hands were smeared with something... red...

His reflection in the mirror standing in the corner of the room turned its head with a smile.

"Now, isn't this quite the sight."

The reflection that actually wasn't a reflection smirked through the glass that rippled as if it was made of liquid silver.

"How long will it take, huh?" Kamijou No Touma spoke quietly.

"Is this your doing?!"

"Oh, on the contrary. It is yours and yours alone. I merely showed you one thing that is causing all the pain. How many nights did we repeat that? How many possibilities I will have to show you before you understand. Even someone like me has limited patience"

"What the hell do you wish to say to me by showing me this? I will never harm any people I love!"

"Sophisticated people such as myself often use metaphors" the Imagine Breaker emanation scowled from behind the mirror" It's quite simple, really: you are fundamentally incompetent. You are not strong enough, you are not clever enough, you are not good enough to play the role you think you should play"

"I don't want to hear anything from you! I will protect Kaibi-san and everyone else with my life!"

"But you see" the green and purple eyes narrowed" That's the problem. Sure, you won't actually kill them. But sooner or later, your presence will bring the unhappiness of every single person around you. Will it be because of some accident? Will it be because of your lack of foresight? They will be caught in it. And they will suffer because of your existence. Because of your resistance to my offer to take your place."

"Even if it kills me, I will save them! I will not let anyone die!"

"Such pretty words... that would make your mouth bleed if they were turned into actions. We of all people should know how many forms of death are there. You, mere human, a normal high school boy as you are so intent on calling yourself, dare to dream that you will stop them all?"

To Touma's further horror, his body moved on his own, raising his fist over the terrified girls.

"S-STOP THIS!"

"Let me think... I will not. It will not come in this scenario or form, but this... this is my ultimate form of victory. I will show you... yourself. And of course open her eyes once and for all"

"Don't you dare bring Index into this!"

"She was already brought into this by your actions. Besides, this whole thing... it was always about her. She is the beginning of it all, the beginning of my conviction, the very core of the reason through which I must cast you away"

"Index will always be in my life, as long as she wants it. The presence of Kaibi and the others does not diminish that!"

The cold gaze of Touma's counterpart got even more chilly.

"Oh... I see...let's fight fate then. But I warn you... if you and your new friends make that girl suffer through any means... then physical damage would be the least concerning brokenness you will have to deal with"

Touma's fist came down and...

Kamijou Touma awoke.

Taking irregular breaths, shallow and deep in rapid succession, he scrambled to his feet just as his doors slowly opened and Kaibi's head peaked inside.

"What's going on? We heard some-"

Touma opened the doors wide and practically crushed her into a hug, and not by the force of the embrace, but it's vivacity and passion.

"Kaibi... you are fine! Thank god!"

The stunned and flustered girl stared into space with a flushed face, before pushing away with an irritated expression.

"D-D-Don't just hug me like that! Of course I am fine, why wouldn't I be? Let... go..."

"Onii-chan, what is..."

"Touma, is everything alright?"

"Everyone!"

Touma suddenly let Kaibi go, and looked at the rest of the residents of their household, curiously watching as Touma looked at them with relief.

What followed was overwhelming wave of happiness, very rich breakfast and other gestures of kindness towards everyone in the apartment.

"What was that?" Kaibi asked, still just as confused as when she was hugged.

"I honestly don't know... but... it was rather lovely" Rikuri touched her cheek with a smile, before poking Kaibi a few times" Equally as lovely as the colour of your face when he hugged you"

"S-Shut up! Don't take any advice from that annoying cousin of ours or one of these days I swear..."

Meanwhile, Index and Othinus were having their own micro-conversation.

"Did you notice? I think Touma's having nightmares" Index said worryingly" he made such a good breakfast, but I know something is bothering him"

"You may be right. I just hope it's not... kind of nightmare involving me" Othinus added sombrely. "We probably should talk it out with him. He might need us if it involves something those girls cannot be brought into."

Meanwhile, on the balcony, Touma sighed, massaging his temples.

Four nights. Four nights of nightmares in a row. It seemed that aside from waging a war in a physical aspect of body possession, his darker half wanted to torment and wear him down psychologically.

He was progressing and he was a step away from grasping Mitsuari Ayu, who was somehow an element in this puzzle. And yet he couldn't help but dread the possibility of Kamijou No Touma getting what he wanted.

"His actions seemed justified, but it's so warped that... I just cannot allow this! I must-"

"Onii-chan?"

Touma turned around to see Amazora with unusually concerned expression.

"Onii-chan, is everything alright?"

Touma smiled and waved his hand

"Yeah, I just woke up early because I was too hot and-... OW!"

Amazora, expressively pouting, stomped on Touma's foot.

"Onii-chan, I am not dumb! I know that you are upset! And when you are upset, I am upset too. Because you can't be with me, not really, when you are sad. I hate it!"

"Amazora..."

"This is why I want to use my right of favour now! Because I need onii-chan to have fun and don't focus on bad stuff!"

"I... I honestly don't know if I can do it easily in this situation. And are we talking about the right of favour from... that time?"

"Fufufu! I am glad you remember, onii-chan!"

(FLASHBACK)

Touma breathed out, as his armless body was covered in shimmering wave of golden-yellow energy. He was standing in the industrialized area surrounded by magazines and reservoirs.

The power of golden dragon allowed to tap into the ability to generate and influence various types of energy. Or rather, to create energy that was multi-aspect power which manifested various characteristics, normally separated in nature.

The lighting-like power that this dragon's ability could produce could easily be treated as similar to Misaka Mikoto's Railgun, but it also shared some aspects with Mugino Shizuri's Meltdowner.

His body felt as if it was brimming from swarming and crackling power, as he slowly raised his hand to aim and-

"Onii-chan?"

BOOM!

The beam of pure energy discharged, slashing nearby water cistern in half.

The reason it did so was that Gokusai Amazora spoke from behind him, nearly causing him to have a heart attack.

The aura of power dissipated as Touma turned around smiling nervously

"E...Eto... Amazora-san... did you..."

"I saw everything, onii-chan"

"Why are you even here?"

"I was out to shop secretly" small girl put a palm of her hand close to her mouth, partially shielding it as if conveying the matter of greatest secrecy" Because Kai and Riku onee-chans didn't want to buy me new dress fit for thigh flash seduction, I wanted to show them that I can make good choices, like them, but then I saw you. And I remembered that Yume wanted to invite you to her birthday party, so I followed you... and I sort of got here... saw as you started glowing and... shooting lasers?"

Touma stared at her for a moment, before sighing

"Amazora... you see... I have this very important secret training to do... it's very complicated and I would really like you to keep it a secret..."

Amazora's lips stretched into a small smirk.

"Heh heh heh..."

As lovable of a sister she was for Touma, she was still a cunning little devil of a little sister.

"I may not tell my sisters about this if you promise me something... or else I will show them... this..."

She proudly lifted...

"My arm!" Touma screamed, looking around, and noticing that the arm was gone from the place it dropped after separation." Amazora, wait... you can't just... wait..."

What ensued was almost 10 minutes of surreal chase in which Amazora was waving at Touma with his own detached arm which, no matter how one looked at it, was rather disturbing.

At high speed, they passed Himegami Aisa who was eating early lunch at the cafe.

After a few seconds, the girl blinked and stared at the cloud of dust in the distance

"Was that... and was she holding..."

After a moment, she shook her hand and returned to the meal

"Can irrelevance to the story of life cause hallucinations, I wonder?"

Finally, Amazora slowed down, and Touma shouted.

"Stop! I didn't say no to your request so stop running away with my arm."

Amazora stopped abruptly

"Oh... that makes sense! It just seemed like a fun thing to do"

"Fun? I will die of blood loss! Toss it to me"

Amazora nodded and threw the arm as far as she could, and when it got close to Touma.

"WOOOOAH!"

Somehow, in some way, it just reconnected. Nerves, bones, muscles, everything. Touma flexed the arm, clenching and unclenching his fingers, before turning to absolutely amazed Amazora.

"Onii-chan... are you some sort of alien?"

"What? No, no, no... it's just... my right arm is... it seals... that's really complicated, but I need to remove my arm for training to be able to go against some really bad guy."

"Does it hurt?"

"Usually yes, but as sad as it is, I kind of got used to it. More importantly, Amazora..."

Touma crouched down to the girl's eye level.

"I don't know if you listen to me, but I still have to try. What I am doing now has to stay secret, at least for now. I promise that one day I will explain it not only to you, but to your sisters as well, but that time is not now. So I must ask you to keep it to yourself. It will be our secret, for us only. Can you do that for me?"

Amazora's eyes widened as she felt warmth in her chest. She realized she practically forced Touma to take this solution, but him asking her to be a confident in his secret made her somewhat giddy. That was because her sisters always avoided telling her secrets (they tried to not make it obvious, but Amazora was not that oblivious).

So now, she wanted to do her best to not let her brother down.

"I agree... under two conditions"

"Huh?"

"Firstly, I will have the right to ask something of you once a... week, and you won't turn it down"

"Once every two weeks? And it must be something I can do"

"Deal. And secondly... if there is anyway I can help onii-chan... you will tell me. I want to spend time with you always"

Touma smiled and made a fist, which Amazora bumped with her own.

"Alright then, I promise"

(PRESENT TIME)

"So, you want to use your right of a favour." Touma sighed. He was still rather exhausted. "The thing is, there is a lot going on and-"

"Onii-chan! You said you won't refuse it"

"Oh... I did promise that, huh... fine. What do you need from me?"

Amazora clapped her hands.

"Actually, I want to do something that will help you relax. Which is why we should go..."

(LATER THAT DAY)

They were at talent show venue in District 9. It hosted various entertainment-related events, when aspiring artists, actors, idols, or musicians could try to master their craft.

Alongside Amazora and Touma was Index (with Othinus in the hood) and, to Touma's surprise, Sakuragi Naruha.

"I didn't know that you like the idol concerts" Touma spoke to her.

The paper manipulator shrugged.

"Well, I do have a soft spot for a cute stuff, so why not? Hmm, I wonder if Yakkun follows us..."

"Itsuki-san? Why would she go? She likes idols too?"

"Not really, she likes someone though..." Naru shook her head in disbelief, before muttering to herself" Seriously, when will she realize that she is actually sending you those undressing gazes every 5 minutes..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Wait... in fact, why does Academy City invest in such entertainment venues in the first place?"

"Oh, oh, I know this one." Index did not miss a chance to show her perfect memory skills" Apparently, city can test new inventions related to sound and light, while also providing entertainment for the masses."

"Something... like that" Touma nodded" And we are here because... well, Amazora apparently wants to see some concert a lot, and also, because me and Index... we had a friend. A really, really good friend, one of the best. We didn't know her for that long, but she really made an impact on our life"

"So we come to search for her... we really miss her, you know" Index said solemnly.

However, her sadness lasted only for a 10 seconds or so.

"Index onee-chan" Amazora, clearly excited with the outing, pointed at the food stalls" Let's go grab something-"

"FOOOOOD!"

Later on Touma heard that the vendors got the case of extreme hysteria caused by their supplies being reduced to almost nothing.

"Can you please have a look on them? I will reserve our seats for the show-"

"Fine, but I will charge you for babysitting duty!"

Touma went into the impressive dome that had several small stages. Only one was occupied and surrounded by a group of people, mainly young guys.

Then, for once, something akin to a good coincidence befallen Kamijou Touma.

He heard the voice before seeing its owner.

It was different, yet so hauntingly the same. Different in sound, but similar in a way the tune mesmerizingly flew across the space in an enchanting and touching fashion.

He lifted his gaze and focused it on stage.

There was a girl he recognized. It wasn't the one he was expecting, but it was a girl he knew. Even if acting peculiar, it was the girl he didn't know he will ever see again.

And, as the girl in a creamy-beige dress and raven hair sang, he moved forward as if in trance, not looking away from the stage.

It took a moment, but after finishing a particularly beautiful crescendo, the girl scanned the audience... before noticing Touma, and pausing next note in mid-breath.

The microphone dropped out of her hands, sending an echoing feedback, as her mouth opened and eyes widened.

The rest of the audience was confused, as the singer took a few steps...

Before both her and the boy running towards one another.

"Sh... Shutaura?!"

"TOUMA-KUN?!"

And then, the girl did the unexpected. She leapt into the air, grabbing the back of his neck and making herself swing around him in a movie-like fashion before landing in his arms.

"It really is you, Touma-kun! Oh, I wanted to see you again so much, but we had a disagreement whether or not we-"

"Shutaura? You act... strangely"

"Oh" the Shutaura (?) in question smiled shyly" You wouldn't know. I am actually-"

"OI, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

The two of them slowly turned to face the group of fans not very pleased with the idol suddenly snuggling with some guy who just came inside the venue.

"C-CRAP, WE MUST RUN FOR IT!"

After rather taxing and adrenaline filled chase, Shutaura (?) and Touma peaked from managed to hide themselves from angry pursuit.

"Okay, we are safe for now"

"Yes... we are finally back together! I can't believe it..." the girl grasped Touma's hand" It's been so long..."

Touma tilted his head.

"You are not Shutaura, are you? Earlier you called me... Touma-kun. The only one who called me that was... Arisa?"

The girl smiled softly, bringing his hands closer to her own chest.

"You're right. I know that it's confusing that I look like this. My old body is no more, but... it's still me. And I am so happy to see you again, I just can't get enough of it. Do you believe me?"

Touma blinked, before slowly exhaling and nodding.

"Well, I got to know you well enough to get to recognize some of your habits. I would never mistake the way you sing for anything, and also your mimics are the same as they were back then... even if you have Shutaura's face. Which is, in a way, rather terrifying"

Arisa giggled in a cute way that would probably make Shutaura die in embarrassment.

"I can only imagine. It's probably not what you would expect, but I am glad I got to meet you again"

"Wait... if you are here and you look like Shutaura... then were is Shutaura herself?"

"That's a bit complicated, Touma-kun. For some reason, our fusion at the top of the elevator left us with a bit of an unexpected result. But I think I owe Index an explanation too, so I would love to find her and say hello. Is she with you?"

"Yeah, she is... in fact, I have to find her too, since I left her with a colleague of mine."

Arisa smiled and looked at his hand.

"May I..."

"Hmm?"

"Since you know the way... is it okay if I hold your hand?"

"O-Oh..." Touma stuttered a little, before composing himself" O-Of course, sure, go for it."

"Thank you. That means a lot" Arisa smiled gently, intertwining her hand with Touma's own, as they walked back in the direction they came from earlier on."It's just... our departure was so sudden, and I don't want to let go just yet. You know, even though in that moment... when we were about to become...I was feeling completed, but at the same time... I was scared. I was really afraid, Touma-kun"

"Afraid? Of what?"

"I felt like I was going to disappear forever...which I guess was a good thing, since I was a miracle existence to begin with. But... as much as I rejoiced to make Shutaura complete, I felt scared and sorry for not being able to spend more time with you as myself, or at the very least say goodbye. Shutatura theorized that this wish could have interfered with fusion and left us in the state similar to dissociative identity disorder. I can only speak of myself, but I think Shutaura yearned to see you again too, and this caused our identities to be maintained"

(10 MINUTES LATER)

"Onii-chan! You should have told me that you knew idols! That's so cool!"

"Leader was right, you keep throwing those connections out of the blue and onto the table as if it's nothing. Sheesh..."

But Touma wasn't really focused on what Amazora and Naru were saying, instead happily watching the display of happy reunion, with Arisa and Index hugging each other, both of them crying and sobbing with smiles on their lips.

"Ari...saaaaaaa!"

"Ooooh! Index-san, did you grow from when we last see each other? Oh, it's been too long! How did you recognize me? Because of what happened, I have a different body, one that you never saw before. Everything besides my personality changed."

"I... you smile and walk in the same way as before, even if your face is different." Index explained" I never forget anything, and when Touma said who you were... that look of gentleness and kindness in your eyes, and everything about the way you walked up to me... it told me all I needed to know"

"Onii-chan..."Amazora's eyes lit up as she tugged at Touma's clothes" Does this mean that we can spend a private time with an idol? Meigo-onechan, pretty please, can we have a party with you? This is even cooler than regular concert"

"I...I am not officially an idol anymore" Arisa tried to bashfully wave it off, but Index chimed in too

"Arisa, please, I must hear your voice after so much time! I won't take no for an answer!"

"A-Are you sure?" the shy blush dusted Arisa's cheeks and Touma almost fell over because of the look this gave Shutaura's face" L-Like I said, I have a different body from the time I performed for you. Different vocal chords too"

She tapped Shutaura's throat with a finger.

"I remember idol Arisa Meigo. Leader and Yakkun didn't want to admit it upfront, but they were your fans" Naru's paper swirled around and changed structure and colour, shaping itself into fans and T-shirts with Arisa's name on it" I am actually willing to listen what they were so excited about. It can't be bad"

Arisa breathed out through the nose, and then slowly exhaled, before smiling

"Right. I will give you a performance. A performance fitting this great reunion! Now, go ahead to that bar on the other side of the road. I will rejoin you shortly. Touma-kun, I need to show you something"

Amazora put hands on her hips

"Meigo onee-chan, no kissy stuff or showing thighs. That's my thing, you can't have it!"

"W-Wha..." escaped from the lips of flabbergasted Arisa.

And with that said, Amazora and Index marched towards the bar. Naru looked at Touma's pleading eyes, and nodded, following two younger girls.

"Such a lively girl"

"Yeah, lively is certainly a word to describe her. And that's only one of the sisters... I will be sure to introduce you to them... emm, will you actually be around for long? I mean, I guess Shutaura and you-"

Arisa raised her hand and pointed to her pocket.

"This is exactly why I wanted you to stay for a moment. You are right, she will show up in some time. Before we go have fun with others, I think it's best to let Shutaura explain this...

She browsed through the phone, finally finding the video she needed and playing it.

On screen was a neatly organized room with the girl identical to the one Touma was standing by right now behind the desk from polished metal.

Even though the body was identical, the focused, determined look, and the presence that was felt even through the phone's screen, gave Touma the idea that this was Shutaura Sequenzia.

'Shutaura Sequenzia speaking. I am doing this recording for Kamijou Touma's ears. If it is played in the way it is supposed to be played, and I hope it is, then it means that you already reunited with Arisa, but didn't meet me yet. Thus, I believe that I am better in giving you a rundown of what's happening here better than this scatterbrain... oh well, I guess that's a bit on me, since she is part of myself..."

Arisa made a rather cute pout at that, especially contrasted with the identical face on the screen, which wore a rather serious expression, as she crossed her fingers while looking at the camera.

"As you probably deduced by now, me and Arisa are stuck mid-fusion. We made it to one body, but our minds didn't integrate. Thanks to this, instead of being one people in two bodies, we became one body with two minds. Just like in the cases of DID, we switch in control of our body, so if you hang around Arisa for a while, you will eventually meet up with me. Usually, one shift in control occurs every 4 to 5 hours, unless one of us is knocked unconscious or falls asleep, in which case the switch will occur straight before awakening. Each of us doesn't retain the memories of the other one, which means that while we both have the same body, my body, our minds have two distinct timelines, with memory gaps between them. Because one of us can only be awake when the other is dormant, we cannot meet up simultaneously. This is why we communicate through recordings or videos, like the one you are viewing right now. The reason why our fusion wasn't complete and what can we do from now on are still under investigation by me. This is it for now, so if you understand, keep an eye on Arisa. I can't save her each and every time when we don't switch, and if she dies, we both die. Shutaura out."

Arisa blushed at that last remark.

"I... I got lucky a few times, and she switched in time to save me. B-But she is clearly exaggerating!"

Touma smiled warmly at her.

"I understand. Well, let's go inside and hear this song!"

(BACK WHEN TOUMA MET SHUTAURA)

The Black Crow commander took a sip of a cold drink and sighed, before pinching Touma hard, as they sat on the bench.

"If you listened to the recording, I am happy. But I told you to keep Arisa from doing something stupid. What is this?"

Shutaura wrinkled her nose, looking at the clothes she was wearing.

"If you want me to recap the events again... we went to the bar, you... I mean Arisa... she sang a really beautiful and fun song for us, other customers were enchanted too. They started to throw Arisa some money, but she instead bought drinks for everyone, and then everyone went dancing... I danced with Amazora, Index, Naru-san... and also with Arisa herself. Then Arisa and Index had eating contest and they both great deal of food...then there was more dancing... then everyone went homes. Amazora and Index wanted to stay, but they were getting sleepy, so I asked Naru to take them home. When I returned to the bar after sending them off, I heard you from the inside... and here we go... owowowow! Why are you pinching me?!"

"Why did you let her dance and sing in front of all those people?"

"What's wrong with that? Since when you are so prone to embarrassment?"

"Because that's my body and my reputation being tarnished. I.. don't do cute! Good grief..."

Shutaura fumed at him for few seconds more, after which silence reigned for almost two minutes. Before...

"Good..."

Touma looked at the brunette.

"Did you say something?"

"I said... it's good to see you" Shutaura finally faced him properly, with her gaze mellowing down a little" I know that we really didn't know each other very long, but you have my gratitude. That alone is the reason for which I wanted to know you a little bit better. Don't interpret it in any strange fashion, but... I did miss you, despite the brevity and abruptness of our initial relationship, I wanted to see you again"

"It's good to see you too" Touma replied, happy that Shutaura, someone with whom he had a different bond than the one he had with Arisa, also wanted to preserve their connection.

"You made me whole" Shutaura said absentmindedly, before realizing the double meaning, and furiously shaking her head" I-I mean that you literally helped me to rejoin with part of myself! Which means you also make me whole, but not whole in that sense... ugh, I am always more clear with my speech, what the hell is happening?"

Touma subtly asked a question that was interesting him for a while

"Is it... hard? To share a body?"

Shutaura stopped her somewhat flustered defence, and frowned.

"It's... manageable. Although it is similar to sharing a house with a roommate. A really messy roommate."

"Arisa is problematic?"

"She is carefree and too trusting. Although we share our time relatively well, our interests, personalities and hobbies are different."

"Huh... is there anything you have in common? Any thing or person you both find interesting?"

Shutaura became silent, glanced at him, before s coughing slightly into her hand.

"N-Nothing comes to mind, no shared interests. She is a pacifist, I use force. She does cute, I don't. She is like day, I am like night. Like oil and water, like dove and a crow. But nonetheless, it's somewhat reassuring that she is with me. Even if... *hic!*"

Shutaura's speech was interrupted as a sound escaped from her mouth.

She wanted to speak, but instead, only another *hic!* was heard.

"That glutton!" Shutaura spoke through hiccups" I always tell her that she can't just guzzle down food and water, or this will happen. Excuse me..."

"N-No, it's fine!" Touma spoke, turned away.

The reason he was not showing his face was...

'That's absolutely adorable. I don't want to die, so I won't say a word, but that was so cute!'

When Shutaura managed to get her hiccups under control, she spread her arms.

"As you see, there are some issues with not having memory of what your body was doing for past 4 or 5 hours. Usually when I get hit on a mission, it hurts more later on, and it's Arisa that has to deal with that. She never tells me when she parks. And I guess waking up in the middle of the antiterrorist action is not a good experience for her. That's why we have a tight schedule to control our switching. This whole thing changed us as well."

Apparently, although their minds remained separated, the semi-fusion affected the two girls, with both acquiring strengths and weaknesses of the other one in random areas.

Some things were positive.

For example, Shutaura regained the ability to recognize music. Arisa gained better physical condition and eyesight. Shutaura was evidently lucky in everyday life, while Arisa gained some confidence.

But there were also negatives.

What started as Arisa's innocent sneeze turned into allergic reaction to daisies she didn't have before in 'singular' life. Shutaura's favourite drink suddenly stopped to taste good. Arisa had slight insomnia. And...

"Why did my breasts got bigger too? That's highly impractical! Oi... be honest... you stared at my butt earlier on, does it look fatter?"

"W-What? But I thought you didn't remember time when Arisa was in control!"

"Ah, you just admitted you were staring!"

"I wasn't staring...I glanced, once! Arisa smiled at me when I apologized! She was dancing and my eyes just accidentally landed there"

"Pervert. I am not showing you mine. Just answer the question"

"That's literally the same butt! And there is a huge difference between fat and... not-small"

"You are trying to be diplomatic with a solider?!"

This discussion lasted for a bit more, before Shutaura changed the topic.

"Anyway... something is changing with us. I don't know exactly what, but I can't help but feel weary. Did you ever consider it, Kamijou? What actually makes a human constant and identical with himself across his life?"

Some people could claim that people remained the same person across their lives thanks to some physical factor. One could argue that identical bodies, bodily consistency, continuing vital functions or same brain in different moments of life made many stages of a person's life a part of one person's identity. However, bodies were not identical through lifetimes thanks to cellular replacement. Dead body wasn't the person even if body consistency was retained. There were people who were in a coma or whose vital functions resumed after being stopped. Finally, if the brain was source of identity, wouldn't the hypothetical transplantation of brain hemispheres resulted in one people being in two places at once, even though he was obviously a singular existence?

Others could argue that memory made people the same entities across their lives. But this was problematic in its own right. To measure the consistency of a memory, one already needed a constant person those memories would belong to. Furthermore, as Kamijou's own case suggested, people lost their memories due to accidents or aging, but it didn't fully strip them of their identity as a specific human being.

Magic Side, especially christians, could probably argue that people could be identical with themselves through the virtue of possessing a soul. But it was rather mysterious how would a soul create this identity and how it could be discovered by other people.

"We are in flux, and the reason is..." Shutaura resumed" that there is someone else"

That got Touma's full attention.

"Someone else? You mean... besides you and Arisa? But how?"

"I don't know, and it's merely a hypothesis. I wanted to be the one to tell you this, and I didn't say it on the video because Arisa would get overly sappy over this. But there are time frames which both me and Arisa don't have memories of. We can't fathom what our body is doing at that time, and that someone made no effort to communicate with us until now. This... this is honestly rather unnerving."

Touma looked at that disciplined young woman who was trusting him enough to confide her feelings of discomfort, and put a hand on her shoulder.

"It will all work out. Now that I reunited with you, I won't let your problems go unnoticed. I promise"

Shutaura stiffened for a moment, before relaxing once more and saying only a small

"Thanks"

Before...

"Oh my..."

While Shutaura's earlier reaction could be due to sudden contact with Kamijou, the fact that a pair of people suddenly appeared before them could contribute to that.

One of them was Gokusai Rikuri, in a very fashionable evening dress. And the second was...

"F-Fukiyose?!"

Indeed, his classmate, identified by a large forehead and a very ample bosom, stared at him.

"Ho... quite a lovely evening you have with your... friend"

Fukiyose spat the word friend as if it was the curse of the worst calliber.

"Fukiyose, I can expl-"

"We had a very nice talk, we made progress, so you should have at least have courage to not do a crap like this"

"Sorry, but..." now it was Shutaura that flared up and rose from the bench" What the hell is your problem? You are here with a friend too"

"Oh yeah, I went out to meet with my friend, that shares my interest with health products. The only problem is that some of us have no courage to admit that they spend time with some knock-off instead of coming to me and speaking what he wants straight up"

"Excuse me, what?!" growled Shutaura.

"Did... they know each other?" Rikuri whispered to Touma, who watched in fascination as irritated Shutaura faced equally miffed Fukiyose.

"No idea, but I don't think so"

The amount of feminine, overwhelming pressure was so intense that it was strangely attractive to observe...

No, there was no time to be enchanted. Touma noticed what probably pissed Fukiyose off, besides that she saw him with Shutaura at all. It was the fact that, especially in the light of the streetlamps, Fukiyose and Shutaura were strangely similar. Same big breasts (although with advantage on Fukiyose's side), same big brows, and same athletic type of physique.

"Who are you calling a knock-off?!"

"Who else? It's obvious who wears this style better!"

"I like how cocky you are. What's your name?"

"Fukiyose Seiri. I am his classmate. You know, the girl who he sees almost everyday. The girl he thinks about when he thinks of someone in his everyday life. The-"

"Alright, I get it. Kind of sad that you have to explain it. Let me guess, you were too hard on him for some time and you got insecure?"

"I did not... maybe a bit... but it doesn't change a thing now. Who are you to judge it?"

"I am Shutaura Sequenzia and I been through some things you wouldn't believe"

"I didn't ask for your sad life story, what the hell do you want with Kamijou Touma?"

"Nothing, but it can quickly change if I feel like it. What are you gonna do? You are not his girlfriend, are you?"

"You really piss me off!"

"You think you really had this look as an original! Your eyebrows look as if you could use them as shelves!"

"Says the girl who obviously doesn't sleep enough. Get something done with your skin!"

"My skin is perfectly alright! Do you compensate for something with those breasts?"

"Girls, maybe we should-" Touma tried to speak, but...

"SIT DOWN, I WILL DEAL WITH HER ALONE!" both of them yelled at the same time.

Apparently, they were similar in more ways than one.

"Oh, you two are so similar. After meeting Oriana, I hoped to one day see this from an outside perspective and it's as funny as I imagined it would be." Rikuri giggled, which caused both girls to turn to her with flushed faces.

"There is nothing funny about it!"

"And I am not like her in no way!"

"Idiot, it's obvious who looks better in this style!

"It's..."

"ME!" both girls pointed at themselves, before giving each other cross looks. "ME!"

"Maybe we should just let fists do the talking-"

"Pfft, as if you could ever-"

"GIRLS!" Touma, despite earlier command, shot up and got between Shutaura and Fukiyose" I know your similarities in style, but there is no reason to fight."

'That's actually not the real reason why they are fighting' Rikuri thought to herself, amused by the situation. She knew already that depsite her harsh exterior, Fukiyose cared deeply for Touma, and with quite a vigorous feeling. Although she didn't knew the girl who introduced herself as Shutaura, she suspected she was having similar feelings.

Meanwhile, Touma continued to speak

"As a friend and honest man. Shutaura, I know Fukiyose for a long time. She is not only dependable, but also very charming when she wants to, and cares deeply for all of our classmates. And Fukiyose, Shutaura is super badass. She's also a leader, has a super strong punches, and can be sweet on occasion. You are super alike in all of the amazing things that I love about-

WHAM! WHAM!

Two fists collided with his head.

"That's super embarrassing, you idiot!" both girls, whose faces turned red, yelled in synchronization, before looking at each other, and for the first time flashing small smiles at each other.

"Fukiyose-san... I don't actually know why you're so mad, but if it makes it any better..."

Touma leaned over and whispered something to the ear of his classmate.

Fukiyose looked at him with shock.

"Did you just..."

"It... I think it appears so"

"Are you serious?"

"I-If it's what you want..."

"Hmm, hmm" Fukiyose hummed, with her mood improving momentarily" You are on a good way to rehabilitation if you can keep up this promise. Or do you want to see me in that dress again?"

"Hey" Shutaura muttered, stretching Touma's cheek from the side" What did you say to her?"

"E-Ekhm..."

"You promised to go out with her or something?"

"W-When you phrase it like that, it suddenly appears very imposing..."

For reasons not fully clear to her, Shutaura suddenly felt stinging fire in her heart. Moments ago, Touma's attention was on her and her conundrum. She was going to spend more time with him, without intervention.

"Hey, Kamijou. That guy over there... doesn't he have the same uniform as you?"

"Where?"

Not only Touma, but even Fukiyose looked in the given direction.

Of course, there was no one there. But it was all Shutaura needed to secure her grasp on Touma, who in the next moment found himself over the shoulder like a bag of flour.

Even though Shutaura grit her teeth, the fact that she managed to support Touma's weight spoke volumes of her strength gained through various combats.

"What are you talking about, there is no one the-"

Fukiyose's comment turned into a scream of outrage when she saw Shutaura running away, exceptionally fast for someone carrying a person.

"W-Where do you think you are going?"

"Ah, jealousy is so fine when seen from the outside" Rikuri commented.

Ever since she confessed her love, she gained distance to the feelings of envy, contrary to her younger siblings. That didn't mean that Touma would be spare the talk when she returns home but for now, she was more invested in watching Fukiyose's reaction.

"I am not jealous!"

"Oh, your ears are turning red, so adorable!"

"Please, just don't say anything!"

Meanwhile, Shutaura didn't actually have to run far.

"Finally, I found it."

Touma yelled as he was suddenly thrown into what seemed like a thin air... only to land in a mobile fighting vehicle.

Shutaura followed suit, clicking something on control panel and making the machine come to life.

"I finally found it. Arisa always leaves it in stealth mode. I swear, I would choke the life out of her if that didn't mean that I would also hurt myself..."

"Shutaura-san... there is only one sitting place."

She looked at him. Touma weakly pointed to her posterior.

"I swear I have the best intentions, but if you sit on me... I-I am a guy after all and-"

"What are you talking about? You sit between my legs"

"W-What?"

"Got a problem? If you are still being prudent, don't worry. If you mention my chest or thighs, I will slaughter you for a good measure"

"T-That's also a part of it, but... I can't ride like that. My male pride will absolutely-"

"Damn it, my cheek still remembers that punch, Mr. Gender Equality. I am invoking said equality right now, so shut up and get in here."

And so, slightly flushed Touma was sat between Shutaura's legs. The embarrassment also came from the fact that the girl rested her head on his shoulder so she could see the road and her glossy hair was tickling Touma's neck.

"Let's go!"

And so, Miss Shutaura "Steal Your Man" Sequenzia launched the mobile vehicle through the street and onto the nearest building, where it glided perpendicularly on its multiple legs.

Touma actually screamed once they left the ground, never experiencing this sort of travel before, which caused Shutaura to actually let out a chuckle.

"There they go."

"How are you so calm about this?" Fukiyose asked Rikuri" Apparently, you got to know Kamijou too."

"I just know that I must to do something better to impress him. That's what it means when the love is war" Rikuri winked at Iron Wall Girl."Which reminds me... did you get invited on a date?"

"I-I guess so. I am surprised he actually suggested it"

"Well, nothing motivates a guy so much than a perspective of his friend pummeling him down with her fist"

W-Why are you asking? Aren't we supposed to be rivals here?"

"Maybe, but we are friends first. So... tell me all the juicy details of what you want to do with him"

"I don't-"

"You are turning red~"

"STOP THIS!"

(MANY HOURS LATER)

It was almost daybreak when Kamijou Touma began to wake up on an unfamiliar sofa.

Slowly, he remembered that Shutaura took him to apartment over Black Crows HQ. They spent the rest of the evening chatting and catching up to speed with the recent events.

Shutaura proposed for him to spend the night over, since it was really late, and as much as Touma didn't want to be a problem, the stern girl did not want to hear it. So he ended up on the modified sofa and was out like a bulb. Four nights of bad sleep really caught up to him.

And now he was woke up by... lips?

Yes... someone was undoubtedly kissing him.

At first it was a strong, firm kiss, that later dissolved into couple of gentle pecks on the lips.

Touma's eyes shot open to find a gently smiling face over him.

"I am sorry, but they both wanted to do this for so long... even Shutaura wouldn't say it outright... that I just followed my shared feelings and did them a favour"

"Shutaura?"

"Yes... but mostly no"

Still shocked, Touma crawled upwards and got a good look at the girl in front of him. Or at least as much as he could get in the greyness of the early light.

Albeit body of that person was like Shutaura's, there were two noticeable differences.

The ends of her hair were lighter, almost pink, with the colour changing in one third or fourth of their length.

Her eyes were also a mixture of colour. Even if they were black, they had pink halos around the irises that made it seemed like nebulas in the dark.

"You are not Shutaura... so who are you? Wait... are you that third party that Shutaura was scared of?"

"Looking at what I said back then makes me want to laugh. But answering your question, yes, I am the so-called third party. Do you have an idea who I am? Hint: You already know me"

Touma tilted his head.

The girl sighed

"Both of me"

Then facts connected in Touma's head.

"That's right" the girl smiled warmly" I am the true result fusion. I am both Arisa Meigo and Shutaura Sequenzia, and at the same time, someone completely new. I am the union of their bodies and minds, which combined formed an unprecedented new quality."

"You... you can't be..."

Girl moved closer to him

"Then how can I remember this? When we first met, Arisa fell onto you, and then Index-san give you a biting. And when we were talking by the fountain, I said that as long as I had my songs, I wouldn't feel so lonely anymore and that I could recover what I lost, to be whole again. And then you replied that..."

"... that I understand what you were going through more that you might have realized" Touma whispered in astonishment."

"Right. And when we met for the first time the other time, you foolishly went to save me from the rubble. Even though I was a professional combatant, you, a civilian, went on to protect me. And we were on the top of the tower, you said that I should believe in the miracle my father allowed me to experience"

"It's... true. You are her... them..."

"I do have all of their memories, but they don't have mine. It's an asymmetrical memory assimilation. But I have no bad intentions. I am them, I am literally them, I am what that union on top of Endymion should result in. And I just want to live my life surrounded by those I cherish, doing the things that makes my life brighter"

"So... I do not have to be weary of you? And neither should Arisa or Shutaura?"

The girl sighed and shook her head.

Taking out her phone, she handed it to Touma.

"I think the best option is listening to Arisa. She has something to say to you"

"Arisa? But I was talking with her before..."

"She didn't want to complicate the reunion. Shutaura alone has no knowledge of this recording. Now, I will go to the toilet"

The fusion of two girls left the room

Touma went to the chair and played the indicated video.

It displayed image of Arisa sitting on the bench.

'Is this thing on... hmm... I think so... hope so too... okay... Touma-kun, if you receiving this, there is something that I must tell you about this third party in our body. Yes, Shutaura thinks I don't know, but I actually do and I've been thinking about her for some time now. If what I suspect is true, then she might be the combination of myself and Shutaura. I don't know much about how she acts and what she wants, but Touma-kun, I want to ask of you one thing. One thing only. Help her. Because she will need your help. She suddenly popped into existence, with all of the conflict and confusion from our merging selves. She is someone old, and yet brand new. If you are with her right now, if you are with that girl right now, believe me, she is more confused and alone than anything you can fathom. She will need someone that she can rely on. And I cannot think of anyone I would rather give my life to than you. So don't be scared, because I will always be there for you, and I am pretty sure that Shutaura will too.

There is something else. I think I understand why we didn't fuse till the end. We were too attached to our own ways with you, even if they lasted for a short time. And this situation we are in right now... it's a way of compromise. Because the fusion was not stopped, it was merely delayed. I think... I think our times in control will get progressively shorter. I don't know how I am aware of that, but... I can feel it. It may be a second shorter from the last time, but there might come a day when we will completely blend in with this fusion of ours. So this is an opportunity. To say a very long goodbye and even longer hello. Touma-kun, remember, that even in this situation I will be there if you ever need me. One day we will reunite and then we will talk even longer. I don't know if that's in the past or the future from your point of view, but anyway, I can only wish that this day comes soon. I miss you"

Touma finished the video and was so deep in thought, that he jumped when the fusion girl asked him a question from the entrance to the living room.

"Well?"

"Huh?"

"She asked you for something. Will you... help me, Touma-kun?"

"W-Were you eavesdropping?"

The Fusion smiled and shook her head.

"I wasn't, I had no need to, that was me talking."

"Oh, right..." Touma got up and walked over to her" In that case... how can I help you?"

"Well, what I said as Arisa stands true. I am both Arisa Meigo and Shutaura Sequenzia, but that's all I know. I am both of them, with all memories and experiences, but I am also more than just a sum of two parts. So many contradictory things got smashed together that I have to realize who I am as a whole. It's all mixed up. Am I funny? Serious? Honest? Sarcastic? Flirty? Prudent? Hardworking? Loveable? Pragmatic? There are so many things I have to discover... and I hope we can discover it together"

"Will you... assimilate them both into yourself?"

"Yes, in the future. In the rather distant future from this perspective, but it's ought to happen. But don't worry, in that time, I will become more like them. And even if I form new quality, they are both here, right in front of you"

"Why... didn't you tell them?"

"I wanted you to meet me first. Now I will communicate with them. Although I am them, so there is nothing they can't tell me that I don't know already. But the same can't be said about them, so... I guess there is a point in doing this"

The morning sun rose , illuminating the apartment.

"Kamijou Touma, I am in your care, all of me. But if you need some help in a fight, do let me know"

"How should I call you?" Touma asked as they basked in the rays of the sun.

"Honestly, I didn't thought of that. I will go with anything you want, unless it's something really stupid"

"Then... Meitaura?"

"Pffft... really?!"

"Calling you Fusion would be weird! Also, how did your body change? Does DID work like that?"

"I am a half-miracle and you are focusing on something like this?!"

II. RIVER OF CLOUDS

Did you ever cooked while having a martial arts training?

Kamijou Touma sure didn't. However, it was the concept introduced to him by his companion, who recently began to visit more and more.

Kumokawa Maria, an admittedly cute maid girl in yellow-black uniform and black, drill-styled hair was humming merrily while chopping the vegetables.

Maria was a younger sister of Touma's senpai, Kumokawa Seria. Albeit they didn't have history in the past, they did got to know each other a bit after events of Baggage City. After death of Kihara Kagun, Maria's beloved sensei, she came into Touma's life through the ever helpful third party of Tsuchimikado Maika, and it became the start of their friendship.

Now, Maria was visiting with greater frequency (for some reason, she showed great disdain with Naru's maid skills, even if Touma didn't have anything in particular against it).

He didn't mind it at all. Maria was polite, diligent, and an excellent cook. In fact, she was one of the few people that managed to spark the competitive spirit within him when it came to cooking. In other words, they worked like a good team, whether together or against one another.

"They are almost done, senpai!"

"Great, the broth is almost done too, so you can give them to me"

"You got it."

"Alright, now we wait for them to soak in the soup"

Think fast!"

In the next moment, Touma was almost hit in the head by an inverse roundhouse kick known as armada.

It would be crucial to mention that Kumokawa Maria was not only a maid, but also specialized in a breakdance forms of martial arts, particularly in a slightly modified form of capoeira, a brazilian dance-like martial art focusing on kicking, attacking with legs, fluid evasions, and complex, almost acrobatic manouvers.

The spinning inside to outside kick that Maria executed, armada, was one of the parts of her training. She was apparently so thrilled that Touma had such good reflexes and precognitive skills that she insisted they trained together. Touma was not really all that exasperated because of the trainings alone, because contrary to some people (ekhm, Misaka Mikoto) Maria knew to stop when asked. However, she was a real fan of surprise attacks, that could come in almost any situation.

Right now, she was moving in a rocking dance-like stance known as ginga. As Maria's fighting style involved using legs while supporting hands on the ground, she either washed them regularly while they were cooking or used attacks that could be airborne while they prepared food. She also insisted to cook while she was attacking, but that part was mostly limited, when one of the knives was accidentally launched into the wall, which ended in head-chop and lecture from Touma.

As for now, Touma managed to shift himself and block the attack with his right hand, causing Maria to smile.

"You are as impressive as always, senpai! How do you manage to take full force of my Violence Donut is beyond me. I honestly love it!"

Capoeira kicks relied on spins and centrifugal force, through which potential energy turned into kinetic one. This was perfectly tailored for Maria, whose esper power, Violence Donut, could amplified the effects of centrifugal force upon hits. So while normal capoeira techniques could easily daze or knock someone unconscious, used in conjunction with maximized Violence Donut, they could crack bones and shatter skulls. That's why Touma always evaded completely or blocked it with Imagine Breaker, which decreased power of the hit.

"Be careful! I could spill the soup!"

"Sorry!"

Nevertheless, Touma decided to humour his guest, and launched an attack of his own, a right hook, throwing the apron to obscure Maria's vision.

The girl shrieked quietly and performed esquiva lateral, or side dodge. With feet in parallel, she brought down her torso, twisting it to the left, while shielding her face, the hook barely missing her.

"Oh? Should I take it for the invitation?"

"Huh? Maria-san, no need to..."

"Think fast!"

Shifting herself so she supported herself on her hands planted on the floor, she kicked backwards over the head, performing an Escorpião, scorpion kick, with Touma barely managing to catch her foot with both hands right before his face.

Maria already demonstrated array of techniques when they met for cook&fight earlier on. Now, she returned to ginga stance, and executed Meia-lua de Frente, half moon crescent kick. Using her hips, she twisted her body to kick Touma's chest, which was first swatted away, and then caught by the boy.

"Checkmate"

"Why do you think tha... bwahahahah?!"

Maria usually wore small yellow heels, but because they were indoors, she was left in black stockings. Now Touma, having caught her foot, simply traced his finger across stocking-laced sole a few times in a fast pace, causing the poor girl to burst into fit of giggles.

"How can you fight with your feet and have ticklish soles?"

"B-Be quiet, senpai! Usually, they can't be caught and my enemies certainly don't think to tickle them! Very smart of you, but I am far from done yet"

With her hands on the ground, she launched another attack with the remaining leg, planting it on Touma's chest and attempting to do a cartwheel to force Touma to let go of her other foot. However, the boy didn't let go... which in turn caused the pair to tumble to the ground.

As in many other instances, fate wanted that in said moment there was a knocking on the door and Index, who was napping on the couch with Sphynx, came to open them...

Revealing none other than Kumokawa Seria whose sight slowly fell onto the two teens on the floor.

"Here I am to pick up my dear sister after she failed repeatedly to answer the phone. I didn't realize that the maid appointment she had was here, in this place... seems like you two have a lot of fun..."

As Seria closed in on them, Touma couldn't help but hear the ominous theme of movie Jaws in the back of his mind.

Although beautiful and classy as always, Seria's steps and aura did not match the smile on her face. It was similar to the way Touma's own mother, Kamijou Shiina, smiled at his father sometimes. It was a "I can break all of the bones in your body, and I am smart enough to name them all while doing so" kind of smile. In other words, predatory and terrifying in its cold beauty.

And to increase the similarity to the famous film, that Amazora made them watch few nights earlier, there was actual shark in human skin that followed his beautiful upperclassman, with teeth bared and eyes gleaming.

"TOUMA! You promised lunch half an hour ago, but instead you seem more interested in your help."

Touma wanted to say something before the chilliness of Seria's gaze could drop to absolute zero, but to his surprise, Maria was the one to speak first.

She rose up, dusted herself off, and looked at her older sibling with arms crossed.

"You are early, onee-san"

"I am always precisely on time when I need to be. And it seems I was needed more than ever"

"Oh yes? We had it perfectly under control"

"Just you saying that demonstrates why I am the older sibling here"

"Careful. With that bitterness you might spoil the excellent soup our skills produced"

"Oh, on the contrary, given my cute kouhai's actual preferences, my presence can only enrich it"

"You sound a bit desperate. I know you are older, but it's a little early for a mid-life crisis"

"You are not ready for the soap-opera mode, sister"

"Oh really? Is that so?"

"It really is, indeed"

As the two sisters smiled at one another, Touma was facing a problem of different nature, as he tried to prevent the snapping jaws to bite any part of his body.

"Index, I thought we moved passed this"

"Touma, any psychological development I might experience is reversed while I am not well fed, so this one is totally on you"

"What?!"

After backing away, Touma hit the kitchen counter. That caused the salt shaker to overbalance and fall down, only to fall on the quickly extended leg of Maria.

This meant that as the girl balanced the glass container, Touma was face forward to her thigh and lower skirt. However, he couldn't really see anything more because-

POKE!

"My eyes!"

The grumpy Kumokawa Seria poked her fingers almost directly into his eyes before swishing her raven hair aside and picking up her younger sibling by the sleeve.

"I heard that there was a pipe failure in the Ryouran. I suppose their star maid should be there to set an example"

"Such a greatly convenient accident that you happen to have knowledge of"

"I know lot of things, sister. And there is no such thing as convenience in the life of adults"

Maria gave her sister a flat look, before sighing and making a maid-like bow in front of Touma, holding the edges of her yellow dress.

"It seems I am needed elsewhere. Thank you for your hospitality and... nee-san! I still have something to say... okay, okay, I am going!"

When Seria closed the door, she sighed, pulling back one strand of hair fallen out of place.

"Good grief" she muttered" I can't believe she fell for it too. And after all the trouble I went through the keep her away..."

"What was that last part?"

"Nothing" Seria sniffed the air, before cringing slightly" Is something burning?"

"C-CRAP! THE SOUP IS BOILING!"

After saving the soup, and handing one of the bowls to Index (who began to consume it even though it appeared to be scalding hot) Touma turned around to face the windows to the balcony and-

"Senpai!"

... almost got a heart attack while he saw Kumokawa Maria standing outside. He jumped, spilling the contents of the bowls. Apparently, she was going to have her saying and went through the balcony of her neighbours, Hanatsuyu twins, to Touma's own.

"I have a guest tomorrow who really wants to meet you. So please, come in front of Ryouran in the morning. I will send you details, so I can't wait for tomo-"

Seria unceremoniously walked forth and closed the curtains on the waving maid.

Touma looked at her and only now noticed that Seria's clothes were stained by miso sauce that was supposed to be added to the soup. It must have happened when Touma was startled by Maria.

"Senpai, your dress..."

"Oh, that? Nothing happened, don't trouble yourself with it."

"I've been meaning to ask, but why do you wear such... risque clothes? It's like begging for you to get in trouble. I know you are strong, but"

"Maybe there is some dependable underclassman, that could help a poor me if I get in trouble"

"A-Anyway...senpai, get out of those clothes, we should have something for a spare"

"Oh, that was so close to the perfect sentence~"

In that moment, Kaibi entered the room, before looking at Kumokawa and slowly taking a sip of dark coffee.

Two girls were not enemies, but for some reason, if they could help it, they avoided each other, while making sure Touma spent time with one rather than the other.

"No, I think I will take my leave for now. This is one of my favourite dresses, so I will have it washed right away" Kumokawa said, giving somewhat irritated look to Kaibi" But we should meet tomorrow. I am also curious what my dear little sister planned"

She moved towards the corridor to the door.

"I will walk you..." Touma suggested before noticing Kaibi's glare"... to the door. Right"

However, just as Seria was about to leave, Touma mustered up his courage and spoke up next to her ear.

"Senpai, since the eventual reunion with Ayu-san is almost upon us, and it is a really big deal... I have to talk with you before we begin all of the actual action, I need to discuss something really important...in... in private"

Seria raised an eyebrow, while putting one hand on the doorknob.

"You know, it is hard to truly intrigue me, but you are heading in the right direction. Fine, we shall see each other tomorrow evening, in the place of my choosing, away from prying eyes and ears"

(NEXT DAY)

Apparently, Maria's guest had the clearance to visit the city from abroad. Touma, along with Kumokawa sisters, awaited said person under Ryouran Maid School.

When he saw a woman with a suitcase, there was some inkling of a thought in his mind, that he saw her before.

"Maria! You must be miss Seria... and you are... Kamijou Touma, yes... I remember you. This is the time when we meet properly, so I will exchange the greeting..."

Upon seeing blond hair, blue dress, and hearing that voice, his brain began to connect the dots.

But it was only after the mature woman sent a punch his way, that his mind realized who she was. He shielded himself in the last moment.

When the punch connected, Touma felt the enormous strength behind it, before being repelled backwards with great force, stumbling a couple meters before falling to the ground.

The young woman in blue flashed him a brilliant smile.

"Yes, that's exactly what I would expect from someone who saved my life. A decent block, very good one, though not perfect. I was holding back and if I went all out, your arms would break"

"Excuse me?" somewhat shocked Seria motioned towards the newcomer" Maria, who exactly is this supposed to be? And you, why are you attacking him?"

"I know who she is, senpai. At least, I heard about her" said Touma, accepting the extended hand of blond woman" She was with Maria-san and me in Baggage City".

"I am Saflee Opendays, martial artist extraordinaire." the blond woman slammed fist into the open hand, bowing slightly" My passions are a clear fight with strong opponents and usage of my body to create controlled destruction. I am Maria's friend and on her invitation I travelled to this city for a few days to search for the strong opponents, whether they are esper or not. As mister Kamijou said, I was in Baggage City because of Natural Selector. As it turned out, we were trapped in a big illusion, and I was on the verge of death, but Kamijou's arrival saved me."

"Oh, so that's how it went" Touma scratched his head" I didn't really do all that much. My presence just happened to destroy that illusion..."

"But that weird heart-stopping sword lost its effect thanks to you! So I am able to continue to fight thanks to your intervention. I would love to fight you some more if you don't mind."

"E-Eeh?!"

"Hmm? Well, maybe I began with the wrong end of the stick with that motivation talk. Here, big sister's thank you... mwaaaaaaah!"

Touma lost at least dozen seconds from his consciousness after Saflee kissed him on the cheek, and was snapped back to reality by loud cough from Seria, who was looking at them with eye delicately twitching.

"Saflee-san, didn't you have a question for him?"

Although it was a completely normal thing to say, Maria's voice also carried a twinge of irritation.

"Yes, yes, sure" Saflee looked at Touma" as I said, I am looking for the formidable opponents in the area of hand-to-hand combat, or the users of the power that relies on physical body. Do you know someone like this?"

Touma thought for a moment, before snapping his fingers.

"Yeah, I have an idea"

(IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON...)

"She did what?!"

Saflee stepped outside of the gym room, while stretching and cracking her fists

"Hmm, nothing too exceptional, but it served as an excellent warm up"

"W-W-Warm up?! How?! Those were... those were some of the finest Skill-Out combatants I've known!"

Touma managed to summon Hamazura Shiage, Sogiita Gunha, and Hokaze Junko. Because Saflee mentioned that she likes to fight using only her physical prowess to demonstrate how people without abilities could battle as equals with the talented ones, Touma figured that Hamazura would appreciate it. Thus, he asked him to gathered as many good fighters from his Skill-Out days as he could find.

However... simply put, Saflee absolutely obliterated all of them. And apparently, that was only a first course for her.

"That's... she's absolutely incredible! If I only knew her during my Skill-Out time, our gang would..."

"Hamazura..."

The former thug got silent as the grip of Takitsubo Rikou on his arm became upsettingly harsh.

"I-I was only talking about fighting, Takitsubo, only about that!"

It seemed density of jealousy in Academy City was spiking that day.

Hamazura and Junko both brought guests with each other. For Hamazura, it was of course his girlfriend Takitsubo, while for Junko, it was Shokuhou Misaki.

Who was currently...

"Oi, what's with senpai and that girl?"

"That's Mental Out of Tokiwadai. I knew sis and her had a rivalry but... wow..."

If looks could kill, everyone would probably drop dead from the amount of haughty malice two young women emanated at each other, arms crossed, eyes narrowed, and standing almost face to face.

"I know that it could be obvious, but lot of girls in this town antagonize each other. I wonder what is the reason..."

'Not what, but who. Boss, seriously?!' Hamazura thought with a deadpanned expression.

Meanwhile, as for Gunha...

"Fantastic! So cool! What beautiful guts you have, lady!"

"I can't understand you, is that a japanese slang? You're funny, you know! Wow, Kamijou wasn't kidding when he said your punch is good!"

... for the first time since Kamijou knew him, he actually was interested by a company of a girl. Of course, it could be more of an appreciation of a fight spirit that Saflee was emanating, but nevertheless, the enthusiasm and passion that Gunha proudly displayed in front the foreign marital artist made Touma think that maybe there was a part of the chunni boy that wanted to impress the blond. It was something good in the making. In fact, Gunha was rarely that engaged, except with...

He walked towards Misaki and Seria, who stopped their deathglare contest to face him.

"Sorry... emm..."

"I am Shokuhou Misaki" Mental Out gently suggested. Touma nodded and continued

"Do you know where is Junko-san?"

"Oh, now that you mentioned it, I don't. I am sure she is around here somewhere, do you want me to locate her?"

"No, it's fine, I will be back soon"

As he exited the room, Kumokawa frowned, looking at Misaki, unsure if she should follow the boy or not.

'What was that about? I know that cow and him had a history, and a meaningful one at that. So why would he not remember her name? I definitely should investigate deeper into this, because there is no way that she will just tell me.'

Meanwhile, Touma found Hokaze Junko sitting outside of the fitness complex.

"Oh, there you are. I realized that you weren't inside and I wanted to check on you. Is everything fine?"

"Yes, of course it is"

"Then why are you facing away?"

"..."

"Come on~"

When Junko turned around, it looked as if she wanted to demonstrate that humans are made of water in 70%. In other words, it looked like her face was absolutely drenched in tears.

"Saflee-san is absolutely amazing! We didn't fight that long, but she praised me so much and said that I can do so many amazing things with my Rampage Dress if I handle it properly and enhance it with wider array of martial art techniques. I am so touched, I am just so happy"

"So that means that you're crying because-"

"B-But... Gunha-san is completely amazed by her too! I never saw him watch any girl like that before. And I am happy that he found someone who can be inspiration and partner when it comes to fight... but we fought well together... and even though I am happy and smiling, my chest feels tight and queasy. W-What if Gunha-san won't like to hang out with me anymore? A-After all Saflee-san is a professional. I can't bear to think that I am not of use and-"

"Junko-san!" Touma gently interrupted the girl" Can you please wait a moment?"

"O-Oh? Of course..."

Touma went inside the fitness complex and after three minutes, came back with a small package of tissues and a can from the vending machine.

"You will feel better once you tidy yourself"

"T-Thank you..."

As Junko put the tissue over her nose and blew into it, Touma opened the can, offering it to the girl after she finished drying herself off.

"Ah? What a peculiar taste! What is it?"

"This? It's just canned ice tea. Oh, right, you ojous probably have fancy tea ceremonies. Something like this is like a blasphemy to you"

"No, no, on the contrary, I am very open to the new experiences after meeting you and Gunha-san. It just surprised me, that's all"

Touma cleared his throat and resumed

"Hokaze-san, it may be true that Sogiita is taking a liking to Saflee-san. But that does not mean that you will not play lesser role in his life. I am pretty sure Sogiita has a special place in his heart for you, regardless of who you are to him. I know I have it such spot and I am sure your Queen has too. You just have to work hard and be yourself, and it will be absolutely fine. Saflee-san has all the good intentions and she won't make us stop needing you. We don't need you in our lives because you can be of good use. We need you because you are great, because you make life better for all of us just by being you. That's why there is no need to compare yourself with others. But if you need to do it, if you really feel that it must be done, then show determination. Challenge the obstacles and win. I know that both you and Sogiita are good in this sort of thing."

Touma really felt the need to say all of those things not only just because it was something that needed to be done. He also felt that it was adorable that Junko's jealousy (no, it couldn't even be called that!) manifested not in fear that Saflee will take what Junko assumed hers, but that she will not be able to help people she cherished.

Slowly, Junko smiled softly at Touma, before suddenly pulling him into a warm hug.

"Yes... maybe I was rash to jump into panic. Thank you for clearing up my head Kamijou-san. You are the best person I could ask for when I am in time of doubt, besides my Queen of course. "

"I am only speaking the truth"

"There you are!" They both turned to see Saflee, standing near the exit together with Gunha, with Hamazura, and the girls peaking from behind their shoulders" I was worried you left."

"Worried?"

"Yes, it would be such a shame, because I wanted to spar with you some more." Saflee pointed at Junko with a smile" Like I said, you have an amazing potential, one that managed to impress me. Your combination of fighting technique with esper ability is grat, and your speed is astounding. So I am not going to let you fall to exaggerated modesty. I am looking forward to many fights in the future"

"Yeah" Gunha chimed in, smashing a fist against his chest" We can all make wonderful memories of those battles. Our guts will never shine brighter. But we need you, cause it won't be the same without you. When it comes to fighting hand-to-hand, both me and Kamijou presented you to Saflee-san as the greatest girl in the city, so set your spirit aflame!"

"Yeah, team ringlet curl rocks!" Maria added this rather comic remark as a last word.

Junko blushed slightly, before standing up, confidence renewed, and bowing slightly before Saflee.

"I accept your offer. Saflee-san, I am not losing to you" Junko said, the air around her crackling slightly around.

Only momentarily surprised, Saflee nodded with a grin

"That's what I like to here! There is much for us to go through! Albeit I certainly don't intend to lose either!"

'Why do I get the feeling that they are both talking about two completely different meanings of that phrase' such a thought passed through Touma's head.

"Saflee-san!" Gunha shouted" After one day here and seeing some of us fight, whose style do you like the most?"

The blond woman thought for a moment, before pointing at Touma.

"While all of you were wonderful, especially with miss Hokaze excellent fitness and your versatile power, I think Kamijou's fighting style is the one I appreciate the most"

'W-Why did she wink to him when she said that?!' the voices of outrage sounded in the heads of Misaki, Seria, and Maria.

"While not overly powerful, Kamijou can still inflict many powerful hits while keeping the destruction around him at precise minimum of beauty. That is the true spirit of a fighter I would like to see around me"

"W-What?"

"Gunha-san, your ability is clearly mighty and spectacular, but the collateral damage such randomness can cause is slightly disagreeable to me. Nonetheless, you are one of the finest fighters I encountered, you don't have to take my words to heart if they would limit you"

Gunha turned to face Touma, who began to sweat slightly from the sudden seriousness.

"Kamijou..." he said, putting his hand on Touma's shoulder.

"Yes?"

Was he mad that Saflee basically stated his preference of Touma, even if it was supposedly only in regards to fighting style, while Gunha obviously taken some form of liking to her?

"I WILL DO MY BEST! To chanel your guts into my guts! I knew the day will come when you will serve as my source of inspiration!"

No, he wasn't. After all, Gunha was not the type of person to be resentful.

'Still, what is this relationship dynamic that is starting to form here?'

"My Queen..." Junko addressed Misaki, who for some reason was looking around quite frequently " Can I stay here a bit longer?"

"Yes, suit yourself. Although I will have to take a leave ability, before-"

"MI-SA-KI!"

A young looking adult woman of very mature shapes, in pinkish-red dress and long blond hair appeared and before long she was right in front of the group.

"Here you are, I've been looking for you. It's time for family dinner."

"Mom! Not in front of everyone!"

"But I am not saying anything wrong. I am Shokuhou Mayoku, nicknamed Bologna for my friends. It's such a good thing that Misaki-chan has such a vibrant group of friends. Touma-kun, would you fancy a dinner with Misaki and myself? Or maybe Hokaze-san?"

"Shokuhou-sama, while staying with Queen is pure delight, I want to stay here with Gunha-san and Saflee-san, a little bit longer"

"Bolo... Shokuhou-san, unfortunately, I already have other plans for the evening"

Aw, that's a shame. "succubus in disguise pouted, adjusting glasses on her nose" You must meet up with us in the upcoming days though. My daughter is like a beautiful flower that wilts without your love, which is a shame, because said flower has a lot of sweet nectar for you to-"

"Mom, I swear..."

"Hmm... but where are my sweet grandkids?"

"If you don't execute some silence ability right now-"

"Alright, alright, I suppose we will be on our way... bye, bye, hope to see you again"

As she passed, Touma heard Bologna whisper into his ear.

"I gathered some information regarding your memory issue that you might deem useful. Contact me when you have a momnet, alright?"

"Thanks a lot"

"Now then, let's relax a little!"

"Mom, do you always have to embarrass me? You are really embracing the role"

"Do you worry about the curfew?"

"No, that's not really the point with a power like mine..."

"Exactly. Besides, you are royalty"

"You say that, but..."

Bologna and Misaki slowly disappeared in the distance, while still discussing things between each other.

"Mental Out's mother?" Hamazura whistled quietly" I guess apple does not fall far from-...owowowowow! That was just an observation Takitsubo, there was nothing behind it!"

Meanwhile, Seria was deep in thought.

'So that was cow's mother. Quite a strange woman. I can definitely see the resemblance here, now I have a double headache. Still, it's quite peculiar that I didn't have any information at all from my spy network about her. And that's not all. Why didn't kouhai remember the cow's name? So many questions arisen in such a short time, must investigate further... but for now...'

Seria glanced at Touma and she felt surge of triumph throughout her body

'... we have a certain evening to focus on...'

(HOURS LATER...)

They found themselves in a classy and exquisite apartment, which Seria rented for the evening and night. Not exactly on par with the luxury given to the guests of the city, but certainly not a typical place to stay the night.

Seria was wearing a light-brown summer dress with white lining, a variation of the outfit she wore during their adventure in Shibuya.

"While I am flattered that you look at me every 10 seconds or so, there is not the type of look I would expect. Are you stressed?" Seria asked, as the two of them started to prepare for dinner." Let me guess what this is about. You are worried about being underdressed, hmm?"

"A little, to be honest"

"Then don't be. This is just an addition I chose out of my fancy to make it better for you, so you don't have to worry at all. Plus, I see you got yourself a clean outfit, in which you look rather dashing"

"O-Oh... thanks, senpai"

"Let's get started, shall we?"

And so, they prepared the dinner together. It was a set of small appetizers, followed by a main course and dessert. It took a moment and in this time, they scarcely talk, savouring the feeling of working side by side and saving the conversation for later.

Finally, they set everything on the table by the panoramic window overlooking the cityscape. It was much higher than Touma's and sisters' apartment, and the glow of entire city preparing for the night, combined with dark sky and pale sphere of a moon made a really beautiful experience for the two teens.

The table they sit by was candle lit and in no worse condition than the once Touma saw in the fancy restaurants in the movies.

"I didn't take you for a romantic type, senpai"

"I am not one in the traditional meaning of the word, but I do enjoy a touch of class and beauty" Seria sat down with a smile" Shall we enjoy ourselves?"

Touma smiled at her

"Yeah, I will serve you food now!"

During their dinner, they talked casually about various random subjects, like their school life or the progresses Hasako was making in the modern world. She recently journeyed to Tokyo and Kyoto for a few days, to get a better understanding of the outside world.

"That being said, her technophobia is as unfortunate as it is bothersome" Seria gently dabbed the her lips with handkerchief, wiping the droplets of sauce from the stew Touma prepared" Did Maidono-san tell you about her reaction to the airoplane?"

Apparently, Hasako was scared of commercial flying now and, according to Maidono, fought against going back to the plane like a cat scared of a vet.

"Well, it is understandable" the raven haired beauty sighed" in her times, there were many devices we use today, but she wouldn't dream that their capacity would be as she witnesses it now. Changing the subject, how are those new neighbours of yours?"

"Well, Kaai and Youen are around for some time now, and asides from the time they melted down the wall... the other time when water in our pipes almost got poisoned... and the other time when Rikuri fainted after seeing the parade of roaches in the corridor... there was no trouble. In fact, they are very helpful if you know how to interact with them."

"I see." Seria didn't comment further, but Touma sensed that the mention of Rikuri didn't exactly sat well with her.

Kumokawa Seria was one of the most intelligent people in the city, and certainly one of the most intelligent out of the student population alone. Albeit without esper ability, through the usage of her knowledge of psychology, manipulation techniques, and glamorous looks, she could achieve feats comparable with the strongest manipulator of minds, Shokuhou Misaki. Accounts of how high her intelligence quotient actually was varied, from her being able to analyze and predict dozens of alternatives in seconds to being able to collapse a building via chain reaction of events.

Either way, it was no wonder that Seria knew of Touma's fellow residents, with how closely she watched the boy she was interested in. And albeit she tolerated it because Touma was evidently bent on staying with the sisters, that didn't mean that she enjoyed it and if it was fully up to her, she would rather prevent any longer time spent with the sisters, especially Kaibi.

Finally, as they moved onto the sofa, it was the time for actual reason they were there together. With the assortment of cream puffs and apple juice, Seria looked at Touma with serious gaze.

"I suppose we both have things to say and questions to ask. We should get to it, as I am in fact intrigued for what reason did you want to meet me. I would enjoy it either way... but I admit that I am curious."

"So... should I..."

"Yes, please, be my guest"

Touma took a deep breath. He actually had a few questions, and he decided to went with the personal question regarding Kumokawa herself.

"Senpai... like I said, since we will inevitably tap into some things that are connected with the time we first met, since Ayu-san is involved... and since we will be in that setting, there is something that I am concerned with for some time, and because we will we work together, there is something I must know. It's something... that I am amazed even asking about, and... it can change our relations... but I have to know, for my own peace of mind."

Seria went on to pour juice into the glasses, while chuckling slightly.

"Oh, so it's something that shocking? Your concern is very cute but I am a big, smart girl. I assure you, I can predict anything you may have in your mind, regardless of-"

"Do you... like me... beyond senpai-kouhai liking?"

After 2 seconds, the glass slipped from Seria's hand, as her face froze in almost comical expression of astonishment, and only thanks to Touma's quick reflexes it didn't reach the floor.

"What... did you just say?"

"I... I asked if you liked-"

"No, no, I heard that, but... who are you?"

"Oi, is it that strange for me to ask a question like that? Does people really consider me to be that dense?"

"76" Seria whispered under her breath.

"W-What?"

"You silly boy! If you are serious about this question... did you really not notice? Throughout all of this time, I was trying so damn hard to get you to get a hint. 76. That's the number of times I tried to employ some form of strategy to get your attention and finally confess my interest. But each and every time this infamous misfortune of yours blocked me. You never realized it?"

Now it was Touma's time to be shocked.

"I... didn't know it was like this. And even if I saw some of those, I thought you was just trying to be nice."

"Did you ever see me being nice, no, that kind of nice to anyone else?"

"Still, I thought it had to be this since I am me and you are you"

"And what is that supposed to mean? So what if I am the popular girl? I would rather have one genuine connection than thousand fake ones I am showered with at school"

"But..." Touma spoke slowly, hoping he is not as red as he felt he was" If you are interested in me, then... why is it the case?"

Seria sighed, taking a sip of the juice and then continuing.

"When I first met you, I was interested in your actions and power rather than yourself. However, as we battled against Biohacker, I watched so many unaccounted aspects of you, so many valorous and enjoyable sides that I never considered from a level 0 who claimed to be just a regular guy. All of this time, you always exceeded my predictions in some aspect. And later when you started to go the same school as me, I felt that my boredom with life, something quite inevitable when you analyze things like I do, began to dissipate. There was no boring day with you. I observed you and learned about you, because I was concerned that you will recklessly lose your life or health in your actions. I am not the one for abstract metaphores, but at this point, I won't lie that... if you ever disappear from this world, everyone's heart may just freeze all over... starting with mine"

A hint of emotionality that the intellectual girl rarely displayed entered Seria's voice, as Touma looked at her visibly touched by her confession.

"I was depressed, you know... when you disappeared at the end of World War III. I am aware that there are certain things you touched that I have no influence over. It frustrates me to no end. But ever since the very beginning, ever since that time when you came back for me and Mitsuari-san, there was one thing in you that remained constant: compassion. Despite everything that befallen you, you retained your kindness, more than I would ever be able to in your position. And you were not just coincidentally nice. You tended to be reckless and foolish, but never thoughtless about your actions. I saw what's underneath. You're someone who endures forever, but your eyes are heavy... with the weight of all that you felt. All of those contradictions, all of this amazing and intriguing nuances brimming for simplicity of yet complex salvation brought forward by a single person... it sends me to overdrive. In all of the ways."

Touma sat in silence, before nodding and simply saying.

"Wow... thank you. I don't... I don't know what to say"

"If I may ask... why did it appear to you that I am interested in you?"

"Well..."

'Apparently, we might have a son in the future, the one that really takes after you... but I can't say that so...'

"... I guess I just became more observant recently?"

"Hmm... is that so... well then..."

The girl shifted slightly on the sofa, uncrossing her legs and then crossing them again

"If I say something of this caliber, I think it's only natural to be curious of your take on me. Do you like-"

"Yes. I do like you, senpai. A lot."

"Hmm?" Seria smirked, clearly amused" No hesitation whatsoever? Flatter me more, and I will melt down."

"I always admired you, senpai. If I had your influence and intelligence, I could save so many more people. I know that you work hard, but you always make such flawless correction to the courses of action that I cannot help but admire that."

"Even though... you can't remember our first meeting?"

Touma paled slightly

"You... you knew?! B-But..."

"I wasn't sure. It was a strong hypothesis, but only your reaction now confirmed it. Fret not, I will not pry how you lost your memories for now, although I hope you will tell me about it. I will also not disclose it with anyone should you not wish so"

"E-Even so, you are brilliant! I felt so happy when you invited me to eat together. I felt like I could rely on you. And besides personality, skills, and our past... you're... very nice looking."

"Your type, I assume?"

"You... wouldn't be mistaken"

"Well, thank you. I do try to live up to epithet generous male populace of our school bestowed upon me. So, you do consider me physically attractive? Hah, great. It would be kind of awkward if it was one-sided from my side."

"Wha-"

"I do consider your looks nice addition to your personality as well."

The two became silent as they processed the stream of confessions.

"One more question from my side" said Seria, handing Touma a cream puff" Why is that you couldn't remember Mental Out's name?"

"I met... Mental Out? I don't remember ever seeing her. What does she look like?"

"Big chest, golden hair, eyes like stars"

"No... nothing. I am sure I would remember someone like this. Does she have a name?"

"Shokuhou... Shokuhou Misaki. You really forgot? Fascinating... it looks like a case of anterograde amnesia, but linked specifically to a particular person. What caused this? No, no, if this is combined with retrograde amnesia too, then you will not tell me much about the details..."

"Senpai..." Touma said loudly, snapping Seria out of her musings." You are muttering. Also, if I can, I would not speak of that without that person's knowledge. I cannot attach name to a face, or meaning to a memory... but I know that we made a promise to deal with this together. I really don't want to betray her trust"

"Even though you do not even remember her?"

"Especially because of that."

Seria growled something under her breath, but finally relented

"Well, it is something that is all too much in your style. Fine, I'll let it be, at least for now."

While she would like to hear more about mysterious memory mystery concerning her archnemesis, a lot more could be done with a proper investigation into the matter.

Instead, she pointed outside.

"You know, you should not be upset that you lost part of your memories with me. Because I think we might just be able to recreate it. One of your memories, I mean"

"What? How?"

"Behold and be amazed"

On the balcony of the rented apartment, there was a rectangular mattress that was clearly designed to laid on. It had a canopy like structure that protected it from possible rain and a blanket that could be used to cover oneself.

"That looks cool, especially with that view. But senpai, what are you getting at?"

"Oh? It's rather simple. You see, when we were trying to rescue Mitsuari-san, we were infected by mutated malaria, so we... well, let's say that we cuddled together in the pile of rubble trying to boost our body temperature in order to eliminate the disease. So... let's do it now."

"Hah?" Touma almost jumped backwards, when Seria sat down on the outdoor mattress" You can't mean-"

"Attaboy, my cute kouhai. Let's cuddle and sleep here. Minus the entire dying thing. The night should be warm enough. And we will make ourselves more than sufficiently warm. Let's just go wash and dress ourselves for the occasion.

Touma could not believe it. He simply couldn't.

But it wasn't an illusion.

It was a reality.

Yes, it was reality that they both changed into more casual clothes suited for rest (why did Seria have those anyway) and both laid down on the elevated mattress under the dark night sky.

"Heh... if Tsukuyomi-sensei saw this, she would faint"

"Senpai... are you okay with this?" Touma looked at Seria, who was looking upwards with a smile.

"I wouldn't do it if I wasn't. Besides..." she turned slightly to face him and for the first time, her cheeks noticeably reddened"... even if we were to get intimate, I wouldn't mind"

"S-Senpai! I didn't... I don't... I wouldn't..."

"Please, do not lie! I know when people do so, and you clearly had those thoughts. Don't be ashamed, I don't mind, if anything, it is source of pride for me. But although part of me would like to do it as well... I would like to be the only person on your mind in that moment. And right now, I am clearly not the only one. There is one more question, isn't there? About Mitsuari Ayu"

Touma sighed and looked up with saddened expression.

"Do you think... Ayu-san likes... no, loves me, too? I just can't get over how much I hurt her and I simply want her to be okay..."

Seria stretched, which made the covers rise slightly.

"Well, it's a bit annoying to admit this, but even though I can't say with 100% certainty, as this is about someone else, she definitely does have feelings for you. I think it's even safe to say that hers are the feelings of greatest intensity and longing out of all the girls you encountered. And I am not taking about devotion or anything like that. You became a central part of her existence, someone she couldn't imagine being without. It wasn't like that when we had our shared time together, but I imagine it was starting to bud in her psyche back then... just like it started in mine. She definitely loves you, I had no doubt about that. But..."

"But?"

"... what she does with this love and how she interprets actions according to love are completely different. She was hurt. Mostly by accidents, but it was intense, repeated hurt. She became twisted and so did her love. Even if we do find her, there is no telling-"

"That doesn't matter. No matter what happened, I will give her back happiness she should receive long ago. I swear" Touma muttered, clenching his fist underneath the covers.

"Hmm... I suppose that if anyone can say such things and be treated seriously, it's you. And I know that if you set your eyes on saving someone, there is really no way to truly stop you. Just keep in mind that she was wounded, deeply so. Because she loves you, you are one thing, but there is a question of Mental Out. Her involvement at some point, as much as it irks me to admit it, seems necessary for those wounds to fully heal. And I doubt it would be easy"

"I... I am aware of those things, senpai. I just... I just want so much for that girl to be happy again. I am... ashamed, that I didn't manage to save her."

"I think there is more to that than just guilt. Someone who was seemingly normal, before being cursed for things beyond her control, and ending up in unfortunate spiral of events that only dragged her down the spiral of sorrow. Sounds familiar? You are the one who was there for her and acknowledged her worth when she lost in the race she wasn't intended to win from the very beginning. While I can boast that two of us make a pretty good team, I think you and her are like a two peas in a pod in some aspects. But is it really that bad? Sure, it is lamentable that you didn't make it in time back then. But you saved so many other lives..."

"When it comes to value of life, one always equals infinity. And one lost life will always remain one too much..."

"Hmm... maybe you are right... now, hug me. Don't be shy, it will get cold otherwise"

(SOME TIME LATER)

Kumokawa Maria was spending the night at the place of her best friend, Tsuchimikado Maika. With her brother out despite very late hour, the girls chatted, not really wanted to get to sleep. The younger Kumokawa was acting rather fussy and it caught the attention of her classmate.

"Maria-san... why are you so grumpy?"

"Hmm... I am just thinking that onee-chan went out tonight? And I can bet my uniform that she is having fun with senpai!"

"Senpai... you mean Kamijou? Actually, I've been meaning to ask you for some time... at which point did you become interested in him? I know you for as long as we go to school together, but you weren't always into him. What happened?"

Maria smiled, kicking her legs in the air.

"Well, it's true that it wasn't always like that. Earlier I knew who he was, because my sister occasionally told me about him and it was obvious that she was interested in him in some form. Back then, I was bent on finding and reuniting with Kagun-sensei. I even travelled to Eastern Europe to see him. But unfortunately, he died. I managed to spend some time with him before he actually passed away, and in that time, I mostly managed to let him go... but it wasn't as easy as I thought. I was still grieving and it was difficult for me to actually move forward"

"I remember that you stopped coming to school for a moment, so I insisted that you come over to me and talk it over. And... oh, is this while he came in?"

"Mhm. One day, he came here looking for your brother, but accidentally saw me cry, so he stopped and began to talk with me. Although I wasn't really all that responsive, he cooked a soup for me. And it was... delicious"

Maria blushed slightly at the memory.

"After that, he came for a few more days bringing more food. I finally started to talk and he slowly started to make me release those emotions I had still inside. He knew Kagun-sensei too, even if briefly, so it was easier than doing it with some stranger. When I felt better, I expressed my gratitude by cooking for him. And so we kind of started to go back and forth with our cooking... also, your brother told me about Kamijou-san's fighting skills, which got me fired up for totally different reason."

"Is that all?"

"W-Well... there is one more reason... you know how you like those manga series when there is a muddy and intense brother-sister relationship?"

Maika's gaze wandered off to the bookshelf.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I have certain type too... it's...it's..."

"It's what?"

"It's story when maid has an affair with her master!"

"Oh..."

"I-I know that it's silly, but I cannot stop imagining Kamijou Touma as my master, and my sister as the lady of the house. Meanwhile I, mere maid degraded to this role by my younger birth, am trying to get into the graces of the lord. Oh, the trespassing of the roles is truly sublime and every scenario has its own kind of magic. The one in which I watch, the one in which I a won his heart alone, the one in which we both win... oh, I can't even think about it without getting excited!"

"It seems you already have a fanfic about it in your head. You are a pretty well hidden closet pervert!"

"I-I prefer the expression 'enjoyer of higher forms of love'. Besides, I am pretty sure that hidden lust is genetic"

"Really? Your sister is like an ice queen, I would never think she is like that"

"Pfft! The most serious ones are always super horny in secret!"

(MEANWHILE)

"Achoo!"

Kumokawa Seria sneezed while drying her face from trickling water.

"What in the... achoo!"

What followed was even more sneezing from the glamorous senpai.

Apparently, her sinuses were not too fond of sudden change of temperature from the warm resting place she was in 5 minutes ago. That, or, if Seria believed in the unscientific, someone was talking some serious slander about her.

After Seria finished sneezing, she took a deep breath, and nodded to herself.

She wasn't out because she wanted to grab something to drink or anything like that.

Roughly an hour earlier, Kamijou Touma couldn't fall asleep, which was understandable, given the beautiful company he was sharing the bed with. So Seria, following self-made promise to only cuddle with him and trying to ignore more primal instincts of having boy she liked in her grasp, used her voice to slowly soothe him to sleep. She was confident that her smoothly sounding voice, which wouldn't be out of place in the relaxation videos, would do the trick. Adding in some manipulation techniques, and the boy was asleep in 10 minutes.

However, that wasn't true for Seria herself. Sure, she could use her techniques on herself, but it wasn't nearly as effective. Besides, she was far too excited to do this, and all she could do was stare at the boy, marvelling on how he looked while asleep and revelling in the situation she was.

That is, until Touma decided to roll over in her sleep, and accidentally fell onto her arm.

Seria didn't know if it was a reflexive reaction or just some weird twist of luck, but in the next moment, she felt a biting sensation.

A sound resounded through the night. A very cute and feminine sound.

Seria's eyes were comically wide, looking at Touma's face near her skin, the boy still fast asleep. Her lip was trembling and her cheeks were crimson.

Never in her life would she suspect herself of ability to produce such sound with her own lips and throat.

It was too hot. And she was getting dizzy.

She gently pried Touma off, got out and up of the bed, went inside. And...

If anyone saw her in that moment, they would surely not believe that the person in front of them was Kumokawa Seria. She slowly took a pillow out of the sofa, screamed into it for almost 20 seconds while moving around the living room, before venturing into the kitchen and splashing herself with water to calm her wildly beating heart and burning face.

Now, she went back outside. Touma was still asleep. Fortunately, neither Seria's... ekhm, sound, her barely contained excitement, nor other things going around with her managed to wake him up.

"Well, I suppose I will get sick if I don't get there with him."

And so she was under the covers again. But even as she did so, it was not enough. She was far too invested. She wasn't going to break the promise, but... maybe she should bend it a little.

They both were into each other. So there should be no harm in some little additions to the night.

She snuggled deeply into him, hugging him and bringing her limbs around him.

She smiled, opening her mouth to show pearly white teeth.

"I believe eye for an eye is not a bad rule to be applied here, my cute kouhai"

(HOURS LATER)

When Kamijou Touma woke up, his initial reaction was to freak out. It was a freak out combined with a feeling of great, primal joy, but freak out nonetheless.

He and Seria were entangled with each other, with the girl's black hair spreading on the elevated mattress like a shadow. For some reason, he lacked upper half of his clothing.

He looked at Seria, calmly breathing by the side of his chest...

Then he felt stinging sensation throughout his body. And when he carefully examined those parts that he could see.

"H-Hickeys?!"

The reddened skin on his neck from the repeated, prolonged contact with lips was evident on most of his chest, as well as on his neck and arms. There were also occasional bite marks here and there.

And when he looked at his sleeping senpai, to his horror and astonishment, there were similar marks on the girl's neck and arms, though not in such quantity as in his case.

"This can't be real... maybe it's still a dream... I see... city... senpai... and... Index, coming through the apartment with a furious look on her face?!"

What happened next was so surreal that Touma almost got convinced that he was dreaming.

Almost.

"Aaah?! What is... gbwaaah?!"

"Be gone, you unholy seductress! Repent now and you will be spared!"

Kumokawa Seria was brutally woke up with a stream of water to her face.

Index, with a sleepy Othinus on her shoulder and for some reason appearing as if she was covered in soot of some sort, had a sprinkler in one hand and something resembling an old fashion censer in the other.

"Human, the nun went rampage from hunger. It's far too early for this stupidity..."

"Index, stop! And why the manual sprinkler?"

"It's not a sprinkler anymore! It's a holy water sprinkler!"

"Holy water what? Othinus, can nuns use holy water in sprinklers or water pistols?"

"I am a literal hypostasis of a pagan god, but take a wild guess. She just poured tap water inside and claimed that it gained special properties thanks to the blessing of a nun"

Touma rubbed his eyes at the sight at Index, who was apparently trying to exorcise his senpai for the reasoning known only to her, while spraying the 'holy' tap water and swinging the smoking censer.

"This is so surreal..."

"Yeah, I would say so"

"How did she even got in? For that matter, how did she know I was here?"

"She was pounding at the door to your hybrid friend, until he told you where you were"

"Tsuchimikado? Wait, how did he know?"

"Apparently, there is a tracking device in your phone whenever Anglicans need to capture you"

"That... explains a lot of things, and it appears I there are some people that need strong punching."

"As for how she got in... she bit the electronic lock out of frustration"

"Excuse me? She... what? She bit the lock? How do you even... why did she even..."

"I don't know, I guess primal instincts took over and she short circuited the mechanism."

"I don't even know what to say... INDEX! STOP CHASING SENPAI AND COME HERE! WE WILL MAKE BREAKFAST SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE MAD ANYMORE!"

Seria went to his side, huffing and muttering some insults to the nunneries of the world.

In that moment, the fire alarm resounded, triggered by a censer's smoke, causing everyone to be immediately drenched.

"Fukou da"

On the luckier note, at least he and Seria had some excuse to change clothes and cover the ever present hickeys.

III. IN ETERNITY, ONLY THE NAMES REMAIN...

In the eve of the last day before long awaited reunion with Mitsuari Ayu, something else worthy of mentioning happened. An unexpected guest, that brought forth a disturbance straight before the important mission.

On that night, Touma could not find rest in his sleep, so see sought refuge on the balcony. Outside of it, he could see that it was heavily raining.

However, after moments passed, he heard a voice from the ground

"Bad dreams again?"

It was Othinus, with concern etched on her face.

Touma gently picked her up, before sighing.

"Yeah..."

"Those dreams?"

"Yup"

"Do you... want to talk about it?"

"Well, I think I won't sleep again for a while, so... why not"

Infinite deaths were not something that could just go away on a whim. Even if Kamijou Touma did not consciously recalled totality of his experience, fragments occasionally resurfaced and plagued his dreams.

If Othinus could turn back his experience, she would, but all she could do now, is to be there for him, talk gently about it without denying her fault, trying to ease his trauma even a little. She knew that what she did could as well be foolish, since she was the one who inflicted those deaths upon the one she loved. But the reality was that in truth, he had no one else to turn to save from his former oppressor. So they talked and talked and talked, while pressing against one another, as if they were each other's anchors.

That was what it meant to be an Understander.

But their moment of bitter recollection was interrupted when the voice spoke eerily from the shadows of the night.

"That's some interesting topic you're discussing"

Touma and Othinus jumped, before looking around. There was no one in the entrance of the balcony.

Just when they thought so, a sound caused them to turn in the direction of the railing.

It was a completely ordinary railing, however, what was not ordinary was a human hand, grasping it.

Touma put Othinus down on the balcony's table and cautiously approached the railing.

As he did so, the hand was followed by an arm and slowly, an entire silhouette, drenched in rain appeared, before pushing itself upward.

"Hello, Kamijou Touma, in such a lively night"

Touma took a step back when a figure came into the light. He recognized her, of course he did. Even if his time in going up against her was brief, she made enough of an impact for him to be wary.

She was a short girl, looking like 10 to 12 years old, with pearly white skin, aquamarine blue eyes, long, light-blond hair in two tails, wearing red and black, checkers-styled clothing. There were two rhomboid earrings dangling down her ears and visible lipstick on her small lips. Few accessories were lacking, most importantly the cape she once wore, but it didn't change much

Despite girl's small stature, Touma knew that she was anything but a small girl she appeared to be. Standing before him was someone cunning, ruthless, and very, very old.

Standing before him was none other than Ladylee Tangleroad. The villain that was supposed to be...

"Ladylee..." Touma clenched his fist" What are you doing out of prison?"

"Oh, that place? It was formally a 'research facility'. I managed to run away. Those scientists apparently couldn't really understand that someone may not be able to die. Long story short... do you know that it takes roughly 1000 hours to master any skill and 100000 to be number one in it? If there is something I have abundance of, it's time. Among skills I have is faking my own life functions, like slowing down my heartbeat. I don't need to breath, you know, so I know very well how to flatline a heart monitor."

"Those morons! They assumed you actually died and..."

"They thought so, but they were cautious. They cremated me. Oh, that hurt like hell, I wasn't cremated since witch hunts in XVI century. But even after my ashes were thrown into the facility's waste disposal..."

"You revived"

"Bingo! When my body reconstituted itself, I waited for the perfect occasion to run away and then... I finally found it. One day, the prison under which my facility was situated, fell prey to a particularly strong quake. I managed to slip out in the ensuing chaos"

'It was then... when I went after Kaibi and encountered Shizuri' Touma thought, as Ladylee monologued.

"When I got out, I wanted to settle the score with that insolent Meigo Arisa who ruined my plan of truly ending it all. But I needed time to gather information. And in searching for her, I also encountered... you. Kamijou Touma, wielder of Imagine Breaker. And Othinus, former God of Magic.

"You seem to know about us, and possibly more then you let out" Othinus shot an intimidating look at the ageless girl, who shrugged with a cold smile on her lips.

"You would be surprised how much data one can gather if she's willing to die for it. And that's not a problem for me. After some time and convincing, I gathered enough info about what happened not only to Meigo Arisa, but also Shutaura Sequenzia, after Endymion's failure."

"But what are you doing here?"

"Initially, I climbed all the way up here to use you as bait for those girls to come to me. But after what I've heard over the recent minutes... through a dumb accident, and I suppose your misfortune... I think I found something much more interesting."

Launching herself forward much faster than her childish body seemed capable of, Ladylee grasped Othinus from the table and moved her over the railing.

"Othinus!"

"Tell me everything about those 'endless deaths' you were talking about or else miss fairy gets dropped!"

"F-Fine! I will tell you, you don't have to resort to threatening!"

"Really?" Ladylee looked at Othinus wriggling in her grasp" Huh..."

"Yes, really. What is wrong with you? I don't tell people about those experiences because I assume they wouldn't believe me, not because I don't want to. It's... It's not really that much of a secret."

"Perfect!" Ladylee moved her hand away from the multi-story drop, but didn't release her grasp on Othinus" I am still holding her for a moment longer though. So please, talk!"

"I am warning you... that this story may sound seriously crazy"

"When someone is as old as I am, craziness becomes surprisingly relative. Now, tell me more..."

So Touma told Ladylee of what happened since Othinus erased reality, described their initial clashes and dozens of the deaths he remembered, recalling many of them before feeling slightly faint. He then described Omega World, his final battle with Othinus, and finally his return to his original world.

Ladylee dropped Othinus to the table, small ex-god groaning and coughing from being squeezed for rather long time.

If there was a slight interest in Ladylee's eyes before Touma began his story, it changed into a frantic excitement near the end of it.

"Yes, yes, yes! Magnificent, absolutely wonderful! That confirms it. You have no idea how long I've waited for this! You might be the solution!"

"L-Ladylee-san... you're too close... solution for what?"

"Oh, use that head of yours! You might think otherwise, given the whole hero thing going on, but you reek of it... you reek of death! Absolutely wonderful!"

"Hey! Who are you and what are you doing with onii-chan?!"

It seemed they attracted attention.

Normally, someone thinking that the burglar entered their house would carry a knife or something similar for protection. However, since it was Gokusai Amazora, one would be up to no surprise that an enormous gattling gun was pointed at Ladylee.

Amazora wasn't alone. Kaibi and Rikuri also appeared in the entrance to the balcony, momentarily tensing up when noticing the intruder.

"Touma... is that a fri-?"

Laylee rotated her head towards the girls with wry smile, causing Rikuri to pause mid-sentence.

"Oh, you have company. Such lovely faces..."

"Get away from him!"

Ladylee lazily pointed at Amazora's gattling gun.

"Save your bullets, girl, I am immortal. Without beating around the bush, I am here to talk with Kamijou Touma. Nothing more, nothing less. Unless you will bother me, in which case I might get a bit upset"

She slowly walked up to Amazora's weapon and put her head against the end of the gun.

"Aren't you gonna do it?"

"What's wrong with this girl?" muttered Kaibi, as Ladylee stepped backwards, spinning around like a ballerina.

"So glad you ask! Quite frankly, I am stuck in a unfavourable situation and I require Kamijou Touma's assistance. Isn't that how it always goes? As for the nature of the problem... let's have a quick demonstration..."

And so she jumped backwards, onto the railing, balancing herself with expert precision despite the slippery surface.

"What? Stop-"

"Ladies and gentlemen! We are here to witness the curse of eternal life by beautiful Ladylee Tangleroad. Your assistance will not be required so just enjoy the show."

With a quick motion, she pulled out a-

"Human! That's an explosive!" Othinus cried out, causing the boy and three girls stiffened in fear.

"How astute of an observation!" Ladylee said, twirling a small metallic object in her hand" It is indeed an explosive. It's not very potent, but more than suffices for me. And because of the special coating, I can do... this!"

Opening her mouth wide open, she placed the small cylinder beyond her lips... and...

"She..." Rikuri looked close to fainting" she swallowed... ate the..."

"Now, without further delay" Ladylee smiled, waving her hand" this thing will detonate after my stomach acid gets through so... see you in a moment!"

"What is she planning to-"

Ladylee jumped backwards.

Touma and the sisters wouldn't manage to reach her even if they attempted to. Touma did try but he could only observe as Ladylee soared upwards with a somewhat elated smile, before disappearing into the rainy night. It was a jump from 9th floor.

Roughly in the middle of the way, there was a dull "BOOM"

They didn't see the explosion itself.

But for a moment, rain in the darkness was filled with deep crimson.

(2 HOURS LATER)

Rikuri ran to the toilet and threw up.

Amazora tried to make a brave face, but she was clearly confused and shocked by the disturbing performance.

Kaibi kept clenching and unclenching her fists, ruffling her own hair while thinking about what she just witnessed.

Only Touma remained relatively calm, which caused the middle sister to shout

"Touma, it's not like you! A girl just died in front of your eyes and-"

"No, she will be fine" Touma muttered" What worries me more is what she wants from me..."

"Let me get this straight" Kaibi stood up, staring at him in disbelief" a girl threw herself out of the balcony with an explosive that she swallowed and turned into some kind of reverse firework, and you are saying she is fi-"

There was a doorbell sound. Touma didn't say anything, but came to open the door.

Kaibi felt her legs getting weak when she saw none other than Ladylee Tangleroad, well and alive, strolling through their living room. Amazora's eyes widened, more in amazement than in fear, and Rikuri, who just returned from the toilet, grabbed onto Touma's shirt as if she was a little girl and not the oldest sister.

"Thanks for letting me in. Nothing feels quite like regenerating from scratch. Sure, breaking apart hurts, but afterwards? It rewinds everything, I am like a newborn baby. Sorry for taking a while, I had to clean after myself. Did you ever disposed of your own intestines? Those things are long!"

"W-What are you?"

"Who, please, in spite of it all, I am still a person. I think I made it quite clear earlier on. I am what you japanese call fushi. I am an Immortal Human"

"No, that's not true." Kaibi protested" That's impossible. Dead stay dead. Everything has its time and everything dies."

"Everything except me. Which is exactly why I am so interested in Kamijou Touma."

"What kind of crazy experiment would allow a human to regenerate from nothing?"

"Experiment... oh, ignorant children of science."Ladylee shook her head" Listen up, uneducated folk. There are three ways through which death occurs in mortal beings: decay of cells through aging, injury of the body, or the disease that breaks and shuts down the vital functions. To be completely immortal is to overcome those three causes of death. In other words, to possess eternal youth, eternal regeneration, and eternal immunity. Between mortality and immortality lies a spectrum of variations. Depending if someone defies some cause of death or not we can distinguish 8 options. "

Ladylee scribbled few rows of symbols and names on paper napkin she took from the kitchen earlier on.

Y0I0R0 - Mortality

Y1I0R0 - Biological Immortality

Y0I1R0 - Absolute Immunity

Y0I0R1 - Absolute Regeneration

Y0I1R1 - A. Immunity + A. Regeneration

Y1I0R1 - Eternal Youth + A. Regeneration

Y1I1R0 - Realistic Immortality

Y1I1R1 - Absolute Immortality

[Author note: Y- Youth, I- Immunity, R- Regeneration, 0- not-fufilled, 1- fufilled]

"Biological immortality is living with minimal cellular degeneration, but with susceptibility to injury and disease. It can be found in nature, because some animals have mastered it in the course of evolution. There exists the jellyfish Turritopsis dohrni, that can rejuvenate itself by inversing its life cycle. Cases of absolute regeneration and absolute resilience may also be reached and found in nature one day.

The immortality that humanity would probably like to achieve lies in hybrid options, i.e. eliminating 2 out of 3 basic causes of death. These options are extremely attractive because they significantly improve the quality and comfort of life compared to those that eliminate only one cause. Particular tempting is the existence of an entity that is eternally young and resistant to disease, but not to physical injuries. I called it realistic immortality because it seems to be the most achievable compared to other hybrid options. The reason for this state of affairs may be the degree of difficulty with which it is associated with achieving absolute regeneration, capable of healing any injury. Such an ability would consume a lot of energy, be extremely versatile, and, unlike mechanisms that prevent disease and aging, be able to act instantly.

Absolute immortality stands out against the background of the above-mentioned gradation. It is immortality in the strict sense of the word. By eliminating all 3 factors of mortality, it makes it impossible for an absolutely immortal person to die, even if they wanted to. Eliminating all 3 causes of death is incomparably more difficult than one or two, and thus requires more time, resources, and energy. The undesirability, on the other hand, may stem from the fact that absolute immortality seems to be a commitment that cannot be reversed."

"Where are you going with this?"

"Oh, that speech was for Kamijou Touma. You may take a nap."

She threw something into the air.

"Human, shield your eyes" Othinus screamed, and Touma instinctively did as she said.

There was a bright flash of light, and in the next moment all three sisters fainted.

Rikuri fell on the sofa, Touma managed to catch Amazora, while Kaibi fell straight onto Ladylee, who stepped aside, causing the middle sister to tumble on the floor, fortunately with a carpet on it.

"Oops"

"What did you do to them?"

"I can't use magic, so I always try to have few artefacts on me. This one wipes the memory of everyone that looks at it. It can be used only a few times though"

Noticing Touma's tense face, she laughed, waving her hand.

"Only a few hours of memory, and they will wake up in an hour or so. You are not fond of amnesia, correct?"

"Brings unpleasant memories."

"Huh, memories, how ironic."

"Why did you explain immortality to them if you still wanted to wipe their memory? Also, there is a magical Men in Black device? Scary to think about..."

"I didn't quite get that reference... aside, I like to hear myself talk. But cutting to the chase... Kamijou Touma, I decided... that you shall be the cause of my demise"

Touma did not understand as the immortal went on, her eyes lighting up in a rather dangerous way.

"Someone who experienced so much death... what a lucky coincidence. I want to make you mine, so you will be the one I met me death with and through. Don't you think it's romantic? Meeting once end with the beautiful girl? I am small, but I am an older woman, aged like fine wine"

"Wait, wait, wait... what? Why do you-"

"It may be possible that throughout prolonged exposure to your Imagine Breaker, my immortality will weaken enough, even for a moment, for the end of my life to be possible. Like this yappy blondie said, immortality like mine is not something from this world. If negated continuously in the moment of my death, it will finally be over."

"Ladylee... isn't there anything that keeps you alive?"

The blond girl with aquamarine eyes looked at him, before laughing in a hysterical way that steered something deeply unpleasant in Touma.

"Can you really imagine what it's like? To never age, to never die throughout eons of time? I am over 800 years old. Not much compared to your familiar Magic Gods or the primordial donna Kretuene, but far longer than any human. I endured for so long I sometimes forgotten my name. I mastered so many skills, saw so many places, met so many people. Estoy hablando en todas las idiomas del mundo, językami tak starymi, że po latach, j'ai oublié lequel était le premier etποιος πραγματικά είμαι. I've walked many roads, escaped many places, and died so many, many, many times. It should seem like a immortality is not a curse, but a blessing. But it's not living forever, that's not how it really is. Immortality is watching everyone and everything else die. And it breaks your heart, chipping it away. Moment by moment, until you don't have anything left to have broken, until your kill your emotions just so can breath and not shut down from all the grief and madness and loneliness... Now that I heard what you've been through, I am certain... you know it too. When you live that long, you just get tired. Tired of losing every single thing that ever mattered, until all you have are names that lost all meaning. You know that emptiness, when your heart got broken so much that you can't even identify the pieces and for that single moment of doubt, you may cease to be human"

"What do you want from me?"

"You are helping people, right, shattering their illusions and guiding them to their dreams. In that case... help me achieve my dream, the dream of normal death"

"You want me to kill you?"

"Oh no, nothing that plain. Do you know the writings of Dazai Osamu? I've never felt more kinship towards the drive towards death than while reading his books. He was remarkable. Sadly, he managed to get lucky and die before I could truly meet him. But he gave me the idea that I should end my life with someone who understands me. Someone who I can give what remains of my human heart. And I just chose you for that role. I wish for us to die together, as someone who understands... that feeling of enduring through countless deaths, through countless years..."

"Stop it"

"... when you beg for release but you can't and keep going on, deeper and deeper into madness of despair..."

"I said stop!" It was Othinus who cried out over the silence of completely mortified Touma" You are insane! He is going to live his life, and will not help you in such craziness. If you want to die, die alone. Besides, I am already his Understander"

"Why should my dream be denied? Isn't freedom of death the highest one there is? I am going to convince him, one way or another, to help me fulfill my goal. The fact that the one that claims the position of the Understander is the killer here is laughable. If you are his Understander in life, I can be his Understander in death. I do know a fair share of what he could be through. I understand, that's why I want him to love me and die with me."

"Ladylee... I want to help you, if you need it... but not like this. I can't"

Immortal's eyes darkened.

"I see. I guess there are obstacles on my path to death through true understanding. Over the years, I lost many people dear to me. That's what twisted me to this point. Don't you feel it too? The turmoil in your heart that begs to be quenched? The pain of unjust misfortune?"

"Even so, they are still here. And mortality is what makes life truly beautiful"

"This is why I want to stop to become immortal"

"I understand! But do you really have to die? What if I helped you?"

Ladylee smiled and shook her head

"That's a beautiful dream. I almost want to believe it... but I think I would rather ensure that you will cause my demise. Maybe I will have a nice chat with a Human Library and-"

The clouds covered the moon.

Ladylee's cheek was slashed before she could notice.

And a voice from the darkness spoke.

"If you touch anyone dear to me, I will pulverize you, stuff you inside the toughest rock on earth, and leave you there to regenerate forever. Play with that fool however you like. But touch Index, and I will make you remember how it is to actually fear death. Now get out!"

It was only a moment before moonlight flooded the room again.

Touma blinked and spoke

"Huh? What was that?"

Ladylee touched her slightly red cheeks. Her cut already healed, but now she paid this no mind. She was thinking about what she just witness.

"That was an unexpected... but not unwelcomed discovery."

"Huh?"

"I shall take my leave for now, I have to think about this more. But make no mistake. I will make you love me... till death, through death, and for death... Kamijou Touma."

And then she jumped behind the railing once again.

Touma didn't bother to check if she climbed down or just plummeted to death, only to regenerate again. He slumped down to his knees.

"Are you alright?"

"It was him again, wasn't it?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so"

"The time to do something about this is getting close. And also... did I just witness a yandere l0li with death obsession proclaiming that she wants to end her existence with me and becoming my self-proclaimed Understander? Such a rotten luck..."

IV. PRELUDIUM'S EPILOGUE: AYU ET VERITAS

Hasako Kankyougami stirred on her futon, her long hair tied in a single ponytail, as she rested in ryokuan in Kyoto.

She was restless because she knew the resting place by her side was empty.

Maidono Hoshimi was out again. And worst of all, Hasako didn't really know where she went, so she couldn't follow her.

'Hoshimi, please be safe'

They were on the trip for Hasako to get a look at modern Japan. But it was only a part of it.

For Maidono, it gained a personal importance and made her more cold and focused than Hasako ever saw of her. It all started when Kumokawa Seria discovered certain clue in the search for Mitsuari Ayu's whereabouts couple days prior.

(FLASHBACK)

'Apparently, when there was a prison break during which Ayu-san escaped, the next time she was sighted in the presence of masked scientist. They seemed to travel together" spoke the older girl, browsing through the material gathered through her intelligence network.

Although to Touma and Hasako that information wasn't anything significant, Maidono jumped from her seat and sped up in front of Kumokawa.

"A masked scientist? Was the mask like the ones they were in Italy for carnival?"

"Y-Yes, in fact my agent said something about it being a colourful red mask with a golden hourglass on it"

In the next moment, everyone's ears started to hurt.

It was just how much the pressure in the room changed as Maidono tensed with a completely livid face, biting her lip so hard it drew blood.

"Veritas" she whispered and bolted to the door.

"Hoshimi" Touma also stood up" What happened? Do you know something about the person Ayu-san encountered?"

Maidono put her hand on the doorknob.

"Do I know? Oh, I know full well."

"Is Mitsuari-san in danger?"

"I don't know yet. But Veritas is not someone that we can leave her with. Sooner than later, something horribly wrong will happen, I am sure of it."

"Veritas?"

Maidono took a shaky breath and explained

"This girl of yours really is as misfortunate as you, Touma. She ran into someone vile and unethical... someone bent on pursuing the truth of objective reality in the name of peace and prosperity so much that it was an reality-missing obsession beyond Kihara standards. Codename Veritas, which means "truth" in latin, a scientist specializing in amplifying and perfecting common abilities through unorthodox means. That person... is the one responsible for perfecting my telekinesis through a method that left me unable to use chopsticks. They are my creator of sorts. The person that made my life miserable. I don't know much about them, even their gender or age. All I do know is that they destroyed my social and emotional life. So I, in turn, destroyed the lab where Veritas and his team experimented on me, before becoming a mercenary. I thought they died... but I was mistaken. If Ayu-san interacted with them, it's the worst case scenario. Because if Ayu-san is the way you described her, she can be easily abused by them. So I must find where Veritas is. It's both for that girl and for myself."

(END FLASHBACK)

Hasako sighed again.

This couldn't continue. She knew Maidono was sneaking out to find where this Veritas could be.

Apparently, the masked scientist had extensive web of contacts throughout Japan and abroad that could be used to hide them. Although they were convinced that Mitsauri Ayu didn't leave the city, Veritas was apparently someone specialized in moving from place to place. If Mitsuari was with them by a struck of bad luck, they couldn't rule out any possibility.

Or at least, Maidono couldn't. Hasako sat on the futon, looking at the moon beyond the ryokuan's window.

She knew she will confront her friend about it when she returns by daybreak.

She knew that Maidono wanted to do this on her own, to not endanger Touma, her love, Hasako, her best friend, or even others, who didn't matter that much to her. That was how her time with Touma changed her.

But even though Hasako knew Maidono was strong, she couldn't help but worry. She could only hope that she and Touma will be there for Maidono, when they saved not only Mitsuari Ayu, but also the telekinesis user herself

(MEANWHILE)

Someone fell gracefully from the sky near the remote, luxurious villa in the suburbs of Shizuoka. It was an enormous house with a garden and gold-coloured metal gate.

That someone wore a wig, mask and dark clothes, fitting tightly around her long legs and slim waist. She approached the tall gate and cracked her hands before pointing at it with her index fingers.

In the next moment, sturdy metal was bent and sent tumbling down as the figure stepped through it.

Alarm started to ring out as 2 armoured guards ran out, pointing their guns at the intruder.

"Freeze! You are trespassing on the private property of esteemed doctor Kanagawa!"

"You know, that's the whole point of breaking in"

"We said freeze! Don't move!"

"I will just move my finger, that's all"

In the next moment, ground underneath the guards crumbled and exploded, causing screaming men to slide into deep hole. The intruder smiled and lifted her hand causing enormous rock to cover the exit to the chasm.

"I left you holes for breathing, . I will set you free when I'll be going home though and I made it deep enough, so stop screaming like babies!"

As she approached the villa, she crumbled few remote guns and drones, before tearing the doors down and entering the building.

As expected, four more of the bodyguards awaited her inside. The girl focused her attention on them.

In the next moment, one of the guns held by the goons started to move on its own accord, the abnormally intense pressure forcing the hand of the man holding it to point at the leg of his colleague.

The gun discharged and the guard fell, clenching his thigh in pain.

At the same time, the attacker took out something resembling an thin ice pick and threw it forward. It embedded itself in the leg of the shooter, and after a moment, returned back into still extended hand of the intruder.

Third guard attempted to shoot stun gun at his opponent, but with a quick motion of the attacker's hand, the wires were sent to the left, electrifying his fellow comrade instead.

The man dropped the gun and tried to throw himself at the girl barehanded, but she jumped backwards and motioned to the statue standing in the hall. It moved, smashing into man and knocking him unconscious.

After securing the defeated opponents, she moved forward, busting through every obstacle, until she opened the door to reveal an almost naked woman, who screamed at the sight.

"Sorry to interrupt" Maidono Hoshimi said, tapping lightly on her mask" But I have an appointment with the doctor. Can you please tell him subject 0702 dropped by?"

The girl nodded weakly and ran towards the spacious bedroom.

Moments later there was a sound of something, or rather someone, tumbling down the window.

Outside, a middle-aged man in night clothes tried to desperately to make his escape.

He didn't ran far when small metal spike embedded itself in his leg, making him stumble.

"As you surely remember, my telekinesis can't affect living organisms or inorganic matter surrounded by a living tissue. But the parts embedded from the outside and sticking out, or parts that are entirely inorganic like prosthetics, are another story." Maidono said, extending her hand towards the hobbling doctor" Come back to me"

There was a strong pull on his leg, the man fell down and slid backwards, crying out as the piece of metal answered telekinetic summon, until he was by the feet of Maidono.

"I-I pulled out of the experiments! I didn't do anything! I-"

"Oh, shut up, I am not going to kill you! Nor anyone else here. I have someone important to me that would surely not approve of this"

"R-Really?"

The man tried to get up, but the fragment of metal in his leg was pulled in other direction, causing him to fall down once again.

"But... this doesn't mean you are leaving until you tell me what I want. You are the one of the scientific consultants that worked with the team who ruined my life. And now, that masked bastard may ruin another one. Where is Veritas?"

"Maidono-san... I truly did not know what kind of vile experiments...gaah!"

The metal twisted itself slightly deeper into his leg.

"Cut the crap. Who encouraged them to shock me when I couldn't lift something? Who paid for the tools that made me bleed and cry out in pain? Who caused them to use methods that rendered my hands useless for anything else other than my power? You are not getting the light treatment because of me. You are spared because of the morality of the man I love. The Maidono Hoshimi that loves him is still giving you mercy... but if you play dumb..."

A long, thin chain floated in the air, its fragments reflecting the glow from the light inside of the house.

"... then the Maidono from the dark side may just go back for a short moment and break all fingers, finger for finger, like the ones you left my unable to use. So I will ask again."

Maidono Hoshimi crouched down to look at the sweating man straight into the eyes and slowly accentuated each part of the question, closely connected not only with her own rage, but also with the future and safety of the girl that the boy important to her wanted to save beyond anything, Mitsuari Ayu.

Where. Is. Veritas?"

(TO BE CONTINUED)

And the stage is set, and the action is about to begin.

Besides the obvious focus on Ayu, we will have the smaller Maidono subplot, and heavier involvement from the sisters, Kumokawa and Shokuhou. Aside from them, Niang-Niang and Nephthys will have a major role. Even though KNT will have his saying, the proper confrontation with him is still a bit further in the future.

Quick explanation of the sub-titles. Double singularity refers to Shutaura and Arisa, Ayu et Veritas is rather self explanatory, River of Clouds is a translation of Kumokawa (Kumokawa can be read as 'river of clouds'), and In Eternity, Only the Names remain is a reference to the famous saying about the rose, that would smell as sweetly under the other name.

The multilanguage phrase that Ladylee says roughly translates to: I speak all of the languages of the world, so many languages, that after many years, I forgot from where I hail from, or who I really am'.

I wonder what name should be appropriate for Arisa and Shutaura fusion self? That's something to ponder about.

And even more Mr. Hyde references in KNT.

I love that Hasako and Maidono apparently became more loveable waifus to quite a few people thanks to my story. Did you enjoy Maidono's badass break-in? Her laboratorial backstory is one of my favourite side-moments.

I actually researched capoeira techniques for this chapter. Do you like Kumokawa Maria? I think she and Touma can have something very unique.

Maidono's 'subject number', 0702, is a reference to the date of her debiut in the series, when GT1 was published, 7th of February.