Explosive

[ACSR: Uiharu Kazari]

The class's clock ticked as Joule sat, listening to the teach say something about AIM fields. Her friends were sitting further forward in the class and it looked like Saten wasn't paying attention to the lesson. Outside of the class the sun was shining upon academy city, there were few clouds in the sky but the day wasn't incredibly hot. If it were not a school day then Joule would have liked to walk around the city in this sort of weather.

Joule thought back over the last few days, A lot had been happening without her and she was always being told about it after

First Misaka had apparently met some urban legend, a woman with no idea of how public decency worked. Kuroko had apparently been worried that Misaka might have become the same but Joule know that Misaka wasn't about to learn that sort of habit from just meeting a person.

Then Kuroko and Uiharu had gotten angry with each other and had a falling out. They apparently got over it when they remembered some of the early days of their friendship (Joule hadn't asked what they were and they didn't share).

After that Misaka had 'Borrowed' Uiharu's armband and pretended to be in judgement for a small while.

Joule had been told about the events (other than the first) after the fact. The first she had been with the others to hear about in real time.

Joule glanced out the window and then to the clock wondering how much longer would the lesson go on for?

[ACSR: Kiyama-sensei]

At the end of class Uiharu left quickly, Saten explained as the two of them were leaving "Judgement has this big case going on right now, Uiharu is trying to focus on getting it solved."

Joule nodded to this and Saten continued "Since Uiharu can't come do you want to come shopping?"

"Sure" Joule answered as she closed her bag.

The two of them walked down the street, they were going to Seventh Mist like they had gone to when first meeting. The shopping mall had become one of the main places they shopped as friends as while they all had different interests, all the shops were close together.

On their way they heard someone call "Saten! Joule!". Across the road Misaka was waving at them. She Crossed the road quickly and fell into walking besides them.

They reached a small park and sat at a table together to catch up.

They started to chat about the case that Judgement was on as it was forefront in everyone's minds. After a small bit Joule asked "So how is Kuroko?"

Misaka sighed her response "Stressed, Very stressed," she glanced at the two of them and continued "Uiharu is probably just as stressed?"

Saten sighed "She's working so much, when I offered that she could come shopping she focused on the job."

At this Misaka smiled softly "They don't really have a lot of choice, judgement wants this case done before this mad bomber hurts anyone else."

This was Joules first fact about what the case was actually about, Lumen fluttered slightly in her hair as she nonchalantly asked "A Mad Bomber?"

"As far as Kuroko explained it, someone is using their ability to make objects explode. A few people have been hurt but the explosions are apparently getting bigger so Judgement wants to catch him fast."

Joule nodded and Lumen relaxed. Saten however looked kind of dejected "All of this makes me feel..." her voice faded as she slouched a bit before continuing "I feel so small in comparison to you all, Uiharu and Kuroko on this big case and you are in a league of your own."

Joule placed her tapped Saten and when she looked over Joule smiled "All things considered you are great Saten, you don't need powers to be a good person." Misaka smiled as she spoke "True, and sometimes having an ability can make things more stressful"

Saten looked up, a smile on her face "Thanks for that" she said softly, she continued in a brighter tone "But if I did have an ability it would really change my life, you know?".

Everyone was quiet for a moment as they enjoyed their drinks before Saten spoke again "If only I had a level-upper or something, it might allow me to be a level 5 myself."

"What's a level-upper?" asked Joule and Misaka at almost the same time. They glanced at each other before looking back to Saten who seemed to be remembering something "It's an urban legend I heard, in the story it is some sort of device that will automatically increase your ability level."

Briefly the Sumeragi's Glaives crossed Joules mind, it was a device that increased your strength, but the thought passed quickly.

Saten was now pouring the ice from her cup into her mouth as she continued to speak "When I heard the Undress dress was real I wondered what other legends could be true." She swallowed but continued "But it is ridiculous isn't it?"

They all finished their drinks and considered what to do next, eventually Misaka came up with a plan "Uiharu and Kuroko are off tomorrow, if we wait then we can all go together."

The others agreed that it was a good plan and so they left in thought of the trip tomorrow

[ASG: Today's Contract]

When Joule got home the sun was dipping and GV was on his laptop. He had managed to find a way into academy city's dark web using his ability to hack and was now looking for work that he could do.

Apart from him their rooms now had that 'Lived in' feel, Joule's especially as she had picked up things with the others while shopping.

Her bed was in one corner of her room (which was quite small) but she had some draws with clothing in and a few posters, most lent by Saten, pinned to her wall. GV's room was similar but he also had what he called his "work table". GV's work table had his laptop on it as well as a few parts that he was using to try and rebuild the Dart Leader from scratch.

Joule wondered a moment if GV knew any more about the case the others were on or the validity of rumours. He used to always know more than her in those areas so she would ask him but now he was working from the ground up again. She resolved to ask about it tomorrow and got ready for bed.

[ACSR: Judgement no Katsudou]

In the morning Joule met up with the others, all of them apart from Kuroko were able to come so they walked together towards Seventh Mist.

They didn't want to bother Uiharu with thinking about the case so they kept their conversations to things like new music coming out and other harmless subjects.

The shopping started as many meetings between Uiharu and Saten did, Saten implied something or did something inappropriate (in this case offering Uiharu risque underwear) and Uiharu got embarrassed.

Joule was here only to spend time with friends so she didn't have anything in mind she wanted but she guessed Saten would offer her something before the end of the trip.

The four of them then went to check out pyjamas after Misaka suggested it and Uiharu directed them to a different store.

Misaka saw some relatively childish pyjamas and stopped, after a moment Saten and Uiharu began to head onward so Joule followed them to some bikinis.

Saten picked one off the rack and looked at it before holding it towards Joule "You should try it Joule, I think it would look good." A blush covered Joule's face as she looked at the bikini, she stammered out "Too much skin for me, thanks but no."

Not missing a moment, Saten put it back and pulled out another one before offering it to Uiharu "Then this one don't you think Uiharu?"

Joule glanced back at Misaka and noted that she was talking to a boy and a young girl who proceeded to leave, Misaka looked like she was trying (and failing) to laugh naturally.

With Saten and Uiharu she walked back over to Misaka who looked pained, when asked she just said she needed the bathroom.

A few minutes later they were browsing clothes again as a group when someone's phone rang. Saten spoke up first "I think that is your phone Uiharu?" Uiharu nodded "So it is" and pulled it out of a pocket

She answered it and recoiled at the volume of the voice coming out of it.

[ACSR: Anti Skill]

For a few seconds she just listened before asking "W, Where is it happening?" a few more seconds pass "Wait Kuroko, where is the attack?"

The voice, Kuroko probably, says something else and Uiharu repeats it "The Seventh Mist Mall? That's perfect then, I am there now! I'll start the emergency evacuation." Uiharu took her phone and ended the call before looking up to the others "Please listen and don't panic, we know where the bomber's next target is. We are standing in it."

Misaka responded first with a tone of shock "What did you say?".

Uiharu closed her eyes for a moment as if thinking, she then spoke "Misaka I want you to help with the evacuation order, you should get somewhere safe Saten and Joule... is your Telepathy strong enough to aid in the evacuation?"

Joule thought for a moment before speaking "It's not very strong, the range is relatively short and I can't talk with more than a couple of people a once yet." Joule had been practising in her ability development but without Lumen's help she was still of a low level. Lumen calmly spoke to her telepathically "Joule, I think that you should use some of my strength to help the people here."

Joule closed her eyes and continued speaking to Uiharu "I can push myself however, I might be able to reach further then."

Uiharu considered for a few moments before answering "Very well, help us organise the evacuation."

Saten took this moment to speak "All of you, stay safe."

The three of them nodded confidently, Uiharu left to speak to the staff while Joule and Misaka started to look around for people.

"Attention all customers, we are experiencing an electrical malfunction inside the store, we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this might cause but we must immediately suspend business for the day. Please follow the clerks instructions to the nearest exit. Again we sincerely apologise..." Joule listened to the broadcast while searching for people who weren't leaving.

With Lumen's help her powers were stronger. Lumen was only giving a small amount of strength but it was still enough to search.

Her searching skills worked by sending out 'Pulses' of thoughts that would echo against sentient minds, it worked better on adepts but in this situation where there were less people all she had to do was to listen out for those not leaving.

While searching she found a girl carrying a doll that looked like a frog.

Joule spoke quickly but clearly to the girl "I am sorry but you have to leave now."

The girl was looking around as if searching for someone but she slowed down to respond to Joule "Sorry but I have to deliver this to a nice lady." she held up the doll in her hands.

Joule smiled, the girl had a good heart "The lady is likely outside now, lets go down to look for her."

The girl smiled up to her and agreed.

As the two of them walked towards the stairs they came to a intersection where Uiharu was standing on the phone. Suddenly the girl besides Joule let out a small cry of joy "Its the nice lady I am supposed to give this too!"

The girl ran towards Uiharu and Joule ran to keep up with the girl.

The young girl continued her energetic words "Hey there nice lady!" Uiharu stiffened before relaxing and turning around while lowering her phone.

The girl stopped in front of Uiharu before speaking "A strange man wearing glasses asked me to come over and give this to you as a present" Joule stopped besides her as Uiharu reached out to grab the doll.

Before she touched it, the doll twisted as if being crushed and pulled together.

Uiharu recognised what it was, she grabbed it and threw the bomb behind her before pushing Joule away from the bomb and using herself to shield the young girl.

Joule fell onto her butt as the bomb, which Uiharu called out to tell her, was about to blow. She glanced up to see Misaka run between Uiharu, herself and the bomb.

Misaka was pulling out a coin to use in the railgun but it slipped from her fingers. There was a flash of movement as someone else, the boy she had seen Misaka talking to earlier jumped in the way.

The stupid, brave, fool was trying to protect them.

There was a bright flash and an almighty roar. The pressure of the explosive blew outwards, smoke billowed out.

Joule coughed as the smoke cleared, she couldn't see anyone but she could hear the girl crying and Uiharu trying to calm her.

That fool had actually blocked the explosion somehow then?

When the smoke cleared she saw that the boy and Misaka were no longer there, only she, Uiharu and the girl were left. Uiharu stood up and beckoned Joule over. They and the girl then left to get outside the building. As Uiharu said "After an explosion you never know how much structural damage was done."

[ACSR: Chiisana Nozomi]

They went outside and met up with Saten.

"I was worried sick!" was the first thing out of Saten's mouth

Uiharu grinned sheepishly before speaking "Turns out I was the target, Misaka managed to get in the way and stopped the attack."

Joule noted that Uiharu had been protecting the girl at the time, she hadn't seen the boy get in the way or Misaka drop her coin. For now she decided to say nothing.

Eventually they headed upstairs to look at the damage (Uiharu said they could come even as civilians if she were with them). Joule looked at the damage, a cone of undamage tile started from where the boy was standing, expanding to protect things behind him. The boy probably had some kind of deflective power, maybe a force field.

Regardless after taking a statement they were all allowed to leave, apparently Misaka had caught the bomber soon after the explosion, that was why she had left.

On her way home Joule smiled, all things considered today had been interesting.

Joule talk 8: Joule and Lumen

[[ASG: Cyanotype]]

As she walked home, Joule mentally chatted with Lumen.

By using her power Lumen had become more active and chatty for once.

Lumen was happy "That was great, you did well there!"

Embarrassed, Joule smiled and blushed "I really didn't do that much, the others could have done it without me."

"Don't live with what could have been done," Lumen gave a pep talk " you helped and you made things better!"

Lumen took to the air in butterfly form to fly around Joule "You even made use of my power for once, you're great!"

Joule shrugged, she had done well but still...

*Joule understands herself better*

End of Chapter

I decided to skip a couple of episodes as Joule wouldn't have impacted them in any major way.

Regardless we are now about half-way through the level-upper arc, the rest of the episodes have more in them though so I might still be limited to one episode per chapter.

Anyway, thanks for reading.