With Friends

[ACMI: Daily Life]

"It's the last day of summer vacation?" Joule asked in surprise.

Saten raised an eyebrow at her surprise and replied "You forgot?"

Uiharu shook her head "Well, considering the adventures we've had over the last few weeks it isn't hard to forget."

Saten shrugged "Sure I guess, I mean there was the level upper. Then there was Big Spider and then the Poltergeist incident. We did also just have the whole thing yesterday."

The three of them sat in a cafe waiting for Misaka and Kuroko. Both had said they would arrive in a few minutes. It was then that Uiharu had brought up homework as it was the last day of vacation.

Getting back on topic, Saten raised her spoon with a smile "This summer has been full of progress though, I gained a level after all!"

Uiharu smiled "That has been made offical then?"

Saten raised her spoon higher "Correct, I got an email this morning from the school. I am now Level 1. I get to go to the proper ability development classes with you two now."

Tilting her head, Joule asked "Proper ability development?"

Saten shook her head "Yeah, looking back on it now the Level 0 'Ability Development' classes was basically all theory. Now that I can actually use my power it feels kind off... too much?"

"Too much?" Uiharu asked.

"Well, you two should get it. It's like how your abilities are kind of on automatic? Sure I can know the theory of how they work but it kind of... only half matters?" Saten tried to explain but she just shook her head in the end "I can't really put it into words."

Joule still looked confused but Uiharu nodded "I get the feeling. We know how our AIM works but we don't really think about it while using our abilities, there is more important things to think about."

Saten nodded and took a bite of her cake.

Joule shook her head as she still didn't understand but she changed the subject "Shouldn't Misaka and Kuroko be here yet?"

As the two nodded the sound of a teleporter could clearly be heard outside the cafe. When they turned to look they saw an annoyed Kuroko. She looked around and saw them before entering and walking over to their table and sitting down in a huff.

Lumen's mentally commented "That was one of the most overly dramatic entrance I think she has ever made." and Joule had to agree.

"Um, Shirai?" Uiharu asked.

Kuroko breathed out loudly before starting quietly "Sis is on a date, and I am livid."

There was absolute silence at the table for ten seconds before Saten coughed before speaking just as quietly "So she's not coming?"

"No." Came the reply.

Uiharu diplomatically changed the topic "Joule, can you tell us about the song from yesterday?"

"Yesterday?" Joule asked confused, for a moment she had no idea what Uiharu was talking about. It took Lumen reminding her before she remembered the battle.

"Oh, Flash of Azure. Right."

"Flash of Azure? That was the name of the song?" Saten asked.

Joule nodded trying to remember her own notes from when she composed it.

"Why did it feel like the Level upper?" Saten prompted.

Joule rubbed her head "It started when I read Dr Kiyama's research. I read it and found the spare copy of the level upper I had from when I made the uninstaller."

She had also taken some inspiration for her Anthems for GV but she didn't need to say that.

"I had the train of thought 'What if this could be used safely?' It was only the night before that I actually put it together fully."

Saten was quiet but Kuroko asked "How sure were you it was safe?"

Joule closed her eyes "I won't quote a probability but I was sure it would work and that the uninstaller would function properly. It was the more advanced features I was worried about but I avoided using them as much as I could."

Both Kuroko and Saten nodded. Silence then fell for a moment as everyone finished their cakes.

Saten then raised a hand "All in favour of tracking down Misaka and spying on her date?"

For a moment no one said anything but then Kuroko raised a hand as well. Another moment passed before Saten turned to Uiharu "Why not?"

"It would be rude." was the simple response.

Saten shook her head "Are you not curious what sort of person would charm her?"

The sound of choking came from Kuroko as Uiharu tilted her head before righting it and sighing "Very well, but we won't take the fast way. Let's see what we can find on the way."

Saten now looked to Joule who looked down "Well if all of you are going..." her affirmation was clear enough.

The four of them set off wandering.

[ACMI Movie: You could call that my dream, I guess]

As they walked to the area that Kuroko claimed they would be able to find Misaka they began to hear singing. When they went to look they found Arisa singing on a portable stage in the middle of a small park. They joined the small crowd she attracted and watched as her song drew to a close.

As she took a drink of water before the next song she saw Joule and smiled. Joule led the small group of friends over to her.

"Hello Joule. Are these your friends?" Arisa had sat down on the edge of the stage to talk to them.

Joule nodded "Hello Arisa, they are my friends. They came to watch the Idol Event too."

Arisa smiled at the others "Good to meet all of you, sorry I missed you at the event. I am Meigo Arisa."

The rest of them greeted her, Saten was last but she looked happy "Good to meet you, Arisa. I am Saten Ruiko." Her voice was shy as she quietly admitted "I'm a fan."

Arisa's eyes opened slightly wider but she just laughed "Good to meet you Ruiko."

She checked her watch before standing and saying "I can talk more after the next song."

The group stepped back as she peformed her next song. After she finished it, Arisa came back and sat down again.

"So you're peforming today? What's the cause?" Joule asked and Arisa just scrached her head.

"After seeing how well I did in the event I have been peforming a lot more. What about you?"

Joule shook her head sadly "I like peforming but that event was probably a one-off."

Arisa's face fell before perking up again "Well if you want to peform again we could be a double act. I could write a song for us to peform together?"

Joule smiled at her "That would be nice."

[ACSA: One-Way Trouble]

The group of friends departed soon after that while Arisa prepared for her next song.

As they walked Uiharu looked over at Saten who had taken out her phone and was looking at something.

Saten noticed her looking and showed her the screen "Arisa's songs, I've downloaded the current collection."

Uiharu nodded "Well you did tell her you were a fan." Saten nodded happily.

As they walked on Joule glanced into a diner they were walking past. She stopped suddenly as she saw who was inside.

Accelerator.

Saten looked over "Joule, is there a problem?" she looked into the diner to try and look for what spooked Joule but Joule quickly set off on her own and everyone followed after.

"Just thought I saw someone I knew." Joule said after a moment. Saten nodded but still looked curious.

Mentally, Joule asked Lumen "Can you take a look?"

Lumen gave a mental nod. As Lumen fluttered up Joule mentally asked "Come back after a few minutes if there is nothing. Just confirm what he's doing."

Lumen gave another affirmation as she headed back to the diner.

End of chapter.

The three stories arc is likely to be quite short. Maybe only two chapters but possibly 3.

Either way, The movie tells that Arisa met (and trusts) team Railgun before the movie started so I might as well show some of the meetings.