Afterschool Breakdown

[ACMI: In a Heart]

By lunch Uiharu hadn't arrived at school so during lunch Saten tried calling her.

The phone rang a few times before going to one of Uiharu's voice mail for friends.

"Sorry I couldn't answer the phone, I am likely in the middle of a project that can't be interrupted. I'll call you when I am free."

Saten looked down at the phone with a frown.

She and Joule sat on a bench outside of school. GV had already left to do his own thing and Lumen was counting syllables and trying to come up with new lyrics.

"Did she say what the judgement work was?" Joule asked curiously.

Saten shook her head "Just something about an intruder into Academy City. Nothing specific."

Just then her phone rang. She checked the caller ID.

"It's Misaka!" She lifted the phone to her head and stood up as she heard something. When there was a break in Misaka's explanation Saten explained to Joule.

"Kuroko tried to arrest the intruder but she fought back with an ability. Misaka happened to be nearby so she joined in the fight until the intruder fled."

"Is she okay?" Joule asked worried.

After a moment Saten answered "Apparently she is fine, other than slight burns from Misaka."

Joule didn't need to ask what caused Misaka to zap Kuroko, it was fairly obvious.

Saten nodded and spoke to Misaka a bit more before ending the call and reporting "It seems that Judgement is still looking for the intruder so Uiharu will likely miss the rest of the day too."

Joule nodded "She is working hard, how about we stop by afterschool to give her a cake?"

Saten nodded with a smile "That sounds fun."

A few more hours passed and the girls discussed from where to get a cake.

"The Underground Mall has a cake shop we've never been to before. We could get her something from there."

Joule agreed with Saten's suggestion so they headed underground.

It was filled with tightly packed shops and it had an arcade that their group had visited once before. They stopped by a bakery and bought a chocolate and marzipan cake. Before they could leave however they heard a telepathic voice.

[ACMI: Into Darkness]

"This is a warning from Judgement: there is a terrorist in the underground mall. Please evacuate quickly but calmly. Please don't make mention of this alert out loud."

Joule glanced at Saten and they headed for the exit. While Kuroko would likely be here somewhere there was no need to make more trouble for her.

Before they reached the exit however the entire mall shook and they saw a gate to block escape drop into place before the exit. While some people pounded on the wall the two of them looked around.

Saten voiced the thought "Even we can't escape this way, Kuroko is likely here somewhere."

Joule nodded but Saten sighed "It would likely be safer to stay here though."

It was a few minutes before Kuroko arrived via teleport. She glanced around the group at the door as if looking for someone but was surprised to see Joule and Saten. She walked over to them quickly.

She smiled but talked seriously "Sorry guys, have you seen a boy with spiky hair and a girl with long hair come through here?"

Saten shook her head and Kuroko frowned before just sighing and touching both of their shoulders.

[ACMI: I'm Hungry]

They appeared on the surface right next to Misaka and the nun that Joule had once met in the hospital.

"-they're rather breezy!" The nun looked to be annoyed at Misaka but the two girls only heard the end of her comment.

Misaka was surprised by their sudden appearance so she missed what the nun had said "Joule, Saten. Are you okay?"

"We're okay." Joule spoke quietly.

"Kuroko found us and teleported us out." Saten explained.

Misaka nodded and said the same had happened to her.

Meanwhile it seemed the Nun was just shocked to see them show up but she frowned when looking at Joule "We've met before haven't we?"

Joule nodded "In the hospital. As I said then my name was Joule."

The nun nodded "I'm Index."

Everyone else exchanged names then and there was a pause where no one spoke.

"I wonder why this is taking so long." Misaka broke the silence

Index stood straight and analysed the situation "I can't be sure, but it sort of seemed like the sorcerer was targeting Hyouka in particular. I'm almost certain the form she was using was of the London style. I sure hope nothing bad has happened to Hyouka."

Saten put a hand up "Can you give context for that miss Index." while at the same time Misaka asked "The other girl who was with you guys, was that her name? Hyouka?"

Again Saten spoke "Not the problem Misaka, context. You-" she gestured at Index "said sorcerer right?"

Index looked away sharply from Saten "I did."

"So...?" Saten tried to draw out an answer. Index said nothing at that.

Suddenly a cat that Index was holding jumped out of her arms and ran to the other side of the street.

"Sphynx! Come back here!" Index panicked and flailed her arms. She looked at the other three girls and Saten jumped to action.

"We'll help you get your cat back! Right?"

"Sure." Joule responded simply and followed the two after the cat. Misaka sighed.

"Cats don't care for me." She called after them "I tend to rub them the wrong way. I would only make things worse."

Index, Saten and Joule ran after Index's cat as he ran away. Beneath them there was a small rumble.

End of chapter.

Honestly it doesn't seem likely this would be an arc these two got into much of the plot of.

I mean Saten and Uiharu don't even show up in it, at least in the anime.

Really not sure about the start of the chapter, it just feels off compared to normal.