OVA: Electric bathhouse

[ASG: Cyanotype]

In a void of blue, an endless space, a fairy appeared.

Lumen looked up and around before offering a grin.

"Hello to you all, wonderful watchers of our story."

"Yes, I am talking to you all. You guys who have been watching us since we entered Academy City."

She gave a wink "And yes, I am massively breaking the fourth wall right now."

She paused for a moment as if to give effect before she continued.

"The following story never happened. There is nowhere it fits on the timeline. In the world without myself, Joule or GV, the closest place you could put it would probably be on the thirty first of August or maybe a few days later when you get into early September."

At that though she held up a hand "But that doesn't work, on the 31st, Misaka was busy on a date. In early September, everyone was away in Liberal Arts City."

Lumen put her hands together and smiled "And so, it never happened in the city we visited. Now though, since the author is trying to waste time in order to play through Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, we need something to fill the time. This quick side story will fit in. We can even add more characters that aren't here to have some fun."

With one last grin she offered her hand "Well then, shall we begin? Remember, none of this is canon, just have some fun."

[ACSR: Tokiwadai Junior High]

Walking around Academy City after classes had finished for the day felt like 90% of Joule's days. Well, it was either that or dealing with some sort of adventure.

Honestly though, she enjoyed spending time with her friends much more.

"What should we do later?" Saten asked.

They hadn't really planned much for today. After everything that had gone on over the last month, nothing much was really planned for today.

Misaka considered the question without breaking her stride "Let's see…"

"I want to go back to that pastry shop in the garden of learning." Uiharu admitted with happiness.

"I wouldn't mind that," Kuroko began with a shrug and a smile "but I imagine you'll just get stuck to the display and will take forever to order."

"When it all looks so delicious, I have a hard time deciding." Uiharu tried to explain, her arms pressed to her chest in the way that they always did when she was talking about something amazing.

"It would be nice-" Joule admitted before she heard a familiar voice. They all turned to look as they recognised Konori.

"Please take one." she was saying as she passed around pieces of paper "If you're interested, please take one."

"What's that?" Joule asked.

Misaka tilted her head before speeding up "Let's find out."

Reaching her, she was distracted and turned the other way. Misaka got her attention "Konori?"

The woman looked round at the five of them and her eyes lit up, she held one of the flyers towards them "Please take one."

Misaka accepted it and read it out for the others.

"Seventh school district… Ranked number one in popularity… public bathhouse?"

"Konori, what is this about?" Kuroko asked and Konori nodded.

"Let me show you."

They followed her to the advertised bathhouse and at her request they didn't ask any questions till they got there, the moment that they reached it though, Kuroko bowled on ahead.

"Why are you handing out these flyers for a public bathhouse?"

[ACSR: That Day Continued]

"Well, business has been slow for them lately." Konori admitted "And at this rate, they may have to close."

"Really?" Joule said. It wasn't as much a question about that fact than it was a request for Konori to move along and continue explaining.

"When I was young, this bathhouse was a warm and comforting place for me. That's why I'd like to keep this place open."

Saten stepped forward at once "Please, let me know if I can help with anything."

"I can hand out flyers too!" Uiharu agreed.

Konori smiled "Thank you both!"

[ACSR: Kazari Uiharu]

"Is there anything else we can do so that everyone can continue to enjoy this place?" Misaka asked. An idea struck her and she smiled "Maybe we could put a lot of toys in the bath?"

"Toys in the bath?" Joule asked, she'd never heard of the concept before, wouldn't toys getting wet damage them.

Uiharu explained it for her "Plastic toys, filled with air so they float." As Joule nodded though, Uiharu continued "It would attract kids but I think adults would be put off by them."

"You think so?" Misaka asked, her voice losing a little excitement.

Then Saten had an idea, she spread her arms wide as she suggested "Maybe we could spread an urban legend! Like 'if you toss a coin over your shoulder and into the bathtub, then you'll be more prosperous or find true love'?"

"I think that might be a bad idea." Uiharu tried to calm her friend.

Saten gave an awkward smile "Really?"

Kuroko shrugged and with a smile herself, spoke "I suppose I don't have a choice…"

"What do you mean?" Misaka asked, worried.

Kuroko puffed her chest out "I, Kuroko, will present a foolproof secret plan to increase your business!"

"Oh no," thought Joule "This bodes poorly."

"What is your plan?" Uiharu asked.

With her smile turning sly, Kuroko raised a finger and announced "Electric bath!"

"What?" Asked Misaka, Joule, Saten and Konori, all at once.

Uiharu just smiled and a moment later continued "Please, explain?"

"Tokiwadai's Railgun will help your body relax with a stimulating bath! It's a unique selling point!"

"There's no way that it could possibly work-" Misaka was saying but Konori cut her off.

"That sounds good!"

"I'll create some new leaflets!" Uiharu said quickly with a smile.

Saten was lost for a moment before an idea struck her "And I'll make a billboard! I'll look for other people to help out too!"

Misaka's eyes met Joule. They came to a silent agreement that it was a terrible idea.

They also agreed that nothing they said would be able to discourage the others.

Misaka gave a long sigh "I guess I have no choice then-"

"Just what I'd expect of my sis." Kuroko gave a cheer and began speaking again. Joule didn't hear it very clearly but Misaka gave her a wack on the head so she could probably make a rough guess.

"We don't need to do anything like that!" Misaka declared. As Kuroko continued, Misaka turned back to the others "Okay, let's do this."

[ACSR: Judgement's Activities]

"You know," Joule began as she looked over Uiharu's shoulder on the computer "The bath would only benefit women."

"Statistically, most of the people who go to bathhouses are women." Konori said before tilting her head "At least, I think?"

"But Joule's right." Uiharu said "How about you ask GV to help on the male's side?"

Joule sighed but agreed to ask him. She'd also been badgered into singing a little. Not live, singing in a humid environment is awful, but she was recording some songs to come from the speakers.

GV arrived and was told the plan half-an-hour later and he shared in Joule's and Misaka's thoughts that it was a terrible idea.

"I really don't like using my power around water." He objected "It can cause backlash. More to the point, I might hurt someone."

"Not if you keep it low enough." Kuroko pointed out, holding up some research notes. She was busy getting all of the information together to run the bath so she'd looked things for this up.

"While it's not been proven to have positive effects, the studies found plenty of safe ways to electrify water. The charge relaxes muscles. The only dangers are slipping into the water but we'll have you and Misaka also acting as lifeguards." The teleporter explained.

GV just let the matter go with a sigh and went to help Saten cut wood.

Joule was left to compose her songs until the sun was setting and the bath opened properly.

[ASG: Butterfly's journey, Signs]

People that no one had expected ended up showing up.

Starting from most welcome to most surprising, a woman that Joule vaguely recognised from some of the adventures arrived with Last Order.

The woman, apparently a member of Anti-skill and now caretaker of Accelerator and Last order, had apparently seen one of the posters and had thought "What the hell, might as well introduce her to Misaka in person."

Accelerator had come too but he was waiting outside, apparently he really didn't want to have to encounter Misaka.

They weren't the only clones that showed up either. A few of the other Misaka sisters had come. Misaka herself didn't seem to know how to react to all of them at the same time. They were all allowed to use a private bath as they still wanted to follow the rule that stopped them from showing themselves together in public.

Janie, Febrie and Shinobu had arrived too, apparently they were just visiting for the day and just happened to pick this day. Joule found that unlikely but she didn't have a way to prove they were lying.

Next was Touma, Index and a girl named Himegami. The latter was the one who'd found the flyer and she'd invited the other two. Apparently they had met a while ago and were friends.

The fact that Touma had a lot of female friends wasn't lost on Joule or GV.

Starting on the arrivals that really weren't expected, Misaki and her clique had arrived. Joule barely knew her by this point but they took up a third of the baths on their own and they had to leave before too long as the level 5s were fighting and Konori worried that Misaka would end up putting too much electricity into the baths out of anger.

And then ITEM showed up. Apparently, Meltdowner had called ahead though so Misaka put up with her and the others for the time being.

Frenda even made some friends. She and Saten chatted quietly.

Everyone else was expected though, at least until near closing time. Kuroko had caused a mess in the baths and most people had left. Just before Konori decided to call it a night though, a voice spoke from the door.

"Umm… Hello? Are you still open?"

Standing in the doorway was a girl with bright brown hair pulled back into a ponytail.

"We're still open for a bit." Konori said "But only for about fifteen minutes, the girls need to go home soon."

"Ah, that's fine." The girl said "I just wanted to see what this sort of bathhouse was like."

Konori smiled, "Come on in then."

The girl paused before coming through the door "Actually, I have some friends nearby, may I invite them in too?"

Konori nodded and the girl ran off, returning in a minute with a boy with white hair and a girl with long pale brown hair.

GV was just walking out of the men's changing room when they entered and his eyes locked on the boy.

"You?"

The boy looked just as shocked as GV but he nodded slightly.

"Hello Gunvolt, it's been… a long time."

Kohaku and Null looked at GV in surprise. The idea that there was someone in this world that already knew Copen was something they had considered an impossibility.

Konori clapped her hands though "No time for that, we should try to let the guests have a bath in the few minutes we've got left."

Kohaku ran on ahead to the women's changing room followed shortly after by Null.

GV muttered quietly to Copen as the boy walked forward "Just to check, you know this is an electronic bath? I saw what that girl was-"

"It's fine." Copen said simply, walking into the changing room to be followed by GV "She's waterproofed. And Insulated."

End of chapter.

First of all; Not Canon!

The Copen bit at the end was just because I've been chatting with people for a while about if he'd be brought into the story too.

This is me throwing you a bone, he won't be showing up for a while yet.

We've now only got one upload between now and the release of ASG3! What that means is, I need more inspiration! Plus, due to the short time between the release and when I'm writing the next chapter after that, that chapter (That would go up on the 31st of July), might need to be delayed.