Hello everybody! Welcome back to another chapter of A Certain Strange Addition! And it only took a little over a month for me to write this! 2021 is here and it still looks like a dumpster fire out there, but at least its a more controlled dumpster fire. Let's hope we can make this year better, starting with this new chapter!
This one is going to be a longer chapter, mainly because I ended up adding what amounts to half an episode's worth of original content. Hope you're ready to see some familiar faces, because they're coming at ya this chapter.
I'd like to take a moment to issue a challenge for any writers out there reading this. As you all know, the Railgang is currently absent from the story as they are in Liberal Arts City, and I have elected to not cover the storyline since the lack of additional characters would mean no meaningful influences on the story and my own lack of familiarity with the side story leaves me in a bad position to cover it. Thus, I issue this challenge to anyone will to accept to write they're take on the events based on the events that have transpired in A Certain Strange Addition so far. If you would like to take on the challenge, please PM me.
Now before we get to the chapter, our regularly scheduled cruise through the reviews from last chapter.
Ttw1: Eh. time zones. It was Christmas somewhere in the world, and it still arrived in time.
SPYRO 101: Yeah, an unfortunate side effect of the chapter being based on an episode that I couldn't naturally add too much to. You'll be happy to know that this chapter is much longer.
GG Vegito: Yeah, an unfortunate side effect of the chapter being based on an episode that I couldn't naturally add too much to. You'll be happy to know that this chapter is much longer.
kingpariah: The anti-sound barrier is just one of the many more mundane uses of Accelerator's Ability. Too bad with the brain damage he can't use it as freely since even that much extra processing power drains the battery. They say there is a fine line between bravery and stupidity. Knowing what we do about Esther, she's sits right on top of it.
Isokage: This year has been tough for everyone, I think. Last chapter didn't have much going for it since there was only so much I could add given the content. Thankfully, I was able to get plenty of new stuff added in this chapter. If I had to pick, I'd say Yuri, Shizuri, Kuroko, and Mikoto would all qualify as Casters, mainly because all the other classes don't really fit. Than again, Fate has been braking so many rules with what qualifies for what class that it's hard to keep anything straight anymore.
Nemonobody001: Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!
Guest10032: The people around us are a big part of how our personalities form. With Touma around as another pillar for his snaity and morality, Yuri is able to be a bit less Accelerator and fight for reasons outside of his own personal grudges with the Dark Side of Academy City. Funny enough, I've already had plans for a slice-of-life chapter following the Necromancer Arc, and an important one at that. One that facilitates a certain meeting that is sure to be filled with chaos, grudges, and misfortune. I think you'll be surprised with Touma's reaction once Esther's affiliation has been revealed. Of course, you'll have to read the chapter to learn what that reaction is.
MarauderPrime12: Merry Christmas!
SolanaLeonhart: Thank you for the kind words. As a matter of fact, I do have some ideas for how the rest of the Railgang reacts to the Sisters, but that's not coming into play for a long time, as in not until post Battle Royale Arc long time.
GENO BERSERK: You want more? Here's plenty more! Well over 9000 words more!
Ghost of Los Angeles: While Index will be involved in the arc, Shizuri too for that matter, they're roles will be smaller and seperate from waht Touma and Yuri will be doing. Unfortunately, the rest of the Railgang can't learn about the Sisters in this arc, considering they aren't even in Academy City at the moment.
mchin33g: Glad you liked that Christmas gift.
ahsoei: I think you misinterpreted my last message. I was referring to the summary of the party Last Order threw for Accelerator following him getting his bandages removed, which was in the beginning of the last chapter. After all, I dedicated a whole 10 chapters to the Silent Party Arc with one of the biggest finales to any arc in this story.
Zim32: Glad you liked the chapter.
Stryper88: Glad you liked the chapter. I miss the Railgang too, but I need to give other characters some spotlight too.
mohamadstar94: Yeah, really busy. Sorry it always takes so long.
Kamijou Touma1: I have already addressed this review in private. Have a nice day.
DuckBoi: An unfortunate side effect of the nature of the episode I was adapting, but it's nice to see that the changes I was able to make are appreciated. Unfortunately, with how the timeline is lining up so far, Touma probably won't be in Academy City for the Scavenger Arc, but that doesn't mean he won't get a mention considering who is around for that arc.
Gallant Shine (Guest): Yeah, I've been excited to do this arc for a while. Having Esther around as a mainstay would be nice. I just need to find a viable reason for her to stay. I'm also excited to see Yuri interact with Saten. Unfortunately, I was unable to get the link you left me to work, but I'm sure some internet surfing will lead me to the clip eventually.
fencer29: It's Touma. He gets dragged into everything he's in close proximity to.
5had0wHand (Guest): Glad you liked the chapter. Yuri will be enrolling in A Certain High School. In fact, he'll be classmates with Touma, so he'll also be meeting the Delta Force and made an honorary fourth member. Given when the events surrounding Miyama take place, Touma is unlikely to meet him.
Taromaru: Unfortunately, Index and Esther will no meet over the course of the Necromancer Arc. Index will notice and be involved in the events, but she will operate separately from Touma and by extension Esther this time around. Unfortunately, the rest of your questions are heavy spoilers for the future of this story. If you want answers, PM me. Consider this your final warning before I drop spoiler bombs on you.
Dasgun: '-'
Kami (Guest): Glad you liked the chapter. Here's to hoping 2021 looks up!
Frannimations6: Sorry to keep you waiting.
MC91 (Guest): Happy to hear you love the story so much.
Yuuji Akira: Glad you like the story so much. Honestly, the concept isn't anything revolutionary. I'm just the first person to stick with it for more than five chapters. I like to think the real meat of the story are the extra twists on the side I sprinkled in.
Guest H17 (Guest): I guess you'll just have to wait and see how Touma handles himself in this arc. Of course, his real contribution comes from his personality, so while he might not go into direct combat with the Coffins, he can still influence things, plus Scavenger is still a valid target for his fist if he can fight them one-on-one.
TrainerRed164: Well, even if I was wrong about Liberal Arts City, that plane is long gone, literally. The girls left for the trip the morning after the Kazakiri Arc ended. Besides, it helped me slim down the cast to focus on Touma and Yuri's relationship in the Necromancer Arc.
empourer: Already covered the Silent Party Arc. That was like 20 chapter ago.
memento mori unus annus: Always happy to have a new reader! Thanks for the high praise!
Vein Bloodborne: Glad you liked the chapter.
GunsAndMagic: Who doesn't like Esther? I haven't hear of anyone who doesn't.
And that's all the reviews. Just a reminder, if you have a question you would like answered directly by me, be sure to leave a review in the most recent chapter.
You all know the drill at this point.
Disclaimer: All characters and plotlines of the "A Certain" franchise are credited to Kazuma Kamachi.
Chapter 65: Friend of Foe
In the dead of a September night, the pair of Accelerator and Esther rode through the streets of Academy City in search of a hideout belonging the organization known as DA. Using a motorcycle he rented from a nearby dealership, Accelerator followed Esther's directions to the letter as she lead him towards the location at which DA had previous kept her prisoner. All the while, Ether was lost in thought regarding all the mistakes and tragedies that have led her up to this point.
Before long, Accelerator and Esther arrived at a certain unmarked warehouse. On the surface, the building was rather unassuming. Nothing about it screamed evil secret hideout. However, Accelerator made note of one detail about the building that tipped him off of its true nature: the iron rich smell of blood.
"That's a familiar smell." Accelerator mused as he switched his chocker to combat mode.
"Come on. The entrance is over her-" Esther began to say but was cut off when Accelerator blew a massive hole in the wall with his Ability.
Having made his own entrance, the Level 5 and his guild ventured into the warehouse to investigate further. However, their findings proved to be rather disappointing. The building was completely abandoned, the only remains of its previous occupants being the van from earlier that night, which was now torn in two, and the corpse of one of the DA officers previously encountered. Said corpse had the flesh on most of the upper body completely melted off, not even leaving a brain to analyze.
Venturing further into the warehouse, Accelerator stumbled upon what he could only assume to be responsible for the mess left at the front door. towering over the pair was a massive machine in green plated armor. It stood hunched over on four limbs like some kind of predator ready to pounce. Unlike the machine from earlier that night, this one had proportion akin to that of a bipedal animal, with lanky arms, a spherical torso, and a thin waist that extended into a tail. It even sported a pointed head with a vizor-like optic. It was yet another of DA's Coffins.
"Qiong Qi." Esther whispered timidly upon seeing the machine.
"I never expected you'd be the one to come searching for me." the machine said through a speaker, "Hello, Esther."
"That voice." Esther gasped, recognizing the person speaking, "Mikihiko Ishigata."
"Your timing couldn't have been more perfect." Ishigata announced rather jovially, "Qiong Qi is completed. I wanted you to see it more than anyone else."
"Do you honestly believe you can get away with making a monstrosity like this!?" Esther cried in outrage.
"A little late to be asking that, don't you think?" the man behind the machine mused, "After all, you're the one responsible for teaching me everything I know about reanimating the dead."
"And what of Taotie and Hundun? Are they…?" Esther asked, fearing the answer.
"That's right. I've already inserted the Evil Spirits of the Numbers your family created into them." Ishigata declared proudly, "I cannot express my gratitude. It took a lot of dead bodies but were finally able to collect enough souls."
"You have to stop!" the necromancer begged.
"Don't tell me you're spooked." Ishigata teased, almost affectionately, "It wasn't too long ago you were manipulating the dead, just the same as I am now."
"No. You're wrong." Esther denied, "I was just…"
"Deny it all you want. From the deceased's point of view, they are still being used to satisfy the desires of the living." Ishigata reasoned, "Don't pretend you're any different, Esther."
"… Stop this…" Esther begged, falling on her knees in despair, "…Please… You have to stop…"
"Hey! Could you two stop spouting all this cryptic shit that keeps flying over my head!" Accelerator interrupted, having had enough of hearing all the terminology he didn't understand nor care for.
"Hm? I take it you must be Accelerator." Ishigata deduced, finally acknowledging outsider present, "Last Order's guardian, right? One of these days, I'd like to have you as a test subject."
"I didn't realize using corpses as dolls was getting to be such a popular pastime." Accelerator mused, "That's a line even I wouldn't cross."
"There's no reason to be so cold." Ishigata replied, feigning offense, "After all, I am complimenting you and your killing style."
Not appreciating having his killing spree be brought up, Accelerator flexed his Ability a bit as a warning shot. Taking control of every vector he could get his hands on, he made subtle changes that made a show of just how versatile his power was. He controlled everything, from the winds flowing through the building, the heat in the air, and the electricity running through the building's power grid.
"Momentum. Heat. Wow, even electricity? Seems like Vector Manipulation can do just about anything." Ishigata mused in amazement, "And look at all of the data you're producing. I wonder if the key to understanding how you tick lies in there. Regardless, you are just a bystander in all of this. It's premature to fight you now, and nothing would be gained. On that note…"
"'Bystander'?" Accelerator asked in outrage, shifting his crutch to combat mode.
"… I think a tactical retreat is in order." Ishigata said as the Coffin sprung to life.
"Like hell I'm letting you walk out of here!" Accelerator yelled, throwing a violent vortex of wind at the machine.
Unfortunately, the attacked failed to connect as an unseen invisible force appeared to block it.
"I've collected all sorts of data on you." Ishigata explained, "For instance, I know whatever you touch with your Vector Manipulation becomes your target. However, if you're at a distance and can't make physical contact, your attacks are no different from any physical phenomenon."
Not one to give up when faced with an opponent he intended to crush, Accelerator attempted another attack, this time using a stronger, continuous vortex of wind. Just like before, the attack failed to even land.
"Hahaha! Really something, isn't it?" Ishigata laughed, "This Psychokinesis is really versatile when it's boosted up to Level 5!"
"Huh? Did you say Level 5?" Accelerator asked, baffled by the thought of a machine even coming remotely close to his potential output.
"Well, I'll be seeing you." Ishigata said as a final farewell.
Standing up straight, Qiong Qi used its boosted Psychokinesis to blast a hole in the roof of the warehouse. With an escape route clear, the machine flew out of the building faster than Accelerator could hope to keep up with given his battery's current charge. Having gone into combat mode multiple times that night without charging, there was no way his battery would last long enough chase the Coffin, let alone catch it. With no way to give chase, Accelerator clicked his tongue in defeat, begrudgingly accepting the lose for the time being.
"Ishigata was right." Esther said in a low voice, "He and I are the same. I control the dead too and force them to do my bidding. I was using them."
"Yeah? So what?" Accelerator asked dismissively, applying his powers to break the shackles still around Esther's legs with a snap of his figures, "I thought you were trying to stop him?"
With nothing left for them in the warehouse, Accelerator lead the way back to the hospital. It would be morning in just a few hours and Accelerator needed a recharge, both for his body and his choker's battery. Not having anywhere else to go or anyone else to turn to, Esther followed the first ranked Level 5.
As morning rolled upon Academy City, Shizuri and Index eagerly waited for Touma to finish preparing breakfast. Before long, Touma emerged from the kitchen with three plates of eggs and bacon, fresh off the pan. Judging from the looks on the faces of the girls already sitting at the table, Touma could tell they were more than pleased by the smell of the food alone.
"Breakfast is served." Touma announced as he put the plates on the table.
"Thank you for the food!" Index loudly chanted as she immediately started digging into her meal.
"Thank you for the food." Shizuri said in turn, digging into her meal much more calmly. "So, Touma, any special plans for the day? You are off from school for the day."
"Nothing much." Touma said as he sat down to eat his own breakfast, "Just going to run a few errands. I need to check in at the Disciplinary Committee HQ to get a tune up on my hoverboard and see if they can do provide me with a proper helmet. If not, I'll have to go and buy one somewhere else. After that, I have lunch plans with a friend, so I won't be home for lunch. There should be some leftovers in the fridge for you two."
"Can I come with you for lunch?" Index asked, almost pleadingly, "Eating out sounds really good today!"
"Sorry. It's a bit of a guys' night." Touma replied, not skipping a beat, "Besides, my friend isn't too much of a people person at the moment, so having a tag along might not sit well with him."
"This friend of yours isn't the kind of person to get into a lot of trouble, is he?" Shizuri asked wearily.
"Nah, not really." Touma replied, between bites, "He actually hates attention, so he tries to keep a low profile and thus out of trouble."
"That's a relief. I don't need you hanging around any more trouble magnets." Shizuri sighed in relief, "You're a big enough trouble magnet as is."
"Don't remind me." Touma sighed in exasperation, "What about you two? Do you have any plans for today?"
"Not really." Shizuri shrugged as she continued to eat, "I've got no jobs for today and nothing else planned. I figured I would just take a lazy day and keep an eye on the house and Index while you were gone. Plus, it gives me lot of time to grill her for information on what you've been up to while we were separated."
"Index, for the love of all that is good, please don't go sharing anything sensitive." Touma begged the nun-in-training, not liking the idea of his sister digging into his secrets behind his back.
"Mhm. Yeah. Sure." Index mumbled as she continued to eat her breakfast, making it abundantly clear that she was solely focused on the food.
"Well, looks like that's a lost cause. Rotten luck." Touma grumbled, blissfully unaware that Index had already divulged secrets far more pressing than the inconsequential mishaps he's gotten himself into, "Can I leave the dishes to you, Sis? I have no idea how long my hoverboard's tune up will take, so I want to leave early and get a head start."
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it." Shizuri waved off the issue.
"Thanks." Touma said as he put his empty plate in the kitchen sink and made his way to the door, "I'll should be home tonight. I'll be sure to call something comes up that keeps me out late."
"I'll hold you to it." Shzuri said with a smile, "Have a good day. Love you."
"Love you too." Touma replied with a smile of his own as he slipped on his shoes and headed out the door.
Since he was going to Disciplinary Committee HQ to get a tune up for his hoverboard, Touma elected to not ride said piece of equipment during his commute. After all, with his luck, this tune up would be proven well warranted in the most horrible way possible, especially considering he also needed to get a helmet for the thing. Naturally, this meant that the commute took a bit longer than it normally would otherwise. Still, it was well worth it when Touma arrived at a certain lab in the Research and Development Department of the building.
Standing at the forefront of the lab discussing notes were three researchers Touma was very familiar with: Doctor Roku Bakuya, Haruki Aritomi, and Jun Sakurai. When the trio took notice of Touma's arrival, they're faces immediately lit up and they moved to meet him.
"Kamijou! Good to see you!" Dr. Bakuya greeted, "You've been well, I hope."
"Good to see you too, Dr. Bakuya." Touma nodded, "You too, Aritomi, Sakurai. How have the new positions been treating you?"
"Quite well, considering we are technically under house arrest." Aritomi mused, adjusting his glasses.
"Hey, your lenses are still cracked." Touma noted, having his attention drawn to the still broken glasses by Aritomi's habitual gesture, "Why haven't you gotten them fixed?"
"So you've noticed." Aritomi replied, taking off his glasses as if to admire them from a distance, "Indeed, I have chosen not to have them repaired. They act as a reminder of the mistakes I have made and the lessons you have taught me. A way to keep a piece of my past constantly in sight."
"Never mind that. What brings you here, Kamijou?" Sakurai asked, wanting to not dwell on anything too depressing.
"Just thought I would bring my hoverboard in for a tune up." Touma answered, pulling out the device in question, "That, and I was hoping you might have a helmet laying around somewhere that I could use. You never did give me one when you entrusted me with the hoverboard prototype."
"I knew I was forgetting something!" Dr. Bakuya snapped his fingers in realization before taking the hoverboard off Touma's hands, "Don't you worry. This tune up shouldn't take us too long."
"Thank you, doctor." Touma bowed respectfully.
"Aritomi, why don't you take Kamijou here on a tour of the lab while Sakurai and I get this contraption here looked over?" the head scientist suggested, "You can show him our latest project in the meantime."
"Yes sir." Aritomi nodded.
"Perfect. Come along now, Sakurai. We have work to do." Doctor Bakuya instructed, heading off to another corner of the lab with the hoverboard in hand."
"Right away, sir." Sakurai turned to follow, giving Aritomi a quick peck on the cheek before leaving.
"Right. If you please, Kamijou, follow me." Aritomi instructed, leading Touma down a different section of the lab.
"How long has that been a thing?" Touma asked rather bluntly.
"So you've noticed." Aritomi chuckled, "I suppose since our first joint project, though it be more appropriate to say just after we started working here."
"It's barely been a week." Touma pointed out in amazement.
"As a researcher, I firmly believe that anything can be understood with time and study. However, every rule has an exception, and romance is one such exception." Aritomi explained, "Sometimes, when you meet someone, you just feel a connection. You might not know the nature of the connection at first, but you know it is there, and when you do learn of its nature, you might just find yourself with a bond you can never live without again. That's how it was with Sakurai and myself, and I'm sure it's the same for many others, like Nunotaba and your friend Misaka."
"Hehehe… You noticed that?" Touma chuckled in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head.
"Misaka's feelings for you were transparent enough. I'd imagine all of your friends already picked up on it. As for Nunotaba, her behavior following the punch you gave me made me suspicious, and your reaction just now confirmed it." Aritomi replied, "I take it you are still sorting out your feelings about your admirers, yes? I'm sure, with enough time, you'll figure it out. I know I managed it."
"Can't believe I'm getting romance advice from someone who spends most of his time in a lab instead of meeting people." Touma chuckled.
"And I've received life advice that turned my life around from a high school boy who is several years my junior. Stranger things have happened." Aritomi replied with his own chuckle.
Before long, the pair reached the back section of the lab where STUDY's latest project was being held. At various work stations in the area were the remaining three members of the former criminal group, Shunishi Kosako, Kenji Madarame, and Hirotada Sekimura. The former two were surrounding a central desk, inspecting something, while the latter was hutched over by a nearby computer with what appeared to be a paper bag filled with mahua.
"Gentlemen, we have a guest with us today." Aritomi announced as he and Touma approached the group.
Turning away from their work, the researchers instantly brightened up when they saw who their guest was. Upon seeing Touma, the three men immediately greeted the high school student. Touma himself found the greetings heartwarming, but at the same time embarrassing considering he didn't really know the rest of STUDY all that well. Still, it was nice to know that his efforts to save them from life in prison were appreciated.
"Good to see you all too." Touma chuckled awkwardly, not used to getting such praise, "Doctor Bakuya tells me you've all been working some new project."
"Well, yes and no." Sekimura said, a stick of mahua hanging in his mouth, "It's not really a new project, but more like an expansion and combination of two preexisting projects. Care to see?"
"Sure." Touma replied, following the STUDY researchers to the desk Kosoko and Madarame were stationed at.
Sitting on the desk was a metal rod whose design Touma was very familiar with, having been testing the prototypes since the start of summer. It appeared to be another version of the ODD, but its design differed slightly from those of the mass-produced models currently in regular use among members of Judgement, Instead of having solid tips with barely noticeable seams in which it split for certain modes, this ODD had a hollow cavity at either tip, making it resemble a weapon from a certain western science fantasy film franchise.
On Aritomi's command, Sekimura entered a quick command from his computer and the strange ODD sprung to life, shifting into one of the device's many combat modes. However, the way it transformed was very different from any model to come before it. Instead of the main body extending out like a collapsible baton, metallic material poured out of the cavities in an almost gelatinous state before solidifying in the shape of one of Judgement's riot control pikes.
"Whoa." Touma said in awe, unable to form any response outside of that.
"Indeed." Aritomi mused proudly. "By integrating the nanomachine technology Sakurai and myself had previously developed into the ODD that Doctor Bakuya invented and distributed to all of Judgement, we have created a tool that is truly omni-purpose, capable of taking any shape the user can imagine so long as there a suitable supply of nanomachines to work with. It is the ultimate evolution of the Omni Defense Device."
"Does this mean you're giving me another prototype to field test?" Touma asked curiously.
"Don't get too excited. This model is still a long way's away from being ready for a field test." Kosoko explained, picking the prototype ODD.
To prove his point, Kosoko smashed on end of the ODD on the edge of the table, causing it to break off and split into its thousands of comprising nanomachines, scattering them. Once he put the device back down on the table, the scattered nanomachines quickly coalesced back into the form they were in before they were smashed off.
"As you can see, the structural integrity of the ODD's forms is less than optimal." Kosoko explained, "If we gave you this model as it is now, it would not do you very well as a weapon. With how thin the nanomachines can be spread, we need to find a way in which they can interlock and maintain rigidity suited for combat."
"Guess you guys have your work cut out for you." Touma mused.
"That is not to say we have not made any progress." Madarame cut in, "We have already created a successful prototype for nanomachine based protective gear."
Reaching under the desk, Madarame pulled out a small disk, just barely the size of a saucer. Fiddling with it a little, the researcher expanded the disk into what looked like a set of behind-the-head earmuffs. He then put them on as you would any pair of earmuffs, and with the push of a button, they released a swarm of nanomachines that quickly formed a helmet with faceplate around his head.
"Whoa." Touma gasped in amazement.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Madarame asked proudly.
"No kidding." Touma marveled in awe.
"And the best part is its super durable and shock absorbent." Kosoko added, reaching under the desk to grab something. "Watch!"
With no further warning, Kosoko pulled out a wrench from under the desk and smacked Madarame in the back of the head with it. The sudden attack made Touma jump a bit in shock, but the victim of said attack didn't seem to be affected by it at all. In fact, he was actually laughing at the normally life-threatening attempt to do harm.
"No worries! I'm okay!" Madarame laughed, knocking on the helmet to prove his point, "Didn't feel a thing!"
"Don't tell me you're messing with the nanomachine armor prototype again!" a distinctly feminine voice cut in.
Turning towards the sound of the voice, the men were greeted by the sight of Doctor Bakuya and Sakurai approaching them, the latter of whom looked rather displeased.
"Oh! Sakurai!" Madarame whimpered from inside the helmet, "We were just giving Kamijou a demonstration of the prototype."
"And how many times have I told you that testing it with an actually human head inside is dangerous!?" Sakurai yelled, "Seriously! You're professionals! Act like it!"
"S-sorry!" Kosoko stammered, dropping the wretch on the table in fear.
"And you, Sekimura!" How many times have I told you to lay off the mahua!?" Sakurai continued to rant.
"B-but glucose is fuel for the brain. I need the constant influx of sugar to help me optimize my work." the portly researcher argued feebly, continuing to eat his preferred treat.
"Perhaps, but that doesn't mean you should get it solely from a deep-fried biscuit! Think about your health for a minute!" the lone woman in STUDY yelled, scaring Sekimura into snapping a stick of mahua in his fist.
"Never would have pinned her for the nagging-mom-type." Touma whispered to Aritomi.
"Neither did I until we all started living here." Aritomi whispered back, nodding to himself.
"Now, now, Sakurai, let the boys have their fun." Doctor Bakuya said gently, "After all, its not too often they get a guest who is willing to listen to them share their projects."
"With all due respect, sir, you're far too lax yourself." Sakurai sighed, seeing that no amount of lecturing was going to her coworkers completely under control.
"Anyway, here's your hoverboard, Kamijou. We've done the tune up and ran some updates on the software." the head of the research team said, handing said device to the student.
"Thanks, doc." Touma replied, taking the hoverboard, "So, about that helmet I asked you about."
"Well, the nanomachine armor prototype is about due for field testing. Would you care to use that as your helmet?"
"Is that really okay?" Touma asked, unsure of just taking yet another piece of experimental technology.
"Don't worry about it." Madarame insisted, deactivating the helmet and offering the device to the high school boy, "As you'll already seen, it's plenty durable and we'd be happy if you'd put it to good use. So please, take it."
"Well, if you insist." Touma replied, taking the device out of the researcher's hand, "Thanks, everyone."
"Think nothing of it." Aritomi said, waving off the issue, "Just be sure to give us a report on how it works for you. We could really use the data to help us improve and expand on the design."
"I will." Touma nodded, "Well, I'd best get going. I'm meeting a friend for lunch and I don't want to run late."
"You know your way out right?" Doctor Bakuya asked with a humorous grin.
"Very funny." Touma chuckled, "I've been here enough times to know my way around by now. I'll see you all later."
"Until then, Kamijou." Aritomi said with a wave.
When Touma arrived at the hospital, he was more than a bit concerned to find a massive crater and burnt wreckage in the middle of the parking lot. With that kind of damage, Touma could only hope his hospitalized friend had nothing to do with it.
Putting those thoughts to the side for the sake of going about a normal day, Touma entered the hospital to visit Yuri for lunch. On his way to his friend's room, the Level 0 stumbled upon Last Order in the hospital's cafeteria. As it would happen, she was buying their lunches for the three of them. However, there was something peculiar about the fact that she ordered an extra fourth lunch, in addition to a tube of potato chips she bought for herself. However, the extra lunch was quickly explained when the pair arrived at Yuri's hospital room.
"I went out and bought four lunches, just as you asked me to." Last Order announced as she entered the room, "Guess you're hungry, Misaka Misaka exclaims, not saying a word about the tasty snack she ended up buying for herself."
"You know, the idea behind a lie by omission is to omit the information you're lying about." Touma chucked as he followed the youngest Sister.
When he did, both he and Last Order were greeted by the sight of one Esther Rosenthal sitting across from Yuri on the bed.
"Hold on! There's a strange girl sitting across from you on the bed!" Last Order cried out in outrage, "Who might she be?"
"We're not interrupting something, are we?" Touma asked, a sly grin crawling up on his face.
Yuri refused to make eye contact with his smirking friend out of fear of it stoking Touma's teasing. Meanwhile, Last Order got up close and personal with the mysterious girl, glaring at her with suspicious eyes.
"Who. might. you. be?" Last Order repeated.
"Her name's-"
"I wasn't talking to you!" Last Order yelled, shutting up Yuri so she could get answers from a less biased source, "Well? Who might you be?"
Left stunned on the bed, both from the sudden confrontation and from meeting the girl she came to the hospital to track down, Esther looked over at Accelerator for guidance on the situation. The Level 5 simply averted his gaze, which the Necromancer interpreted as the all-clear to tell the whole truth.
"Esther Rosenthal. A pleasure to meet you." Esther introduced herself, "I'm a Necroma-"
"Hey!" Accelerator cut it, making Esther catch her words in her hand.
Clearly, this meant that some secrets were meant to stay confidential in front of these people.
"What I meant was, I'm actually like one of Accelerator's classmates." Esther lied, "I just came by for a visit to ask him for some advice."
"Nice to meet you, says Misaka Misaka, suspiciously glancing at your expression, attempting to figure out what all the eye contact is about."
Accelerator merely averted his gaze from Last Order, prompting her to crush her tube of potato chips in anger and frustration.
"I know something is going on and you're keeping me in the dark!" Last Order cried in anger.
'Well, that's an aura I wasn't expecting to feel this weekend.' Touma thought to himself, taking a step back for his own safety as Last Order stood up on the bed.
"You no good two-timer!" Last Order howled as she threw the four boxed lunches at Accelerator's face, one at a time.
After her five second emotional outburst, Last Order immediately regretted her decision and hid behind Esther for safety. Meanwhile, despite how serious angering the top ranked Level 5 could be, Touma could barely keep a laugh from escaping his lips. However, he couldn't hold in laughter in for long, and he broke out in a full blown holler.
"So this is what it's like from the outside! I get it now!" Touma laughed, holding his gut.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up." Yuri grumbled, dusting off whatever food was still stuck on his head, "Seriously though, now what are we supposed to eat."
"Hmph! If you're really hungry, then the four of us could always go to a restaurant, says Misaka Misaka, giving you a chance to apologize for all the pain your infidelity has caused her."
"Tsk. I'm getting sick of always eating at that place." Yuri clicked his tongue as he got up off the floor, "Come on, let's go."
"You're not mad?" Esther asked, baffled by the surprisingly calm turn of events.
"It's against my policy to sweat the small stuff." Yuri replied as he headed to the door, "A family restaurant okay with you, Touma?"
"As long as it doesn't put a major dent in my bank account." Touma shrugged with a smile.
"Still dirt poor as always, I see." Yuri chuckled, a smile creeping up on his face, "Alright, I'll cover your tab this time."
"Well, if you're offering." Touma said as he followed Yuri out the door.
"Hooray!" Last Order cheered as she chased after the two boys, "Real quick, can I order whatever I want today? Asks Misaka Misaka, eager to exploit this opportunity to eat out."
For her part, Esther found the whole turn of events completely baffling. First, there was Last Order, who despite supposedly having the memories of 10031 deaths, was rather jubilant and innocent. One would think such memories would be extremely taxing on one's mind. After all, the memory of death is usually lost as quickly as it is gained. Then, there was this unknown boy that had come into the room alongside Last Order and how he affected Accelerator. In the short time that she's known him, she could tell the Level 5 was not the warmest person. She knew he was a good person deep down, but it was also apparent that he didn't let it show too often. Despite that, this unknown boy was able to bring that warmer nature out with ease. Just how did these people tick?
These thoughts clouded Esther's mind so heavily that she did not move from her seat until Accelerator addressed her directly. For now, she would have to put those thoughts aside and keep moving. Perhaps she could get a better grasp on Last Order and this strange boy over lunch.
With the loss of their hospital prepared meals, Touma, Yuri, Last Order, and Esther went to a little family restaurant known as Jacob Restaurant. To say that lunch was strange would be an understatement. For reasons neither Touma nor Yuri could understand, Esther seemed to completely unfamiliar with anything found on the menu. Everything served at the restaurant could be found any other family restaurant in Japan, yet Esther failed to recognize anything, even questioning the type of meat used in beef curry. Thus began a cycle of Esther asking about a menu item, Last Order giving an enthusiastic yet nondescript answer, Accelerator giving a helpful yet bored answer, and Touma being thoroughly confused throughout the whole conversation. In the end, the group ended up ordering one of everything on the menu as Last Order and Esther were extremely enthusiastic about all the dishes, quickly forming a bond over this enthusiasm.
"Looks like lunch has gotten a bit out of hand, huh?" Touma mused, staring at all the dishes piled on the table.
"You and your rotten luck are somehow to blame for this, I just know it." Yuri groaned, pinching his nose in irritation.
"It tastes just as amazing as you described it!" Esther cheered as she sampled a dish.
The necromancer moved to sample something else, only for Last Order to make the choice for her and shove a spoonful of food into her mouth.
"Sorry, but you needed to try this." Last Order apologized, "It tastes pretty good, huh? Meals taste better when you share them with other people, the same way families do."
"Yes, it's tremendous. I can't put it into words." Esther admitted, tearing up, "What I'm feeling right now, I've never had anything this wonderful."
"Hey, are you alright?" Touma asked, noticing the tears.
"The science of Academy City really is marvelous, even when it comes to your food!" Esther cheered, immediately perking up.
"Science has got nothing to do with it." Yuri sighed, taking a sip of his drink.
Despite his friend's immediate dismissal of the situation, Touma couldn't help but linger on the thought of those tears. The tears forming from Esther's eyes were not just tears of joy from how delicious the food was. Touma could tell there was some deep seeded sorrow hidden in them. Something about the food brought that sorrow out, he just couldn't tell what the origin of that sorrow was.
"Here." Esther instructed, offering a spoonful of beef curry and rice to Last Order.
"Is that for me?" Last Order asked.
"This is the way families act." Esther replied, parroting Last Order's previous statement.
Last Order wasted no time accepting the offered food, immediately voicing her adoration of the food.
"I need to step out." Accelerator announced, getting up from the table.
"You're leaving?" Last Order asked, confused by the sudden departure.
"I need to make a call. Make sure these two don't cause any trouble, will you Touma?" Yuri said as he left the table.
"No problem. You got it, buddy." Touma replied as he watched his best friend exit the building.
"I must say, I'm intrigued, Kamijou." Esther mused, much to the boy's confusion.
"Hm? How so?" Touma asked.
"I have not known Accelerator for very long, but I have gleamed a good amount of his personality form his actions." Esther explained, "With most people, he presents himself and distant and dismissive, but he's hiding a softer side under his rough demeanor. However, that softer side is on full display whenever he interacts with you, Kamijou, and to a lesser extent Last Order. You even call him by a different name and his acknowledges it. Why is that."
"To be honest, I'm not entirely sure where to start." Touma mused, "Yuri has a… complicated history when it comes to people. He has a tendency to push people away, those he doesn't tend to use him as a tool. For the longest time, I was the only person he could call a friend, and there was a long stretch of time in which we were separated. From what I can tell, he's been alone the entire time we've been separated, and he's still struggling to connect with people now."
"I see." Esther mused, highly intrigued and somewhat saddened by the history.
"But, he's made progress." Touma added, letting a smile creep up on his face, "While he doesn't let it show very often, Yuri has been opening up to other people little by little. Last Order is living proof of that. The way he treats her isn't all that different from how an older brother treats his little sister. I should know, I've been riding that train since earlier this summer."
"It's true, says Misaka Misaka, cutting into the conversation." Last Order butt in, "He may seem cold at times, but he really does care. While he doesn't let me call him by the same name the Savior does, he is still very patient with me and rarely lets me come to harm."
"I'm sure, given time, Yuri will warm up to even more people, and having more people try to genuinely be his friends will help with that." Touma explained, "I would appreciate it if you would be one of those friends. I'd hate to leave him all alone, so please be there for him when I can't."
For a moment, Esther was at a loss for words. Her last friendship ended rather tragically, so she was scared to let anyone else come close like that again. At the same time, the earnest wish from this strange boy made her think it could have been possible. It made her believe that his new friendship, should she try to pursue it, would not end in a similar tragedy.
"Of course." Esther answered, "I'd be happy to be Accelerator's friend."
"Thank you." Touma replied with a smile.
"Hurray! A new friend so Accelerator doesn't become an anti-social shut-in! Cheers Misaka Misaka, overjoyed by the news!" Last Order hollered, "Such an occasion deserves a toast! Let's go get drinks from the drink fountain! Says Misaka Misaka, ushering her newest friend towards the wonderous machine!"
As Touma watched to two girls move towards the drink fountain, he couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the sight. Humor quickly turned to horror when he saw the girls have a mishap at the drink fountain, drenching both of them from head to toe. Seeing as they were completely soaked, the girls excused themselves to return to the hospital to get changed, leaving Touma the sole occupant of the table with the bill. Naturally, Accelerator was less than pleased when he returned from having made his phone call.
"Seriously, this kid can be such a pain in the ass sometimes, and now it feels like there's two of them." Yuri grumbled as he at Touma traversed the hospital.
"Don't be so hard on her. She's just a kid after all." Touma said reassuringly, "Besides, she's pretty mature for her age, all things considered."
"You do realize she's barely a few months old at best, a few days old at worse, right?" Yuri asked, "That's not a very hard metal age to surpass."
"My point exactly." Touma smirked, chuckling to himself as they approached the Level 5's hospital room.
"Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you." Yuri sighed as opened the door to his room.
Whatever the pair of teenage boys were expecting to find on the other side of the door, they certainly were not expecting this.
Standing in the middle of the room in nothing but a set of purple panties and bra was one Esther Rosenthal. Without her normally conversative outfit and concealing cloak, it was easy to see just how curvy she really was. The sight of the mostly naked girl left both boys stunned, though for different reasons.
Touma was frozen both out of embarrassment and because he was having flashbacks to the paper fan beating his sister had given him the last time he walked in on a girl naked. Naturally, the Level 0 looked away as soon as he came back to his senses out of common courtesy.
In contrast, Yuri was frozen in place out of confusion, finding the situation more baffling than anything like embarrassing or arousal. As such, he did not bother to look away at all, only doing so when Last Order threw a pillow at his head, blocking his line of sight.
"Don't you know its rude to enter a room without knocking first! Says Misaka Misaka, reprimanding you, since you both lack any sort of common sense!" the little girl cried at the top of her lungs. "Even if it is you're room, you should still knock first!"
"Yeah, yeah." Yuri sighed, not really listening to Last Order's lecture.
"I don't understand. Why are you starting a fight?" Esther asked, making no effort to cover herself in the presence of boys.
"Is it not obvious!? There are two boys in the room and you, a girl, are lacking in basic clothing!" Touma yelled, looking away.
"Why are you still undressed!? Misaka Misaka demands to know, flustered by this woman's boldness and overly casual attitude!"
"You mean my clothes? I'm just waiting until they dry off. I don't mind walking around like this in the meantime." Esther explained rather calmly, a smile never leaving her face.
"Don't tell me that the Undresstress Curse Saten told me about was real!" Touma cried in agony as his worldview slowly started to crumble.
"But it should bother you!" Last Order yelled, earning a confused look from Esther, "Says Misaka Misaka, not sure if this person has any common sense either!"
"But why?" Esther asked, still not getting what Esther was saying.
"It's an afront to one's feminine sensibilities! Says Misaka Misaka, flaunting the knowledge she had acquired from reading several books." Last Order explained, handing Esther a blanket to cover herself with.
"I see." Esther nodded, finally grasping the situation, "In that case, I'm be sure to be more careful."
"Damnit! In that case, can you please get dressed!" Touma begged, feeling that the whole fiasco was running a bit long.
"Again, somehow, you're to blame for this." Yuri groaned, equally fed up with the charade.
"It sure is lively in hear." a certain doctor noted as he let himself into the room.
"Oh, hey Doc. What are you doing here?" Touma asked, pleasantly surprised by the arrival of his usual surgeon.
"Good to see you as a visitor too, Kamijou." Heaven Canceller greeted, "I'm just picking up Last Order for a routine checkup."
"I'll see you later then." Last Order said to Accelerator as she walked past him, "Says Misaka Misaka, adopting a somewhat sad expression, hoping it gets your attention."
"Not working." Accelerator replied with indifference, "Do me a favor and aske the doctor if he can fix whatever is wrong with your head."
"I'm fine, thank you!" Last Order fired back, pulling down her eyelid and sticking out her tongue at the standoffish Level 5.
Despite himself, Touma couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, earning him a light punch in the shoulder from Yuri.
"Not a word out of you." Yuri warned, his voice holding no real ill will.
"I wasn't going to say anything." Touma lied, barely holding back a snicker.
"In the usual room, right?" Last Order asked as she exited the room.
"Yup." the doctor said with a nod.
"Then Misaka Misaka will rush off in that direction, fast as the wind, leave only her words behind! Whoosh!" Last Order cheered as she closed the door.
With Last Order gone, Heaven Canceller adopted a much more serious expression and turned to Accelerator.
"By the way, at the request of Anti-Skill, I conducted a thorough examination of the girl you found in the machine, Hasami Hitokawa." the doctor explained, much to the shock of Esther, "But I'm afraid there wasn't much that I could do for her. She had been dead for three days. It was out of my hands by that point."
"Not interested." Accelerator sighed, not caring for the details of a dead girl.
"Wait, what's this about you finding a dead body in a machine? When did this happen?" Touma asked, alarmed by the sudden bombshell being dropped on him as a bystander.
"It happened last night. It's nothing you need to concern yourself with." Accelerator answered, a bit rougher than how he would normally address his friend.
"There is one thing. I found this. Oddly enough, it was in her mouth." the doctor continued, pulling out a sealed plastic bag from his coat pocket and handing it to Accelerator.
Inside the bag was a slip of paper with an intricate design printed on it. While Accelerator didn't have the slightest clue of what to make of it, Touma was able to recognize it nature. After all, fighting with and against several Magicians over the summer made him rather adapt at recognizing magical symbols. However, Touma's knowledge of the matter was eclipsed by that of Esther, who, as the creator of such tags, understood fully well what the paper was.
"Anyway, I have a check-up to perform." the doctor announced, excusing himself as he left the room.
"What is this?" Accelerator asked no one in particular.
"A low-level spiritual charm." Esther explained, much to Accelerator's further confusion and Touma's concern.
"Charm?" the two boys asked simultaneously for very different reasons.
"I'm going to need your help once again." Esther said, her voice dead serious.
"Maybe you can get dressed first?" Touma suggested, nearly forgetting that she was still in her underwear.
After borrowing a nurse's uniform from the hospital staff for Esther to wear while the rest of her clothes dried, the trio arrived at the hospital's morgue where the body of Hasami Hitokawa laid. Once they had arrived, Esther pulled back the sheet, revealing the permanent sleeping face of the unfortunately deceased girl.
"My family created a form of Necromancy that allows us to transplant a false soul. Once it's been attached to a corpse, we can control it." Esther explained, "This poor girl. She's more than a dead body, she's a person. I shared the secrets of Necromancy without fully understanding the consequences, even after I was warned to be careful who I taught them to. And here's the result, a life lost for an abominable cause."
"You understand a word she's saying?" Accelerator asked his friend, not entirely sure where the monologue was going.
"It's pretty high concept, but I get the important stuff." Touma replied, much to the surprise of the Level 5.
"How?"
"Let's just say compared to mine, your world view is half full." the Level 0 replied, "I'll fill you in once I'm sure of what we're dealing with.
"Alright, let's have a look inside." Esther said, placing the charm received from Heaven Canceller on Hasami's chest.
To the boys' amazement, the charm began to glow an eerie violet light. While Accelerator was clueless, Touma recognized it for what it was, magic.
"The conduit is still open, just like I thought." Esther mused, "If left this way, it could let in residual information. We couldn't bury Hasami Hitokawa in a grave, she'd just crawl out of it. And not only that, as long as the vessel remains trapped in its current state, she'll never be able to pass through the gates of heaven."
In response to Esther's words, the light from the charm grew brighter and wind started to swirl around the room.
"Hasami Hitokawa, I'll reanimated you!" Esther chanted, "By using my Houtou, a false soul I have created, I'll take possession of you and close the spiritual conduit!"
The glow from the charm became so bright it started forming detailed shapes in the air and on the floor. To the boy's amazement and confusion, a circle of violet light took shape over Hasami Hitokawa's body, as well as a second one on the floor around her bed. While Touma could vaguely understand what was happening, all Accelerator could do was theorize.
"Is this her Ability?" Accelerator asked, "Is she using history and legend to reinforce her own paradigm and then extending out her Personal Reality?"
"Not exactly." Touma replied, much to his friend's confusion, "She's making use of supernatural rules completely separated and different from those of Esper Abilities."
"What?" Accelerated asked in confusion, "If this isn't an Ability, then what is it?"
Before Touma could give his answer, the violet light took another shape that drew the boys' attention. Unlike the other shapes which appeared to be religious runes, this new shape was one familiar to anyone who has seen an MRI scan of a human head and floated just above Hasami's head.
"Is that… her brain?" Accelerator asked, reaching out to touch the brain out of curiosity.
"Don't touch it!" Esther warned, but it was too late.
The moment Accelerator touched the brain, his own brain was flooded with a literal lifetime of memories. In an instant, he witnessed another person's birth, life, and death. More importantly, he experienced all the gruesome events that lead to that death.
"Yuri!" Touma yelled, pulling his friend away from the glowing brain.
The two boys came crashing down into the wall, both looking rather shaken by the experienced.
"Hey, you okay?" Touma asked in concern for his friend.
"I'm fine." Yuri replied, rubbing his head to get his bearings, "What was all that?"
"Hasami Hitokawa's residual thoughts." Esther explained, "I never expected you to try touching them. When they're in control they can contain dangerous information. People sometimes refer to them as sight-bound spirits. They're a tool for us Necromancers to use as a sort of key code to slip a pseudo-soil into a body."
With her ritual complete, the residual thoughts in the form of a brain disappeared, dissipating into motes of ivory light.
"I was successful. Now that my Houtou is affixed to her, I can close her conduit." Esther explained, "It will take a moment."
"Did you see anything when you touched those residual memories?" Touma asked, helping his friend off the ground.
"Only this girl's entire life story and the cause of her death." Accelerator replied, rubbing his head, "What the hell was that? I've never seen an Ability like that."
"That's because it's not an Ability, it's magic." Touma revealed, much to his friend's further confusion.
"Magic? Seriously? Don't feed me that crap." Accelerator growled, "There's no such thing."
"Would I ever lie to you?" Touma asked in response, instantly flooring the Level 5, "Us those Level 5 deduction skills of yours. Everything Esther has said up until this point completely defies all scientific reasoning. Not only that, she's clearly from outside Academy City. Don't think'd I'd fall for her lie earlier today after that display at the restaurant. And since when are Esper Abilities capable of being passed down a family line and taught to others? Doesn't that all seem a bit suspect."
"… When did you become a detective?"
"Around the same time I started wearing the armband."
Before Yuri could press for more details on the existence of magic, the trio was interrupted by the arrival of two Anti-Skill officers.
"What are you doing here?" one of the officers, Ritsuki Manabe, asked upon entering the room.
"Kids, you're trespassing. You need to leave." Manabe's partner, Takumi Mogori, instructed.
When the pair of Anti-Skill walked into the room, Accelerator noticed the canister Manabe was holding and quickly hid behind his back.
'Yeah, real subtle.' Accelertor thought to himself at the poor display.
"Come on, we told you to get lost." Manabe ordered, not so gently pushing Touma and Accelerator out the door, "Move it."
"Jeez, rude much." Touma grumbled under his breath.
"This could end badly." Esther whispered to the two boys as the trio headed for the door.
"Why's that?" Accelerator asked.
"Because I've already attached my Houtou to Hasami Hitokawa." Esther explained worriedly, "So, there's a chance she might start moving in front of those men."
"In a second, that will be the least of their worries." Accelerator smirked.
"Yuri, what's with the evil grin?" Touma asked worriedly.
"Wait." Manabe gasped, searching himself, "I just had it."
"What's wrong?" Takumi asked his partner.
"The solution is gone!"
"Without it, how are we going to properly dispose of the evidence!?"
"Hey!" Accelerator called out, drawing the attention of the officers.
"I thought I told you kids to clear out!" Takumi growled, his already short patience for kids growing short.
"By solution, you wouldn't be referring to this?" Accelerator inquired, presenting the canister he snatched from Manabe.
"How!?" Manabe asked in shock.
"Hand that over, this instant!" Takumi ordered.
"Yuri, what are you doing?" Touma asked, not liking how quickly the situation was escalating.
"Yeah? Sounds like there's something dangerous inside." Accelerator mused, unscrewing the cap, "So what if it accidentally spilled and landed on you!"
With no further warning, Accelerator swung the open canister in front of him, letting its contents spill out. The two Anti-Skill officers quickly stepped to the side of the purple glow that escaped the canister, barely managing to avoid getting dissolved by the acidic solution.
"Acid!" Touma yelled in horror, "What are Anti-Skill doing with acid!"
"They're not Anti-Skill, just a couple of fakers from a little underground organization called DA." Accelerator chuckled, tossing the canister aside, "I've got to admit though, they don't dodge too bad for fakes."
"Damn! This brat is mocking us!" Manabe growled.
"Then again, disciplining rebellious children is one of our group's primary duties." Takumi said with a sadistic grin as a metal tentacle extended from his backpack.
The tentacle handed the DA officer a rather large bludgeoning weapon, one that would have been seen as excessive by any other reasonable law enforcer.
"Indeed." Manabe agreed, putting on a similar grin as his partner's.
"It's time to bring about justice." Takumi declared.
"Guess we're doing this now." Touma sighed as he equipped his ODD and nanomachine armor helmet.
As the two groups prepared to throw down, they failed to notice the eyes of the very dead Hasumi Hitokawa open once again.
Special End Card Segment: Animan Temple
"Welcome back to the Animan Temple! I am your host and proud master of the temple, Animan von Elysium X!" the master of the temple cheered, swing his sword wildly in excitement.
"And I am Priestess Number 1, Aisa Himegami. A pleasure as always." the girl with the hime cut greeted with a bow.
"Quite the packed chapter, wouldn't you say?" Animan asked his beloved disciple.
"Mainly because Kamijou spent so much time talking with STUDY." Himegami pointed out, "What was with all those weird quirks they had?"
"Well, they lacked characterization in the original work, so I expanded on it based on their behavior and their group dynamic." the master of the temple explained, "As the sole woman on the team, Sakurai was made a nagging-mom type of character. While Kosuko and Madarame were made somewhat goofy and not above getting physical as they were the pilots of the mechs during STUDY's attack."
"And Sekimura's mahua obsesion?"
"His portly shape and an excuse to reference Netflix's Juushinki Pandora. Great mecha anime."
"Figures." Himegami sighed.
"Well, that's all the time we have for this chapter! Come back next time for Touma's first encounter with DA in 'What is Justice?'!" Animan announced, his voice full of vigor.
"Until then." Himegami bowed.