Chapter 14 - Whispers of Deception

The walk back to the base was uneventful. Kamijou had already memorized the safe routes and learned how to move in ways that made tracking him difficult. He did this on autopilot, his mind still processing what Accelerator had told him.

After a few minutes, he decided it was best not to dwell on it too much.

He needed to focus on what mattered most. The problem, once again, was that he had no leads to follow. Kamijou was relying solely on Dion Fortune to come up with something, to find a solution, before he became a threat again. He had to stop as soon as he entered the destroyed lobby, observing the sickly beams of light that filtered through the boarded-up windows. It was as if something was calling him, but he ignored it.

Just before pushing open the door to head upstairs, the oppressive silence of the lobby was suddenly broken by an almost imperceptible sound. A shift. A breath reminding him that in this desolate world, one was never truly alone.

"Damn, you look haggard."

"Oh..." Kamijou turned toward the voice coming from one of the room's corners. How had he missed her? "Yakumaru-san, I didn't even notice you."

"That's kind of a problem," she said, inspecting the floor with a glass bottle in hand. "Letting fame get to your head already? I was right about ya. In a week, you'll probably start pretending you don't even know me."

She shrugged and gave him a mock smile—exactly the image he had of her. Kamijou shook his head before responding.

"You busy?" He hoped she would say no.

"What do ya think?" She tilted her head from side to side, her slender fingers tinkering with a small metal container. "Just making sure the traps are all set. Might make a few tweaks, nothing major."

After placing the new mine, Yakumaru tucked the container back into her pocket. She walked over to him, casually clapping her hands together.

"Shall we head upstairs?"

Kamijou simply nodded. The two of them climbed the stairs side by side, Kamijou still lost in thought, unable to shake Accelerator's words.

"Seriously, you're a mess," Yakumaru remarked, her hands now resting behind her head, looking more relaxed than usual.

"To be fair, you look tired too."

"But still unbelievably gorgeous, right?"

Kamijou rolled his eyes playfully.

"Yeah, yeah. I really need some sleep," Yakumaru said, stepping a little closer as they ascended, though Kamijou was too preoccupied to notice. "But sadly, I won't be getting that luxury anytime soon. I'll settle for a nice cup of coffee... maybe a relaxing bath. Care to join me?"

Something clicked in Kamijou's head when she said that. He must have misheard.

"Um... what?"

"What?" She smiled and adjusted her hat. "I thought you liked coffee. I'm trying to be generous here. It's not exactly easy to find coffee these days."

"Eh?" Kamijou shook his head, trying to clear away some of the thoughts forming. "So that's what you meant."

"Of course. What did you think I was asking?" She stuck out her tongue in a teasing manner. "Boys."

"You've got issues, you know that?"

"Oh, I know. It's a rare condition," she said, striking a playful pose. "It's called 'I'm sexy and I know it.' Tragically, it's chronic, but don't feel bad for me."

"Wow, you're really something today. Can't you go bother Seike or someone? My head's a mess right now, and I don't have time for this."

Yakumaru tilted her head slightly, walking beside him with her arms crossed. Her expression softened as she suddenly dropped her playful demeanor.

"If you ever need to talk, I'm here," she said quietly.

There was a sincerity in her voice that made Kamijou slow down and glance at her. Sometimes he couldn't tell what was real with her. He wanted to believe there was no more deception between them, especially after the way she had opened up to him.

"Maybe I'll take you up on that... talk," Kamijou said, stopping at the door leading to the main floor. "But not now. There are things I need to handle first."

"Okay. I can wait." She gave him a small, genuine smile.

The planning hall was buzzing like a kicked beehive. Kamijou had never seen the place so alive. It was like someone had flipped a switch, turning the usual doom and gloom into a full-blown party. The strong smell of booze hung in the air, not the fancy stuff, but the kind that could probably strip paint. It mixed with the usual musty stink of the hall, and there was no missing the sharp tang of canned food.

"And there he is, everyone!" A loud, familiar voice echoed through the room the moment Kamijou was spotted. It was Sakuragi Naruha, as energetic as ever.

All the partying people there turned in Kamijou's direction. A surprise followed. Clapping flooded the place, and the sound of the shouts echoed so loudly that they would soon alert a horde of PBs from the surrounding area.

"What's all this about?" Kamijou asked Yakumaru, feeling a bit awkward.

"They heard you took down a queen. Obviously, they're excited."

Kamijou blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected a reception like this. For a moment, the weight on his shoulders lifted, and the dark thoughts that had been swirling in his mind lightened, if only a little.

"Naru, tell the story again!" someone from the crowd called out. "More people need to hear it!"

"Oh-hoh," Naru grinned, rubbing her hands together with glee. "Leave it to me."

With a leap, she jumped onto the massive table in the center of the room, using her umbrella for balance. She clapped her hands, drawing the room's full attention.

"Yo, listen up, dear friends. I'm about to drop the most epic tale of how a queen got totally owned." Naru gestured broadly with her arm, the papers on the table swirling around her. "I saw it with my own eyes when the huge thing appeared on the horizon."

"What was it like, Sakuragi-san?" a girl in the crowd asked, her voice full of curiosity.

"The queen? Oh, she was huuuuge." Naru spread her arms wide, as if trying to measure something massive. "What a chunky girl. She was fat like this. Like… a skyscraper."

Naru's storytelling wasn't exactly polished, but her enthusiasm was infectious. After twirling her umbrella theatrically, she moved to the edge of the table, drawing the crowd closer with her energy.

"You had to be there," she went on. "Number 4 had a plan to take down the queen. She brought in these super fancy machines, and they started firing everything they had—'pew pew pew', lights flashing everywhere! Bam! Bam!" Naru shook her umbrella like it was a weapon, scattering papers in all directions. "But it didn't do a thing. Not even the power of a Level 5 could leave a scratch on that beast."

The audience was hanging on her every word, especially those hearing the story for the first time. Naru grinned, clearly enjoying their reactions, and started pacing around the table.

"The queen was ready to move forward, but I saw something in her eyes… Fear."

"Wait, what?" A girl in the crowd looked confused. "The queen was scared?"

"Oh, absolutely." Naru nodded frantically, then pointed dramatically toward Kamijou, still standing by the doorway. "Because that's when my friend Kami stepped forward."

"Ooooh…" The crowd turned toward him in unison.

"So, like, we all thought that was our cue to charge in with him," Naru continued, her voice full of excitement. "We're ready to roll in there, guns blazing. But Kami? He's on a whole other level." She paused for effect, her grin growing wider. "This madlad just throws up his hand like he's halting traffic. He had a cocky smirk on his face. Then, he goes, 'Let me solo her.'"

"Ooooooooooooooh!" The crowd erupted, thoroughly impressed.

Kamijou, meanwhile, could only manage a nervous smile. None of that had actually happened, and Naru hadn't even been with him at the time. She was clearly filling in the gaps with her own creative flair.

"The queen realized the danger on the spot," Naru said, making a sweeping vertical motion with her hand. The scattered papers around her seemed to come to life, swirling into the shapes of small prismatic beasts, an impressive visual trick that left the crowd in awe. "After a splitting shriek, several PBs emerged from the shadows. They knew their boss lady was cooked. But obviously that didn't stop Kami. Didn't even make him flinch. It was like he was facing down a bunch of angry kittens instead of some nasty beasts."

Using her powers, Naru animated a paper doll with spiky hair to represent Kamijou, sending it darting around the table among the paper beasts.

"Wait, did he really charge into all of that?" a boy asked, clearly skeptical.

"Of course! That's Kami for you." Naru waved her hand, and more papers sprang to life, illustrating the chaotic scene. "With a single wave of his hand, he took down dozens of them."

"Dozens?!"

"Yes, dozens! In a single blow!"

By this point, Kamijou had his hand on his forehead, shaking his head in disbelief. Beside him, Yakumaru was laughing, clearly amused by the entire spectacle.

"After effortlessly wiping out all the PBs, he advanced with a smile on his face." Naru once again crafted a three-dimensional sculpture, showing the queen in all her glory. Everyone was excited to see her skills being used in this way, creating the perfect atmosphere. "One punch, and the creature's arm was blown off!" She made a swift chopping motion, and the paper beast in front of her suddenly lost an arm, the paper folding and tearing to match her words. It was like watching a magic trick in real-time. "So the queen, she's all like, 'Oh crap, time to bail!'" but Kami wasn't having any of it. He asked Mai-sama to launch him toward the queen. And Mai-sama, being the total boss she is, doesn't even hesitate."

"Oh, so our leader was involved too?" an excited girl chimed in. "That's actually pretty awesome."

"Yes, yes! She threw herself and Kami straight at the queen. But then, something unexpected happened." Instead of speaking, Naru demonstrated by making the paper queen swallow the spiky-haired doll.

Some people gasped in shock, covering their mouths with their hands, while others turned to stare at Kamijou, who was probably bright red with embarrassment by now.

"But of course, Kami had already seen this coming," Naru continued, clenching her fist. This made a hole appear in the paper sculpture representing the queen's body. "An instant later, he burst out from inside the queen, tearing everything apart with his bare hands as he went. In his right hand, he held the queen's heart—and made her swallow it while it was still beating!"

"Oooooooooooooooooohhhhh!"

"He ripped out the queen's heart?!" The same girl from before sounded incredulous.

"Yep!" Naru replied enthusiastically. "With his teeth!"

"Holy shit!"

"And then everyone clapped. It was amazing. Hehe." She made a theatrical gesture, as if bowing to her audience. "Thank you all for your attention. I'll be here tomorrow at the same time. Tell your friends. Stay safe."

Kamijou was so stunned by everything that he didn't even notice the crowd slowly gathering around him. Some people bombarded him with questions, while a few girls held out electronic devices toward him. He had no idea what they wanted.

"Okay, okay, that's enough," a stiff female voice cut in between the excitement. It was Maidono Hoshimi, or someone who went by that name. "You must all have something better to do. Leave Kamijou-senpai alone, he's a busy person."

After the crowd had broken up into small isolated groups, Maidono pulled Kamijou by the arm into a corner of the room. Yakumaru said goodbye with a shy nod, realizing that their leader seemed to want to talk alone.

"Our faction is making waves, you know?" Maidono said, her excitement evident in every gesture. "They're saying we've become the fifth great faction. Isn't that something?"

"Yeah... I guess?"

It was still too early for Kamijou to grasp the full meaning of this. It wasn't his world, after all. And if it were up to him, he wouldn't need to learn anything about it. His goal was simple: end it all and leave nothing behind but a bad memory. But first, he needed that silver-haired girl by his side.

"Anyway," Maidono continued, her enthusiasm slightly dampened by Kamijou's lack of reaction, "there's someone you need to see. Follow me."

As they walked toward the upper floor where Maidono's office was, Kamijou noticed people throwing him surprised, and maybe even skeptical, glances. Some seemed a little afraid, though he wasn't sure why. He decided it was better not to think too hard about it.

"That's bullshit."

Kamijou heard a slightly irritated voice as Maidono opened the door and motioned for him to enter.

"I can mobilize a few subordinates, but that's all," said the familiar voice. Standing near the desk, Accelerator's sharp gaze met Kamijou's. "Finally. Took you long enough."

"Accelerator?"

Academy City's number one wasn't lying when he said he was in a hurry. He must have flown over right after their conversation ended. Using his high-tech walking stick for support, he walked up to Kamijou, staring into his eyes as if searching for something.

"No shiny eyes. At least you're holding it together. Freaking monster."

"What are you talking about?" Maidono asked Accelerator, before Kamijou could say anything.

"I know he's a Shattered, so drop the act."

On the other side of the room, a woman with orange hair and colorful candy between her lips adjusted her glasses at the mention of "Shattered." She smoothed her hair but remained silent, throwing a glance at Maidono that spoke volumes.

"You knew that too, didn't you?" Maidono said, shrugging. "Nothing gets past you. You'd be terrible at your job if it did."

"You two can bicker later. I've got something important to discuss with this ungrateful bastard."

Accelerator didn't sound angry, just impatient. His red eyes stayed fixed on Kamijou's, as if he were waiting for something to change. It made Kamijou feel uneasy, though he couldn't explain why.

"Don't you think you're acting too arrogant?" commented Maidono, crossing her arms defensively. "As far as I know, you're mainly responsible for this whole situation."

Silence.

Accelerator turned quickly towards Maidono and remained silent. The words seemed to want to flow, but perhaps he couldn't find the right ones.

"How much do you know?" he finally asked, his eyes leaking violence.

"Just enough." She shrugged. "Tina-san dug up some official documents. Everything that's happening here in this city... no, all over the world, is because you couldn't keep your subordinate in line. Am I right?"

"I won't deny that I could have done something in advance to deal with this, but it's not as simple as you've heard." Accelerator paused for a long moment, squinting at Kamijou. "What happened is that I was sabotaged. I'm not going to talk about it anymore, and I suggest you keep your mouth shut too."

Kamijou was unable to process what that conversation meant. If he remembered correctly, Accelerator was the one who was supposed to take care of his "tomb". But that didn't seem to be what Maidono was referring to. The situation in general was being attributed to him, which didn't make sense in Kamijou's head.

Sabotage.

Perhaps the best thing to do would be to ask for an explanation, but that could wait for now. Accelerator said he had something to talk to him about first, so he would wait to hear his side.

After the two women left the room, the two boys faced each other again. Accelerator was the first to break eye contact, his hand slipping into the thick white jacket he wore. When it emerged, he held a small transparent case filled with pills.

"I'm not going to waste time sugarcoating this conversation," he said, extending his hand toward Kamijou. "Take this. Keep it with you at all times."

Kamijou took the case, eyeing the round pills inside. They almost looked like candy, but he knew better—they were some kind of medicine.

"What's this?"

"The best thing I've come up with after all this time," Accelerator replied, shifting his weight as if uneasy. "It's effective when it comes to suppressing the thing lodged in your spine."

"Huh? A cure?"

It sounded almost too good to be true. Kamijou's hand instinctively went to the back of his neck, where the parasite stirred uncomfortably. The gesture had become a habit, almost like a silent prayer, hoping that one day he wouldn't feel the creature clinging to him anymore.

"It's not a cure," Accelerator said bluntly, his voice sharp. He wasn't going to soften the truth. "There's something you need to understand about that parasite. It's extremely resistant. Surgical removal is off the table. The thing's embedded in your nervous system, and even that doctor couldn't extract it without killing the host. The bond is so strong it's like the two of you have merged. This isn't just a physical connection anymore. If it were, we could've handled it, given the doctor's skills. But this... it goes beyond science."

He already knew that. His hand squeezed the transparent plastic case, as if he wanted to hold on to that fantasy.

"So what does it do?"

"It kills the thing attached to you." Accelerator let out a weary sigh before continuing. "Normally, killing a Shattered requires us to cremate the body. The parasite can reanimate the host, even with severe brain damage. Burning the body is a temporary fix, but it's messy and hardly foolproof. We bury the thing afterward and hope for the best. It's a shitty solution, but it's all we've got. Those pills in your hand, though, they'll solve the problem permanently."

"So..."Kamijou swallowed, hesitant to voice the question gnawing at him.

"The problem is, it'll kill you too."

There was no hesitation in Accelerator's words, but the slight tilt of his head suggested he didn't want to be delivering this news. He barely showed it, but the truth was there. Cold and unavoidable.

"Accelerator," Kamijou spoke slowly, gripping the plastic case tightly. "What are you asking me to do?"

A long silence followed, thick with discomfort. It was clear now that Accelerator didn't like being in this position.

"I'm not asking you to do anything," he finally replied. "I'm just giving you options."

"Options?" Kamijou held the pills up between them. "This doesn't feel like much of a choice."

Accelerator's gaze sharpened, and his voice grew harder.

"I fought you that day, about a year ago." He ignored the confusion and raised eyebrow from Kamijou. "Do you know what that means? I was in jail for a good reason and I was forced to leave. Do you know why? Because some stupid girl couldn't deal with the fact that you were dead."

Kamijou stood there, stunned, unsure of how to respond. What was Accelerator talking about? Fighting? Him being dead? None of it made sense.

"You don't remember, do you?" Accelerator sighed, not even giving Kamijou a moment to process. "I thought memory loss from cryogenics wouldn't go that far, but here we are. What a pain." His tone sharpened, cutting through the tension. "I don't have time for a history lesson. When you visit the School Garden, talk to number 5. She'll fill in the gaps, save me the headache." He quickly gestured to the pills. "These won't kill you instantly. They'll suppress the parasite's effects, stop you from becoming Shattered. But like I said, it's your choice. You understand the consequences, right?"

Kamijou swallowed hard. There was so much he didn't know, and part of him wasn't even sure he wanted to. The confusion swirled in his mind, like trying to wring clarity from a filthy cloth.

The expression on Accelerator's face changed, almost as if he had sensed the maelstrom inside Kamijou. The look on his face shifted, softening ever so slightly. Academy City's number one let out a long, weary sigh, his eyes closing as if steeling himself for what came next.

"I'm sorry." The words came out like a confession. Bitter. Reluctant. As if it hurt to say them. Kamijou blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected anything close to an apology. "I've been trying to solve this for a long time," Accelerator continued, his voice tight. "And all I've managed are these shitty pills."

Kamijou bit his lip in frustration at that moment. Number 1 really seemed to have given his all to save him, but he failed in the end. He had fought for a solution, all this time, but had come up short. And in that moment, Kamijou felt the weight of it all. No words came, his throat tight, his hands trembling slightly at his sides.

"I have to ask you something," Accelerator said abruptly, straightening up on his cane. "I think I already know the answer, but still... is there really nothing I can say or do to convince you to go back into cryosleep?"

All the cards were on the table. There was no deception, no bluff, nothing hidden. It was a sincere question from someone who had long been at a dead end, yet stubbornly clung to the smallest shred of hope.

The answer was obvious.

"No."

But it hurt to say it. Kamijou then corrected himself, holding that plastic container in his hand so tightly that it almost cracked.

"No... there is one thing you could do." He looked at Accelerator with resolve, those red eyes gleaming with a spark of hope that hadn't completely died out. "Index. If you can guarantee her safety..."

"What are you saying? Be clearer."

"Promise me you'll drop everything you're doing right now. Put all your efforts and resources into finding her, saving her, and keeping her safe. Make her your first and only priority. Do that, and I'll go back to that chamber without asking for anything else."

Accelerator glanced away, as if he couldn't meet Kamijou's intensity head-on. He didn't need much time to respond, barely pausing to think.

"Asking me to save someone important to you, huh? Handing something so precious over to someone who's practically a stranger." For some reason, a small smile tugged at Accelerator's lips, though his expression quickly turned serious again. "This isn't just a request, is it?"

They understood each other without further explanation. It's said that people who've fought each other—especially in battles where their lives were at stake—end up knowing their opponent better than even their closest friends.

Accelerator had his answer. There was no need to say it out loud.

"I appreciate what you've done so far," Kamijou said, his voice steady, "but I'm not ready to give up yet."

"Whatever." Accelerator waved dismissively with his free hand, as if trying to brush the whole conversation aside. "I'm heading back to the Garden Guardians' base. Do what you need to do."

No more words were necessary. They could go their separate ways now, but Kamijou had one last thing he needed to address.

"Wait, Accelerator. You're forgetting about Kongou."

"Who?"

"She's one of Misaka's generals, or something like that. That's what I heard."

"Ah, the girl you rescued." Rather than heading for the door, Accelerator chose to sit in an armchair in the corner of the room. "Fine. Go get her. It's already dawn anyway; maybe I'll stick around until afternoon."

x-2-x

Kamijou Touma had barely stepped out of the office when he was suddenly ambushed. A soft sensation pressed against his back.

"Kami-kuuuuuun!"

"Huh? Naru? Wait, hold on, this Kamijou-san is weak against ninjas dressed as bunny maids!"

The energetic girl had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, her cheek squished playfully against his, distorting his face in a comical way. Even as he tried to move, she somehow floated around him, still clinging like a shadow. Kamijou couldn't deny he was somewhat enjoying the soft feeling against him. Naru was more hyper than usual, which only made him sigh in resignation.

"You're too tense, Kami," she said, squeezing him even tighter. "Let this Naru-chan perform the ultimate bonding ritual between good friends! Woohoo!"

"Are you mocking my way of talking? And what kind of 'ritual' are we talking about?"

"Oh, it usually involves both of us getting naked to strengthen the bond!"

"Whaaaaat?!"

It didn't sound like the worst idea... Was that an intrusive thought?

Naru spun around him in her flowing skirt, guiding him by the shoulders. She took his left hand and placed it on her waist, leaving Kamijou nervously wondering what would happen if he accidentally touched her with his right hand. She hummed energetically as they twirled together, leading him in a spontaneous dance. This girl was so unpredictable. Kamijou could never guess what she'd do next.

"Come on, Kami! One, two, one two." She grinned, picking up the pace. "You're actually pretty good at this! They say fighting and dancing aren't that different, so it makes sense."

"I'm more concerned about what you meant by 'ritual.' Where do you get this stuff from?"

"Don't be such a stick in the mud, you sound like Seike! Last time, he told me if I liked taking my clothes off so much, I should just go and sell my body or something."

"B-Bwuah! He actually said that?!"

"Yup." She smiled as if it were the most casual thing in the world. "But don't worry, I have no idea what that even means!"

Kamijou couldn't tell if she was joking or genuinely clueless. The last time he'd written her off as a total airhead, she had surprised him with her competence. So, for now, he decided not to judge this strange girl too quickly.

"So, now for the important part," Naru said, spinning around gracefully before looping her arm through his in an exaggerated dance step. "I wanted to invite you to check out a modern art museum in District 9. You in? We can take down some PBs for fun along the way. It'll be wild!"

"A museum? I didn't know you were into art."

Kamijou mentally filed this under the growing list of random things he was learning about the chaotic girl in his arms. Something told him there was still plenty more to discover.

"I love three-dimensional art, especially lately. I've been really into the futuristic movement. Do you like that too, Kami?" she asked, her eyes brimming with expectation.

"I... don't really know much about art. But sure, it wouldn't hurt to check out the museum. Just let me call Kongou-san and we—"

"Got it!"

Before Kamijou could finish, Naru practically flew, dragging him along like a mother guiding her child through a crowded street. The two stumbled down the stairs, hurriedly apologized to people carrying heavy boxes in the hallway, and made their way to the newly renovated dorm wing.

"Kongou-chaaaaaan!" Naru shouted long before they reached their destination. "Kongou-chan, we've got an adventure ahead of us!"

Naru's excitement was so over-the-top that Kamijou instinctively grabbed her with his right hand to slow her down. The mistake hit him immediately as her paper clothes began to dissolve bit by bit under his touch. His face flushed with embarrassment, which only deepened when she started giggling.

"You're really committed to the ritual, Kami-kun, but I'm not an exhibitionist. Nudity should be handled with care."

"If you're that concerned, could you please put your clothes back on?"

"Tee-hee."

That girl. Despite everything, she had a way of lightening his mood, making his heart feel just a little less burdened with her antics. Honestly, he couldn't complain about having her around.

"What's going on?" Kongou appeared through a metal door, looking groggy. "Can't a classy girl get her beauty sleep these days? I can't afford wrinkles on top of all these scars. That's more than enough imperfection."

"Kongou-chan, listen to this," Naru said, letting go of Kamijou as she casually readjusted her outfit. She completely ignored Kongou's raised eyebrow and pressed on. "You, me, and Kami are going on a triple date to celebrate our victory!"

"Could you repeat that?" Kongou said, opening her fan to hide her face.

"Um... Naru," intervened Kamijou, his voice somewhat exasperated. "There's no 'triple date.' In fact, there's no date at all. You do know a triple date involves three couples, not just three people, right? Please tell me this is a joke."

Naru's mischievous smile only added to the ambiguity, making Kamijou sigh. He turned his attention back to Kongou, who stood in a faded, comfortable nightgown, clearly worn out. Her situation had been less than ideal, but at least her time here was nearing its end.

"Kongou-san, I've got some good news."

"Oh, that's wonderful." Kongou closed her fan and crossed her arms. "I assume you're not talking about more of your antics with that queen. Naru's told me that story at least three times by now."

"No, it's not that," Kamijou said, looking away in embarrassment, thanks to Naru's never-ending energy. "I've arranged for someone to escort you back to your base."

"Escort me?" Kongou's gaze suddenly became unreadable.

"Yes, isn't that great?" Kamijou noticed her subtle reaction but brushed it off. "Go ahead and pack up. It shouldn't take long, right? I'll wait here."

A deep silence fell over the room. Kongou's eyes drifted away, her focus no longer on Kamijou. Why did she suddenly seem so nervous?

Maybe she had grown attached to the people here, Kamijou thought. It made sense, although it was hard to imagine, considering the rough conditions she had been living in compared to what she'd have back at her faction.

"Is something wrong?" Kamijou asked, confused. "If you need some time to say goodbye—"

"It's not that," Kongou interrupted, shaking her head as she awkwardly hid her face behind her fan. This time, her elegance was completely gone. "It's just... the Garden Guardians..."

"Yes? What about your faction?"

The Garden Guardians.

An all-girls faction known to be the strongest of the big four. Its leaders included two level 5 espers, one of whom Kamijou knew well. The other was an expert strategist, a mental esper of great renown. However, he couldn't remember the name of such a person.

Unlike other factions, the Guardians were nearly self-sufficient. Living there meant you didn't have to scrape for every scrap of food, and fresh fruit wasn't a rare delicacy like it was here. It was a normal part of their diet. Kongou must have been counting down the hours until she could return to that comfort. So why the hesitation?

"K-Kamijou-san," Kongou began, standing straighter and lowering her fan, revealing her face. She had finally gathered the courage. "I don't think it's fair to keep hiding this from you."

"Hiding what from me?"

Kamijou's question made her falter for a moment. Kongou was famous as one of Misaka Mikoto's generals, a respected figure within the Garden Guardians. What could she possibly be hiding?

"The truth is..." She hesitated one last time, before sighing and letting the words spill out. "The truth is... I'm not a member of the Garden Guardians."

A confused nod was the only answer Kamijou gave.

We're back, it's been so long. I feel happy now that I've managed to update all my stories.

This chapter was a bit short, but it was the best I could do at the moment. Eventually I'll get back to my standard rhythm of updates, I hope.

I'll have a look at your reviews now:

ThE AnCiEnT DeRuViSh: Good to hear. So many compliments make me want to write more. Thank you very much and I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.

Dasgun: :)

5queso: Kamijou was completely lost with this information. Thank you as always.

5had0wHand: Lol. I hope you're doing well. In the dialog with Accel here, it is implied that he was a big problem, we'll have more details later. Mugino getting shit from the universe, poor thing. The friend in question isn't exactly a secret. Focus on the person suspiciously missing. Thank you.

Amado: Beware of those who solve problems, lest one day they become the problem themselves. If you look into the abyss... something, something. Accelerator has made it clear how much he cares here, even if not in the ideal way. More people know, Accelerator revealed here that Shokuhou is one of them. This was a very intentional parallel on my part, and I'm sure it will come up again in the future. Thank you very much for reading.

Kuroshiragami0: Thanks. I'll do my best.

JudeBell5: Yeah, Kamijou wasn't expecting that. And yes, several people knew the truth, but not many now. I'm glad you liked this detail about her character.

See you next time!

By the way, are you wondering who Kongou was trying to communicate with? We'll see a bit of her side of the story in the next chapter. That's all I've got for now. Moon leaving. Wish me luck.