Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Toaru Kagaku no Railgun/Toaru Majutsu no Index
The Trinity of Tokiwadai
Chapter Fifty: New Faction
Beta:
Misaka 10032 was just back from a long day at Ninoudefuzoku Middle School. A result of her having to stay back for some remedial practicals. The City authorities might have fabricated enough of a history for her to get enrolled and the Network had access to more than enough theoretical knowledge to allow her to keep up with her studies, but she still needed to catch up with the practical side of her education.
It was not all a bad thing, 10032 thought to herself as she took a moment from unpacking her school bag to admire the sailor fuku that was her school uniform. As good as the Tokiwadai uniform looks, I like my uniform better.
Part of it was a genuine preference for the aesthetics of the Ninoudefuzoku uniform but mostly it was simply due to the uniform being hers and not part of an attempt to imitate Onee-sama. This sense of acceptance of various affirmations of her individual identity wasn't hers alone either, it was a sentiment that was slowly but surely becoming more prevalent in the Sisters of the Misaka Network as they built a foundation of what it meant to be their own persons.
A meow caught her attention and 10032 turned away from her book bag to look at the biggest piece of the foundation upon which she was building her individual identity, even more so than her precious uniform, her pet cat Kuro.
Said black furred kitten was looking at her with a pleading look from the little corner in her small dormitory apartment where she had set up his cat bed and meowed again.
"What is it Kuro? Misaka asks inquiringly." 10032 asked her cat as she walked over to give it the attention it deserved. "Do you want more food? Misaka suggests. Or water?"
She glanced at his water bowl and found a healthy amount still there. It wasn't time for Kuro's feeding either so it was unlikely he was hungry.
"Mrew~" Kuro climbed out of his cat bed, padding over and rubbing against her leg affectionately.
"Ah, Misaka realizes as she looks over her faithful companion. You require belly rubs, Misaka nods in understanding." 10032 concluded with a smile as she tickled the black kitten playfully.
Kuro meowed in joy at the attention, but also bit lightly on the edge of 10032's skirt and began tugging on it.
"No Kuro! Don't do that. Misaka admonishes sternly." 10032 told her cat as she carefully pried him away from her skirt, which thankfully wasn't damaged beyond a small patch of his drool. Nothing a spin in the wash wouldn't fix.
The kitten whined in apology, but tried to nip 10032's hand instead.
The Sister's eyes narrowed as she tried to interpret what he wanted.
"Continue this trend, Misaka says with some aggravation. And there will be no scritches or belly rubs until this behavior ceases."
Kuro cried out mournfully at the threat and shot her an apologetic look.
"Good boy. Misaka declares whilst preening at Kuro's apology. You will be rewarded for being an obedient little kitty." The Sister tickled his chin. "Now try and tell me what you want without biting. Misaka says firmly."
The cat seemed lost for a moment before it suddenly turned and ran to the front door of her dorm and began scratching lightly against it with his front paws. Being the good boy he was, his claws were sheathed though thus saving 10032 any worry over her security deposit.
"So you wanted to go out? Misaka concludes with a sigh." The Sister said as Kuro meowed in confirmation.
Why not? 10032 concluded with a shrug. It's been a long day. A walk to unwind is a good idea.
Grabbing her purse from off the study table where she'd left it, the Sister picked up Kuro. "We shall find a park to explore, Misaka says as if she was about to embark on a daring adventure. Ho!"
With Kuro purring his agreement, they set out of their apartment with enthusiasm.
"Sphynx! Get back here!" The nun Index Librorum Prohibitorum, or more commonly simply called Index, said as she chased after her pet calico as the kitten with yellow-green eyes and a white coat covered in patches of brown and black fur ran away from her. "Why are you running away from the apartment this time?"
Her pet didn't reply, choosing instead to simply turn into a park.
She lost sight of him for a moment as he turned a corner and by the time Index did the same, Sphynx had come to a stop next to a playground and was staring curiously at another kitten with jet black fur. A kitten whose owner Index recognized.
"Oh! Short Hair!" Index pointed at her nemesis, cheeks puffed out at the girl who was dressed uncharacteristically in one of those sailor uniforms Japan loved.
Didn't she go to one of those fancy schools though? Index was pretty sure her school's uniform wasn't a sailor uniform...
Short Hair tilted her head, looking at her confusion. "Does Misaka know you? Misaka asks with no recollection of who you are."
And she was all weird too! Did she hit her head or something? Or maybe she was always this crazy.
"Did you contract amnesia or something?" Index said with a derisive snort. "Didn't we just meet when dealing with that stupid Golem Incident?"
"No, Misaka is perfectly functional currently. No combat has been engaged at this time. Onee-sama does more fighting than our entire family nowadays, Misaka notes with a depressing sigh. And Misaka has suffered no sickness that might affect memory, Misaka adds."
"Onee-sama, sister? Wait, are you Short Hair's twin or something?" Index tilted her head.
"Ah, you know Onee-sama? Misaka asks with mild worry how that happened with a member of the clergy."
"So you are her sister! Geez, I'm sorry to hear that. No offense, but your sister's kind of rude. And stupid."
"Yes, Misaka is. Misaka confirms." Short Hair's sister said with a wince. "And Onee-sama can be a little abrasive, Misaka hedges. And slow."
Index chuckled victoriously. Even Short Hair's sister agreed that she was a barbaric imbecile!
"Ah! The Network recalls the Golem Incident you mentioned now. Misaka says with a dawning understanding." Short Hair's sister said suddenly. "According to Last Order, that was shortly before her Kazakiri-Obaasan became part of the family."
"Huh? Is that supposed to mean something to me?" Index asked, blinking in absolute confusion.
Network? Like TV? Does Short Hair's family run a TV station? That's kind of cool.
"No, that was just me talking to myself. Misaka says with a blush." The chestnut haired girl said without the hint of red staining her cheeks. "Just ignore Misaka. Misaka urges."
"Alright!" Index said easily enough.
She had met her fair share of people with odd quirks in their behavior. What was one more? Besides accidentally voicing her thoughts like that was the least of the girl's problems in that region. Her verbal tic was a lot more of a glaring issue, but Index was too nice to point that out.
"So Kuro and your cat are getting along well. Misaka says to change the topic of conversation." The strange girl said as she gestured at the two kittens which were happily playing with each other. "May Misaka know your pet's name? Misaka asks politely."
"He's called Sphynx." Index declared proudly. "Like the name? I picked it out myself!"
"It is unique. Misaka allows. He is named after the beast of riddles, is he not? Misaka asks as she recalls her knowledge of the relevant mythology."
"He's tricky, so I thought it would fit!" Index explained proudly while putting her hands on her hips.
"Misaka agrees that it is a fitting name. Misaka says with a nod."
She actually agrees with me!? I can't believe she is Short Hair's sister! She's so nice! Nothing like her terrible sister at all!
"Oh, hey, what's your name? I can't keep calling you Short Hair's sister."
It would be rude to do that to someone so nice.
"I am Misaka 10032. Misaka identifies herself proudly."
"...Eh? Is that a nickname or something?" Index knitted her brow as she thought about it. Did it have something to do with mathematics or something? This City was so weird!
"It is my designation as the 10032th clone of Onee-sama produced by the Sisters programme. Misaka explained."
A Clone? That's like a homunculus, right? Can Science really create those now? Gotta ask Touma about that. In the meantime...
"Hm, can I call you Math-chan? You seem really smart." Index asked.
The other girl frowned. Clearly she didn't like the name. Despite that she nodded.
"Misaka supposes that it will have to do for now. Misaka allows. At least until a better name presents itself. At least it is better than Tsundere. Misaka comments with a shudder at Onee-sama's horrible naming sense and the name 10287 has been saddled with."
"Man, thinking of nicknames for someone you just met is tough. I'll try to think of a better one! I promise!" Index stated firmly. She had a kitty friend now, her friend can't have a weird nickname.
"Please do. Misaka urges earnestly."
Nunotaba Shinobu, high schooler, Testament expert, genius researcher and live in nanny for the Kiyama household - Truly life could throw one curve balls of the strangest of sorts to have earned her that particular set of titles - was walking her charges, Janie and Febrie, home from their daycare when suddenly the two blonde haired girls cut off their retelling of their day and ran off.
"Janie, Febrie, what's the matter?" She called out, a mix between amused and concerned as the twin Chemicaloids raced off into the park they were just passing by.
"Kitties!" "Cute cats!" The twins chirped and giggled as they padded over to the creatures of interest.
There was some nun and a Sister as well. Oh. Well, best to greet the clone.
Breathing a bemused sigh at her charges' antics, Shinobu followed the twins.
"Thank Science that Last Order isn't here too," she said under her breath. "Handling the twins is tough enough, all three sisters at once is exhausting."
"Misaka apologizes for all the trouble Last Order gives you Nunotaba-sama, Misaka says sincerely." The Sister said with a bow in lieu of a greeting.
"Hello, 10032. How have you been? I heard from Saten-sama you've settled into your new school?" Shinobu asked. Saten-sama was rather happy the clones of Misaka Mikoto were branching out to learn new things even with their downloaded knowledge.
The Sister actually blushed at that and twirled, showing off her uniform.
"Misaka is enjoying her new school. Misaka assures. The uniform is nice."
"I can see that," Shinobu said with a pleasant smile before turning to the nun. "Apologies for ignoring you, sister. I am Nunotaba Shinobu and those two girls playing with the cats over there are my charges Kiyama Febrie and Janie."
The twins had enough manners to take a second at the mention of their names to say hello but not enough it seemed for more than that as having done so, they immediately returned all their attention to the cats.
Shaking her head in exasperation, Shinobu made a mental note to tell the girls' mother that they needed some lessons in manners. Science forbid they take after their Grandmother!
"Index Librorum Prohibitorum," the nun said introducing herself. "Call me Index."
"So you're that member of Necessarius and vessel of the 103,000 magical grimoires banned by your namesake that has been the source of so much drama in the City recently?" Shinobu asked, blinking in surprise at meeting such a notable by chance.
"H-How do you know t-that!?" The member of the Anglican Church's secret magical suppression branch said in shock.
"Saten-sama is the foremost information broker in the City. Misaka says with a shrug. Besides, Index-san's data is available in the Bank. Misaka adds." 10032 expanded in the characteristic Sister monotone. "Nunotaba-sama works for Saten-sama. Misaka further elaborates. Saten-sama would keep her in the loop."
"So who I am is an open secret?" The nun said, sounding offended.
"To the right people, yes." Shinobu said with a shrug.
"For someone in the Capital of Science, you guys are surprisingly okay with magic being real."
"What is magic but science undiscovered?" Shinobu retorted with a grin.
The nun puffed up her cheeks at that. "Geez, you people are as sassy as ever about your science stuff. I'm going to complain to Touma later."
"Kamijou Touma?" Shinobu couldn't help but ask.
The nun looked proud and nodded. "Yep! We live together, he's a pretty good boyfriend~! He feeds me, takes care of me. It's the life!"
He does sound like quite the wonderful boyfriend. A traitorous part of Shinobu's mind thought. She was happy with her current life really! But yet… She nevertheless couldn't help but feel a little sad that she couldn't find romantic companionship for the few free days she had. Saten-sama and Namikaze-sama had managed it. Even Index-san had! Yet, the same eluded her!
"I-I'm not a cat to him, geez Math-chan. That's mean!"
"Ah, but all you described made it sound like that, Misaka notes critically. He even gives you pats, Misaka added."
"T-That's love stuff!" The nun stammered, looking nervously to the side.
10032 looked at her kitten critically at that news.
"I wouldn't worry so much 10032," Shinobu reassured the Sister as she quickly pieced together that the clone had labelled Index-san's description of her relationship as being very similar to her own with her pet. "Caring for a pet is very similar to caring for a loved one."
"Similar but not identical, correct? Misaka notes. What is the difference?"
"What indeed?" Shinobu said with a sigh. "I've never been in the position to figure it out myself. So Index-san as someone who has, why don't you tell us?"
"Huh!? Eh? I, uh, don't, um, know how to-"
The nun's stuttering reply was cut short when a voice called to them.
"Excuse me ladies, but could Arthur join in?"
Shinobu turned to look in the direction of the voice and was greeted by a sight straight out of her most hormonal fantasies. The boy who had spoken was so handsome that surely he was genetically engineered. His hair moved with the gentle breeze blowing through the park like something out of a manga! And his aquiline facial features and amethyst eyes? They were absolutely enchanting! How princely could a person look!? The only flaw in his perfection was his scrawny build but that was more than offset by everything else and served more to give this Adonis a sense of reality that made him appear even more attractive.
Glancing at the twins, Shinobu noticed that she wasn't the only one struck by his perfection as they too were staring at the youth with starry eyes. Well, hopefully Saten-sama didn't murder this boy for catching her daughters' eyes. Not that she blamed the twins. She was sneaking glances too.
A small pit formed in her heart as she realized that she'd likely never get such a hottie for a boyfriend. Life sucked. Then again she was unlikely to end up with a murderous psychopath like Saten-sama either so maybe her love life wasn't entirely in the gutter.
"Of course, Misaka says generously." 10032 said, seemingly wholly unaffected by the boy's charm. "I am sure Kuro, Sphynx, Janie and Febrie will enjoy another companion to play with."
The twins and the cats happily voiced their agreement and soon the newcomer was letting his own kitten, a gray furred cat with a black patch around its right eye, join them on the ground and he moved to stand with the older girls.
"Thank you all," the boy said with a roguish smile that made Shinobu's heart seemingly skip a beat. "My name is Lelouch by the way. Lamperouge Lelouch."
"I-It is a pleasure to m-meet you, Lamperouge-san." Index-san managed to regather her wits enough to save.
Shinobu envied her. She was still trying to do the same.
Alright, so the mission is tonight. I'm thinking that if a fight breaks out that I can maybe try some of that sand manipulation since it's near that mineral depot. Naru informed her tenant as she took a walk to kill time before the aforementioned mission she'd been assigned later tonight.
Ugh, could you not? It reminds me too much of my idiot raccoon brother. Kurama groaned in her head.
So? It's good practice. Would you rather that webbing one? That seemed really useful for takedowns.
Chomei always was the creative sort. Try it out, I'm sure you'll do something crazy with it, as per usual.
Yeah, though having to spit it up or create it through my fingers still feels weird.
You spat out lava the other day.
Naru let her tongue lull out at the reminder. She could still taste it in her mouth! Shush you! Now, once this is over I'm going to head over to Shu-chan's place~! I am so getting to second base! Like hell Rui-chan is going to get ahead of me.
Your romantic conquest never ceases to amaze me. You really are a vixen.
I'll take that as a compliment. I know I'm wearing Shutaura down. Hehe~
She was about to continue on her walk when she felt some familiar presences nearby. Teleporting over, she could see Nunotaba-san, Index Librorum Prohibitorum, and 10032 standing next to an unfamiliar boy whilst they attentively watched Febrie and Janie play with a trio of cats that included 10032's Kuro.
"Yo, what's up?" Naru said as she literally teleported the last few feet directly into the midst of the standing group.
To her mild surprise, none of them so much as flinched at her unexpected arrival.
Guess they must be familiar with teleporters. I wonder how. Especially the boy. It's not like they're all that common.
"Hello Namikaze-sama, Misaka says in greeting." 10032 said with a polite bow. "We ran into each other by chance. Our cats and the twins wanted to play-"
"So we let them," the Anglican said with a frown. "You have a problem with that Blondie?"
"Blondie!?" Naru said, shocked by the sudden nickname.
"Index-san that's rude." The boy said. "I am sure Namikaze-san was just trying to be polite."
"Yeah, well I'm not sorry." The nun said crossing her arms defiantly. "Blondie is a lot nicer than calling her the [Laughing Joker]."
Naru winced at that. It seemed that the nun was clued in on just what she did for the City. Not surprising in hindsight. As a magician operating in the City, the silver haired girl would likely have been informed by her superiors that if she screwed up it would be Naru that the Board and Aleister would send to deal with her.
"Funny, how's the wound from that so-called Saint, Dewey Decimal-chan? Did betrayal cut deep?" Naru sniped in return, a false smile on her face.
"Enough!" The handsome boy said with a dark look. "Index-san, Namikaze-san, stop. Sniping at each other like this is unbecoming of people in your position."
"Hm, well if the Ouji-kun here is asking." Naru shrugged uncaringly. "Who are you anyways?"
"Lamperouge Lelouch," he introduced himself. "The grey furred kitten is mine."
"A kitty friend!" Febrie smiled, holding up said cat as she ran over.
"Febrie, are you and Janie done?" Nunotaba-san finally managed to say.
"Uh-huh, the sun is setting." Janie said as she came over with the two other kittens carefully cradled in her arms. "Mama will be getting worried."
The Chemicaloid was right, the sun was indeed setting and tinting the world orange with its dimming rays. Glancing at her watch, Naru checked the time.
Shit. Gotta make a move soon or I'll be late for my mission.
"Can Naru-nee join us for dinner?" Janie asked with big blue eyes that made Naru internally squeal from the sheer cuteness of the sight and her guts twist at having to break the girl's little heart.
The taller blonde shook her head. "Sorry, but I have a errand tonight. And then I'm going to see Shutaura for cuddle time."
Febrie and Janie nodded. They looked disappointed, but they clearly knew cuddle time was important. They were so smart!
"I promise I'll take you two out for lunch tomorrow though!" The twintailed girl leaned in with a stage whisper. "Maybe even get some ice cream."
"Yay!" "Naru-nee is the best!" The twins cheered and hugged her legs, making the older girl giggle and cuddle them close.
"You spoil them." Their nanny dryly pointed out.
"It's what I do as the cool sister."
"Just don't go overboard or Saten-sama will get upset with you," Nunotaba-san warned as she put away her phone which she had just used to check the time for herself and turned to the twins. "As for you two, it is time to head home."
"Yes before Saten-sama begins to worry. Misaka said admonishingly." 10032 said as she took her pet back from Janie and the nun did the same with her own cat. "Saten-sama is prone to overreacting when she is worried. Misaka warns."
"Overreacting? How?" The nun said with a frown.
"Saten Ruiko-sama is the Number 3, I imagine she could be quite destructive if she 'overreacts'." The pretty boy said as he recovered his own pet. "Let us avoid that shall we?"
"You lot make Rui-chan sound like she is a ticking time bomb," Naru said with a giggle. "She's not that bad."
The aforementioned girl's twin daughters nodded their heads in agreement.
"Nevertheless, I would prefer the City not have to risk testing the veracity of that assessment. So Nunotaba-san, if you would please see the young ladies home as soon as possible."
"Y-Yes, of course." The high school genius said with an uncharacteristic goofy grin as she began ushering the twins away.
"Guess I should make a move too," the nun said as she began to walk away with her pet held close to her chest with one arm and waving at them with the other. "Bye Math-chan! Bye Lamperouge-san!"
No goodbye for me? Naru thought with a frown as the others waved back.
Considering her opinion of you, did you expect one?
Not really. But one would've been nice anyways.
"Bye Dewey Decimal-chan!" Naru called out, feeling spiteful. Being polite could be just as mean as cursing her out. Not that she would, in front of the twins anyways.
"I must head back to my dorm as well, Misaka says apologetically. I have homework to do." 10032 said with a bow, that her pet cutely emulated. "Farewell, Lamperouge-san, Namikaze-san. Misaka says as she departs."
With that it was only Naru and the pretty boy.
"It was nice meeting you, Namikaze-san." He said whilst offering her the hand which wasn't occupied with carrying his pet. "I am pleasantly surprised to discover that a Level 5, even one with your reputation, can have such a genuinely good natured side to them."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Naru asked, a little offended as to her knowledge he had no reason to think her as anything but a good person.
She briefly considered that perhaps he was a Dark Sider, but dismissed the possibility after considering how scrawny he was. Even if he had an Ability or some other useful skill, he didn't look like he was in good enough shape to use it effectively enough to survive in the business. Heck, even the City's lowliest information brokers were ruthless killers or at least were capable of being such.
"Nothing," he said, retracting his hand. "Nothing at all."
With that, he turned and walked off.
What a weirdo.
Devil's advocate, as you'd call it, here, but what if he does know more than he lets on?
Like he's somehow a Dark Sider?
Or is otherwise knowledgeable.
What would it matter? Naru concluded with a shrug. It's not like he's hostile or I've been given a mission to deal with him or anything like that. So I say we just ignore him.
If you say so. Kurama replied, radiating skepticism.
I do. Now stop distracting me. I've got a mission to head to.
After the rather interesting encounter with all those new people in the park, especially Index-san, 10032 decided it was prudent to give her Onee-sama a call. So as she walked back to her dorm, she pulled out her phone and did just that. To her pleasant surprise, the call had barely rung twice before Onee-sama answered.
"10032? What happened? Do you need help?" Onee-sama's concerned voice said over the line.
"No, Onee-sama. Misaka reassures." 10032 replied, even as she felt a surge of happiness at Onee-sama's concern for her. "Misaka just wanted to call Onee-sama to ask something. Misaka explains."
"Oh? Sure. Ask away."
"Thank you, Onee-sama. Misaka says expressing her gratitude for Onee-sama's generosity." 10032 said with a smile. Truly Onee-sama was one of the most generous persons in all the world. Just see what she'd done for the Sisters! "Misaka met a nun earlier that seemed to hate Onee-sama for some unknown reason, Misaka explains. She is a fellow cat lover so she can't be a bad person, Misaka reasons. Therefore, Misaka concludes, it can only mean that Onee-sama was in the wrong. Again."
"Again?!"
"Onee-sama has become a religious heretic, hasn't she? Misaka says with a sad sigh as Misaka contemplates how to inform the other Sisters of this news."
"Don't you tell them!"
"Why not? Asks Misaka as she adds that Onee-sama's squabbles could affect us Sisters."
"I don't-! There's no squabbles! Listen, just stay away from her. That nun is bad news anyway."
"Ah, she implied the same about Onee-sama and noted she would pray for me since I have such a 'sinful' sister. Misaka says with an amused giggle at how low Onee-sama is seen to be by a random citizen of Academy City." 10032 said in her standard monotone as she recalled that particularly memorable part of their conversation that took place just before Nunotaba-sama arrived.
"Ugh, just don't tell the others okay? I'll deal with this. Ugh, that girl! I swear I'm going to blast her!"
Onee-sama ended the call and 10032 hummed in thought before reaching out to the Misaka Network.
Oh! Someone had added a kitten mental photo album section. She was sure to add some images of Kuro to it later. Surely he would be crowned the best. Her cat was the best in the world after all.
Making a note on the album to that effect as a reminder to do so, she dismissed 10072's comment to her post claiming she was biased. She was completely objective! Kuro was feline perfection!
Proving that however was a matter for another time so 10032 quickly moved on and jumped to the forum section of the Network where she created a new thread, adding one more to the hundreds of already active ones.
[New Thread: Onee-sama enemy of the Church?] 10032 created and added to the forum.
10032 (Academy City Sister): Misakas! It seems Onee-sama has somehow managed to make enemies of the Anglican Church. Query on how the Network should proceed requested.
Many of the comments in reply were dismissive of this, finding it to be of little importance. Others meanwhile claimed this could disrupt their lives if they were mistaken for their heretical progenitor.
Truly a conundrum.
This state of affairs perpetuated in the thread with no resolution for a while until Last Order finally chose to chime in.
Last Order (System Administrator): Don't worry so much! The Anglican Church is full of dummies, or that is what Mama says whenever things about 'magic' come up.
At this, a couple divergent conversations picked up, thankfully turning into sub threads inside the main one. One revolved around magic with one faction of Sisters decrying the very existence of magic, chalking it all up to just being unknown phenomena that Science will quantify in time which were being vehemently opposed by a faction led by Last Order who claims her Mama says it's real and she trusts her Mama.
The other saw a faction of Sisters trying to convince Last Order to stop calling Saten-sama 'Mama'. Again Last Order vehemently declared she can call her Mama whatever she wants. Mama is okay with it and that's all that's important.
10032 was, as always, impressed with Last Order's ability to carry on multiple conversations in the Network at the same time. She herself struggles to maintain more than one.
As a result, 10032 muted the new tangent conversations and focused on the thread she started.
Posting a poll on what they should do about this potential conflict between them and the Church, she waited eagerly for the results. There was no doubt in the Network at all that if Onee-sama and the Church were really enemies, who exactly the Sisters would side with but if conflict could be avoided that would be even better.
After just a second, the poll results came in. The Network had decided that they'd adopt a wait and see approach to the situation until they knew more.
10032 (Academy City Sister): Misaka volunteers to be the point of contact with Index-san to see how badly Onee-sama has damaged our family's standing when dealing with the Church. She will make sure that the nun will be her 'friend' by the time she is done with her! After all, according to 14091, friendship solves everything.
Though the evidence showed that was true only roughly 62.3456181 percent of the time, that was still a majority of the time and that was good enough for the Network and there was a flurry of praising posts in reply.
10032 (Academy City Sister): Once we are friends, I'll use that friendship to learn more about this potential conflict we have with the Church and maybe even use it as an opening to mediate.
The Network was near unanimous, a rare feat, in thanking 10032 for her selflessness.
In the material world, 10032 couldn't help but smile at the praise causing Kuro to meow at her curiously.
"It's nothing Kuro, Misaka says with a smile. Just my Sisters praising Misaka."
Kuro was visibly confused, but gave a kitty shrug and dismissed things to snuggle into her hold.
Smiling even more brightly at her affectionate cat, 10032 continued on her way back to her dorm.
Ruiko was doing some homework, yes even someone like her had to do her homework, in her room when she sensed the twins were almost home through her AIM sense. Smiling at her daughters finally coming home, the [AIM Sovereign] quickly put away her things and headed down to the entryway into her house and waited.
She didn't have to wait for too long before the front door opened and Febrie, Janie and Shinobu-san shuffled into the house.
"Welcome home," Ruiko greeted the trio with a welcoming smile.
The twins immediately zeroed in on her and rushed towards her.
"We're home Mama~!" The Chemicaloids shouted enthusiastically as they hugged her tightly.
Ruiko's smile just grew even wider and happily returned the hug.
"I'm glad that you all are home too." Ruiko said as she pulled away slightly. "That said, you two should not be running in the house. Much less with your outdoor shoes on."
"Sorry Mama~!" The twins cried out as they ran back to the doorway to hastily change into their indoor slippers.
Ruiko watched them for a moment with an amused smile before turning her attention to Shinobu-san.
"You all are late." Ruiko said, her grin still stretched across her face. "Why is that?"
"The twins made some new friends on the way home and decided to hang out with them for a while." Shinobu-san said with a shrug. "Since we weren't in a rush, I allowed it."
"You made the right decision." Ruiko said with a nod. "The twins need more friends."
"That's not true!" Janie said with a pout. "We have plenty of friends."
"Yeah," Febrie added with an enthusiastic nod. "There's Naru-nee, Uiharu-nee, Misaka-nee, Kuroko-nee, and-"
"Yes, yes," Ruiko said with a chuckle. "I know you have many friends but everyone always needs more friends. So I'm happy that you made new ones."
That appeased the girls and Ruiko was glad. They could be very persistent if they got focused on something.
"Done changing your shoes?" Ruiko asked with a grin.
Both blondes nodded, so Ruiko and Shinobu gently began guiding the twins into the house.
"Febrie, Janie, why don't you two share with your Mama about your day?" Shinobu suggested as they made their way through the house towards the girls' room.
As Ruiko listened to the girls happily and enthusiastically tell her all about their new friends with one of her many trains of thoughts carefully listening to the girls' every word, another pondered on their mention of certain rather interesting figures
One of the Sisters and Index Librorum Prohibitorum? Is it good or bad luck that they have befriended such high profile figures in the City?
"-And then Lelouch showed up." Febrie said with an exaggerated swoon. "He was so, so handsome!"
Janie nodded in total agreement.
This pulled all of Ruiko's parallel thought processes to a screeching halt and she turned all her considerable attention on what the twins were saying.
"You're both far too young to even think of anyone as handsome." She told the twins sternly.
"But Mama! He totally was!" Janie rebutted with a pout.
"We're only speaking the truth, Mama!" Febrie added.
"They're only making an observation, Saten-sama." Shinobu told her with a grin. "He was very handsome. It's not like they are crushing on him. No need to overreact."
"What Shinobu said!" Janie said, nodding to emphasize her point.
"Shinobu, what's 'crushing' mean?" Febrie asked innocently.
Ruiko breathed a sigh of relief at the realization that yes, thank Science, her preschool daughters were not developing a crush on someone.
"Okay, that's enough story time for now." Ruiko said as they reached the girls' room at last. "Janie, Febrie, go get your shower things. It's bath time. You can tell me more about this handsome boy later."
"Yay! Bath time~!" Both Chemicaloids cheered as they raced into their room.
Shaking her head at her daughters' enthusiasm, Ruiko turned to their nanny,
"Shinobu-san, why don't you go relax for a bit. I'll handle bath time."
"Thank you, Saten-sama." The Testament expert said with a nod as she moved off towards her own room.
Ruiko nodded back distractedly, her many thought processes too busy digging up everything about this Lelouch person as she could. He was an unknown to her but if he was going to be her twins' friend then she wanted to know absolutely everything there was to know about him.
"I guess it's another boring bodyguard gig. You'd think they'd get ITEM or something, guess they wanted someone with a bigger rep to show off." Naru commented to herself.
Her mission as assigned by Aleister himself involved her watching a Director's ass as he met with a foreign diplomat. They were meeting in a penthouse of a luxury hotel in District 3 where the two men were having delightful talks. She wondered how much of that was thanks to the expensive alcohol they were drinking as they talked.
Sadly, the blonde wasn't offered any drinks and was too young to drink any if she was, and had no interest in what the two bigwigs were talking about either so found the whole mission to be mind numbingly boring. At least there weren't any drugs or lady entertainers this time. She had been so glad to get that Director's hide tanned by the other Directors when she had tattled on him to the Board.
"Sir," Naru interrupted the talks, getting the Director and diplomat's attention. "I'm going to do a perimeter sweep."
Gesturing to the other, more stereotypical suit clad guards that stood all over the room, she continued. "The others will keep an eye on you in the meantime, if that's alright?"
"It's fine, please proceed Namikaze-kun." The Director said with a dismissive wave as he turned back to the diplomat. "She's very professional. It's clear to see why the Superintendent favors her and why she's one of our best."
As the Director gushed on the abilities of the City's top Espers, the blue eyed girl proceeded out of the room. Walking out onto the balcony that wrapped around the penthouse, Naru ran into a young girl roughly around her age.
The girl's blonde hair was pulled into tight twintails that were held in place by ribbons tied into cute little bows. She was dressed in a school uniform, one of the numerous generic ones Academy City had. It consisted of a white short-sleeved blouse, a grey pleated skirt and a matching waistcoat, the latter two of which were heavily accentuated by a multitude of buttons.
Being polite, Naru greeted the other Dark Sider, a freelancer that the foreign diplomat had hired as part of his security detail. "Hello there. Namikaze Naru, nice to meet you."
Her fellow blonde nodded tersely, "Alice Fenette. Excuse me, I'm still in the middle of my rounds."
"Oh, I was going to do that too! Want to patrol together? Less boring that way, trust me."
The girl's face twisted a bit before turning to stone. With a terse nod, she said. "Of course, let's proceed, Sempai."
The two patrolled in what Naru had to admit to be the most uncomfortable silence on a gig since, ever.
"Okay, I got to ask, but is there a problem?" Naru asked, when being the social creature that she was simply couldn't stand it any longer.
Alice's face puckered, like she had sucked a lemon. "I just don't like the Trinity. I apologize if it hurts Ojou-sama's feelings."
With that she turned on her heel, twintails actually snapping in the air, and walked off briskly.
The Number 2 could only blink in confusion.
The hell did we do to her?
While the rest of the City was enjoying the night in their own ways, Kurozuma Wataru, former Skill-Out gang leader and current errand boy for the Trinity, was doing a favour for his friend Konori Mii. Yes, friend! Despite what the jouchans he worked for insisted, he and Mii weren't dating. Yet. He hadn't exactly asked her out on a proper date yet. Their weekly bike rides together didn't count! Their first date was going to have to be special and until he figured out how, he was going to wait. Perfection took time.
Just because they weren't dating didn't mean he couldn't help her out though.
Apparently there had been talk recently of a new Skillout gang gathering and Mii had asked him to check it out. So with Saten's approval and help from her intelligence, he'd hunted down their headquarters to a surprisingly decent looking warehouse in District 11.
"They know how to keep their base clean?" Wataru said with a chuckle as he slipped into the building after picking the lock on a door. "That alone puts them in a league above the other Skill-Out gangs."
The sounds of guns cocking feet away from him had Wataru freezing.
"Thank you for that assessment," a masked figure in an over the top caped costume said through a vocal modulator from where he stood among a group of gunmen. "Coming from the former leader of Big Spider, that is high praise."
Well shit. I really hope Saten-jouchan is watching and will swoop in any moment for a rescue.
Wataru wasn't too proud to admit he wasn't bulletproof. Seriously, why were the little girls he worked for bullet proof? Maybe he could get some gadget for that?
"So might I ask what the Trinity's errand boy wants with the Black Knights?" The flamboyant figure said with a clear tinge of amusement in his synthesized voice.
"Milk run?" He offered with a roguish smile.
He wasn't lying, he had to grab milk on the way home.
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
The Sister's network is a bit of a mix of Discord and Spacebattles. Truly, only madness could come from this.
Nameless: Indeed. We modeled our interpretation of the Misaka Network based on online forums like E4E mentioned. Hopefully, it was an interesting way of doing things.
And yes, for those who have saw the fucking handsome devil in the chapter. Be prepared for something… new. Again. Man do we enjoy adding content to an already character rich environment.
Nameless: Well, like I said in the previous chapter, we need OG characters and content to spice up the canon arcs to avoid them being too much of a rehash. Hopefully you guys appreciate all the OG content.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!