Disclaimer : I don't own Naruto or Toaru Kagaku no Railgun/Toaru Majutsu no Index
The Trinity of Tokiwadai
Chapter Sixty Six: Daihaseisai - Opening Events
Beta:
It was two days before the Daihaseisai, a week-long large-scale sports festival which Academy City held every year during which the City was partially opened to outside visitors, and Naru was meeting up with Shokuhou Misaki, popularly known as the [Queen] and the Number Seven ranked Level 5, at one of the tea parties that the Telepath regularly held with her faction of Tokiwadai students.
The festival consisted of a city-wide, inter-school sporting competition that saw students from all of the City's schools competing in various athletic events, with the use of Esper abilities permitted. It was arguably the City's most high profile event and served as its premiere means of garnering positive PR from the rest of the world, with the various events being broadcasted worldwide. It thus had involved a lot of effort on the part of the City and its various schools as they all strove to make everything as perfect as humanly possible, which meant many students, including those from Misaki-sempai's faction were exhausted from all the prep work. This little party was thus the [Queen]'s attempt to give them a chance to relax. Naru had something similar planned for her own faction too, though she'd organised her event after the festival was over and everyone could really relax.
"Misaki-sempai, be honest and tell me this." Naru asked her fellow blonde Level 5 as she finished taking a sip from the cup of Darjeeling tea that the older girl had prepared for her from across the table the two of them shared in the cafe that the [Queen] had booked for her little get together. "Were you the one who got me saddled with being Tokiwadai's representative for the opening ceremony of the Daihaseisai?"
Considering how high profile the event was, being selected for the position was incredibly prestigious. Not that said prestige made the recruitment easier. Especially since the organizers had decided to target the Level 5s as representatives for this year's festival. In fact, the whole recruitment of the representatives at the opening ceremony had, Naru learned from Rui-chan, led to some truly hilarious encounters as the festival organizers struggled to convince the various Level 5s to participate. The videos of Accelerator and Kakine losing it on the poor saps who approached them were fantastic pieces of entertainment.
Which was why in the end, the organizers had put all their hopes into Tokiwadai who, having the largest number of the City's Level 5s in its student body, was their best hope at securing a representative of one of the most powerful Espers. Though with four to choose from, Naru was a little surprised she was selected. She represented the school in publicity events often enough already, surely they wanted to diversify a little!?
"Guilty. Though I did not have to use much of my persuasion ability." Misaki-sempai said with a smile as she finished the bite of the cinnamon tea cake she'd been eating. "The school staff had already narrowed down their choice to the two of us of their own accord, apparently it was their opinion that we are the only two who the school trusted to have the discipline ability to behave properly in public. I just nudged them a little into choosing you, Naru-chan~!"
"And why would you do that?" Naru asked suspiciously. "I'd have thought you'd have embraced the chance to be in the limelight."
"Usually I would," Misaki-sempai confirmed with a nod. "But I'll be busy during the festival and can do without the distraction power, besides I know that you'll like the attention as much as I would."
"Busy?" Naru asked with a frown. "With what exactly?"
Misaki-sempai looked hesitant. A very uncharacteristic reaction for the usually self-assured older girl and that just made Naru even more suspicious. Whatever that had the [Queen] nervous was definitely bad news.
Now, just what exactly is it that she's up to?
"I guess I better tell you. It would avoid any misunderstanding abilities." Misaki-sempai said with a sigh. "But on one condition!"
"What's that?"
"I'll only reveal everything to the whole Trinity."
Which means she's worried that whatever she's involved in is likely to put her at odds with us. Naru reasoned. Just what the hell could that be!?
Maybe instead of bashing your head against the wall trying to figure it out without anything to go on, you should call your friends so the mind reader can just tell us.
Point. Naru sent back to Kurama sheepishly.
"Okay, I'll call them." Naru told the City's most powerful Telepath. "But since we're prepping for the Daihasei they're a little busy. It might take a few days before they're free enough to meet up. You sure you can't tell me beforehand?"
"No," Misaki-sempai insisted with a frown. "I don't want to waste my explaining ability. I will explain things only once. So until all three of you are available I will not tell you anything."
She's stalling. Naru concluded with a narrowed look of suspicion. Why?
My bet? She's not doing this out of ill intent.
You mean she's not stalling?
No, she definitely is. Kurama replied with a mental shake of his head. But she is doing so as a result of her inability to trust those whose mind she cannot read. That she's willing to tell you and your friends anything at all is actually pretty worrying. Whatever she's gotten caught up in must really be serious.
You're probably right. Naru agreed as worry creeped in to join her suspicion.
"Alright, if you insist Misaki-sempai." Naru told the other Level 5 after concluding her mental conversation with her partner. "I'll try to arrange a meeting soonest."
Misaki-sempai just nodded airily like it wasn't a big deal but Naru didn't need Kurama's ability to sense emotions to detect her relief. The way the older blonde's shoulders relaxed was indication enough for the [Elemental Empress]. A fact that just made Naru's frown grow even as the two Level 5s continued their tea party as if nothing had happened.
Two days later at the opening ceremony of the Daihaseisai, Naru found herself standing on a raised platform surrounded by the flags of the various participating schools in front of assembled contingents from some of the schools participating in events on the first day. Standing on a similar platform to her left was Sogiita Gunha-sempai, the Number Nine ranked Level 5 and the only other Gemstone among their number.
"And now we present our representatives to lead the athlete's pledge for these games!" The event's announcer declared as the ceremony drew to a close and the time for them to shine came up. "Introducing The Number Two and Nine of our esteemed Level 5s, Namikaze Naru and Sogiita Gunha!"
That's our cue. Naru thought as she took a step forward to stand in front of the microphone set up at the front of her platform. It looked mundane and thus a little out of place in the super advanced City, but Naru knew better. The microphone wasn't plugged into the PA system at all. Instead it had built in speakers tuned to the acoustic profile of the stadium that allowed it to project her voice to everyone there and could wirelessly connect to external systems allowing the audio it picked up to be streamed to wherever it was needed. All packed into a seemingly mundane standing mic. It was yet another of the City's attempts to show off its technological prowess.
Just like the whole Daihaseisai is. Naru thought with a roll of her eyes before glancing quickly to the side to see Gunha-sempai brimming with barely contained excitement as he too took position in front of his mic.
Truly he was such a passionate Sempai. He seemed to get fired up by everything he did. Even something as mundane as this. It was an admirable trait, and if she didn't know that it was the product of him being batshit insane she'd almost wish she shared it too.
"We will adhere to the ideals of sportsmanship as we undertake this year's Daihaseisai." Naru recited along with Gunha-sempai, who seemed to be shaking with barely contained energy.
"Use our youthful dreams and fervent wills as our strength."
"And forge undying bonds with-"
She would've continued but suddenly Gunha-sempai grabbed his mic off its stand, causing a momentary screech as its systems struggled to cope with the abuse.
I was wondering when he'd break with the script. Kurama sent with amusement even as Naru mentally chuckled in agreement.
"Such a manufactured speech, ooooh, it needs some more passion in it!" The headband wearing Level 5 declared, literal fire radiating from his eyes. "More GUTS!"
Doing her duty as a good PR Esper, Naru played along so her Sempai wouldn't go too far.
And you getting a kick out of it has nothing to do with it, I'm sure.
"I have to agree, Sempai. This is indeed a day for passion! What's better than showing off all we've learned in this city of learning?" Naru said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster even as she blew a mental raspberry at her partner.
"Kohai! You understand me perfectly!" Gunha-sempai cheered, grinning ear to ear at her response. Honestly he was so easy to go along with.
Taking a heavy step forward, rocking the platform he was on, he continued. "The Guts we show here is for the world stage!"
Naru smiled broadly into her mic as she too removed it from its stand. There was no screech this time, seemingly someone had sent a patch to the thing's programming to prevent a repeat of the earlier malfunction.
"That is correct too! Though let's save some of our passionate energy for the events, Sempai. After all, we don't want to cow our fellow students with our burning passion too soon, right?"
"Cow them? Never! I'm just hyping them up to go one hundred and fifty percent!" Gunha-sempai said as he pumped a fist in the air, creating a gust of wind as his quick jab somehow displaced a disproportionately large mass of air.
"One hundred and fifty? How meager, Sempai. How meager!" Naru scoffed, a teasing smile on her face. "It's fine, wind yourself up at the start but actions will speak louder than mere words!"
"Haha! As expected of you Kohai, keeping things close to the chest! But I think showing it all up front is far better! It shows one's Guts!" Her Sempai argued, but he was calming down. If only a little.
"We'll have to see, Sempai. We'll have to see. Though I think we need to conclude here and wait to show just whose right, no?" She slyly informed him.
"Eh? Oh, good point!" Gunha-Sempai nodded, his smile never fading. "Then let's wrap this up with the word of the day!"
At his roar, both held up their mic and declared.
"LET'S SHOW OUR GUTS!" Their combined cheer went out, causing the students to scream in an uproar, being fired up themselves.
Never a dull moment for me, huh? Naru mused. Pleased that she'd managed to stop the whole thing from devolving into a strange spectacle. The Board would be all over her if it did.
"Why did the school have to disallow me from taking part in the Three-Legged Race with Onee-sama!?" Kuroko whined for what seemed like the tenth time that day as Mikoto and the Teleporter made their way to Ruiko's house after the aforementioned Daihasei event.
"Because you're a Teleporter and would just teleport us straight to the finish line?" Mikoto told her roommate with a frown. "As much as the Daihasei is about showcasing our Esper abilities to the world, it's also a sporting competition. It isn't exactly sporting if we stacked the odds that badly in our own favour is it? What chance would the participants from the other schools have at showing off their abilities if we did?"
"Onee-sama~! Why do your arguments have to be so reasonable!?" Kuroko said piteously, sniffling. "I wanted to be your partner in the race, reasons be damned!"
Mikoto just sighed.
I know it won't work but let's try a different tack.
"If it's any consolation Kongou-san and I still won in the end?"
The pout Kuroko shot her told Mikoto that like she'd expected, this line of reasoning was just as ineffective at placating the Teleporter as the last.
Thankfully, the [Railgun] was saved from having to continue to do so by their arrival at their destination.
"Okay, Kuroko, best behavior alright." Mikoto warned her roommate. "As you know, Mama is here and I don't want you giving her a bad impression."
Why was Mikoto's Mama at Ruiko's house? Well she had accepted Kiyama-sensei's invitation to stay at their house rather than at a hotel for her time in the City. Of course this meant that Mikoto was staying over as well, since Tokiwadai had a custom that during the Daihaseisai its students would move out of the dorms to stay with their visiting families.
Allowing the families of the City's students to visit was supposed to help boast family relations. To help give the impression it was family friendly. What a joke! It was nothing more than yet another PR stunt on the part of the City's amoral leadership to help hide the terrible stuff they got up to in the shadows. Nothing more.
No, no cynicism today. Not for the Daihasei. It's supposed to be fun! Fun!
"Understood Onee-sama." The Teleporter agreed as she transformed from the whiny brat of a second ago into a poised Ojou-sama worthy of Tokiwadai.
Mikoto nodded in approval and was just about to reach for the door. Ruiko's front door had a fancy sensor built into the door handle that scanned a person's fingerprint and used that as the 'key' to unlock the door. A system that for the duration of their stay in the house, Mikoto and her Mama had been added to as authorised users.
Before she could even wrap her hand around the doorknob though, the door swung open, forcing her and Kuroko back as Shinobu-san stepped out with Febrie and Janie trailing behind her.
"Going out Shinobu-san?" Mikoto asked, blinking in surprise as she stepped out of the way to avoid a collision.
"Yes," Ruiko said from directly behind Mikoto, causing her to jump slightly. "She's taking the twins out to visit some of the food stalls that have been set up for the Daihasei."
"Can you stop doing that?" Mikoto asked, glaring at her fellow Level 5 as she put a hand over her heart in a bid to calm it down after the fright Ruiko had given her.
If the way the aforementioned girl's twins were happily giggling at her expense was any clue, she'd be out of luck convincing their mother to stop though.
"I'll think about it," Ruiko replied with a smirk that told Mikoto that she'd guessed correctly.
Argh! Why do I keep being the butt of the others' teasing!?
"There, there Onee-sama." Kuroko said as she teleported over to Mikoto's side and patted her arm comfortingly.
"Bye bye Mikoto-nee, Kuroko-nee!" The twins chorused seemingly having stopped laughing and finished exchanging another round of goodbyes with their mother whilst Mikoto had been busy gathering her wits.
"Bye Febre. Bye Janie. Bye Shinobu-san." Mikoto returned even as Kuroko waved.
Shinobu-san nodded back politely before gently ushering her charges away, leaving the two Level 5s and Kuroko alone on Ruiko's front step.
"Let's head in." Ruiko said with a welcoming smile as she led them inside.
As they stepped through the threshold and into the house and dutifully changed from their outdoor shoes into indoor slippers, Mikoto chanced a look into the living room and found her Mama busy chatting with Kiyama-sensei. Uiharu was there too, sitting quietly with her tablet in her lap and… Was she taking notes!?
"And then Mikoto-chan was trying so hard not to cry when she was covered in grasshoppers. I wanted to comfort her, but I was giggling too much and took a picture instead. And then there was the time that-"
"Mama!" Mikoto screamed out, her face a blazing red and scandalized to Scientific Hell and back. She dashed forward, covering her mouth with both hands. "Stop talking!"
Mama's eyes only twinkled with cruel mischief. It was the eyes the Usagi had on her worst days!
The two could never be left alone… Who knows what madness they would create!
"T-That's your Mama, Onee-sama!?" Kuroko said with a gasp. "She looks so young!"
"That's what you have to say?" Mikoto asked, shooting her roommate an incredulous look.
Then again that she'd focused on that and not the embarrassing story Mama had just shared, maybe that was a good thing. Yet… The idea that her perverted roommate might find her Mama attractive… That was even worse!
"Why thank you Shirai-chan~" Mama said with a smile as she gently pushed Mikoto's hands off her face. "I did get your name correct, right? Mikoto's sent me pictures of you, but this is the first time we've met in person so…"
Kuroko just nodded, seemingly too shocked by Mama's youthful appearance to string together words. Her cheeks dusting pink at the smile Mama was giving her. That look on her face didn't fill Mikoto with confidence.
"I have to agree with Shirai-san." Uiharu chimed in. "You honestly look half your age, Misaka-sama."
"Just call me Misuzu, Uiharu-chan. And thank you for the compliment." Mama said with a giggle.
"They are just being honest." Kiyama-sensei added her own agreement. "You have taken care of your appearance remarkably well."
"Much better than you have, Kaa-san." Ruiko reminded her mother with a sigh as she headed over to the kitchen to pour some drinks for Mikoto and Kuroko. She didn't even need to ask what they wanted, they came over often enough that she knew exactly what they'd like. "You and Misuzu-san are about the same age, but you look twice as old."
"I would ground you for that if not for the fact that you're just being truthful." Kiyama-sensei said with a shrug. "I blame the City and the hell it put me through for my premature aging."
"That can't be it." Ruiko countered as she returned to the living room with two cups of freshly poured drinks and gestured sharply at the still standing Mikoto and Kuroko to sit down. "You've always looked older than you are, even back when we first met and before our lives became hell."
Kiyama-sensei honest to Science pouted at that, something that got Mama giggling.
"You and your daughter have an interesting dynamic, Harumi-san."
"Tell me about it," Ruiko said with a long suffering sigh even as Kiyama-sensei's pout grew even more pronounced.
"Ruiko, must you be so blunt?"
"I'm just being honest, Kaa-san." Ruiko said with a smirk as she handed Mikoto and Kuroko their drinks as they took their seats.
However, contrary to Mikoto's expectations, instead of sitting down herself, she instead headed back towards the front door before teleporting away.
"I guess Namikaze-san just got here."
Uiharu was proven correct as seconds later, the front door opened and Ruiko led the Usagi inside the house.
"Do you try to teleport ambush all your guests, Rui-chan?" Naru was complaining as she changed out of her outdoor shoes.
"Only my friends." Ruiko informed her with a playful smile.
This revelation had Mikoto turning sharply in Ruiko's direction. She knew Ruiko regarded her as a friend of course. But for the former [The Robot] to openly declare her as such, even in such a roundabout way? It warmed Mikoto's heart and filled it with pride at how much her kohai had grown.
"Oh, is this Sempai's mother? Or Onee-san?" Naru asked with a purposefully cute head tilt, pulling Mikoto from her thoughts. As expected of a model, her cuteness was a weapon all on its own.
"Oh, a foreign cutie? Mikoto-chan certainly has a colorful cast of friends." Mama mused, looking the blonde up and down. "You're Namikaze Naru-chan, correct? Mikoto mentioned you in some of her messages and emails."
"I am, it's a pleasure to meet you, Misaka-san." She said with a curtsy. A curtsy!
Oh Science! She was already trying to charm Mama! If I let her keep going she'll be milking Mama for dirt on me before long.
"Call me Misuzu, please!" Mama said with a smile.
"Of course, Misuzu-nee~"
That little sneak! Mikoto felt her forehead throb in anger. And the miscreant knew the effect she was having on her too if the wink she shot her way was any indication. She's in for it later, I swear.
"Girls, can we focus please?" Kuroko chided them, like she was the voice of reason. The pervert hadn't been able to tear her eyes off Mama since they'd got here. "We have a meeting to have, remember?"
Mikoto shuffled in place. "Is it alright to involve Mama in this?"
"Eh? Mikoto-chan, it's alright if you don't want me around for your girl talk. Maidenly hearts need to gossip and such after all. Though I think I look maidenly enough~" Mama teased with a smirk and a wink that left the [Railgun] flustered.
"Mama, please!" She whined miserably. Was she close with Naru because she was so similar to Mama? Was she seeking out familiarity in hanging out with the Chibi? Thoughts for later!
"Perhaps, Misuzu-san, but I'm sure Mikoto-chan at least will be uncomfortable if you stayed. Why don't the two of us go out for some coffee and give the girls some space? Perhaps we might even catch up with Shinobu-san and the twins and join them?"
"Sounds like a plan, Kiyama-sensei." Mama said with a chuckle as she stood. "Shall we?"
Kiyama-sensei nodded and stood as well before leading the other woman out of the house, chatting with her amicably all the while, interrupted briefly as they exchanged goodbyes with everyone else.
It was not until the front door had firmly closed on the two older women that Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank Science that Mama isn't going to be dragged into the Dark Side.
"When's Shokuhou due?" She asked as everyone switched to serious mode and the atmosphere in the room grew tense.
"Misaki-sempai should be here any minute now." Naru smiled as she replied.
Mikoto just hoped that it wouldn't lead to teasing her. She knew the two blonde Level 5s loved to rile her up when together. Add Ruiko into the mix, who much to her horror had started taking after Naru in the teasing department, and Mikoto doubted she'd survive if they got going.
"Is there really an Incident brewing though?" Kuroko asked skeptically. "The Daihaseisai is arguably the most high profile event organised by the City in the year. Would anyone even deign to engineer an Incident during such an event when the risk of exposure and thus security will be heightened?"
"Then you will be surprised to know that there is an Incident unfolding as we speak. And it has nothing to do with [Mental Out] from what I can gather. So let's wait and see what she's embroiled herself in." Ruiko said with a shrug.
"Do we need to step in?" Naru asked, a cold, steady professionalism to her tone that gave Mikoto flashbacks to seeing her true self.
"If the Superintendent hasn't mobilized you already, it should be fine. Whatever the Catholics are attempting doesn't seem to be much of a threat. If it were, he wouldn't be so cavalier about things. Besides [Imagine Breaker] seems to be on the case."
"Ah, that guy. Then I'll let him play janitor. I want to have as much fun as I can this week. No work sounds fun, but unlikely it seems." Naru said with a sigh, yet her smile hadn't waned at all.
"Are you sure Kamijou doesn't need help?" Mikoto couldn't help but ask, her cheeks just a little hotter than usual.
"If Saten-san says he's fine, then he is." Uiharu-san said firmly. "You should know to trust her."
"Exactly Onee-sama. Your boyfriend will be fine." Kuroko added with a grumpy look on her face.
"K-Kamijou isn't my b-boyfriend!"
Naru smirked at Mikoto-sempai's stuttering response. She was oh so easy to rile up and was incredibly amusing to watch once she was. Though as Uiharu-chan and Shirai-chan turned to whisper with their lovestruck sempai, Naru decided it was time to give her a reprieve. Besides, it was only fair to give the others a chance to have some fun at Mikoto-sempai's expense too.
"Leaving aside Sempai's denial. The Catholics again!?" Naru groaned as she adopted a grumpy look. "I know that they hate us, but it seems it's always them whenever there's an Incident. It's like they are the City's only enemy."
"You're exaggerating. Or did you forget our repeated run-ins with the Chinese?"
"Can't you let me win an argument once in a while~?" Naru whined, stomping her foot like an annoyed rabbit.
"Not when you're wrong." Rui-chan replied with a smirk, causing Naru to pout.
"Ah, I better go change. I'm all dirty from the Three-Legged Race." Sempai shouted suddenly as she leapt to her feet and made a show of looking over herself. "That Fake Middle Schooler would probably make fun of me if I don't."
With that declaration and before Naru or Rui-chan could so much as formulate a response, Sempai ran up the stairs.
"Lucky that she's staying over here to spend time with her mother, huh?" Naru stated, blinking in confusion as she turned to Shirai-chan and Uiharu-chan. "What did you two say that got her so flustered anyways?"
"Nothing really. Just some friendly teasing." The computer wiz said, looking genuinely confused.
Rui-chan sighed at this and stood.
"You two really shouldn't tease Mikoto-sempai so much." She told the two with a stern look. "You know she's sensitive about her feelings for Kamijou-san."
"I know Saten-san but I didn't think she'd be this bad."
"Onee-sama is usually made of sterner stuff. Just look at how much teasing she endures from Namikaze-san."
"Like Rui-chan said, she's sensitive when it comes to Kamijou so cut her some slack and go easy on her on that front next time."
Both Uiharu-chan and Kuroko-chan nodded, looking very repentant as they did so.
"That's well and good. But for now you two stay out of trouble alright?" Rui-chan said as she headed after Mikoto-sempai. "Naru-chan, keep an eye on these rascals for me?"
"Yes ma'am!" Naru chirped playfully as she snapped a salute.
About an hour and an explanation about what was going on from Shokuhou Misaki later, Mikoto was teleporting to the venue of the Balloon Hunter event she'd been scheduled to participate in courtesy of Kuroko. As they teleported from point to point towards their destination, Mikoto couldn't help but complain about Shokuhou being so long-winded.
"Couldn't that Big Boobed Menace be more concise?" She said with a growl. "Thanks to her I'm running late."
"Onee-sama, please do not be so tsundere about it. You're just angry that someone is targeting the Sisters. Again." Kuroko sighed, as if annoyed by the repetition of it all.
Mikoto was there with her, but she had to act more serious about it!
"I know, but it's like everyone and their mother is targeting them!" Mikoto huffed in indignation of her own.
"Onee-sama, be glad we at least have a heads up on it this time. Thanks to that Namikaze-san and Saten-san know to keep an eye on the Sisters to make sure they are kept safe. How those two weren't slated not to be in any of the events for the first two days I will never know though."
"I suppose that's something." Mikoto allowed as Kuroko's latest teleport took them just shy of the stadium where the event was to be held. "But I just wish that the Sisters were never in danger in the first place."
"I am with you there, Onee-sama." Kuroko said as she pulled off one last teleport to bring them onto the pitch of the stadium. "But we can't operate on wishful thinking. We need to face reality and act acco- Wait! Is that 10032?"
Blinking at Kuroko suddenly cutting herself off like that, Mikoto turned towards what had caught her eye and found that her roommate was right. There standing amidst her fellow Tokiwadai schoolmates slated for the Balloon Hunter event was indeed the cat loving Sister.
"10032!" Mikoto called out as she marched towards her sister. "What are you doing here?"
At her shout, the other Tokiwadai girls started looking between her and her clone in confusion.
"Twins?" "Sisters?" "What's going on?" "Two Misaka-samas?"
"Misaka-sama, she's really your clone?" Awatsuki-san said as she walked over with Wannai-san. "She mentioned it, but we just thought she was using that rumor to pull a prank or something."
"We honestly thought she was your sister, Misaka-sama." Wannai-san added. "And since you were running late, we thought maybe she could stand in for you."
"I see." Mikoto nodded. "Well, she's my clone and sister alright. And since I'm here, I can-"
"10032 wishes to participate, Misaka pleads for permission to represent Onee-sama." The Sister spoke in a soft, yet firm tone as she walked over to join the conversation. "Heaven Canceler-sama has prohibited the Sisters from participating on potential medical grounds… this is Misaka's only chance to do so, Misaka confesses with flushed cheeks."
"Heaven Canceler said no?"
"Yes, Onee-sama. Misaka confirms."
"Then no means no." Mikoto said, crossing her arms. "If the frog faced doctor says it's too risky to your health then I'm not gonna overrule him. You should know he's never wrong when it comes to the well being of his patients."
"Onee-sama, please. Misaka begs. Heaven Canceler-sama himself admits that he barred us only out of an overabundance of caution. Misaka adds. Misaka is sure Misaka is well enough to participate. Misaka assures. Please let Misaka do so. Misaka pleads. Misaka wants to participate just like everyone else. Misaka whispers, stifling a sniffle. Misaka wants to be like a normal girl."
Mikoto's heart stung from the heartfelt request. She knew Heaven's Canceller was only doing what he thought was best, but… Mikoto wanted her sisters to have some more normalcy. To have the chance to just be a kid.
"Geez, you really know how to play your Nee-san…" Mikoto sighed but nodded. "How can I refuse after such a request? 10032? Kick their collective asses, got it?"
"Yes, Onee-sama. Misaka says with a grateful smile."
"And you girls keep an eye on her too, okay?" She asked her schoolmates.
"Hai!" The collective of Ojou-samas happily agreed.
As the Ballon Hunter event was about to start, Mikoto sat in the stands of the stadium that would serve as the starting area and looked down nervously at 10032 in the middle of the crowd of her schoolmates participating in the event.
It was a silly game, though that was true of almost all the Daihaseisai events to one degree or the other which was the whole point of it, whereby competitors wear caps with balloons on top of them as well as carry a belt with a bag containing bean bags for the competition. The objective of the game was for each team to puncture as many of the opposing school's balloons using the designated bean bags in a designated amount of time. When a balloon was punctured, the competitor was removed from the game. The team with the most players remaining in the game after the designated time was declared the winner.
The grounds for this competition were vast, encompassing the starting area as well as nearby alleys and roads, allowing for competitors to hide or take refuge. However, going out of bounds such as going into stores or unsigned roads would lead to disqualification. For the purpose of this game the ball shaped Homing Camera drones were deployed, streaming the event to the public and to allow for judges to observe the game and make calls.
"Relax, Onee-sama." Kuroko reassured from where she was sitting next to Mikoto. "Everything will be fine. We have taken precautions."
"Precautions?" Mikoto asked, looking at Kuroko curiously who simply proceeded to point to what at a glance appeared to be a Homing Camera but upon closer inspection Mikoto realized was actually one of Uiharu's latest combat drones disguised to look as such.
"Like I said, we've got this covered." Kuroko told her confidently. "No one will hurt the Sisters on our watch."
Mikoto breathed a relieved sigh even as she waved at the drone, which proceeded to bob in the air in an approximation of a nod before flying off to hover over 10032.
"Thanks Kuroko. Everyone else too." Mikoto said with a smile, before raising her voice to address Awatsuki-san who was playing with Kuro as she catsat 10032's pet nearby. "You too, Awatsuki-san. Thanks!"
"No problem," the bluenette said with a smile as she scratched the kitten behind the ears, causing it to purr happily. "Though I couldn't help but overhear some of your conversation. Is someone targeting your sisters?"
"Yeah," Mikoto hissed angrily. "But like Kuroko said, we've got it covered."
"We'll keep each other's families safe." Kuroko added. "It's what friends do."
Awatsuki-san nodded. "Do let us know if we can help too. I, Wannai-chan and Kongou-san will be more than happy to help too."
"I appreciate that." Mikoto told the Level 3 honestly. "We'll let you guys know if we need any help, but for now I think we can handle things on our own."
"If you're sure, Misaka-sama." Awatsuki-san said with a disappointed frown.
"It's not that we don't trust you guys or that we don't think you could help." Mikoto added hastily. "It's just that it's the Daihasei! It's supposed to be a time for fun, not one where we go around battling conspiracies. We can't help it but I don't want to burden you guys if I can avoid it."
"I understand Misaka-sama." Awatsuki-san said with a resigned pout. "But you'll let us know if you need help?"
"We will," Kuroko reassured her yearmate.
"Ladies and gentlemen! It's time for the Balloon Hunter event! Are all our competitors ready?" The stadium's PA said, putting an end to the trio's conversation as they all turned their attention to the pitch below where the event participants were gathered, just in time to see the two opposing groups of students let out a cheer. Even the ever stoic 10032 looked hyped up, or as hyped up as a Sister, who wasn't Last Order, ever got at least.
"Good response!" The commentator said as the cheers died down. "Then you all know the rules! So let's get this show on the road! Game start!"
With that announcement, the event officially began and to the shock of the Tokiwadai contingent, including the trio watching in the stands, the opposing school immediately scattered and fled the stadium. For a moment the Ojou-samas on the pitch just stood there in stunned silence before with an enthusiastic warcry from Kongou-san they regained their wits and ran off in pursuit, taking 10032 and her guardian drone with them.
Have fun 10032. Mikoto thought with a smile as her sister disappeared out of sight. We'll keep you safe.
Naru held her bucket of popcorn, happily munching on it as she watched the Balloon Hunter event from inside the command centre under Rui-chan's house. Both Rui-chan and Uiharu-chan were next to her, eyes scanning the multiple monitors for any sign of danger. Not just to 10032 as she participated in the Daihasei event in Mikoto-sempai's place but also the feeds surveilling the other Sisters in the City courtesy of both [Multi-Skill]'s spy network and the drones that Uiharu-chan had snuck into town thanks to their outward similarity to the Festival's Homing Cameras.
"Geez, I wonder why they didn't slot me into this event. Mm~ I would murder it with my reflexes."
"Naru-chan, your reaction speed is top tier. You even outpace Espers with heightened reaction speeds when going slow. Save domination for the greater events." Rui-chan giggled from her comfortable seat.
"Fine~!"
Her blue eyes were wheezing by, flickering from screen to screen until she paused at one of them.
"Baba Yoshio is cheating." She frowned as she munched on more popcorn, gesturing to a screen of the MEMBER agent instructing his schoolmates on how to take down the Tokiwadai girls in the Balloon Hunter event.
"Eh? Really?" Uiharu-chan asked, looking at the screen showing said boy.
"He's using the intel he has access to as an agent of MEMBER to come up with strats for his school's team against the Tokiwadai contingent. The shitheel. Does he feel that small about his own ability?"
"It's not against the rules to use one's knowledge against their opposition in the competition. No matter the source." Rui-chan reminded the blonde.
"I know, but it's shitty to do. I expected better from MEMBER at least." The twintail girl huffed, devouring the last of the popcorn in her tub before grabbing a second one.
"Is that chocolate covered popcorn?"
"Don't judge me, Rui-chan. I need my energy!" Naru pouted as she ate her treat.
"Can both of you sillys focus and not get distracted?" Uiharu-chan said with a sigh whilst looking at them both reproachfully, making them both wilt a little. "We have to keep an eye on the Sisters."
"Yes Uiharu." "Got it, Uiharu-chan!"
"Good." Uiharu-chan said with a satisfied nod. "Now, we should probably focus on 10032. If a MEMBER agent is participating in the event, who according to Shokuhou-san is working for the enemy, there is a good chance this is a move against 10032."
"Does he know it's 10032 though?" Naru pondered aloud. "I mean it was supposed to be Sempai in the event, right?"
"That's true. But whilst the average person might make the mistake, as a Dark Sider he won't. Baba will recognise she is one of the Sisters easily enough, their distinctive mannerisms will give her away quickly enough, and even if he did not initially have plans to move against 10032, he won't let the opportunity go either."
"Alright, fine." Naru sighed with a frown.
"Look," Rui-chan said, pointing to the screen which showed 10032 being lured into an ambush in a park as she pursued a lone member of the opposing team, where competitors from the opposing school jumped out at her from the bushes lining the path she had been running down. "Baba is making his move."
"Huh, they're not throwing the bean bags?" Uiharu-chan noted with some confusion even as 10032 demonstrated her remarkable combat skill by evading her attackers whilst simultaneously taking them out of the game in short order.
"They don't need to. The rules only said the bags need to be the ones puncturing the balloons, which means holding them in the hands and using them as a bludgeon works just as well." Naru explained, her frown growing as her sharp eyes scanned the screens. "But something's off."
"Yeah," Rui-chan agreed with a nod, brow knitted. "If Baba was targeting 10032 why is this the limit of what he's doing?"
"You two think we missed something?" Uiharu-chan asked, looking worried.
"Yes," Rui-chan chewed her lip. "Naru-chan, give Sempai a call and have her bring 10032 over here to give her a thorough debriefing and exam. Whatever we missed clearly isn't obvious."
"Got it." Naru chirped as she pulled out her phone.
"In the meantime, I'll go over the footage we have to see if I can find anything." Uiharu-chan added.
Naru paused in unlocking her phone to look at Uiharu-chan.
"Question. Uiharu aren't you on duty as Judgement's cyber security point woman now? How can you find the time to do both?"
"Ah, don't worry about the cyber security job." Uiharu-chan said distractedly as she began calling up the footage of the Ballon Hunter event and putting them through analysis filters. "The team has me on call. If there's an attack they need my help with, they'll let me know. So far there's only been three large-scale server attacks but I dealt with those in a flash."
Naru whistled. "You're a real genius at all things digital, you know that? You need a tee-shirt, you adorable tech-wiz."
"Yes, she is." Rui-chan giggled into her hand. "But why don't you make that call Naru-chan. In the meantime, I'll trawl through what I know of MEMBER and Baba in particular to see if I can figure anything out."
"Misaka thinks the Trinity is being paranoid. Misaka opines with an exasperated sigh. Misaka is fine. Misaka insists." 10032 said with a deadpan look at Mikoto as she and a squadron of Uiharu's combat hover drones escorted the Sister back to Ruiko's house after the Balloon Hunter event.
"Maybe we are being paranoid but better safe than sorry." Mikoto insisted.
"Misaka understands. Misaka concedes. Misaka also appreciates the concern. Misaka adds gratefully."
"Of course we'd take care of you. You're one of my sisters." Mikoto reminded the Sister even as she looked around them warily, all whilst fighting off her irritation that Kuroko couldn't just teleport them to their destination.
Unfortunately, the Teleporter was unavailable. Her roommate having been forced to leave to carry out her patrols as a Judgement agent. She couldn't ask Naru or Saten to pop over to help either since they were on Sister Watch and she didn't want to risk dragging them away from that.
That said, it did make things a little tight for her.
I wonder if I can make my lunch date with Mama. She thought, worrying her lip.
She wasn't worried so much about standing her mother up, that she could handle, but making her worry and that somehow inadvertently leading to being dragged into this Incident... She wanted to keep her Mama as far away from the Dark Side as possible.
"Onee-sama, Misaka feels strange." 10032 said suddenly as she stumbled.
"10032!" Mikoto cried out worriedly as she caught her sister as she all but collapsed, Kuro leaping out of her arms as she did. "Hey, are you alright?"
"K-Kuro, don't run. Misaka o-orders. S-Stay with O-Onee-sama Misaka-" 10032 trailed off as she lost consciousness.
"10032! Hey, 10032!" Mikoto cried worriedly as she gently laid her sister down on the ground.
Kuro crept closer, meowing in concern for his owner but stopped when he got too close. Agitated as she was, Mikoto's control of her EM field slipped a little and she had started sparking, something that scared the kitten.
Letting loose a panicked yowl, Kuro fled.
Mikoto turned to see it run and cursed herself mentally for scaring it away. 10032 would have her head for losing her pet. But she could worry about that later. For now, she had to focus on making sure that her sister would be able to scold her later.
"Dammit! I should've called in a Teleporter after all." Mikoto cursed her shortsightedness as she pulled out her phone to call Rui-chan or Naru-chan over. She knew one of them was probably on their way already. They had to have seen 10032 collapse via Uiharu's drones. But she wanted to do something, anything to help her sister, even if it was redundant.
"We need to get her somewhere secure," an unfamiliar voice said and Mikoto looked up as a tall green eyed man, with blond swept back hair dressed in a suit and wielding a gun ran up to them. Already, a number of Uiharu's drones had zeroed in on him, deploying some of their hidden weapons in the process. They did not open fire though.
For a moment, Mikoto's frazzled nerves prevented her from figuring out why but recognition quickly bloomed as she matched his appearance with the photos from the files Ruiko had provided her about the known players involved in the current Incident. He was Nokleben Keitz, Shokuhou's henchman/ally. And trailing behind him, huffing and puffing as if she'd run a marathon was [Mental Out] herself.
"What happened? Why are you two here? Did you have something to do with this?"
"No, but we figured out what happened." Nokleben-san informed her as he pushed past the protective circle of hovering combat drones, eyeing them warily as he did. "Shokohou-sama managed to read Baba's mind in passing at the Balloon Hunter event. It seems he managed to use a micro drone to administer a sedative nanodevice into 10032's blood stream during the game."
"Y-Yes," the blonde Level 5 said in between pants as she finally made it over to them. "A-And MEMBER plans to capture her. W-We need to move her to somewhere safe. T-The other S-Sisters too."
"That's exactly what I intend to do." Mikoto shot back irritably as she picked 10032 up.
"A princess carry? Fufu, how Onee-sama of you." The Boob Monster giggled into her gloved hand, apparently having regained enough of her breath to revert to being her usual catty self.
Mikoto ignored her, choosing instead to break out into a run in the direction of Ruiko's house. Whoever was teleporting over to meet them could rendezvous with them halfway. She was not leaving 10032 lying on the pavement for a second longer!
Mikoto and the entire Trinity gang, including their families, were gathered on the observation deck of a blimp Kiyama-Sensei had chartered for the occasion to watch the Night Parade fireworks display that marked the end of the first day of the Daihaseisai festivities.
Despite the ongoing Incident and 10032 still being unconscious, Mikoto couldn't help but savor the feeling of camaraderie that everyone being together generated. Leaning against the railing that bordered the deck, she took in the fantastic view of the City below. The beautiful sight filled her with a sense of wonder, but it failed to dispel the worry she felt at the situation.
Something that the conspicuous absence of the Sisters just added to. She knew they were here, so where exactly had they all gone?
"The Sisters are all down in the medbay," Ruiko informed her as she walked over, a cup of Mikoto's favourite coconut cider in hand. "Accel and Order-chan are there too, so you don't need to worry. I've explained to Accel that someone is targeting the Sisters. He will keep them all safe."
Mikoto breathed a sigh of relief at that even as she accepted the drink her friend offered her.
I wonder how much Ruiko actually told her boyfriend about what's going on. It can't be much, otherwise Accel would've hared off to do something like confront MEMBER when we don't even know who the real enemy is already.
She wasn't about to ask though. Not only was she not all that interested. She was satisfied enough knowing that the Number 1 wasn't about to go run off to make things more complicated and didn't need to know why. But more importantly, she didn't need to spend the next ten minutes hearing Ruiko gush about her boyfriend as she was wont to do.
So instead, Mikoto smirked and looking Ruiko up and down, tried to steer things in a more lighthearted direction.
"Hey Ruiko, are you dressing up on purpose?" Mikoto asked her friend who was dressed in a crop top with stripe detailing and a straight neckline that she'd paired with a denim miniskirt.
"Trying to impress Accelerator?" Mikoto asked with a smile.
"Yup." Ruiko admitted freely with a grin of her own.
Mikoto rolled her eyes. Ruiko was just so bloody forward with her relationship with Accelerator, wasn't she? If she wasn't so young and how she seemed to have no limits as to what she was willing to do to further their intimacy, it would be cute.
Along with Naru being in a serious relationship too… Maybe the Usagi is right to call me Lonely Heart-sempai. Mikoto realised, as she slumped her shoulders as a bout of despair hit her. How is it that my kohai have me beat so badly in the romance department?!
"Mikoto-chan!" Mama declared happily, sneaking up on her.
"Gah! Mama, don't do that!" She whined at Mama with a pout, but her mother only giggled in amusement.
She looped her arm around her shoulders and started to drag her away. "Come on, we're doing some photos with the fireworks as a backdrop. Naru-imouto will be standing with us."
"Imouto?! You're taking her compliments too far, Mama!" She whined, of course the two would get along like a city on fire.
Mama only giggled and Mikoto could see from the corner of her eye Janie and Febrie ambushing Ruiko, dragging her away too. In the distance, she could also see Kuroko and Uiharu-san with their families looking happy. In contrast, when she saw Naru standing alone and looking a little lonely, she realised where Mama was coming from.
Unlike everyone else here today, Naru was alone. Sequenzia-san having been unable to make it due to her and her Black Crows being rostered to be on duty for the night. In the face of that, Mikoto could totally understand Mama choosing to rope her into their little family for the night.
Hopefully it was only for tonight though.
"Ready for some awesome photos, Naru-imouto?" Mama called out as they got closer.
Naru's blue eyes lit up at that and she nodded eagerly.
"You betcha, Misuzu-nee! It'll be the best photos you've ever taken! I promise!"
"We'll see about that," Mama said with a laugh as she looped an arm around the blonde's neck and pulled her close, she tightened her grip on Mikoto's shoulders too so that both girls were pressed into her from either side.
"Say cheese!" Mama ordered as she looked towards a waiting Homing Camera drone that was serving as their cameraman.
"Cheese!" Naru shouted playfully even as Mikoto herself just smiled for the camera, even as a batch of fireworks exploded behind them creating what must've been a wonderful backdrop.
"Another one!" Mama demanded. "Let's try another pose."
"Sure Mama," Mikoto said with a grin as she reached out and pulled Naru into a hug as Mama encircled both of them in one of her own.
"Am I that comfy, Sempai?" The blonde teased, but the chestnut haired girl ignored the jape, ruffling the girl's hair.
Mikoto answered her with a quirked lip. "Nah, just happy you're here with us for this."
"You are weirdly cuddly today." Her troublesome kohai huffed, but seemed to move in closer.
"Smile for the camera girls!" Mama said and both Mikoto and Naru paused their conversation to oblige even as another burst of fireworks went off behind them.
This is wonderful. Mikoto thought to herself with a smile of genuine joy. I wish this could last for as long as possible.
Omake: Counselling Monsters
It was a balmy Friday afternoon and Naru was almost relieved to be ensconced in a comfortable armchair across from a surprisingly young looking woman with short hair dressed in a long lab coat and a fashionable skirt suit seated in an identical chair inside the woman's office as she engaged in a counselling session.
"So Yamada-sensei, mind if I ask you a question before we start?" Naru asked, eyeing the older woman curiously.
"Certainly, Naru-san." Yamada Jessica, the Japanese American professional, said with a welcoming grin. Outside of her blue eyes there was precious little that hinted towards the woman's Caucasian heritage as she otherwise looked almost the very definition of a Japanese beauty. Even her Japanese was as good as a proper native speaker. "These sessions are all about us talking. So ask away."
"What's with the lab coat?" Naru eyed her counsellor's attire oddly. "You don't work in a lab, right?"
"Not at all." Yamada-sensei said with a smile. "But I've learned that quite a few people in the City feel more comfortable when they talk to people in lab coats. It's because of the prevalence of researchers here, I'm sure. I'm exploiting that."
"Smart." Naru said with a giggle.
Yamada-sensei smiled back with good humor, allowing Naru to keep going for a moment before speaking up.
"Now that I've satisfied your curiosity, shall we begin?" The counsellor asked, to which Naru nodded. "So Naru-san, what would you like to talk about today?"
"Shouldn't I dunno talk about my traumatic experience during the Mutagen Incident? It's why I'm coming to these sessions, right? But we haven't really talked about it at all after all this time."
"Would you really talk to me about that if I didn't spend sessions chatting with you and gaining your trust first?"
"Huh, that's smart. I take it that you learned that in counselling school?" Naru teased.
"I did learn it as part of my certification process, yes. Though I wouldn't call it 'counselling school'." Yamada-sensei said with a chuckle. "So what did you want to chat about today? Or would you be willing to talk about the Incident now?"
Naru considered the matter for a moment before she nodded slowly.
"I think so."
"Take your time, Naru-san. If you are not comfortable, we can always wait a little longer."
"I know," Naru reassured her. "But I think I am ready."
"Alright. Then what do you want to tell me about it?"
"Well, I'm mostly over the actual transformation into that thing I became during the Incident." Naru said, a little surprised that Yamada-sensei did not appear skeptical. Almost everyone did, but honestly she was over it. Sure it was unpleasant but it was a far better experience than her kidnapping and she'd successfully got over that already. "But what really eats me is the way my Power Development Team betrayed me. I saw them as my family in a way, ya know. So to have them betray me like that…"
"It must have hurt you deeply."
"Yeah," Naru agreed. "But the traitors got what they deserved and I'm done with them. What really has left me uncomfortable is how it's affected my trust in those who remained. I want to. Really want to. Miyahara-sensei and the others have proven themselves, passed both Rui-chan and the City's screening. But…"
"You find it hard to trust them again?"
Naru nodded with a sigh. "I really want to though."
"Do you have any concerns that they might be disloyal even after the City and the Number 3's checks?"
Naru shook her head. "No, which is why my inability to trust them is irrational."
"Sometimes, we humans are just irrational." Yamada-sensei said carefully. "Do you think you would be able to get over your concerns?"
"I think so but it'll take a while. I need to work with them and rebuild trust over time."
Yamada-san nodded. "That is wise of you."
"Thank you. I'm not a Level 5 for nothing, you know?" Naru said with a chuckle that Yamada-san joined in on.
"Just know that if you ever need anyone to talk about it, I'm here for you."
"Just need to book a session, right?" Naru asked with a teasing grin.
"I do need to earn a living you know." Yamada-sensei said with a grin of her own. "Speaking of that, we still have plenty of time in today's session so what would you like to talk about instead?"
"Hmm… I do have something that I would like to talk about but just to double check, our doctor-patient confidentiality means you'll keep everything we talk about in these sessions secret, no?"
"Yes, with the usual exceptions for self-harm, criminal activity, etc."
"Good." Naru nodded. "And you have Class-S clearance?"
"That was a requirement to be your counsellor, so yes."
Kurama, it's time. You ready?
Yes, Kurama replied with a mental nod. I've been waiting for this.
"Okay, then there's someone I'd like you to meet." Naru said as she tapped into her mind and using her Esper ability she pulled out a small chunk of Kurama's chakra, shaped it into a chibi version of his old body which he channeled his mind into. "Yamada-san, meet Kurama. Kurama, meet Yamada-san."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Yama-" Kurama said before cutting himself off suddenly as the body that Naru had provided for him deformed and took on the appearance of a miniature version of his new body. "Damn! I can't even keep my normal body when I'm released like this!? That just sucks!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kurama-san." Yamada-san said, blinking in surprise but otherwise keeping her cool. "I take it that you are the being sealed inside Naru-san that is mentioned in her Bank profile?"
"Yup. That's Kurama." Naru said with a nod as she poked the fox who was busy glaring at his changed body. "Kurama, say something."
"Right. Sorry." The fox said with a tired sigh. "Hello Yamada-sensei. I think you can guess what I want to talk to you about?"
"You're suffering from some kind of body dysmorphic disorder?"
"Yes. And I would like to talk about it, if you're willing."
Yamada-sensei shot Naru a look.
"Talking him through this issue will help me too since you know how he can influence my mind since he literally lives there."
Yamada-san considered this for a long moment before nodding.
"Let's talk shall we, Kurama-san? I'm all ears."
Done and done! Thanks to Nameless as always!
And so the Daihaseisai starts, one of the biggest arcs of the series where so much is happening that several factions are going at it all at once! Of course, the Trinity will be tossing their hat into the ring too. Of course with the heightened security via the Trinity there will be no Sister-napping here! Baba, you have no idea what you are screwing with, son! And of course, Misuzu being the kickass Mama she is, goes and gives Naru some family time with her own. Be careful she doesn't get adopted, Mikoto! Jk, like AC would let that happen.
Nameless: Okay, to avoid confusion about the way we use "sister" and "Sister" when we refer to Mikoto's clones, let me just clarify that the use is deliberate. We use "sister" in reference to the relationship Mikoto has with them and "Sister" in reference to them collectively as a, for lack of a better word, species. Hope this isn't too confusing for everyone.
So, the omake is Naru going to a counselling session. I wouldn't doubt the mental health of the Level 5s were heavily monitored and those that actually go to these sessions get the best of the best in the field for it. Naru has been to a few of them since she had been raised in the City and it was drilled into her head to be fine with it. The expy used for this omake was Jessica 'Saintly' Yamada from the Worm Serial. She's a meme on how good she is in the fandom so I felt it was good to use her as a top notch counselor here in the TOTverse.
Nameless: Though like E4E said, you'd have to get them to go to them first. Between the penny pinching Directors not really caring all that much of the health of their operatives beyond whether it affects their effectiveness and how prideful the Level 5 are, it's a rarity. Keep in mind that Naru is the exception here, both for attending this particular round of counselling and the others E4E alludes to as well. Furthermore, as established way back in Chapter 20, the Directors want the Level 5s and Dark Siders mentally broken to an extent, it makes them easier to control.
You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!