Taking a quick break from writing for a bit. And no, not for an entire week. Just 2 to 3 days. Just saying this because there is a possibility that I won't publish anything for next week. There's also a chance that I would still publish, to which, again, just warning in case I did not.
That is all. Please enjoy!
His hair whipped, a few strands of white flying past his face. There was sudden shock, a sudden jolt of energy that reverberated through his body. It felt like a million volts of electricity surged through him, burning away any lingering fatigue or weakness, forcing him to move away from that bullet.
His barrier was off. Completely off. Not a single moment was spent on it, what with his entire brain capacity fully dedicated to trying to rewrite a person's brain functionality and thus survivability. He was barely given any time to react.
There was a ringing in his ear. That cold fang of death that he had narrowly avoided still stinging with the heat of life. His body tingled with awareness. His vision cleared and he saw that he was holding onto Last Order, the brown haired girl whose eyes were shut tightly. It seemed like he could feel her pulse in every part of him, like her life force was one with his own.
He looked back to find Amai Ao and those other two barely clinging to life. Hishigata was crushed under the rubbles, surprising that he was still alive, trying to claw the concrete apart from his crumbled form. Even then, that man had his eyes fixated on him with an unrelenting desire for revenge. He was to die, with his sister beside him, maybe underneath him, buried in its entirety, leaving only a few of her brilliant red hair as a testament to her existence.
Amai Ao had been the least injured. But it seemed like he couldn't stand, either, leaning on his arm with the other aiming that handgun of his. The guy could barely aim, let alone pull the trigger, but he wasn't in any state to underestimate them. Hirano wasn't so sure about that. The adrenaline rush and the fact that he had already saved Last Order were probably what saved him. But it seemed like it wasn't over yet.
Even in that state, the scientist had been clearly afraid. Amai Ao knew the consequences of his own injury. Both his legs, severed by the fallen concrete slabs that once supported his lab table. If he didn't get immediate medical attention, he'd bleed out.
And from the looks of it, when he felt a leg pressing down on his back, bleeding out would be the least of his problems.
He watched as that boy, on top of that still standing part of the building, saw the tense look on his face, that murderous intent he'd so easily looked at him with, washed away into a tired look. That boy stood up, clutching his bloodied side. So much of his blood had been lost, it's beginning to drip down onto the ruined ground below.
The leg on Amai Ao's back pressed harder until his face was grazing a rough concrete. There was a laugh. Children. Most definitely children. There were several more footsteps approaching not too far. Multiple of them. "I took you right?! He could fight!" Loud. That voice is directly above him.
There was a hum. Amai could vividly hear annoyance in its tone. "Sure," That same voice replied.
That same loud voice. It's laughing. "Well what'd ya say, stranger? There's more of those teachers not too far down there. You could kill them yourselves!"
Amai couldn't see. Not when his face is planted on the floor. Even his grip on his gun has weakened. He's passing out. "No," That's Accelerator's voice he heard. It's dimming. Amai felt lightheaded. "I've had enough."
At that, he heard more voices. Exclaiming - no, screaming. He heard loud rustlings and something hitting the grounds.
Amai couldn't draw more conclusions. Because by the time he heard that thud, the profusely bleeding wound of his severed legs had killed him.
Amai Ao died.
A jumbled mess of a mind of memories and experiences of the past; simply watching it all come and go whilst your conscience numbly observes. It's a strange feeling, almost like being in a dream state, but with the harsh reality of pain and suffering still lingering in the background. Voices come and go, much like fleeting flashes of his own memories.
He's back at it again, he suppose. This state of both unconsciousness and still being aware of his surroundings. Basically a limbo - neither here nor there. He feels his body move. Well, more like, dragged from the way it was being lifted and carried. The feeling of the ground under him, changing from rigid to something softer.
He wanted to open his eyes, but everything felt numb and disconnected from his own body. He couldn't even feel the air on his face nor the hand that was lifting his own. He could hear voices, though it was distorted to the point where he couldn't even make out who it was. It wasn't static. It was like his ears were drowned completely in water.
Even back here, he could feel his own breathing and the steady beat of his heart. It was like he was being carried through a tunnel - where everything was muffled and dark, yet still somehow present. It was unnerving, to say the least.
He'd been through this process twice just earlier that day. Maybe an hour ago. Is it weird to say that this had been his third time being unconscious in the past 6 hours? Any normal, sane person would call that a complete nightmare. But it's been his reality now. He had long since accepted that for as long as people still refer to him as that Accelerator, nothing would truly ever be normal for him.
Accelerator, a nickname tied to the deranged, sick, psychopath of a Level 5 who had killed more people than he could count. The very name alone was enough to make people shiver in fear and disgust. Yet, despite all that, even with the reputation that name possesses, he still finds himself being used by others, whether it be for their own gain or simply because they couldn't find anyone else who could do the job.
For as long as his features tied to it, the features of The Great Accelerator, he would always be a tool for others.
He could almost feel himself chuckling at that thought. Grim yet amused. It was a strange feeling, one that he couldn't quite put his finger on. But it was there, nonetheless. He blamed God for this. That is, if it even exists. But surely, it wouldn't create such an unfair existence, right?
Wrongly accusing the heavens is a bad omen. Karma was never so cruel as to wait for the right moment to strike. It always struck when you least expected it, and he knew this all too well. His past haunted him more than it should have. Whether things that were directly caused by his own actions. Mostly things caused by things he doesn't even know why it happened.
But it was all too clear long ago that all of his misfortune were caused by something that he possessed, something that he doesn't even wish for to begin with, but was born with. This power of his. It gave him that status as the strongest, putting that 'Great' in his nickname.
This power marked him as a weapon to use, something to learn and exploit the nature of. He couldn't remember his own origin because of it; does he even have biological parents? Was his father there when he was born? Was his mother the one that gave him away? Has he got siblings, young or old?
He couldn't remember. And he never could. Maybe never would; he's got others to compensate for that void, filling the title of Family that he so sorely missing. But it still brought itself up in his mind every once in a while. Last he had this thought... three years ago? Yeah, he thought of his biological mother.
Now that he thinks about it, he did meet her once. It was in the earliest form of his memories, at the very back of his own head. And that's where he is right now, unconscious, perhaps even in a coma considering the amount of blood he'd spilled trying to Last Order.
That memory of that woman who'd given birth to him. He doesn't know what she was like, if anything she's just a silhouette, not even a name or a voice. Not even a face. The colour of her hair wasn't even there, let alone her eyes. She was just a shadow.
But there was something about this shadow - it was sad. He couldn't even conjure a face that he finds familiar or fitting for that shadow, so how could he know? He doesn't. He just knows. He couldn't recall her voice but he knows that she's crying over something.
He was feeling the same thing back then. He could remember that shadow drifting apart, shrinking in size and disappearing. He did nothing when it happened. He just stared. Just a whimpering, useless little fucking brat who didn't even understand what was going on. Maybe if he did, he could have stopped it.
But then again, he's never been one to stop things when he could. Maybe it was his destiny to watch things unfold like this. Maybe that's what he deserves.
Most serene look he'd looked in a while was when he was in a coma. Truly, what sort of tomfoolery dump piece of cow shit of luck must you have to be so content in that state? No matter how you twist the situation, the answer remains the same. This was not right. This was not fair.
Kuroko had been busy since yesterday evening. All those destructions, evacuating the people and making sure no trespassers interfere with the cleaning process. It was so severe, half of the District had to be closed off. Nearly 10 Judgement Branches were put on duty to patrol the perimeter of the area.
Kuroko was one of those unlucky subordinates who just so happened to be deemed as one of the more 'useful' ones in the current situation. She and several others, consisting of other branches, were put in a patrol group due to her Level 4 ability to Teleport, making it easier to move around quickly to different locations, covering more ground and assisting with any situation that arises.
For some reason, those same Board of Directors insist that they and only them are put on guard duty until the entire zone is fully secured. It was irritating. Judgement wasn't even supposed to be under the Board of Directors command. They were supposed to be independent. But here they were, being treated like some sort of personal bodyguards. It was infuriating.
Kuroko had been missing school. If not for the fact that Tokiwadai's headmistress was a one of those Directors herself, they'd probably go on a wild goose chase to find the missing student, or worse yet, punish them for leaving school grounds during school hours without permission. Luckily, she was the one who sent them on the mission, so there was that.
It had only been, what, 48 hours now? According to the reports and Kuroko's own assessments, at least 76% of the zone had been fixed, so 2/3 of the damage. The city's technological marvel and understanding of infrastructural engineering were at least 30 years more advanced compared to the rest of the world - that, coupled with the quick and efficient actions of the cleanup crew, was quite impressive, even if the cause was unfortunate.
It wasn't usual for them to be this rapid, but not that unusual either. There was always a contingency plan in case of emergencies, and they had drilled it many times. Besides, with the approaching Daihasei Festival in several more weeks, they couldn't afford to have a large portion of the city closed off for too long. It was a miracle that the festival wasn't canceled altogether due to the incident.
Kuroko sighed, leaning against the palm of her own, her chin resting on her fist. She glanced at her watch, noting the time. It was almost midnight, and she had to go back on patrolling in 10 minutes or so.
Normally, she doesn't like being late and would try to head out 5 minutes before the aforementioned time, but nowadays, there wasn't much to be done aside from waiting. After all, it's not as if they were fighting anyone or trying to apprehend anybody. Nobody is trying to enter a zone that's been declared as dangerous due to the sheer amount of destruction.
Another reason being, to put it as cheesily as possible - her eyes drifted towards a certain person's face and felt butterflies going inside her stomach - it was because of him. He'd been there for nearly 2 days now. In a comatose after an organ failure due to bloodloss that pretty much defined as suicidal tendencies.
Even though Yoshikawa had informed her that he's been stable for a while now and they're simply waiting for him to wake up, it still didn't stop her from worrying. Looking at his side, underneath that pristine green hospital garment was a wound that nearly stopped her own heart from beating.
A cut that, if spread just a little bit more, would cause his innards to spill out onto the floor. A gash that went all the way from the front of his abdomen, all the way to the back, nearing the spinal column itself. He shouldn't even be able to stand. Hell, he should have been dead.
Yet according to Yoshikawa, and the addition of Heaven Canceller and Aiho herself - who had recently gotten out just the day prior - he sneaked out of the fucking hospital. The nerve of this guy. She should be angry, yes. But for some reason, she'd been happy to hear that. It meant that he was okay. That it wasn't as serious as everyone else had been led to believe.
She sighed, pushing herself off the wall she was leaning against. She was starting to ramble. She needed to get a hold of herself. It wasn't like she was some lovesick puppy or anything. She just fancied someone. Like, she's 13 and stuff, that means she's already beyond that infatuation and hormones stage. This was a logical conclusion, drawn from rational observation, and thorough understanding of h-
She felt a sting on her left cheek. She's slapped herself. Kuroko blinked. "I'm being too melodramatic," she mumbled.
How and why Hirano must sustain such a terrible wound isn't past comprehension or even analysis for her. But the more important aspect of it; who. Who would do such a thing to him? And why? These were the questions that plagued her mind. She knew it wasn't just some random act of violence. There must be a reason behind it. A motive.
Hirano is nice; he was just a quiet boy who, unlike some people she knows, never stuck his nose where it didn't belong. Sure, he wasn't exactly a social butterfly either, nor was he some arrogant ass who thinks himself above everyone else. He's just, well, quiet. Polite. Friendly, if only you took the time to actually talk to him.
Kuroko's lips tugged downwards the more she listed his qualities. He was one of the nicest people she had ever met, and yet he ended up in this state. It just wasn't fair. But then again, when has the world ever been fair? Kuroko grumbled under her breath at that notion; she's thought of it over and over already. Thinking about it more isn't really gonna help.
She sighed her lungs out, her head further leaning down until it wasn't even on the palm of her hand. Feeling the mattress of a bed felt super nice. It'd been a while since she last slept, and the past 36 hours had taken a toll on her as well. Yawning and stretching out her arms, she stopped in her movements when heard rustles and creaks. Originally, she thought that it was just the sleeping form of Yoshikawa behind her.
But that creak came from the door.
Paranoia from the lack of sleep, coupled with a lingering sense of anger towards the misfortunate that has befallen the bollock she'd come to fancy, her senses went on high alert. It didn't help that her recent thought patterns only solidified this idea further. In fact, if there were someone out to harm him, and that person just so happened to come by to try and finish him off when she was there...
She's gonna rip out that person's fucking limbs, piece by piece and then fed them their own entrails before goug-
"Oh hey, you're... here." Kuroko blinked. She finds herself at loss for words. Her balled up hands on her side were suddenly losing and is already on the brink of forgetting those sadistic, violent thoughts. Instead, it was quickly swept away. All of it.
"I... didn't think you'd be here." The girl's voice was, as per usual, cheery and airy. Though surprise was most definitely evident in her tone. She slowly approached Kuroko, taking with her a stool from the side and brought it beside the twin-tailed girl.
"I can say the same to you, Frenda-senpai." The blond nods at Kuroko's greeting. There's an amused light in her blue eyes as she takes a seat. The blond took off her beret and for once, allowing the top of her head to be exposed.
As if to keep the grim atmosphere away, the Scandinavian girl flashes a teasing smile. "Cute how you're still beside him even though it's already past midnight." Kuroko knew exactly what kind of person Frenda is - the laid back girl wasn't usually affected that much by older girl's teasing; but she did react when it's regarding something she's actually invested her feelings into.
Grumbling and crossing her arms, Kuroko's cheeks turned a light rosy shade. "Again, I can say the same thing to you; what're you doing here in the middle of the night?"
Frenda shrugged, looking at the boy on the bed. "I just came by to check on him. I haven't seen him once since that..." She trailed off, her tone turning more somber. "Anyway, I thought it was about time I paid him a visit." The blond girl set down a bag, which appears to be made of sturdy cloth, on the floor beside her. "I brought some snacks in case he's awake. But as it appears, he's out cold."
They were quiet, both in thought and in speech. The only thing that could be heard was the slow and steady tick of the clock hanging on the wall. For a while, Kuroko wanted to ask why the girl had to come here at midnight. Couldn't she have done so tomorrow morning or some other time? But the question died in her throat, unasked. He was her friend too.
Kuroko frowned at that, scratching the back of her head. She didn't really know what to make of that. It was just... strange. But then again, she's not one to judge. If anything, she's been acting the same way. Maybe it was just because they were both worried about him. Only difference, Kuroko's reason was more selfish and personal.
Really, Kuroko is quite self-aware for someone who's barely in her mid teens.
Her thoughts were snapped when something was ripped open. "By the way," Frenda started when the twin tailed girl noticed that the blond was opening the packaging of said snack that she brought. It's all bland, all grain foods, which Kuroko doesn't really fancy.
"Would you like some?" She was hoping that the blond wouldn't ask her that question. But fate was never really kind to her. She hoped that Frenda wouldn't see her scrunched up nose behind the box.
"Uh, sure," Kuroko replied, her tone noncommittal. Like much of her friends and people her age, sweet shit was the cocaine of food. She wasn't a sweet tooth like Uiharu, who could eat two pints of ice cream on top of a full course meal. Kuroko? She could barely do that on an empty stomach even though she does like ice cream.
Thinking about ice cream, now my tongue is craving some. She held in a whine at how dry the biscuit she picked is - even the moisture at the tips of her fingers were sucked out by the arid piece of food. The expectant look Frenda gave her as she eat it is pure torture. It was bland for God's sake, barely any taste and that was to be expected since it's a fucking snack.
What she wouldn't give to just go ahead and ask the girl for something else. Like her phone so she could browse the net. Or she could just say she's feeling a little off and head off to the washroom to puke it up. That might've been an exaggeration but it did paint a picture as to what Kuroko is going through.
When the clock struck 1 am, Kuroko's phone finally gave a chime of notification, letting her know of incoming messages from the others. Yay. "Umm... I should be going right now. The others are wondering where I am."
"Yeah, go ahead," Frenda replied with a small smile. "Thanks for keeping me company. I'll see you again tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure," Kuroko replied with a small smile. She stood up, stretching her arms overhead before grabbing her bag from the floor. "Honestly, I'd be surprised if you're still here the next morning." Kuroko let out a giggle, which in the end sounded more like a nervous chuckle.
The blond tilted her head. "The first thing you do in the morning is come here? That's kinda cute." She grinned, winking at her.
No response was given. None were necessary. The twin tailed girl finds herself too tight-lipped to say anything. She did her best to hide the sudden blush on her cheeks as she rushed out the door, bag slung over her shoulder, phone still in her hand.
Kuroko could feel the blush still there, even after she was a good distance away from the building. The blond could be heard laughing from the hallway.
Today was oddly calm. There were not that many people around - perhaps it was because the area itself was a neighbourhood that they're passing through as a shortcut. The (un?)strategically placed convenience store that was located right in front of an added bonus point of interest made for an excellent place to hide away from the summer's pre-autumn heat.
The visible ray of the sun's dispersed light looked really nice under the convenience store's extended roof which gave shade from above. She stood there for a moment, enjoying the slight breeze that caressed her skin, cooling her off momentarily. The scent of autumn, even in a city such as Academy City, was still quite palpable.
There were no leaves nearby, but she could already imagine the park that she and the others would usually hang out on to be all in a colorful mess. Of course, if any of them saw her now, they'll think she was spacing out or day dreaming - she'd likely get teased. But today's weather called for it; maybe she did slip into that light day dream just for a little bit longer than usual.
The automatic sliding door behind her opened. Her ears momentarily picked up the opening of a can. Misaki turned around with a smile and was met with an offering of a half opened sparkling, apple tea. "Thank you, I owe you one for that." The blond girl made sure to sound extra grateful.
Touma returned it with a smile. But even with that tugged up lips doesn't look so very convincing. Well, the guy rarely ever bought things for others; knowing his economic situation, it's not exactly a surprise. But still, Misaki found herself liking the idea of just messing around with the spiky haired boy.
"Don't mention it," He took a sip from his own beverage. It was that same drink he'd always brought with him - the same stuff that their white haired friend always drinks whenever he's out relaxing and stuff. But then again, that guy would buy at least half a dozen for himself. Touma thought? The most he's bought is two. "Today's kinda warm, don't you think?"
"Uh-huh," Misaki nodded her head in response, taking another sip from her drink. "If I had known it was gonna be this hot, I wouldn't have worn my jacket." She let out a small laugh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You ever wondered what happened to the Tree Diagram?"
"Nah, not really. I just assume that the city just used it for something else that's more useful. Nothing like predicting the weather so that I know when and when not to do laundry." The guy was beginning to sound more and more like a whining brat with each passing sentence.
Misaki couldn't help but giggle at it. Her gloved hands trying to decide whether to hold her purse, keep her drink steady, or try to cover her mouth to hide her laughter. She ended up settling on none of them and just letting herself go. "Well, it was quite the attraction. Kinda sad to see it go," She replied between giggles. "But hey, maybe they'll put something else in its place."
"They better." Misaki just continued on giggling, which in turn left Touma feeling kinda embarrassed of his own behavior. They were close, yes, but there was always some hint of formality on Misaki's side. It was nice seeing her let her guard down a little. "So, what are you planning to do today?" He asked, trying to change the subject.
"Oh, nothing much. Junko's been getting into some trouble with some others but nothing too major," Misaki replied, still smiling. "What about you? How's school been treating you?" Misaki asked, breaking the silence. She didn't want to seem too forward, but she was genuinely curious about how he was doing.
This guy doesn't have the best of luck, and just knowing how Touma can get into weird situations made her kinda worried for him at times. She doesn't voice it out but she's glad that she could help out when she can, even if it was just buying him some food under the mask of friendship.
"School's been alright, I guess," Touma replied with a shrug. "I met Misaka-san the other day. She was acting weird, I guess?"
"Weird? How so?" Misaki asked, tilting her head in curiosity. She couldn't help but wonder what could've been going on with the brunette. The girl always was quite the character; tomboy-ish and quite the brute when provoked. Most often than not, she was angry at Touma for petty things, so it was interesting to see that she wasn't herself.
"Well, basically I saw her after checking on Hirano the other day," Touma started, taking a long sip from his can before continuing. "There was this park several blocks down, right next to an overpass. I was gonna greet her and all, but she had this weird look on her face."
"Weird?" Misaki repeated, her eyes narrowing slightly in thought. "Elaborate, please."
"I'm... not sure how to say it. But, the word that describes it is... empty?" Misaki tilted her head slightly, trying to imagine what Touma was describing. "And no, it's nothing like a melancholic type or anything like that. It was more like... there was nothing there."
"I see," Misaki nodded slowly, trying to process the information. "And did she say anything to you?"
"No, not really. She just looked at me for a second before going back to whatever it is she was doing. It's like she doesn't even recognize me." Misaki may or may not have known something about this. It's been years since she last heard of it, so the blond girl isn't even sure about it. But it definitely has something to do with it. It was Misaka, afterall. "She also had this weird looking device on her forehead. A goggle maybe."
That was Misaki's que to stop the conversation. "Hmm, that does sound strange. I'll see if I can find out more about it." She took a sip of her drink before continuing. "Anyway, we should probably get going now. The others are probably already waiting for us."
"Yeah, let's," Touma nodded, finishing off the remainder of his beverage. "Let me just throw this in the trash can before we head off, okay?"
"Okay!" There were several things Touma shouldn't know of. He was chivalric in nature, which would make his already not-too-good condition worse if he knew anything and tried to do something. The smile she had on her face, for a split second faltered before she quickly replaced it with a concealed mask.
Her phone buzzed in her purse. Misaki ignored it. She knew already, the moment that it was notified that it wasn't from the others. They rarely ever did message each other - preferring to talk in person, instead. That's the way they've been for years, and it's unlikely that something's going to change now.
And if there was really something going on, they have the real Misaka with them. A Level 5 couldn't be fought without proper preparation. Those preparations usually contain massive, elaborate plans and resources. The Judgement Office isn't too far out from where they're currently at. If there really was a problem, Misaka's mach 3 railgun would be heard already.
But really, the problem wasn't on them. It was on her. For she had been in the scope of another set of plans to recreate a Level 6. After that failure which nearly leveled an entire district down by Hirano several days back, they never really ceased wanting to use the SISTERs.
"You okay?" Misaki perked up, her train of thoughts fully back on track. While her mind had been on an overdrive, he'd been standing there and ready to go, staring at her with curious eyes with lines just beneath his eyes that hinted at his worry. She wasn't one to just be caught off guard, and it shows in her reaction as she shook her head and flashed a smile even though she wasn't just mere moments ago.
"I'm fine, yes," Her attempt at reassuring him was well-received, as shown by the immediate relaxation on his face and the slight nod of understanding. Misaki took a step forward, gesturing for Touma to follow suit, and they walked off together in the direction they were heading, leaving the remnants of their conversation in the wind and the sunshine.
There were three consecutive groans from three different people at that particular moment. With a scrunched up face and a single scoff, Misaka crossed her arms over her chest. "Ruiko, you're being very melodramatic," she commented. "If you're going to do something, just do it. Dragging it out like this isn't going to help."
"Melodramatic?" Ruiko repeated, raising an eyebrow. "I'm being practical. I don't want to make any hasty decisions that could result in disastrous consequences," she explained calmly, her fingers gently tracing the outline of her headphones. "You of all people should understand that."
"What disastrous consequences? The worst that could happen is that we end up going to a different restaurant," The gentle Uiharu was even starting to sound a tad bit frustrated now. Her cheeks puffed in a cute little pout and her brows furrowed together in a small line of concern.
Misaka nodded fervently at the short haired girl's words. "It's not like we're dealing with life-or-death situations here; when was the last time we even did that?" The level 5 asked rhetorically, cocking her head to the side as she looked at Uiharu and Ruiko. "Just tell us what you want to eat and so we can figure out where to go from there."
The ravenette was quiet, her gaze snapping from the table and onto the other two girls. She opened her mouth to speak before deciding against it. In the end, she opted for the answer she'd used the most for the past 5 minutes. "I... I'm... fine with anything."
Yep. There it is again. Yet another loud grown escaped Misaka and Uiharu from such a simple yet contradicting answer - the sort that made their eyebrows twitch in annoyance. A deep sigh followed suit as a certain girl with a twin tail lifted her face from the table, before setting her chin on top of her wrist. "You guys are seriously loud."
Shirai Kuroko has awakened from her slumber, which only lasted for a generous 30 minutes. She yawned, stretching her arms across the table, her chin now laid on the table. She had most of her upper torso propped up on the table, looking more like a lazy cat than a human being. "What's the occasion this time?" she asked, she deadpanned, her voice still groggy from sleep with her tired eyes scanning over the other three.
"We're trying to decide where to eat," Uiharu explained, looking down to the girl beside her. "But we can't seem to agree on anything."
"I'm fine with anything," Ruiko repeated, a bit more forcefully this time.
"Chicken then?" Kuroko suggested, her eyes still half-closed.
"... I don't feel like having chicken." The ravenette replied. Quietly this time.
"Ah, I can see what the problem is." Kuroko said, leaning back in her chair with a small smile. "Is it that time of the month?"
Ruiko's face immediately turned bright red, her cheeks puffing up in embarrassment. "W-What are yo-?!" She yelped, looking around to make sure no one else heard her. "That's just... rude!"
"Well, usually you would've preferred talking about urban legends rather than being picky about food." Kuroko countered at the same time she let out her yawn, which caused the ravenette to sputter, before trailing off into a quiet Ruiko - the version of Ruiko they all liked.
Misaka giggled at the exchange between Ruiko and Kuroko, shaking her head in amusement. "Well, that certainly cleared things up," she commented, her gaze shifting towards Uiharu. "I'm kind of in the mood for some pasta." Uiharu nodded in agreement, her stomach rumbling slightly at the mention of pasta.
"Sounds good to me." The short haired girl nodded, already starting on to the task of finding a suitable place for them to have their dinner. Kuroko leaned back in her chair with a content look on her face, closing her eyes to the sight of Ruiko trying to hide her blushing face from view.
They all turned to the sound of footsteps and door opening, Misaki and Touma, had finally arrived, with the latter eyeing a certain chestnut haired girl with a slight concern, but was wiped when they all greeted them; including Misaka.
"Took ya'll quite some time. Something happened?"
"Oh, nothing much," Misaki replied with a smile, shrugging nonchalantly. "This guy right here couldn't handle some heat. Had to stop by and get some fresh air." She teased, nudging Touma playfully with her elbow. The spiky haired guy rolled his eyes.
"You're making it sound like I'm the only one who felt it." he huffed. "Anyways, what are you guys talking about? Food?"
They all nodded in unison, with Ruiko and Kuroko sharing a knowing glance before turning their attention back to the matter at hand. "We were just discussing where to eat," Uiharu explained. "We've narrowed it down to pasta."
"Really? That more expensive, less fulfilling knock-off version of ramen?" Touma raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the choice. "Let me tell you something about this place I found. It's a bit of a walk, but the food is amazing and the prices are great." He grinned proudly as he pulled out his phone to show them the pictures.
"Maaaaannnn, you're always showing that place off." Misaka sighed, exasperated by the familiar scene playing out. She was already planning her next move as she stood from her chair, stretching her arms above her head in a slow, deliberate motion.
The others were still engrossed in their conversation about restaurants, with Touma showing off his latest discovery on his phone while Misaki and Ruiko debated the merits of different pasta dishes. Kuroko had returned to her slouched position, chin resting on her arms as she observed the scene with mild amusement.
"Uiharu," Kuroko called from her spot. "Can you do me a favour?" Uiharu turned to Kuroko with a questioning look, her fingers poised over her phone as she scrolled through potential restaurant options.
"Of course! What is it?" She felt the twin tailed girl tugging at her sleeve. She inched closer down.
Then she began whispering. "There was this thing from last night - scorch marks and lots of molten metal scrap. The job looks recent, so someone must've snucked in and destroyed something. It's in the exclusion zone if you know what I mean." Kuroko's words hang in the air, heavy with implication.
Uiharu's face went serious as she processed the information, her fingers already moving on and about with her phone. "When and where?"
"About, I don't know. 11 PM till 1 AM, somewhere along that line. It's at the front of the school's warehouse. The one that was overlooking the fallen tower."Kuroko's words carried a somber quality, her usual laid-back demeanor replaced by a more serious expression. Uiharu nodded, already beginning to scour through her phone.
"I'll look into it right away," she whispered back, her fingers moving swiftly across the screen. "Most of the surveillance cameras surrounding the area shou- wait, what?" Uiharu's face twisted in confusion, her fingers stilling on the screen. She glanced up at Kuroko with a furrowed brow. "There's no data recorded for that timeframe at all. The security footage just... stops. Like someone wiped it clean." She lowered her voice even further.
"Someone really did go through and erase all traces of their presence. This is big..." Kuroko's face grew more somber as she absorbed this new information. She turned her gaze back to Ruiko and Misaka, still debating between pasta and what Touma claimed was "The best chicken shop in all of Academy City."
"Those metals are extremely resistant to heat. And for them to just melt like that..."
"Mmm, that would take a pretty good amount of force," Kuroko murmured thoughtfully as she finally opted to sit down like a normal person on her side of the chair. "It would take a jet engine or something similar to produce that kind of heat."
"The noise too. There were people stationed nearby but didn't hear anything at all." Kuroko added, "Either it happened very, very fast, or someone did a damn good job of masking the sound. Unless, of course..."
"A level 5." Uiharu finished the thought for her, a chill running through her as she realized the gravity of the situation. Kuroko simply nodded in agreement.
"Someone like that could do it without much difficulty," she agreed, speaking with more certainty this time. "But why? And who? This isn't just some prank or random accident. We don't even know what that person just destroyed." Her eyes scanned the room before settling back on Uiharu's face, intense and serious now. "We just know that it's done deliberately, since it is inside of an exclusion zone."
As Uiharu's mind began racing with questions and theories, they were spotted in their exchange. Her brow furrowed as she tapped Kuroko lightly on the shoulder, tilting her head quizzically.
"What's that serious look about?" Misaka asked, glancing back and forth between Uiharu and Kuroko suspiciously. "We're just about to go here. You two should take a break for a while, you've been working too much this week already."
Misaka's interruption sends the conversation veering in a different direction, and they had to temporarily shelve their discussion of the mysterious event at the warehouse. Ruiko and Touma continue their discussion about potential dining options, with Misaki chiming in occasionally. Kuroko stood up, taking her bag with her. "I think I'm going back to the dorm. I really need to sleep more. You guys should go."
"Yeah, I... think I'm gonna go too," Uiharu said. She glanced at Kuroko, silently indicating that they should continue their discussion elsewhere. The others were just about to voice their protests at the two suddenly leaving, but they left quickly enough that they didn't have to hear much of it. Even after they left, Misaka and Touma had their eyes locked onto the door, wondering of the same thing.
What just happened?
"You don't know?" Mugino, is NOT pleased. The older girl was basically eyeing her up, as if thinking which of Frenda's limbs should she sever first before killing her for good. It was not an appealing thought.
Saiai and Rikou were sitting on a nearby bench not too far from the two, with the former having her legs swinging back and forth over the side of the bench. The former? Well, she doesn't have much going on either. Bored of watching the usual shenanigans between the so-called yesman (in this case, girl) and her master, she slept whilst watching. Yes, Takisubo Rikou can sleep with her eyes open.
"Tell me why I shouldn't cut you where you stand, Frenda." Mugino's sharp words cut through the air, and her piercing tea-brown eyes bore into Frenda's blue, threatening to leave a permanent scorch mark.
The blond girl's fear was genuine, even with the daily dose of threat of mortal wounds, even death such as this. Frenda's body was tense, her fingers twitching at her sides as she tried to come up with an answer that wouldn't end in her being sliced into ribbons.
Because she knows; although Mugino wouldn't kill her nor the others, the threat was still very real. And then there was that possibility of the woman finally going over the edge. She wasn't just a hothead, and she's seen the woman murder people before, all of which were gruesome enough, even someone like Frenda who's seen and committed her fair share of murders.
"I... I didn't mean to, really! It was just a small mistake!" Frenda stammered, her words quivering as she tried to explain herself. "I thought you wanted me to do it, or else why would you have left the plans out like that?"
Mugino's face twisted into a snarl, covering her face with her hand. "You stupid, incompetent little..." She stepped closer, looming large as she towered over Frenda. "Do you have any idea what kind of mess you've made? Do you know how much trouble we're in now?"
Frenda's gaze darted around frantically, looking for an escape route or some way to diffuse the situation. But Mugino was too close, and there was no way out without going through her. "Visiting that little boyfriend of yours, at the exact same time as a fucking patrol agent. If that little shit finds out that you're actually part of the crew, we're all dead!" Mugino's hands clenched into fists at her sides as she spoke through gritted teeth. "What were you thinking?"
Frenda shrunk back under Mugino's intense gaze, her heart pounding in her chest. "I was just... I..." She stumbled over her words, trying to find a way to explain herself. "I didn't think it would be a big deal! I mean, it's past midnight and I haven't visited him once since he was first taken to the medical facility. How was I supposed to know he'd have visitors too?" She took a small step back, trying to put some distance between herself and Mugino's overwhelming presence.
Mugino's face twisted into a scowl as she stared down at Frenda. "That doesn't change anything," she growled. "We're all on borrowed time now, thanks to your idiocy. And now, we have to deal with this mess. Not to mention..." She leaned in closer, speaking in a menacing whisper.
"If she notices anything weird and talks, and they connect you to the entire thing, it's over for all of us. Do you understand that?"
Frenda's face paled as she processed Mugino's words. She knew how much was at stake, but she never thought her actions would put everyone in danger like this. Her eyes widened when she saw a tiny tug at the side of Mugino's lips. "N-no... y-you wo-... you wouldn't, r-right...?"
Mugino's eyes flashed dangerously as she slowly raised her finger, pointing it at her. "Wouldn't I?" She spoke in a menacing whisper, her words sending a chill down Frenda's spine. "You know better than to underestimate me, Frenda." She stepped even closer, their faces now mere inches apart. "I don't make idle threats."
"Take care of the problem. Or you, became the problem. Are we clear?" Mugino's words hung heavy in the air, her tone leaving no room for misinterpretation. The threat was unmistakable - she would not hesitate to eliminate Frenda if necessary.
Frenda's heart pounded as she processed Mugino's ultimatum.
Kill Kuroko. Or Mugino kills Frenda, AND Kuroko.
Mugino let out a long, exasperated sigh as she stepped back. "You're lucky I need you right now," she said, her words laced with frustration and resignation. "I know this shit is hard for you, so I'll give you time. You have until the investigation starts. If they start on it, you and that girl are dead."
The older woman walks back towards the bench where the other two of their members are waiting. She sat down in the middle and began looking for something.
Frenda had been on the grass floor, paralyzed with fear at Mugino's intense presence. But as the danger subsided for the moment, her thoughts turned inward to Kuroko. The thought of murdering her childhood friend. That doesn't sound right, even for someone who's a deranged sociopath like her.
She's watched people explode into puddles of their own blood, or boiled by it. None of it really ever fazed her, even though she's had nightmares where she was the one who'd one day meet her demise at Mugino's hands.
But killing someone she's known since she was 9 years old. An old friend of hers. Now that's just... Wrong.
"Oi, stupid retard, bring me my salad. I left my bag on that table over there," Mugino called out from the bench. The sound of her commanding voice broke through Frenda's thoughts, yanking her back to reality. She looked over at the direction Mugino had pointed and spotted the bag on the small round table in question.
She did as asked, getting up, dusting her skirt and rushing over towards the table.
At that point in time, she's beginning to think whether being this psycho's henchman is really worth it, even with certain immunities granted through the position...
I wanted to set up some things for now, have things calm first before we delve into the absolute chaos that is Academy City Invasion and Misaka Level 5.3. Oh, boy, I can only wonder how many more sleepless nights must I dedicate to research and write all of that again...
Anyways, hopefully, new chapter next week!