This was written when I was somewhere around 16 - 17. So quite some time now. I wasn't fully acquainted with the the Toaru plots just yet then, as everything I know about the series entirely comes from either snippets of the anime and mostly, i.e 95% consisting of fanfics.
Anything and everything innacurate about this, you can assume that it was the younger me acting up again with his stupid ass memory. Couldn't even recall 20k words like I could in full detail. N-word is stupid as hell.
For much of her life, Misaka Mikoto has been hailed as one of the age's greatest prodigies. Having an imposing potential even at the age of 9, passing expectations after expectations by becoming a Level 5 at the tender age of 12.
In a span of less than 4 years, she managed to reach something that was thought to be the pinnacle of human and esper capabilities.
These achievements brought to light allowed her to become the city's mascot, the Great Misaka Mikoto, Ace of Tokiwadai, 6th Ranked Level 5; The Railgun.
Becoming the face of a city so advanced that it surpassed the world in terms of technology by nearly 3 decades has its ups and downs.
She became the beacon of hope for many, the thought of her being the fuel for motivations and inspirations for thousands, if not, millions, was a refreshing thought.
And being the envy of many is also a souring thought, but she never really sticks much on such things. She worked very hard to be in the place she is now, they have no rights to think of her achievements as nothing more than a combination of some good genetics.
The bad fruits of those people were usually thugs and hooligans. People with the intention of bringing her down by any means, even if it breaks the law.
Encountering such individuals was no rarity. She's met with many of them, ever since her coronation as the city's Strongest Electromaster. She'd lost count of how many she had been forced to neutralize, as in, zap until they couldn't move. Too many for her to even care anymore.
And this one in particular, had been following her ever since she stepped foot out of School Garden, a restricted area where her school, Tokiwadai and 5 others reside.
She thought that the guy would eventually leave after she entered the City Market, knowing how crowded it would be. But his persistence was actually quite surprising.
It took another hour before Mikoto realized that the guy was still there, looking all scary with his bleached white hair, hands deep in his hoodie, such and such.
For a moment she stared at the guy's reflection on a glass window. She didn't know it was a guy, in all honesty. He was so skinny that it was almost feminine.
It just somehow felt right referring to him as a 'He', as all the people that had tried to attack her were all male themselves.
She huffed, rubbing the back of her head, threading her fingers through her hair. For once, she was actually actively trying to avoid conflict.
She moved swiftly through the crowd, carefully calculating her next move, accounting for the fact that he was no more than 30 - 35 meters behind her.
When she felt that it was time, she nearly leapt into the alley, a crowd of people as her cover. She didn't waste any time, briskly walking along the damp walls, silently muttering curses after curses towards the guy for ruining her day even by a little bit.
"Asshole," she murmurs before taking one last look at her back, watching the crowd of people move along past the alley, making sure that he wasn't following her.
She turned into a different route that connects multiple alley channels, walking along it before turning again, practically bringing her back towards the place where she comes in.
But before she reached that intersection, she saw him standing there, hands tucked inside the pockets of his hoodie. 'This is stupid.' She thought, her patience waning.
"Hey douchebag, you realize that following a girl into an alley isn't gonna look good on your slate when you meet God, don't you?"
Her statement did catch the guy's attention, as he snapped his gaze from the floor onto her figure. When his eyes landed on her, she felt a shiver like no other. His gaze was intense; the most intense she's ever seen in her entire life.
Her breath caught in her throat as she instinctively took a step back. Momentarily, she was shaken. Misaka Mikoto might be one of the seven strongest people on Academy City, maybe on earth, but she was still a teenager; barely past 13.
She registered the danger this person might pose, to stand there so incredibly still before the might of the Railgun. He must have got something up his sleeve, like a plan of some sort. An ambush, potentially. And that scares her. People in this city were renowned for having a higher IQ average, with 120 being stated as only 'Decent' by many.
She thought of just running, but she didn't. Maybe it was ego, or even her pride as a Level 5 and as a person, maybe a combination of both, but she chose not to.
She gulped before steeling her resolve. Generating electricity from her person with enough energy to paralyze thirty people into a single outlet, it crackles back and forth before touching the guy's side.
The energy in itself was perfectly utilized with no room to waste. Her calculations were perfect. There was nothing error within them. She was sure of it. She knew because others had fallen to it with the exact same formula, only slightly changed to accommodote the change of environment.
So how did her attack bounce off before disappearing completely? Why did everything suddenly fizzle out without leaving even a single streak of smoke?
The guy sighed, mumbling words unheard to her ears. He pulled his right hand out, and she resisted the urge to flinch. When he rubbed the side of his head, she knew he was playing with her.
"State your business before I hurt you." She exclaimed, pulling out a small coin from her pocket. He seemed to have recognized it. 'Good', she thought.
But the response she received wasn't what she had wanted. "You're really gonna do that shit over here, brat?" He sounded unimpressed, more so just annoyed.
'Who're you calling brat you dry twig?!' She grits her teeth. "Don't think I won't!" He scoffed at her, a sneer that left her shoulder rigid. The mental jab hurts. The lack of indication that he was even remotely intimidated scares her even more.
"No matter," he breaks the silence. His voice sounded raspy, but not quite directed at her, she can tell that much. He pulled his other hand out of his hoodie. "There's something I need you to see."
He brought out an envelope. She was beginning to get suspicious that this is another one of those Project offers she keeps getting. "And if I say no?" She did her best to keep her voice steady.
"Nothing happens." His response doesn't sound reassuring, especially in a voice like his. It made it sound like something was gonna happen.
"Then wh-"
"And if you did read it, meet me outside of School Garden." Him cutting her off mid sentence was a power play. He hasn't done anything noteworthy except for reflecting her attack. The power of mental warfare and psychology has always been her weakest points in combat.
Her status was just a mere title. It doesn't hide the fact that she was still a kid trying to get through puberty.
He threw the envelope. The gap between them was massive enough that they had to exclaim to even hear each other. So it surprises her when the object bounces off of her forehead with a small thud.
"Tomorrow. 16:30. Upper entrance, close to your academy. You'll know which one." He said one last time before turning around, leaving her as she picked up the small piece of paper.
Mikoto glared at the back of his white hoodie, wishing for it to just burn and engulf him in flames. She'll just have to contact Anti-Skills tomorrow in case he actually does come.
She looked down on the envelope. What kind of person he is, Mikoto doesn't know. Why he gave her this thing, she also doesn't know. What she knew was that he was willingly approaching her, and from the looks of it, is also aware of the fact that she was a Level 5.
He was willing to do anything to accomplish whatever it is he was trying to do. Not to mention the look on his eyes, he was assessing her every move. Like a predator eyeing its prey. Well, not exactly like that but you get what she means.
She shuddered at the thought. 'A predator…' He certainly looks the part, and has the voice to be one too. She better be careful around him.
Eventually, when he was completely out of sight, she sighed. "Scary."
Something peculiar had taken root within his main plan. It wasn't as though the boy had been attacked, nor was he brainwashed in any sort of way. The thing that had taken control of him was… himself.
He had watched it all. The way he acts, the way he talks, the way he behaves, it was him. Yet not him at the same time.
No words could explain this level of confusion he had experienced just then, regardless of how brief it was. It had taken decades for those two to appear and be within his grasp at the same time. It wasn't just a minor setback anymore.
Aleister Crowley was gonna do something about it. He has accounted for everything. Well, many things. But for the boy to do all of this… it was simply uncharacteristic.
He wanted to utilize the spare plan, but he was also unsure to dispose of the main plan just yet, as he was invaluable to the plan in on itself.
Whilst he was busy formulating more ways, the unexpected came to be in the form of the boy himself.
The phone call was brief, just two words from the boy. Those two words were enough to surprise Aleister of all people. It didn't take a second for the expression to be wiped clean from his face. That exact same amount of time was enough for the boy to suddenly appear before him.
Accelerator's back was faced at him, leaning against the glass incubator Aleister resides in, with his left palm pressed firmly on the glass.
"What do you know?" Aleister's own voice surprised himself. The usually reserved magister couldn't even contain the wariness in his own tone.
"I know enough." The sheer willpower it takes to not cut him down right there was immense. Yet something told him that doing so would backfire.
Accelerator turned his head, his snow white locks covering most of his eyes, but the intensity was there. "Magician, your power couldn't hold a candle to the things I've seen."
The glass his palm had been pressing on cracks, the web traveling upwards. "This tube you're in keeps you from Churches. Without it, even for a second, the world would be after you."
Accelerator was being direct. He wasn't messing around. He was after something. "You punched the messenger on the gut, yet a second before it you were contemplating his words."
Accelerator audibly chuckles at that. Aleister continues. "You hacked into the system and stole only the data logs regarding The Level 6 Shift project. You knew about it, even though it hasn't even commenced yet."
"And then you went on and gave the data to Railgun." Aleister's eyes narrowed. "Do you plan on stopping the project, Accelerator?"
The white haired boy paused at that. A second later he took his hand off the glass panel. "All of it," he walked away from him, then turning to face him completely. "Everything underground, be it related to the SISTERs and me or not. I'll stop it all."
"And your offer?"
"Making your plan works." That sentence seemed to have piqued the magister's interest. For someone so awfully disinterested and ignorant as the boy, he seemed to have been aware of too many things. Too many, in fact, that he was tempted to just listen.
"And how do you plan on achieving that?" It had been a while since Silver Star himself felt a genuine need to know. With these emotions resurfacing, his judgment might have been clouded with the next word that comes out of Accelerator's mouth.
"A third tree." The boy knows more than he lets on.. Something has happened; and this boy suddenly became his most invaluable asset, even the Imagine Breaker might not even be needed anymore.
How he acquires this knowledge, he no longer questions. There's no doubt about it after all. For him to suddenly come here, doing all sorts of uncharacteristic things to him, and then revealing to him this knowledge that no esper should have known except for a select few.
The boy is the bringer of the Day of Reckoning.
It is astounding as to how 10 minutes in the shower can revitalize and rejuvenate one's soul. The hot water cascaded down upon her body, washing away the weariness that had been plaguing her for hours, having just wasted much of her sanity on a lesson she'll probably never need; a piece of literature, something about the futility of war.
Misaka Mikoto huffed, her towel still draped over her hair as she put on her pajamas. Her roommate was still outside, doing whatever it is that she usually does with whomever she usually does it with at the place she does it at.
Truthfully, she doesn't know much about the girl except that she was a quiet person. Too quiet, perhaps. In theK 1 month she has spent in Tokiwadai, she's only ever talked to the girl about 2 - 3 times, all of which she could vividly recall being less than 5 words. Sometimes she wonders how someone like that even orders food at restaurants.
Could be the reason why she was with her friend a lot. Which makes you wonder… How could someone so quiet even have close friends? Especially one that was very talkative? Considering those kinds of people don't usually go around their way to make a conversation with others, do they just wait until someone to talk to them and then stick to that person until the end of their miserable fucking life…?
Maybe.
Whilst Mikoto was contemplating the 'complex' philosophy of her roommate's social life, she accidentally rambled onto the next logical thought: why is she still thinking about her?
Oh, great. Her own mind has suddenly turned into an existentialist's playground. Can't say you can blame her, though. Spending hours delving into the pointlessness of war tends to have that effect on people. Of course, considering the source material for your intellectual enlightenment was penned by some guy who couldn't decide whether he wanted to be a writer or a philosopher (spoiler alert: he chose both, but failed miserably at both), it's no surprise that your brain decided to take a detour into the land of existentialism.
If you're going to be stuck with these kinds of thoughts, you might as well embrace the silliness of it all. After all, who knows? Maybe the meaning of life really is just trying to find the meaning of it. Or maybe you just need to find a new hobby that doesn't involve drowning yourself in the pretentious musings of overly philosophical authors. Speaking of which, have you tried baking? It's good for the mind, also for your double snifflers.
Mikoto's face scrunched a little at the internal monologue she's having. How… random. "Whatever. I'm thirsty." She mused, leaning towards her nightstand, where she kept a glass of water. A glass of water is a necessity, especially in the middle of the night where you wake up with a parched throat. They usually taste like heavenly blessed water during those hours.
While she was gulping down the clear, cold liquid bits by bits, she started thinking about her day. Just earlier this noon, she was approached by a guy. Scary guy. Just thinking about him turned the water a bit sour, maybe even bitter in her mouth. She doesn't even want to remember him. At all. That encounter was so bad, she had nearly forgotten it. And she rarely forgets things.
Had she known any better, she might assume that the guy was a serial killer…
Why did she even have to bring it up? Now the entire encounter is all fresh in her mind!
She put down her glass, her face now donning a frown instead of the earlier neutral expression. she closed her eyes, her hand suddenly slapping the side of her head. "Come on… forget it." Her brain, the uncooperative organ it was, decides to bring up even more of it.
Then her eyes opened slowly. He gave her something, now that she recalls most of it. She scrambled off her bed, onto her uniform, hanging by the handle of her wardrobe. Her jacket had a pocket in it. She utilizes it a lot, using it to sneak things such as gums into class.
She couldn't find it though. After another quick memory jock -much to her dismay- it was later that she recalled once more that it was an envelope of some sort. She couldn't have kept the thing in her jacket, unless she'd folded the thing. She didn't even want to think about it back then, so she must've just tossed it into her bag without much thought. How stupid; it could've been a tracking device, maybe even explosive. She should've been careful about things that she received from strangers.
She knelt and searched her bag. And there it is, that same piece of brown paper. She undoed the tie. She resisted the urge to just burn through it, assuming that the content was a piece of paper. It took a while, but she did get to peer inside. It was… almost empty until she flipped it upside down and a small, black object fell out.
"SD card?" She murmurs under her breath, carefully picking it up. It was so small, it was barely the size of her own nail. "Who uses this anymore?" In this day and age, the occurrence of people who use this are actually pretty small. You're either holding some questionable contents on your device, or that your phone simply just ain't shit.
She walked up to her bed again, sitting cross legged before pulling her phone out, inserting the SD card. It didn't take long for her to find a single, unlabeled document. She clicked on it, wondering if she was about to open a bomb of malware or viruses or worse, some kind of ransomware that would encrypt her personal files. But when the document opened, it was just… a typical Microsoft Word document. The font was basic and plain, like something you'd see on a high school essay or a failed author's unfinished draft or something.
She squinted her eyes to read the contents. Most of it was censored by a black bar, indicating that this was a stolen file. For it to be censored this much, it must've been a high profile document. The one who breaks into it doesn't have enough time, or just simply isn't skilled enough when it comes to hacking. She was hesitant in reading it now that she knows that this file might contain something that she shouldn't be knowing.
But she continues on. It was definitely a log file, going as far back to 3 years ago. Those parts were completely censored however. She scrolled down until she saw some parts that are actually coherent. The dates are now just weeks prior.
As she read, her eyes widened a particular sentence stood out more than anything, enough to have Mikoto's brows furrowing, her eyes widening. "-To have the subject go through live battle simulations against Railgun — times, allowing him to shift from Level 5 to — in a span of a month."
To have her fight a Level 5? Times, as in, plurals, in a span of a month? That was, at the very least, 4 total battles against another level 5. She was currently ranked as the weakest in terms of strength and capabilities. Why would she want to fight another Level 5? No way in hell.
She shouldn't have been surprised that this whole thing ended up being just another Project invitation, but to think they'll be sending someone like him after her. She might've been the 6th ranked, but she was still a Level 5, regardless. She might as well just not leave the campus ground tomorrow, let him stand outside all day, making a fool out of himself.
She was gonna turn off her phone and took out the SD card, threw the small device out her window, maybe even destroy it so as to not leave any tracks that it ever even existed out of sheer want until she glimpsed at something that pushes the thoughts aside completely.
"Since it was impossible for the clone to reach —'s level, recalculations with — substitutes us with the use — clones instead,-"
Her heart skipped a beat at the next one. "Subject is to begin experiment 0 at-" Her eyes were locked on those sentences, lips pressed thin with her eyes unblinking.
The phone creaked a little under her grasp, leaving a red mark on her palm. The date was today. At 6:45 am this morning.
In a span of 10 seconds, she took the SD card from its slot, threw her phone aside. She generated 100,000 thousand volts towards the small device, burning and melting it on her night stand. It was enough to leave a large enough charred area on the wooden furniture with webs of burnt wood spreading down nearly to the floor, but the device was completely unrecognizable.
Not enough. She should've done more. But the fear of triggering the smoke detector kept her from going further. It was already a surprise, to deal this much damage without triggering it. For a school this prestigious, this strict, in a city like Academy City, they don't appear to have very good smoke detectors.
She knew what the exact sentences were supposed to mean, even behind those black bars, there's a reason she was a Level 5. Being one means that your brain is powerful enough to exhibit an unusual quantity of AIM Field. One of them is so powerful, it affects the entire universe. And that person was just very recently announced dead not a week ago.
The plurals on the word 'Clones' should've been enough of an indicator. But the later parts had only confirmed it. Initially, she imagined that they'll be making 4 - 5 of said clones. Then that part, 'Impossible for the clones to reach —'s level.'
They're trying to recreate a Level 5. 100 level 4 wouldn't be enough to face a Level 5. 'Impossible', as in, not having the potential as the original. Level 2 and 3s, with the occasional 4.
She was 12, so she would imagine that those clones are too, no way they as a Level 4 or less can face a Level 5. Even if they weren't killed, they can't heal instantly from the wounds sustained. Even if they were healed, it would be inefficient and consuming lots of money to send them over and over to the hospital. Moreover the suspicion it would arouse…
It didn't even take a second. Why would the scientists keep that many clones of her around? Had they been seen roaming around, people would start to question things. An international law suggests that cloning another person is a violation of the Council of Europe convention, Biomedicine and UNESCO's 2005 on Human Cloning. The backlash the city would receive on the international stage is gonna be immense.
So why? Simple. They don't. 'Live battle simulations'.
Mikoto's eyes twitched. "They plan on killing them…"
Is that why he brought her this letter in secret? Because some on-going underground project is trying to ask for her permission, possibly even her DNA.
The answer was clear enough. "They can take this back and shove it up their a-"
The door opens slightly ajar before her roommate sneaks in. The girl closes the door so quietly, she doesn't even hear it click.
"H-hey…" Mikoto's own voice appears to be just as nervous as the girl seems to be. Bad words are absolutely prohibited in this place. And she was just very nearly caught saying one.
"H-hey, Mikoto-san." The timid girl tried her best to put on a smile. It ended up looking like she was trying to hold in a pee, but the effort was appreciated nonetheless. She started sniffing. "D-did something burn?"
That's when her eyes landed on the nightstand. "It was a massive bug."
The girl, being the non-talkative person she was, just accepts the answer. Now she sees why people want to be friends with her. No way she could spill some secrets when she had no courage to speak with people to begin with.
Mikoto dreamt of something weird last night. She could vividly recall it though, which was already unusual to begin with. When you can remember a dream, you know it would be bad. Nobody remembers a good dream.
She was little. Very little. Well, not really. Looks about 9. There were more pictures of her being 9 than any other age, for some reason. Her gallery can testify to that fact. She can't even remember what she looked like when she was 10. She was just as adorable either way. Nothing inappropriate on the author's part, for sure.
She also remembers that she was in a white room; a big white room, peering down on a glass towards a kid doing some leg therapy. She shudders a little. Is that what she does back then, looking at crippled kids trying to regain that lost sense of normalcy? Talk about cruelty…
Mikoto rubbed the bridge of her nose, looking to the side towards the upper window closer to the ceiling. Her classroom had always looked so majestic when it was close to evening. Especially with all those God rays.
Then she remembers doing the same motion back in that dream. Instead of a window, it was towards a man wearing a white coat. A scientist, maybe a researcher, she can't remember exactly but it was something between the two.
The man told her something. Something that left her little heart clenching. Everything else blurred after that. It ended abruptly after that with a loud ringing, so loud that she just wanted to hit the source of the sound. Which she did actually. That's literally how you turn off an alarm clock.
It's been so long since that dream, approximately 7 hours ago. And it's been nagging at the back of her mind since. Each time she thought back on those dreams, she felt nostalgic for some reason.
I mean, something similar did happen back then. She handed them over something. A strand of her hair. It was for… she can't remember. But it had something to do with the crippled kid.
Why she had this dream, she was still uncertain, but it's probably because her roommate had noted that she, 'Could've crippled it', motioning towards the charred spot on their nightstand instead of murdering it. Apparently, the girl is a pacifist. She loves animals. Even if it's a bug. That's a rarity.
At least she didn't rat on her. Snitches get stitches anyways, she understood her assignments nicely.
Back to the original topic; Her dream ended with the 9 year old version of herself handing over strands of her hair. Knowing how innocent she was, back then, it was most definitely to help the kid battle with his crippled legs.
But now that she thinks about it, 3 years later would've shown at least some progress. She hadn't read nor even seen anything about it, actually. Mikoto was an avid reader, she likes reading. She'd even read news, not exactly everyday but would've when she deems it interesting enough. And a medical breakthrough about treating, or even curing disabilities was definitely an interesting topic to her.
She wasn't unaware of the problematic side in this city; as shown on the rise of several rebellious factions, the downfall of district 19, even the thugs that tried to assault her on numerous occasions. Keyword; tried.
There are many problems in this city, and not just on its populations but also in its internal structure. Some board directors aren't exactly as honest as they appear to be. The inhumane experiments on child-errors unearthed just 3 years ago by Anti-Skills. Hell, even the Level 5s are problematic, that she was dubbed as 'The only sane Level 5'.
The city is riddled with problems that also appear in the outside world. No matter the time or place, corruption will exist so long as humans exist.
Nothing is ever perfect, lest God wills it. If everything is perfect, Adam wouldn't have eaten the forbidden fruit and everyone would've been in heaven having a party with God right now.
But that doesn't change the fact that she had handed over DNA like it's candy. And that has her thinking. If they don't plan on using the samples trying to find treatments, then what in the world were they doing it with?
The answer was simple. With the things she has been given just the other day, it was already clear as day. The clon-
"Mikoto-san, w'(z) + z^2 w(z) equals to?" The suddenness of the questions and the sternness in which her teacher had delivered it immediately broke her out of her monologue.
The girl actually flinched at it, having been caught off guard, in the middle of reaching the conclusion of her questions. Teachers are scary. Especially ones that usually aren't angry. "Huh, umm, 0."
"(z^2 + 1)w (z) + z w'(z) - w(z)?" The older woman adds.
The second one was pretty much the same as the first one except longer. "Also 0."
The woman didn't seem impressed however, moreso just looked a bit disappointed. "The first one took you 2 seconds to answer. Something on your mind you'd like to share with everyone, Mikoto-san?"
Mikoto shakily shakes her head. "N-no…"
"Then would you please pay attention to the class? This lesson is gonna be worth half your grade in the exam." She then proceeds to continue with the lecture, leaving Mikoto feeling ashamed and rather humiliated.
A Level 5 was supposed to be a role model for everyone. Being scolded during class in front of everyone isn't exactly a good role model. But there's something other than trying to be a good beacon for the people that surround her, that is dealing with her own problems.
The problem was, the clones didn't really matter to her. They're not human. She's never met them, never even known them. The fact that the guy tried to inform her of its existence on the day the first experiment was conducted already meant that this was pre-planned.
Maybe they're trying to get a reaction out of her, thinking that she'll lash out because a doll with a striking similarity to her was being butchered in some underground facility she's never heard of. She's against the murder, but so long as it doesn't involve innocent lives, she's okay with it.
If you're gonna sympathize with the suffering of every living being on this planet, then you're wasting your breath and tears for something that is already absolute. Not a single person who has ever lived does not go through it.
But if she has the ability to stop that suffering, if she were within range, she will do her very best to do just that.
But the clones. They're just clones. They don't matter to her. In fact, having something that resembles her down to the last detail, is unliving and numbering within possibly the thousands.
That's just out right creepy.
She'd want to kill them herself.
Mikoto might have misjudged the value of this guy based on his appearance and behavior. His morals were better than most, for trying to alarm her, to have her do something about the possible massacre that was about to take place, maybe already have taken place. But that doesn't change the fact that he'd cared enough to inform her.
A part of her hated it however, bearing the knowledge that a clone of her was being killed somewhere. It definitely feels shocking to know your doppelganger's life has no value in this world except as a test subject for some twisted group of people.
Yet that very same group of people could also bring forth a greater level of understanding towards the world we live in, by being responsible for the creation of a Man made God. One that would actually listen to the people directly instead of through a messenger.
Her class ends right at 16:30 pm. Mikoto was unsure whether the guy would actually be outside. And if he was, would he still be waiting for her after this long? She was a tad bit apologetic for making him wait for so long. But then again, it was his choice to tell her of these things.
The School Garden itself was already quite large. The Tokiwadai grounds were massive, now imagine the entire area. It was large enough to be a micro district within District 7.
It took nearly 5 minutes for her to walk the entire path from her school gate to School Garden's northern entrance, closest to her school. She passed through without problem. She didn't bring her bag with her, having left it in class. It'll be at the 'lost and found' later, plus, it's also a shortcut.
She looked around for any imposing figures that she might recognize. It didn't even take 5 seconds to spot him despite the large surplus of bustle on the streets. People are only leaving school and work by this hour. Most of which she recognizes also comes from School Garden.
He was across the street, leaning against the entrance of an alley, a white plastic bag by his leg, filled with what appears to be canned drinks. They're all black. He already noticed her.
Just as she was about to cross the road, he picked the plastic bag and started descending into the alley. Mikoto rolled her eyes. His intention was to be inconspicuous, but it looks more suspicious like this.
Imagine this scenario, a shady looking guy, waiting for, like, half an hour before getting into an alley. And then 5 seconds later, a girl follows suit. People are definitely gonna question that! Taken out of context, this sort of thing is just plain inappropriate to the highest degrees. This guy definitely has a degree in annoying her shitless.
She ended up waiting 30 seconds before walking into the alley. It took about another 10 seconds of standing still at the intersections before the guy decided to reveal himself.
"What took you so long?" The white haired guy was much closer than she liked. She looked to the side to find the guy sitting on top of a dumpster. And it reeks like hell. How he manages to not barf or even flinch at the smell of it amazes her. He must've lived in the slums! No wonder.
"I read the file you gave me just last night." There was no reaction from that. Not even a single peek. He just continues on with drinking that beverage he has with him.
So Mikoto took a deep breath. "I… Um, I'm not sure how you're planning on stopping it by bringing me into this, but… I'm… Just… I don't know, sorry." Her voice trails off as more and more syllables escape her mouth. She doesn't know what to say.
But her inability to voice her reasons, that does attract his attention. He was looking at her with that same disinterested eyes as yesterday, but with a hint of something inside. 'Is that surprise…?'
Yep. Mikoto had misjudged this guy. "You're a good person for trying to help those… clones. But I don't think it's worth it."
If saying that his lips were perpetually tugged in a state of scowling and boredom, then he was definitely expressing confusion now. "You won't save your clones?"
She felt guilty. Not because of his question, which even without any bit of rational thinking the answer should've been clear enough as long as you have a soul. But because she was actually enjoying this change. It painted him in a new light, at least. From that scary guy in an alley to a not-so scary guy with a heart in an alley.
"Again, it's not worth it." She repeated her last sentence. His confusion morphed into anger. Never mind her new light thingy. He was definitely scary now.
The guy's albinoistic appearance, combined with his sickly thin stature, provides for a ghastly view. His ruby red eyes were like that of a predator stalking its prey. He was the scariest thing she's ever seen since… yesterday.
She instinctively took a step back. Her lips trembled as she tried to force a word out of her throat. Then the guy clicked his tongue. "This is impossible."
He let out a loud groan, mumbling words that she could barely catch, only that he was trying to make up with a brat. The rest he couldn't catch, but she did on the word God. His mumbling stopped, he started talking again. "This shit wouldn't have been a problem had you not handed over your DNA, third-string."
"Hey now!" She couldn't believe her ears. Did she seriously hear him say that to her? "Don't call me that!"
"Or what?" Now his indifference is just beginning to grate on her nerves.
"I'm trying to be nice here."
He rolled his eyes, sliding down the metal surface of the dumpster. The sound of his shoes hitting the ground resonated with a light thud. "You're wasting my time."
Mikoto's eyes twitched, staring at him rather incredulously. She just went from respecting him, to fearing him, to just… absolutely confused at the constant changes of her opinion. This guy is simply confusing.
"You're the one who called me here!" Mikoto barked. To think she even referred to him as a nice guy not 1 minute prior. "You're a fool!"
"Stop screaming, you're hurting my ears, brat."
Oh now he's just asking for it. "I've had enough of you." Mikoto sucked in a breath, hissing the words with a dangerously low tone. Electricity started cracking over her head.
He looked down on her with surprising recognition and acknowledgement. As if he knows what she's going to do. "Don't even think of doing it."
A part of her agreed to what he just said. There's a lot of metal around here. The heat would alert the guards near School Garden's entrance. If there was any CCTV around here, it would start burning up by the loose electricity she's generating.
But then again, what part of him thinks he can order her around. She just wants to zap him like she always did to those thugs. She should've learned the first time around that simple attacks don't exactly work against him.
And she should've anticipated it.
The tendrils of each of her attacks bounces off all over him to the moist, cramped alley. You know what happens when wet bricks are struck with high currents of electricity? They explode. It's called electrolysis. It's when the water in bricks starts producing hydrogen and oxygen, which can be flammable and explosive, especially when they accumulate.
Since electrical wires were usually kept within walls, the charges she sent caused them to malfunction, surprising the girl even more when the loud popping were heard, raining on them with brick fragments. A large chunk landed just right next to her. It was dangerous being here.
What's even more dangerous was that this is the consequences of her own recklessness. She wasn't careful.
Her heart was thrumming in her chest, her leg a little wobbly. She could hear a little commotion on the road from the alley. 'Get a hold of yourself…' Mikoto thought, trying to calm her roaring heart down.
Then she felt it. She looked up to see him grabbing her outstretched wrist. That same expression was back again. Neutral, disinterested. Aloof. His hand was surprisingly soft. She couldn't imagine someone so harsh being this tender.
"Don't touch it." He still sounded hoarse though. If only he was just as soft in the tone just as he was with his hands. "You'll hurt yourself."
When he spoke that last part she looked over to where she was trying to reach. Her subconscious mind had nearly touched the dumpster. Even without the smoke coming out from the top, she knew already that it was burning hot. Hell, the rubber wheels had melted. He saved her from a nasty burn. That did ease her up a little.
"Thanks…" she murmurs, pulling herself away from him, her eyes stuck to the ground. When she did look up, he was kneeling. There was a frown on his face.
The plastic bag. 'Oh…' The universe has a lot of ways of making her feel guilty for a lot of different things today. First was the last chicken nugget this morning, then the clones, now this. "I'll pay you for that."
He clicked his tongue. "Don't bother." He said before getting up, snapping his neck left and right. "Get out of here. They'll be searching the whole block in a minute once they're done evacuating everyone."
"Right…" Mikoto was gonna do just that before she froze once more. She shut her eyes right. Did she really have to think of this again, now? They can part ways and never think back of this moment. Ever. This is her chance. Did she really need to be curious?
…
She relents.
"Hey," Mikoto turned back. He wasn't far away just yet. "Why do it ? Why do you want to save them?"
He stopped on his tracks just as she had. Again, he audibly took in yet another deep breath. Even with this distance, she could hear him speak due to how quiet it was now.
"I can't believe I'm the one telling her this shit," Either he does it on purpose or not, she could for once hear him musing, unlike earlier. "The SISTERs don't have to die by the hands of a monster. They deserve better than that."
And just like that, he continues on walking, leaving Mikoto alone, with only the company of the persistent thoughts rummaging in and about within the confines of her mind.
The way he spoke it; there was regret in them, self loathing, even outright disgust at certain parts of the words he'd said. Had he felt guilt? He was trying to save them. Someone like him, a rude, loudmouthed, hooligan, feeling guilty over some clones were being killed in a place that is even out of her control.
If someone like that actually felt something, what about her? What does that make her? What does it make Railgun, Misaka Mikoto? These thoughts continue on strangling her, taking roots into her very brain.
And she's supposed to be the role model?
This guy… he's taking care of her problems. A problem that might just get him killed. Another Level 5 is supposed to be there. Either way, she loses against them. She's the weakest of the bunch. What can she do? She doesn't want to die, but she also doesn't want him to die because of her.
…
'What do I do…?'
The question plagued her mind. It's like catching a cold. It simply does not want to let her go. She hated it.
Midnight didn't come as fast as she'd like, meaning these damn thoughts are actually making her perceive time slower. Meaning her brain is actually doubling in the efforts of trying to find an answer to his response instead of working on her homework that is due tomorrow.
Midnight was 2 hours ago.
Mikoto's lips have been pressed into a thin line for so long now, that it might actually feel strange when it's not like that. She kept her eyes glued to the ceiling, her pillow tucked in between her arms and chest.
She began to wonder how many of those clones had died by now because of her inability and lack of want to do anything to help them. Is letting that guy do anything gonna help? What if it's just gonna add 1 more body to the pile.
Somehow, thinking that he might die felt surprisingly unpleasant. How could it not? She didn't stop him, nor did she help him in any sort of way. It was a problem that stems from her past mistakes as a child.
How could she be so stupid back then? 'Shut it. I was 9'. Great, now she's arguing with herself. She reached up to her temple, massaging the area as the headaches started to settle on nice and cozy inside her overworked brain.
Why did she care? He was just some nameless guy who was trying to be a hero. It'll be his own fault if he were to die. Not hers. He's the one who acts. She's just here laying on her bed thinking whether he'd died or not.
'That's right.' Her lips started tugging. 'I didn't even know his name.' She doesn't know if that's supposed to be comforting or not.
Her hand stops rubbing her temple. Slowly it rises upwards. She eyes that hand. The same hand she'd nearly burnt just several hours back. 'They don't have to die by the hands of a monster…'
Mikoto wanted to be like her father. She doesn't meet him much, but he sends her a letter occasionally. The latest one was just a month ago after her admission into Tokiwadai and ascendance as a Level 5.
Her father was a good man, though she rarely met him. She's heard of the things he's done. At least, some of them. She aspires to be someone like him as a child. To be helpful to the society she lives in. Which could explain why she handed over her DNA as a child.
She was too innocent to understand the world like she does now. But what she has now is still scarce compared to what some might possess. She hasn't experienced it all. Those sisters he referred to, considering they're from her DNA, wouldn't that make them her own flesh and blood?
That makes them her biological sisters. Even though they're born in a lab, they're still made from a piece of her. A piece that she willingly gave away, being used to create them. They're a part of her.
If she has a sister, then she wants that person to experience life to the fullest, just how she wishes to experience it as well. 'They deserve better…'
Her mind went quiet for a second. She blinked several times, trying to get rid of the sudden blurriness of her vision. Then she felt something cold flow down the side of her face. 'Why am I crying?'
She uses both hands to wipe her face clean. She did her best to keep her breathing even, as to not wake her roommate. She doesn't want the girl to wake up and find her crying. It's embarrassing. Yes, definitely that.
She got up, rubbing her weary eyes. She looked down on her digital clock. It's past her curfew. She'll be punished if she were caught sneaking out late. She'll be late for class if she sleeps late as well, her sleep schedule is very delicate.
'Better punished than a life lost.' With that thought in mind, Mikoto steeled her resolve. Changing out of her pajamas, she put on a different clothing.
She didn't think she was ever gonna wear her childhood clothes again, but here she is. A tight fit, but was better than her pajamas or God forbid, her uniform.
She sneaked out of her window, doing her best to make as little sound as possible. The next thing she needs to do is get out of the school grounds. Then School Garden. Then last the entrance system.
Mikoto had a very smile on her face. 'This is gonna take a while.'
Which did take a while. She had to sneak around. And the fact that streets were narrow with little to no covering only made things even MORE intense for her. She thought her heart was gonna burst in her chest. Good thing she kept her head low, the cap feels uncomfortably tight on her head though.
Tampering with dozens of CCTV cameras with her power only made the risks even higher, possibly even skyrocketing them. There's a reason why 2,000+ of them were installed. Why wouldn't you feel paranoia? You have an area filled to the brim with classy, rich, cute little middle schoolers to protect. One couldn't help but be overprotective about them.
Any of these malfunctions, it's three lives that'll be lost. Her wallet, her grade, and her reputation. She can't lose any of them.
Escaping the entrance system was the hardest one just yet, but she feels like an accomplished, gold-winning athlete. 'Cha cha real smooth,' Mikoto mocked the camera system as she descended into the darkness of the streets.
"Alright, what do I do," she stopped by a vending machine. If she's gonna help him, assuming he's alive, she first needs to know the facilities he plans on taking actions in first.
It would most likely be taking place underground. No way they'll risk being caught either by passers-by or even the city's security network.
From what he'd given her yesterday, just acquiring a log file appears to be a hassle already. How she's going to find locations, that's another question that she has no idea how to acquire the answer for.
But of course, there's always the, "Data banks." Mikoto murmured under her breath as she looked towards her back into the distance. The menacing looks of the Windowless Building, with its purple lighting, sucking in the purple hues.
If the Data Banks were to be located somewhere, it's definitely close to that. But of course, it's merely an assumption. But then again, there's always alternatives.
People of authority. Judgment, Anti-Skills, Board of Directors. Believe it or not, these three are three different entities of their own. The Boards have no authority over Anti-Skill, and Anti-Skill has some influence over Judgment, depending on the person. They operate under different guidelines, procedures and codes.
What they do have in-common however, is that they have access to the city's Data Banks, with the least amount of access being given to Judgment, and the most for the Board members.
No way she's going after the Directors. One of them was her Headmistress! Anti-Skill's base is too far away, it'll take hours for her to run there. All that is left is a judgment office.
Since most of their agents are also students, their office is usually closed around this hour. Those who aren't, Mikoto doesn't want to know what they're doing.
The closest Judgment office she knew of is about 2 minutes of running. Which is perfect for her. She hasn't been running in a bit.
When she went there as expected, the door was locked. She can't expect for things to go her way every time. Mikoto doesn't want to break in, though.
Any sensors would alarm the entire street, maybe lockdown the entire office. The risk of the unknown scares her. So she opted for a different plan by climbing up the emergency ladders on the back alley. It wasn't part of the judgment building to begin with, but the building it was a part of was close.
She dropped down about 2 meters from the other building onto the office building. All that's left is for her to tamper with the EM field on the antenna. This is a lot easier than she initially thought it would. She should've done this first earlier.
The most common Esper ability in Academy City is said to be electrokinesis. Which is the power of electricity. And most of those people only have control over the electrons of a particle, some have protons as well. There was a reason why she was the strongest of those types. Not only is it the most common, it is also one of the most versatile.
With an ability this flexible in its application, it is very easy to bend the rules to fit her own agendas. Taking Electromagnetic waves, translating it and transferring it to her phone terminal. Hacking has always been easier for her because of this.
Accessing a web of network with just an antenna isn't gonna be enough, though. But it can be used to initiate the process. There's this thing called the "Spectrum" where the electromagnetic spectrum is divided into categories based on different types of electromagnetic waves. This includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays. These categories become less visible as they move further away from the visible range.
The frequencies of these waves can be tapped into and transferred to a device, just like how Misaka Mikoto uses the electromagnetic waves to hack into systems.
All she needs to do is to find the right frequency, and she's in. But knowing the frequency alone isn't enough. The complex web of data isn't something that can be simply hacked.
It requires knowledge of the network's layout, the physical layout of the targets, and more importantly, it requires the ability to decode the current data streams in real time. This means the strongest espers is not just about power, but also about intelligence and understanding the underlying mechanics of technology and theories.
Which is why a Level 5 will always be superior compared to the Level 4, no matter how close those two might sound. Level 5 has a different brain structure and capabilities. It was much more efficient, more powerful, which allows for their AIM Field to process a much wider array of data and decode complex patterns at an incredible rate, and calculate up to trillions of separate factors of things at their absolute peak.
Level 4s, on the other hand, can only handle a certain range of data points, limiting their ability to keep up with the rapid processing demands of high-level calculations.
Mikoto manages to find the correct frequency by calling into an Anti-Skill emergency hotline. Which might sound stupid, because they now know of her existence, giving her approximately 20 - 30 seconds to get everything she needs.
The frequency isn't broadcasted openly; it is encrypted and locked away, only accessible through the hotline.
Speaking of the hotline, it's not just any ordinary hotline. It's an emergency line designed specifically for situations that require immediate action from Anti-Skill forces. It's also the line that the Anti-Skill units use to communicate with each other when they're in the field.
Those in control of this line are usually high-ranking officials or skilled operatives who have the authority to make decisions under pressure. This line is their lifeline, connecting them directly to the command center.
Meaning, access to the city Data Banks. Misaka Mikoto's fingers danced over the buttons of her phone terminal, each movement precise and calculated as she accessed the encrypted frequency. The complex series of tones and signals that streamed through the line were just another puzzle to be solved, another piece of a larger puzzle to be analyzed and decoded.
She focused on the frequency, letting it resonate through her mind as she began to unravel the layers of encryption protecting the data. The complexity of the system was almost overwhelming, but she was determined. 10 seconds is all she needs.
As she pierced through the final layer of encryption, she accessed the data bank. The information was a wealth of data—network configurations, physical layouts, and real-time data streams. A place where every data that has ever existed in this city, was being kept at a digital warehouse. It was a treasure trove of information, a database so vast that it housed everything from personal data to the city's infrastructure management. All she needed to do now was filter through it and find what she was looking for.
"Found it…" She muttered, her mind already racing through the possibilities. The data she was looking for was encrypted heavily, but her ability allowed her to break through the layers of protection. She pinpointed the location of the primary server room within the city.
Mikoto's eyes darted over the schematics on her phone's display, absorbing each line and detail. Copying it into her own device. By the remaining 10 seconds, she was just getting extras.
The operator was beginning to get pissed on the line by the time it was done. Cutting off the network, jamming the frequency, she finally lets out a deep breath and leaned against the antenna.
That has to be the most intense sequence she's ever been through. It was cool though. Reminds her of a movie scene. Other than that, she just felt like a massive nerd. She's now wondering why she was even explaining all of those things inside her head.
She looked at her phone. Her finger feels clammy, even sweaty. But what she really focused on was the documents she'd acquired. A lot of them, actually. She doesn't want to read them. She'll be handing it over. She just needs to place it on an external drive.
She chuckled. 'Shouldn't have destroyed that SD card.' After that, all that's left is finding him and giving it to him.
Easier said than done, how does she find him?
Turns out, finding him was a lot easier than she had anticipated, it just took a lot of energy to do so. A lot of energy, as in, Mikoto going around from different parts of the district to the other. But it eventually paid off, by catching the guy off guard.
Well, he wasn't really surprised, at least from what she could see. She doesn't know if he was, which is already baffling. Does this guy show anything other than anger? Well, he did show remorse the other day. She was capable of something else, at least.
He just stood there, back bent like a question mark, looking down, gawking at her as she flashed him a toothy grin. "For someone who wants to take down a rich underground project that experiments on human lifes, you sure do leave a lot of trails on your back."
No reaction from the guy, just kept his gaze glued on her. He must be wondering. What changed her mind? "What changed your mind?"
Her left hand subconsciously pumped, murmuring a quiet 'Nice' as she broadens her grin. "I was thinking that you're in need of some help." She pulled out her phone and waved it in front of him. "And guess what I found?"
He scoffed, swatting her hand away, nearly knocking her phone onto the pavement and earning a knuckle to the jaw at the same time. "Should've guessed it."
He turned to leave. She was about to sigh exasperatedly, as if to showcase her disappointment to him clear as day. Until he decided to gesture at her with his index finger. "Move it."
She jogged just until she was about an arm's length, adding a little bit more just in case. Her mouth was opening to speak, how he even knew was starting to grate on her nerves. How he manages to read her so easily is frustrating. Just a single finger from him was enough for her to swallow those words.
She supposes that he doesn't want people to hear their conversation. Which was logical for him. Problem was; she just doesn't like beating around the bush for too long.
Not a minute later, he was leaning against those damp alley walls yet again. Mikoto was looking up into the sky. It looked so gloomy in here, yet outside it looks very nice. The contrast was very palpable that it actually hurts.
"So how'd you find me?"
Mikoto just shrugged "You were drinking a lot of that thing yesterday. More than a dozen from the looks of it." She held a disgusted barf at bay. That much caffeine flowing in his system is already a biohazard. It scares even rats and c-ckroaches.
"I just have to look up some convenience store supply logs on their computers. Find the one with the most purchases for your drink, and check out that place." She simplified it the best she could.
"Hmm, clever." There was a palpable look of surprise on him now. He wasn't even hiding it anymore. The tone too, he actually meant it.
She looked down, finger grasping the hem of her skirt. She was trying not to grin. Which was weird, because she was doing just that earlier. Maybe it's different because she was being complimented. "I… I was lucky on the 4th guess, I suppose. Otherwise, I probably would still be running around."
Which, again, was weird because she was used to getting one. Sometimes, she was just dismissive about it. What makes this one so different? Well, because he was genuinely complimenting her. Not because of it. He might actually be the first to look past her status. And that's a breath of fresh air right there. Except that it doesn't smell like it, considering the place they're in.
There was silence for a moment, before he brought his palm forward. Oh, right. She pulled up her phone, searching for the files she'd taken last night before handing the device over to him.
One problem though. She didn't have the necessary amount of time to check the files herself, and she was very tired. She went out very late last night, even though the time taken was less than an hour, she was already weary. It's still a scary experience to hear the sirens on the night air wailing from afar, knowing that it was meant for you.
Not to mention, she'd just gotten out of class 45 minutes ago. She's got only 10 minutes or so to spare with him, approximately, and that alone was already a gamble. She should've planned this better. Acting on impulse was a mistake.
He was scrolling through the file at a rapid pace. It was a surprise he even read any of the contents. "How did you get this shit?"
"Why, what's wrong? Did I get the wrong documents?" She frowned, trying to reach for her phone.
"No, it's good. Just wondering if you're the culprit to last night's tomfoolery." Her hand froze midway. That breathy chuckle from him has never sounded so intrigued. "You did a sloppy job. You didn't leave any trails, did you?"
She shook her head, taking her phone back. "I scrambled the frequency the best I could. The CCTV's were static for at least 3 minutes. I did the whole thing in a minute. Max."
"Good." He flattened the empty can on his hand, tossing it aside before looking at her rather seriously. "Don't do it again."
She flinched. It wasn't as bad as the other day, but it's still scary. "Okay." She looked down on her phone. "So, how do I transfer these files to you?"
"Just delete them."
Her head snapped upwards, eyes towards him. "What? Why?" He tapped the side of his head, silently declaring that he'd already memorized the entire thing. Which was impossible. What kind of person can memorize something that quickly? From a single read nonetheless?
"You should leave. Or you'll be late."
Mikoto rolled her eyes at his commands. But she did do that. Before she leaves though… "By the way, next time, I'll pick the place to meet. I've visited more alleys than necessary this week already."
He didn't seem to like the sound of that. "'Next time'? What the fuck do you mean by that?"
She turned to face him, hands on her hips. "I mean what I said!" She exclaimed. Her voice bounces off the walls. She could hear birds flying off above her. "I want to hear reports from you, and I want to know more about the clones."
"Can't you just hack your way into the Data Banks again?"
"You told me not to, remember?"
'Checkmate!' she shouted in her mind. She'd won her first argument against him! 'Nice going, brain. You too, author.' The guy just clicked his tongue. "Whatever. Go off already."
She was gonna do that, but then she realized something important. "What's your name?"
He didn't answer nor respond in any way. Not even when Mikoto asked him for the second time. The moment the question was out of her mouth, he was out of there.
She ended up being 5 minutes late.
Misaka Mikoto couldn't focus. Her right hand writing poems for a literature assignment, flowing fairly fast. Her left hand kept on her lap, fingers folding, fidgeting frantically with the hem of her skirt.
She could feel his gaze on the scalp of her head. His gaze was always intense, like he was perpetually calculating everything. And it's making her feel watched, judged. Saying that she was uncomfortable would be the understatement of the day.
The constant scrutiny was getting under her skin. She sighed, setting her pen down. She glanced up at him. He has his hands on the table, wrapped around a cup of his coffee. "You do realize that looking at people that long is considered rude, don't you?"
He rolled his eyes, but he did heed her words, settling for the cup in-between his hands instead. He didn't speak. "Also, didn't you wear that same hoodie yesterday? And the day before? And the day before t-"
"Shut up, brat." The guy growled, closing his eyes shut while reaching for his temple. "You're giving me a headache."
Mikoto scoffed. 'If anyone's having a headache, it'd be me.' She wanted to say, but is content with just keeping it to herself. If anything, saying that would probably result in yet another argument. She'd rather not have one in a dining place. Interrupting other people's lunch is the last thing she wanted to do today.
"Can't you at least wear something else tomorrow? I'm risking being seen in this uniform with a guy like you."
"Then why not stick with the alley?" He retorts. A sound argument, not that she'll admit, but she'd rather not step another foot into that place. Just thinking about the smell is killing some of her brain cells already.
"Enough of that, let's talk for real." She finally relents, putting her books back into her bag before sliding her sundae over. It's beginning to melt, but is in relatively good shape. She took a sip, savoring the sweet taste before finally speaking. "So… any progress?"
"6." Was all he said.
She tilted her head. "Elaborate."
A waitress passed by. He waited long enough for her to move past the hearing range. He leaned in. "6 facilities gone. 2 of them exploded. 14 left."
She hummed. 'That was quick.' She could probably do it quicker. Maybe she should help with it as well to quicken the inevitable. "I could've done more." He added a bit later. "Those people catch on quick."
Again, she hummed. "Anything I can do about it." His answer was a curt 'No'; it was simple, concise, and effective against her. She deflates a little. "I don't mind getting my hands dirty, y'know? I'm already complicit, what with the things I already did."
"Hn," He groaned, finishing his cup in a single, quick swallow. "I couldn't care less if you've murdered people. You'll do your job when the time is right. Until I say something, you just keep on living like you always do." She got what he was trying to say. Everyone had a part that they must do. She just doesn't know what hers is.
Suddenly, he coughed a little. It wasn't anything that could incur any attention. Hell, it sounds like he just choked on his breath. The cough itself was brief, but the fact that he was out of breath after was a little concerning. "You okay?"
He waved it off. "It's nothing." Mikoto watched as he rubbed his throat, eyes low. It's as if he's realized something. Something not good. Him dismissing her only further amplifies her concern.
The same waitress from before was just about to pass by again until Mikoto grabs the older woman's hem, requesting water. It only took about a second or two before the woman brought an entire jug.
She poured him a glass. At least he wasn't being fussy about it. All he did was look at her incredulously. "You said 6 facilities, right?" He hummed, setting the now empty glass. "How come there's no news about it?"
"Why would there be? The shit ain't even public."
'Right…' she mentally facepalmed. She didn't think of that. "Anyways, I can't have you get caught over a cough." He looked like he was offended by her words. If yes, he didn't even try to voice it. "If you're sick, then just say that you're sick."
"I'm not, dumbass. Do I look sick to you?"
"You look like you're dying." She then points at his wrist. "You look fragile as glass. Your skin is thin, maybe even nearly translucent. You're skinny as a twig. And your bones are screaming for some milk." She went on to list several more things.
Anybody else would've been fuming by now, watching as someone list off dozens of things as to why you attract no bitches. This guy's just built different, she suppose. "Then what're you gonna do about it?"
She then proceeds to raise her hand towards a nearby waiter. "We're getting you some gains."
"What the hell does that even mean?" Slang words don't appear to be a part of his vocabulary. By the time she explained it to him though, it was already too late.
Her orders now sir before him. He must've never seen so many greens. And a cheese burger. She doesn't know if he was lactose intolerant or not, but he'll say something if he is.
Though, she was also rather worried. Forcing him to chow down this much food at once might surprise his stomach. Will he die from him, maybe even get sick? She doesn't now. Hopefully not. He looks like the type of kid who has 2 moms, while also looking like the type of kid with no parents at the same time. She doesn't know which.
"I'm not eating."
"I'll pay for it." Still nothing. He glared at her. Her eyes twitched at the sight of it. But seeing that he hasn't harmed her in any way so far, even preventing her from her own actions, she suddenly felt a burst of boldness. "It's not a request."
His glare didn't waver until several seconds later. Until finally, he looked away. His sigh was so loud, too, some people were looking at them because of it.
She's done it. A grin appeared on her lips when he picked up the spork. "Come on, eat." She tries her best not to sound belittling. He might look like he was gonna kill her, but that was what's nice about it.
Here's someone who wasn't being such a yes-man or woman to her. She's hardly formed any real or meaningful relationship with anyone due to everyone either adoring her, envying her, or just wants something from her. It made her feel lonely. Very. Until this guy, at least.
He's the closest she's got to a friend right now. And she wants to take advantage of that as much as she can.
So much for being a friend though, Mikoto doesn't even know his name. Hell, she doesn't even know anything about him other than the fact that he was a nice person, which was something that you can fake. Was all of this just a fàcade? An on-going experiment that she has no idea of? Everything is a possibility if you're being paranoid.
But one thing was for sure. She doesn't want that. She wants this friendship to be real, to be genuine. And everything he's shown so far has been genuine.
And Mikoto wants to believe that everything she's seen so far is really genuine.
Suddenly, she extended her hand, offering it to him. He looked up from the plate towards it. Even she was surprised by the act. But she knew what she wanted to do with it. She just doesn't realize she wants it that badly.
"My name is Misaka Mikoto. What about you?" There. She's introduced herself formally to him. She initiated the gesture, asking for a genuine friendship with a guy whose appearance can be passed off as being either a drug addict or a thug.
But why does that matter? It didn't.
Neither does it to him, as it seems.
He just looks at her hand before going back for his food. The firmness on her offered hand seeps away as she hesitantly extracts it.
She didn't speak for the remainder of the meet. Which was the next 8 minutes. She ended up leaving earlier than expected.
He had to pay for the food on his own.
"Can you tell me about the clones?"
It had been 2 days since the attempted introduction. Things were going back to the usual after that. Though, with much less time because she was busy with mounting classes due to exams closing in on everyone.
Correction; It had been 2 days since her embarrassing attempt at making a friend. Things have been awkward since, and she can't stop playing the event over and over again in her head.
"They talk in third-person." Now that's an answer she wasn't expecting. Mikoto seriously thought that he was gonna shrug it off yet again.
"Really?!" She exclaimed out loud. Which earned him another one of those annoyed looks he usually gave her when she's being annoying. She's getting better at detecting it. "Can you demonstrate it?"
"Like hell." Yeah, she was definitely pushing her luck with that last bit. But it didn't mean that she wasn't curious about how it sounds.
"Does this mean you've met any of them?" His confirmation comes in the form of a nod. Knowing that he's met one of them made her feel rather jealous. They're her clones, how come someone else get to see them first before her? "So, are they, like, okay?"
Again, a nod. "They're fine." Again with the coffee. She never really understands why he liked those things. They're really not that bad, especially when you're trying to stay awake. Problem was, his favorite has no taste whatsoever. You could probably choke on the powder, even with all that water. "They're at the hospital, some of them. Under Heaven Canceller's protection."
She knows that guy. From what she can recall, Heaven Canceller was an old man who looked like a frog. Even more reasons to visit! "Why didn't you say so? I should visit them!" She took a mouthful of her sundae first before getting up. "Let's go. We're getting some gifts on the way."
She looked back when she was by the door. He didn't even move. She huffed, groaning before stomping her way towards him before standing there, looking down on him.
With her convinced that he wasn't gonna do anything to her, his glare no longer works like charm. Not even a week ago, she was scared shitless by it. "What're you waiting for? Come on!"
"Do I have to?"
"Yes!" She intended for that to be quieter, but it came out louder than realized. A tap on her shoulder revealed a blond girl. European from the looks of it.
"Can you keep it down? My lady over there is having a headache." It was surprising. The girl spoke perfect Japanese.
"Ah, umm, sorry." The blond girl even bowed before quickly moving back towards her group. Foreigner's starting to flock into Japan lately, with childbirth being at an all-time low. It's a dying country.
Looking back at the topic at hand, she looks down on him again. "Come on." She said yet again.
"Don't you have a class later?"
"Today's Saturday." The guy just exasperatedly sighed, his white hair bobbing as he got up. She never realized it up until now, but his face looks very clean.
It looks as though there weren't even a single speck of dirt on it. His eyelashes are also very long, it's rather feminine if she were to say something about it. His cheeks looked very smooth, the contours up close are lovely. Had he been a girl, he would've been quite the eyecatcher.
"Move." His voice broke her out of her trance. She blinked several times before she even realized how close she was. A blush settled on her face as she took a step back, allowing him to leave the booth he was in.
'Piss off, Mikoto! Don't check a guy out when he's literally in front of you!' Mentally slapping herself right across the cheeks, she trailed him from the back. Her face was still red, either from the earlier blush or the harsh mental slap turned out to be real. Either way, it stings.
'Stupid hormones.' She thought, mumbling several more curses right underneath her breath. She was thankful that daylight in Academy City is usually plenty loud, especially around the commerce area. Had it been somewhere close to evening, he would've heard it by now.
For several minutes, they were quiet. She was gonna point out that they've already passed by 3 bus stops. It was only later when he decided to take a turn into the neighborhood that she finally decided to voice her thoughts.
"The hospital's straight that way." She points back towards the direction they were supposed to be going. But regardless she followed anyway.
One thing she didn't like about this guy was that he was mostly inconsiderate. Not stopping when being talked to such as this, making snide remarks with no filter, insulting her even when it's uncalled for, not even talking when being talked to. He was a massive, walking, living, breathing contradiction.
"They wanted ice cream." But that thing coming straight out of his mouth is a shock to hear. Him saying something that can be considered 'good-natured' is shocking.
Pushing that thought aside, she can't help but smile a little. "You cared." The tone she spoke in sounded too soft. It's getting weird. At least it wasn't awkward when he scoffed at that.
The store he went to was close to her usual spot. She mostly goes to the arcade to enlarge her collections, but this place was very cheap and rather close to School Garden, so it sort of became her 2nd go-to after the mall arcade.
"You go on ahead. I'll be right there." She points at the machines, jogging towards it when he groans in response.
She pulled her wallet out. She's only got several coins. She'll have to exchange some for some more later on. It only took seconds before she ran out of her coins.
She's got 7 items in total, consisting of; a green pin, keychains, hair clips and several others. Mostly keychains and pins. She can give them the pins and hair clip as a gift. The rest, she already has in her collections, so they can have the keychains if they want.
While eyeing the Gekota thingies, her lips trembled as her eyes watered a little. 'It hurts.' She let out a quiet sigh. "I'll miss you all…" She said before hugging the things close to her chest.
She heard a tongue clicking right next to her. Suddenly the gloomy atmosphere became bland. Was it too much to ask for a little bit of mourning? She's about to give away some personal, important items here!
"Grow up, brat." He said before pushing her aside, looking at the machine. He set a basket beneath the 'Take Here' hole. She was confused as to what he was doing when he then kicked the thing on the side.
She nearly shouted profanity at him at the unnecessary violence that was being inflicted at the poor little machine when out of the blue, everything suddenly poured out like water. It was unbelievable. Is that his power? What was that, motion manipulation? No wonder he can bounce off her attacks. Not only has he damaged her pride and ego a little, he now decides to rob the damn thing? "You insuffer-"
"Shut up."
"-able little bastard!" The guy just committed a crime in front of her, not only on her favorite spot but also robbing her of the opportunity to empty the whole machine herself, which she had precariously planned for the next 2 weeks when she was finally rolling on money again. You can't blame her for feeling a little bit angry.
"I should kick you in the head for doing this. Now put those things back before i murder you!"
Yes. Just a little bit angry.
The guy wasn't even concerned about her outburst. He seemed more comfortable like this, in fact. Which seemed to not only fuel her confusion even further but also her anger. Just as she was about to snatch the basket from his hold, he held up a hand. Just a mere touch on her wrist is enough to push her back a little.
The sudden force on her body from such little contact surprises her, extinguishing the flames of anger into wonder and a slight hint of shock. "I paid for this shit. Now stop screaming."
Rubbing her wrist, she looked at him, showcasing her distaste clearly. He wasn't out of the woods yet, and she wants to show it. "Did you really?" She didn't let him respond. Just kicking him on the calf a little. "How much?"
"A hundred thousand." The number surprised her. Not because it was expensive or anything, but because of how cheap it was. It's not a lot; I mean, it is a lot, don't get her wrong. For a bunch of toys, it was a lot. But for everyday use, she could burn through that in a week, maybe a month if she wants to make it last.
She likes to spend money, okay? When you have just that much as a 12 year old, why wouldn't you want to spend that much money every week? She wasn't rich as a kid. Her father travels a lot, and her mother was quite eccentric. The older woman works from time to time, but didn't spare much for the younger Mikoto.
It was surprising how now she's basically making a living just by being a city mascot, the beacon of hope for many aspiring Espers. And that still surprises her to this day.
"Where'd you pay for it?" Pushing aside her anger as they embarked on their walk once more, she can't help but be curious. If she can save up that much money, then why not do it as well? She could use those extras on other things like getting a better running shoe.
"The cashier."
"Shouldn't you ask the manager instead of the cashier?"
He groaned. Looking back at her with an eye that screams 'You're asking too many unnecessary questions'. To which she just looked back with her usual expression. After many seconds came to pass by, he relented with a loud sigh and groaned "You need to learn how to keep your mouth shut.".
"But did the cashier really let you get it tho?"
"God damn it, how would I know? For fucks sake I just gave that bastard the money and he let me take it all." She shrunk a little at how irritated he sounded. Yeah, she should keep quiet. Mikoto learned how to do that a lot in class, applying it here would make the experience she learned at school actually useful for once.
So things got quiet between the two as they walked back towards the nearest bus stop. The hospital he mentioned before was located somewhere in the eastern part of District 7. Very close to District 18. Walking would take at least 2 hours.
Today was Saturday. She would've liked wearing something else other than her school uniform though, maybe a proper dress and such since she was essentially meeting her own little sisters, and she wants to look presentable for such an occasion. She can do that for tomorrow, perhaps.
A minute into the bus ride, Mikoto sat close to the back row of the bus, right beside the window. The guy prefers standing. She wonders how he can handle that, looking at those bony legs of his. Then she eyed the plastic bags hanging by his fingers.
"Don't you get tired from all that standing?" Mikoto asks. There was something about him looking at her for several seconds whenever she asks or tries to initiate a conversation. It's like he was assessing her, expecting something else to happen whenever they make eye contact.
And she could see that whatever it is he was expecting, it was never good. He must've had some bad experiences with people before. She doesn't know what kind of experience he was having because he never talked about it. Either he was dismissive of them, or he was being outright hostile when she tried to push her luck.
"You should sit," The guy just rolled his eyes. Mikoto huffed. "At least put down one of the bags. I'm tired of seeing you like that." Not wanting to argue or just simply tired of him, he did as she asked. She muttered a 'Thanks' when he handed her the plastic bag filled with the Gekota merchandise, which should've been him thanking her and not the other way around.
Back was the quiet. The only sound other than the soft chatter of the people up front was the sound of the engine and the gentle rumble of the road, which filled the seemingly endless gap between them. There was a frown on her face. She doesn't like it. Not one bit.
"You know, you look like you had a problem with me." The words bled from her thought, spoken out of her mouth without any bit of intention of wanting to say it. But since she'd done it, it's best to just roll with it. "I don't know what, but all you ever do is either berate me, scold me, insult me or just outright mock me."
There's that look again. Her hands clenched. "I tried to be nice with you, I even offered you friendship, yet all you ever did was get angry at me for seemingly no reason."
"You yelled at me because I nudged your favorite machine." The fact that he spoke it as a matter of fact seriously ticked her off.
"Because I was trying to get comfortable with you!"
"Then don't"
Her frustration boiled over, and she clamped her mouth shut. Why did the guy always have to be such an ass? Why couldn't he just be a little more understanding? The bus rumbled on, the cityscape slipping by in a blur.
The bus ride continued in oppressive silence, the tension between them thick and unrelenting. Mikoto shifted in her seat, her fingers tapping against the plastic bag in her hands. She cast a sideways glance at the guy standing nearby, his back rigid and unyielding, his eyes fixed on the metal floor of the bus.
The distant hum of the engine mingled with the rhythmic beat of her thoughts as she replayed their interactions in her mind. Why couldn't he just give her a break? Even worse; why does she even want to be friends with this guy?
"Why do you always have to make everything so difficult?" Her voice was soft, almost lost in the hum of the engine. She didn't expect an answer, or even a response to begin with, but the guy shifted slightly, his eyes flickering to her before returning to the floor beneath.
There was a long pause, the silence stretching between them like the vast expanse of the city they were passing through. Mikoto's frustration simmered just below the surface, her eyes never leaving the side of his head. A part of her wanted to reach out, to bridge the gap between them, but she didn't know how.
Finally, he spoke, his voice a low growl. "You don't get it, do you?"
"No, I don't get it," Mikoto replied, frustration evident in her voice. "Why are you so impossible to talk to? Why does everything have to be a fight?" The guy let out a harsh laugh, the sound grating against her nerves.
"We're doing this shit because of those clones." He turned to fully look at her, his gaze was hard, harder than it had ever been, and it made her shiver despite the heat of the day. "When I'm done with the SISTERs, you'll be nothing but a passing memory, third-string."
Her face dropped, masked only by the subtle flicker of surprise and hurt. His words had cut deeper than she had anticipated. The tension between them became almost unbearable, a heavy burden in the confined space of the bus. She clutched the plastic bag tighter, her knuckles whitening as she struggled to keep her emotions in check.
She pressed her lips thin, her heart pounding with the sting of his words. "You don't get to talk to me like that," she managed, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to keep it steady. "Y-you… a… I-... Just... I hate you…"
The hurt in her eyes was evident, and he saw it. But he didn't falter or show any sign of remorse. The bus continued its journey, the cityscape outside a blur of lights and buildings.
Mikoto's fingers fidgeted with the plastic bag in her lap, the fabric crackling softly in the silence. The bus finally reached the last stop before the hospital, and the doors slid open with a hiss. She got up from her seat, keeping her gaze away from him as much as possible. She doesn't even want to see his foot or even a strand of his hair.
All she wants to do now is just get this thing over with and go back to her dorm, sleep for the remainder of the day and maybe hope she doesn't wake up. She stepped off the bus, the guy followed suit, his presence heavy and unwelcoming. They walked in complete, utter silence. The building loomed ahead, its imposing structure venerating the very presence of medical prowess. She hated this place, just as much as she hated the guy standing beside her.
The smell of disinfectant and sterile air hit her straight on the nostrils even as they approached the entrance. She shivered slightly, her mind still reeling from their conversation. The guy's words kept echoing in her thoughts, a painful reminder of how he saw her, how little value he'd held her in.
Must this be the guy who'd saved them? Must it be this unruly, harsh and unapproachable person? Why can't it just be someone normal, like that spiky haired kid over there by the waiting area? Or even someone who actually understands people? Someone who knows the importance of a friendly word or a kind gesture?
The world is cruel, she thought bitterly as she followed the guy to the reception desk. She'd always known it was harsh, but this? This was beyond anything she'd ever experienced.
They walked past the receptionist, going straight for the elevator. The elevator ride up was as silent as the one before. Mikoto's thoughts continued to spiral, each passing moment filled with increasing despair and anger. When the doors slid open, they were greeted with the bright, sterile atmosphere of the hospital ward. Nurses and doctors bustled about, attending to patients and their needs. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic and the occasional beeping of medical equipment.
The guy led the way, weaving through the busy ward with ease. Until they reached a certain portion of the wing that was more empty and silent. Several Anti-Skill officers greeted the guy as they walked past the older people. They were guarding a single room door. He stood before it, hand on the handle.
She kept away from it, letting him enter the room while keeping herself out of sight. There were 4 voices that she could hear from the outside. All of them, spoken simultaneously with that same tone and same lifelessness.
"Welcome back. Misaka greets at the return of-"
"Yeah, yeah, shut it. I've got your shit. Move aside and let me sleep." Mikoto could hear some rustlings and a groan. Did he seriously just take a bed from a sick person? Now she's seriously got a reason to hate him other than the fact that he's hurting her feelings!
"You haven't got all the shit, Misaka angrily complains as Misaka stomps her feet." From what she could hear, the girl was stomping her feet, but it sounded light enough that you could maybe mistake it for a child's step. There were several more words being spoken, but they were all butchered, barely coherent from overlapping one another's voice.
She could again hear him click his tongue, that same act he always does when he was annoyed. "Third string!" He shouted, and Mikoto flinched. Mikoto grumbled several curses before finally deciding to walk over that damn door.
4 clones, sitting atop of a hospital bed, playing a colorful card game.
When the clone's eyes met hers, Misaka Mikoto could've sworn that they were dead. It looked lifeless, soulless, as if their very own body wasn't their own. But rather, being controlled. The fact that all of them looked so very identical to her own, from the length of her hair down to that last mole on her arm. 'What the fuck am I looking at?'
'Is this what they call an out of body experience?' There were so many things going on inside her head, until they decided to speak. "Onee-sama is here." To hear her own voice being used to refer to her as a 'Big sister'. It wasn't a dream come true, nor does it feel sibling-like. It's just creepy on a whole nother level.
"H-hey." She weakly raised her hand to greet them back. "Y-you guys…" The smile on her face felt insincere, maybe because it is. She was just simply horrified at what she's seeing. Hearing about it beforehand doesn't automatically make it any less frightening. Seeing them now just makes everything feel surreal. She just simply does not know how to react.
"S-so… what's up…?"
"Onee-sama, now that you're here, could you please reprimand 00084 and tell her that you can't stack a +2 with a +4? Misaka asks, fingers pointing at her sister."
00009 blurted her tongue out before 00084 decided to respond. "Onee-sama, Onee-sama, could you please remind 00001 that she sucks at this game and that whining won't get her anywhere? Misaka requests, returning fire as Misaka holds in a sinister laugh. Ha, ha, ha. Misaka laughed sinisterly."
That's... not how she imagined her clones' behavior was going to be. Seeing how monotone the way they speak, and how lifeless their expressions are, she'd imagined that they were gonna be one hell of a serious and responsible bunch. Not that she'd mind if they were like that, but this is just... childish?
"So, uh..." she began, clearing her throat. "You guys... You're all... me. Like, a copy of me. Right?" She winced, feeling stupid for asking the obvious. "It's just... weird seeing you all like that. I don't know what to think."
The clones exchanged glances. "Yeah, that's about right." Mikoto nodded slowly, not sure what else to say.
"So, uh... what exactly are you guys supposed to be doing here, anyway?" she asked, changing the subject.
"We, serial number 00001, 00009, 00084, 00106 and 00376, sustained several injuries from the scuffle he had with the mercenaries at the containment ground where the SISTERs clones were kept in. Misaka explains without revealing too much info just as Misaka had promised to him."
Mikoto burrows her eyebrows at that. "Can you elaborate more on that last part?" The clones blinked, they went silent for, like, 3 seconds.
"We do not know what Onee-sama talks about. Misaka lies as naturally as she breathes." 'These… clones couldn't lie even if their lives depended on it…' The original Misaka Mikoto lets out a sigh. She walks up to them, the plastic bag hanging by her side.
"Well, I'm glad you guys are okay. I hope you feel better soon, all of you" Mikoto said, trying to sound sincere. The clones just nodded in reply. "So, uh... Since you're all… me…? I assume you guys fancy these as well?"
She presented the bag to them, parting it open to reveal the trove of green faces with that red dimple on their cheeks. The four expressionless faces morphed ever so slightly. The widened eyes were barely noticeable, but for her eyes, it was very clear.
Looking at this, she can't help but feel her heart swell a little. She's finally found people she can relate to; even though those people were just a version of herself.
"He's not being mean to you, is he?" The clones shook their heads at the same time, eyes locked on the green items within the bag. "Tell me more about him if you want the entire thing."
"What do you desire, Onee-sama? Says Misaka eagerly as Misaka looks up from the treasure."
Her eyes glanced towards his sleeping figure. It's only been, what, 5 minutes? No way he was sleeping. So why is she asking this to them? He not once told her about himself. At all. And when she tries he'd just dismiss her all over again.
She's already sworn damn it. She's tried so many times and she's gotten tired of it all; tired of the pain he's causing, the time he's wasting and the energy she's lost. She doesn't want anything to do with him.
Then why does she have the need to know? Because these clones trusted him. And she wanted to feel that same trust, to the person who'd done more to these clones than any other people had to her.
Even her mother doesn't like bringing her problems to Mikoto. Be it debts, no matter how small, to when the woman broke her leg. The woman just doesn't want to tell, even by a little. It feels as though the woman doesn't trust Mikoto enough to confide in her. As for her father…? When was the last time she saw that man? She can't even remember.
And then comes along this guy. The first person who she considers a friend in so long. She wants to know if she can trust him. And she craves his trust as well.
"Tell me everything you know about him."
There was a puzzled look on each of their respective faces. It's as though everything that they do is synchronized, even their thoughts are simultaneous. The left one whom she now recognizes as 00001, raised her hand.
"He likes coffee. Misaka recalls."
00084 raises her hand next. "He is very rude. Says Misaka as Misaka point at him rudely."
"He swears a lot. Misak-"
"Ok, ok, shut up, sorry." They're a lot more blunt than what she'd imagine. Well, for someone like this guy, there's really nothing good to say other than that he was actually willing to save these lot. But the question that's been burning the moment she got here is, 'Why?'
It's simply hard to believe that he was doing this out of the kindness of his own heart. That is, if he even has a heart. Hardly, but he did have a soul. "What about anything good, do you have that?"
The clones shook their heads. "So no redeeming qualities on his part, huh?"
"There's no saving him from his flaws. Says Misaka as she reaches for the bag." What 00001 said was true. No matter how good of a person he is on the inside, the surface is so clouded that you could barely see it.
"Agreed." The other three agree.
Her shoulder slumped, Mikoto just handed the bag to the clones. She's got her answer. She can't justify him. She can't turn the other cheek if there's nothing to see on that side other than the hurtful words he'd spoken to her back in that bus. He clearly doesn't want her around and isn't ashamed in trying to hide it.
'I tried so hard and got so far,' She rubbed her temple, leaning on the barrier on the bed. 'But in the end, it doesn't even matter.' "I guess I've been trying to befriend a sociopath." He got what he wanted, she supposed, saving the clones.
'Maybe that wasn't the goal?' Mikoto could recall several news reports done these past few years, about a group of Level 0s, up to the Level 4s, blaming the Level 5s on why they can't advance their levels whatsoever. They're usually seen in red costumes/armor. Maybe he was a part of that group? I mean, what best to showcase you're capable of doing other than to stop the creation of the first Level 6? Maybe that's what he was.
'That's not true.' And why do you keep retorting, mind? 'Because he approached you first.' He was simply manipulating you, by doing the things necessary to acquire your help. You're a Level 5, you have certain levels of jurisdiction that the lower Levels can only hope of ever achieving. 'You're just blaming him because of your loneliness.' Fuck you. 'Fuck you too,'
Mikoto sighed. "I think I need a psychiatrist." The words mumbled out of her lips. The rustling of the plastic bag stopped. She can feel their gaze on her palm that is covering her face.
"Is something bothering you, Onee-sama? Do his stinking flaws hurt your head? Misaka inquires as Misaka slides closer to her." All four inched closer to her. She wanted to chuckle at the clear snide remark the clone was making. Their blunt words can never stop surprising her. Hearing them say something that she'll never say in her own voice is actually kinda scary yet funny at the same time.
"If it makes you better, Onee-sama, he can be kind on some times, although he was rough for the most part. Misaka reminds as Misaka pat her on the head." 00106's hand strokes her scalp. It would've been comforting had it not made her feel like a kid. "He said that we were humans. And that our fate is unfair. Misaka recalls that night with great detail."
The other clones nodded. Mikoto perked up, looking at 00106 in the eyes. 'You're only gonna disappoint yourself even more, Mikoto. That's enough.' "He said what?"
"He said that we're humans. Misaka rep-"
"Yes, yes, I heard you the first time. I just want to know everything that he said."
They tilted their heads, looking at the guy's resting figure. Even in his sleep, he has such a grumpy looking face. Mikoto's eyes narrowed as she watched him, her mind working tirelessly to piece together the fragments of information. The clones' words hung in the air, adding a layer of complexity to her thoughts.
"He said that the SISTERs, should dictate their own fate, that destiny should be chosen by those who bear the burdens of their existence. Says Misaka, summarizing the conversation for her."
"The only thing that differs the people from the SISTERs was that we're created in a lab with the push of a button. Yet we're no less inferior to naturally birthed people. That we're more human than those who created us. Misaka says as Misaka felt a tug in her torso."
Mikoto's eyes softened as she processed the clones' words. The sincerity and earnestness in their voices resonated deeply within her, no matter how bland they deliver the information. She could sense the weight of their emotions, a camaraderie born from a shared struggle and shared pain.
The clones, despite their mechanical synchrony, were humans in the simplest and most profound way. At least from what the guy was trying to say.
Mikoto brushed a lock to the back of her ear, a faint smile forming on her lips. "He said that, huh?" she murmured, her eyes flicking to the man lying on the bed. Despite his rough exterior, there was something about his words that hinted at a deeper understanding.
Mikoto's eyes narrowed as she contemplated the clones' words. The sincerity in their voices, despite the blunt delivery. It was as if they had unknowingly revealed a part of the man that even he didn't fully grasp. "You four... why don't you continue playing that card game of yours. Uno, was it?"
They nodded. She brought her hand up towards 00376's scalp, rubbing it back and forth. "I'll... be talking with him for a bit." So they went back playing with their game, though a part of their attention appears to be on her as well.
She took a deep breath and stepped closer to the bed, her eyes fixed on his sleeping form. His rough exterior and harsh demeanor seemed to clash with the profound words he had spoken. The room was silent, save for the gentle hum of machinery. The clones, now quiet and attentive, watched Mikoto's every move. She took another step closer, her eyes scrutinizing the man's face.
"You're not sleeping, are you?" She stood beside the bed, her gaze unwavering as she studied his face. The guy groaned, waving a hand to shoo her away.
"What's it to you?" Mikoto didn't flinch at his gruff response. Instead, she kneeled beside the bed, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"It's sweet, what you told them." He clicked his tongue, turning away from her. She just brought her knees closer to her chest, sitting on the floor. "I don't know what compels you to push people away, but you should know that you have a way of making people feel valued in a way that no one else has."
He remained silent for a moment, his shoulders tensing as he contemplated her words. The room was filled with the faint hum of machinery and the soft rustle of the clones' card game in the background. Yet the comfort of the silence between them seemed to stretch infinitely.
The guy shifted slightly on the bed. "Those words that I said," He finally broke the silence, his voice gruff but sincere. "It wasn't mine." Mikoto's eyes narrowed as she looked up, studying his face, searching for any deception. She saw none.
"What do you mean, it wasn't yours?"
The guy's eyes were distant, as if he was staring into something far beyond the walls of the room. Suddenly, he closes his eyes and turns to face her. "Those words. I took it from someone else."
"Who."
"An actual fucking hero." A ripple of surprise crossed Mikoto's face. She had expected more of the same evasion and anger, but instead, the man's statement hung heavy in the air, laden with a truth she couldn't quite grasp.
"Do you not consider yourself as one?" He laughed. Like, really, REALLY laughed—a harsh, humorless sound.
"What's there to consider? No hero can look like this. I kill people better than I save them." Her eyes softened. It was clear that he was struggling with something deeper than mere anger or disdain. There was a weight in his voice, a burden that he was carrying, masked behind his exterior.
"You can view yourself as anything less than a hero if you want, but it doesn't change the fact that you've changed lives with your actions." Mikoto said softly. She could see the hesitation in his eyes, the internal conflict he was facing.
"Save your breath, brat. I don't need any pep talks."
Mikoto's eyes shimmered with emotion as she looked at him. "I'm not giving you a pep talk, I'm just stating what I see," she said softly. "You've made a difference, even if you don't believe it. And that's something that no one can take away from you."
He turned his head away, his jaw clenched. "I'm not doing it for any of you."
"I'm not asking you to," Mikoto replied gently. "I'm just saying that it matters, even if you don't think it does. Your actions, your words, they matter."
He opened his mouth to retort, but the words caught in his throat. The silence stretched longer, filled by the soft hum of machinery and the distant sounds of the clones' game. It was as if he was struggling to find the right words, but they were too complex, too buried beneath layers of pain and regret.
Mikoto's eyes never left his face, searching for any sign of understanding, for any semblance of release. It was there, in the flicker of his eyes, a fleeting moment of vulnerability that he had carefully concealed behind his facade. It was as if he was caught between the need to maintain his defenses and the need to let go, even if just for a moment.
"There's something you don't understand," he finally said, his voice low and rough. "No matter how I try to explain, you wouldn't believe me."
She leaned back slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe you're right," Mikoto whispers. "But understanding isn't always necessary. Sometimes, it's enough to just acknowledge what you feel."
His eyes flickered, and for a brief moment, a genuine emotion crossed his face—something raw and unfiltered. "You really don't get it, do you?" he muttered, almost to himself.
Mikoto's gaze was unwavering. "I get a lot, but I'm not omniscient. People are complex. You are complex," she said firmly, her voice steady and reassuring. "Let's just drop this, okay? I don't want to pressure you into saying something you don't feel like sharing."
He opened his mouth, but the words stayed locked in his throat. His eyes were intent on hers, searching for something in those reflective pools. The clones' game had faded into the background, the soft clack of cards and quiet murmurs barely audible over the heavy silence between Mikoto and him. She could sense his internal turmoil, the internal battle he waged silently, his expression a mask of stoicism.
"Thank you." Mikoto speaks, getting up from her position with a soft, almost silent movement. She smiled at him. "I don't know if you'll ever let your guard down completely, but I appreciate you letting me in just a little."
He hummed, a sound that was both dismissive and contemplative. "Letting my guard down isn't something I do lightly, especially around a brat like you."
Mikoto's eyes sparkled with a soft, knowing smile. "You never know how much you can trust someone until you take the chance," she said, her voice carrying a gentle warmth that seemed to melt the tension between them. "And I'm willing to take that chance."
"You're just naive." He scoffed, although not as forcefully as before. There was a slight softening in his tone, a crack in the armor that he tried to maintain. The clones' game continued, but the atmosphere in the room felt lighter, as if some unspoken tension had been alleviated.
Mikoto didn't push the issue further. Instead, she took a seat on the small chair beside the bed. They went quiet for a while, the stillness broken only by the soft whirr of machines and the occasional sound of cards being played. The clones played in a silence that spoke volumes of their own unspoken thoughts. This moment, in this quiet room, felt like a small breath of peace in a world fraught with conflict and uncertainty.
Until Mikoto's smile turned into a frown, no words were spoken between them. "Did you really mean it, what you said back in the bus?" The guy's eyes snapped open, his expression darkening at her words. "That once you're done with the project, I'll be nothing but a memory to you?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I won't take back what I said," he muttered, his voice rougher than usual. "But don't think for a second that I'm going to change. You're getting in too deep with this, third-string. You can't get tangled up with someone like me."
Mikoto's eyes locked onto his for a moment before she turned away, her smile fading. "Maybe I'm getting in because I want to see what's behind that rough exterior of yours," she said softly.
"Curiosity kills the cat." His tone was sharp, almost like he was cutting through the gentle atmosphere that had settled between them.
"I know," she replied softly, "Your truth is worth the risk."
Her heart skipped a beat at what she'd said. 'Did I seriously just say that?' She wanted to cover her face, screaming as loud as possible into it. 'Did I just unintentionally hit on a guy?!'
The man's expression softened slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching in a begrudging smile.
"Then you're wasting your time," he said, though there was no malice in his tone. "I'm not breaking my chains for anyone."
Mikoto sighed, leaning further into her chair. 'Thank God,' Either he didn't notice it or is simply saving her from the embarrassment.
She's got nothing else to say, all out of steam, and the man's words hung in the air. The clones continued their game, their faces impassive, but their attention caught the exchange.
"You once asked what my name is." Mikoto's eyes widened slightly, and she leaned forward, her gaze searching his face.
"I did."
He sat on the bed, then snapped his eyes onto hers. He looked at her. Really looked at her. It made her uncomfortable at how intense he was being. She could feel her heartbeat rising up, a distant ring in her ears, along with the heat on her face.
"It's Accelerator."
That name, Accelerator, derived from the name of the legendary power, of the absolutely notorious 1st Ranked Level 5. An urban legend whose infamous existence to this point still being disputed by many, was feared by practically everyone.
Not much is known about Accelerator, other than the fact that he was sending dozens of Level 0s and 1s every day to the hospital. Much of their wounds were crippling, oftentimes fatal. Those who weren't lucky would experience excruciating pain beyond anything for the rest of their life.
It's as good as killing them at that point, hell, killing them would be mercy. Most of the victims rarely arrive dead, just very close to it. Most doctors would advise just letting them die. Except that Heaven Canceller doesn't let them.
Another rumor surrounding the Level 5 was the tragedy that took place 3 years back. A large proportion of the city was completely devastated, turning an entire district into a battle zone. An international effort being made to eliminate a single individual.
Much of it was covered up, many of those who knew of the event disappeared. The exact place in which it took place was unknown, even the date was forgotten. No news, no reports, no nothing. Personally, Mikoto theorizes that it took place in District 19, the rundown district within Academy City.
Now this guy, whom she's come to admire basically admits that he was the city's single most feared individual, the one who has been committing the longest chain of assault against the weakest of the weak, the one who holds absolute reign over Vectors within the confines of the world.
She doesn't even know what to think. She felt as though she'd been betrayed once again. The cold, chilling anxiety she felt when she heard that name, and the confirmation she got from the clones; she can't believe she didn't just run then and there.
Maybe he has a change of heart, maybe he was done with being regarded with fear, maybe just doesn't feel like being the bad guy anymore. But whatever it is that compels him to do something that is uncharacteristic to the infamy that is attached to his name, Misaka Mikoto just couldn't let him do it by himself.
After that talk they had, no way she's going to abandon him. Otherwise all that effort into getting him to open up would go to waste.
Mikoto's eyes held that same contemplative look on her face when she was trying to figure the gu-... Accelerator out. 'God…' It was hard enough to try and understand him, now referring to him with that name doubled the efforts altogether.
Her face glowed from the light emitted from her phone, eyes locked onto that number. She'd asked him for his contact just several minutes prior before leaving for the bus. Riding a bus during the night can be quite relaxing. She didn't even realize that it was already that long until she left the building, as there was no window to the clone's ward. Apparently, for protective purposes.
She doesn't know what to change his contact name to. Leaving it blank doesn't feel right, and that she might have mistook his call for some random scammer. Will he even call? Definitely not.
She doesn't know why she cared enough to ask for his contact. She doesn't even know why she cared enough to want to name it something else other than the name he'd given her, even if to ease the fear by a little. Hell, she doesn't even know why she cared in the first place!
This world is full of confusing things. She hates being confused. Misaka Mikoto doesn't get confused easily. And when she does it, it's either gonna be brief, or that confusion is gonna consume every bit of her mind till she stops being confused. She could really use an egg in this confusing time.
And this thing is the brief one, thankfully.
'Stupid hormones. Stupid puberty. Stupid guy.' She leaned further into her seat, looking out the window as the bus passed by a park.
'Back to naming him, I suppose,' She thought back to it, playing with the lock of her hair. A part of her wanted to mess with him a little, and that part of her dominated the part of her that wanted to be serious about it.
Accelerator. There's really only one word she could think of that would definitely mess with him. A pet name coupled with it would definitely double the critical chance.
She could feel the laugh bubbling up in her chest as she typed the name in. 'Anything to ease the fear.' When she was done, she looked at it with such glee, delighted just by imagining the shock that might strike him when he saw it.
'Accel-chan.' Mikoto snorts. 'Cute.'
How was that? That's 20k words for you!
I think the younger me were hyped about this. Too bad, it wasn't that good. Could've been better, maybe I could've fixed some things here and there. But it feels weird changing years old drafts. Kinda ruins the authenticity of it.
Me back then loved this, so I don't want to brush off that poor little bastard's efforts by changing things (and not me fearing that I could potentially shift the plot by accidentally changing and/or erasing core plots as I did with one of ADR's chapters. lol)
Anyways, new shit next week!