Shortly after a berating from the Anti-Skills, mainly from Tsuzuri before receiving a punch to his shoulder (which somehow doesn't feel playful at all, even though she says so) from Misaka for, quote unquote, "Nearly rupturing my eardrums!", the entirety of the ordeal was officially over.
Kiyama Harumi, the creator and perpetrator for the event that had just recently taken place were apprehended and placed into custody by the Anti-Skills. The remaining trails in the sky slowly dispersed, their glow dimming and fading until they were nothing more than ghostly wisps. Uiharu is safely retrieved with little to no injuries, though still visibly quite shaken. Well, she was quite literally kidnapped.
A lot of the people in the area had to shout just so they could be heard over the ringing in their ears. The atmosphere was tense and shocked, as they surveyed the damage from where the fetus had been. Hirano felt a weight settle onto his shoulders, both from the responsibility of his actions and the disapproving glare of Tessou Tsuzuri and Misaka Mikoto.
Really, he hadn't meant to shatter everyone's eardrums. And isn't Misaka's Railgun also at supersonic speed? She shot those coins at mach 3, more than sufficient to cause some ear damage. Is mach 10 really that much different from mach 3? I mean, it's still considered supersonic right? Well... maybe there is a need to check into that further. Ah... the ever-pervasive complications and intricacies of high-speed calculations and applications...
He wasn't even going that fast, to be honest.
At this point, he'd tuned out all the shouting, the 'Hah?!' and 'What?!' from the people around him. Sitting on the broken up pavement with a cold bottle of tea in hand, as if the sun wasn't already shining brightly in the sky, he let out a small sigh.
He had a lot of thinking to do. About the fetus, about the trails, about the people. But all he could think of was Ruiko in the hospital. He wondered if she'll be fine, now that he ripped apart the trails that are probably the consciousness of over 1000 minds. If that were to kill them... he'd forever be marked as a monster who killed thousands.
Thankfully, the confirmation that he received from his phone left his body nearly sagging from relief, sighing out so much that he suddenly felt lightheaded. Frenda had picked the call up, and from the other end he could hear that they'd been crying, a lot of shuffling fabrics and hiccups. At first he thought of the worst, what with all the crying and shit. They were just so happy, he supposes.
"Can I go now?" He'd asked Tsuzuri when she approached him, still patting her ear, making sure his voice was loud enough that she didn't mishear him.
The girl took off her glasses, taking a seat next to him, rubbing off the glass off any specks of pretty much anything. "Captain isn't gonna like this, y'know?" The woman started, turning towards him. The lack of those framed glasses somehow made her eyes seem even more intense. "But I think Aiho's probably gonna be more pissed at the fact that she wasn't around to witness you doing that." The woman patted his back after putting on her glasses back, grinning all the while. "Oh, and yes, you can go."
"Then I'd better make it up to her, won't I?" Hirano returned her grin, picking himself up from where he'd been sitting with a slight wince. Not only does his shoulders feel the displeasure of Misaka's punch, his rear end was getting a little sore, too from all that sitting. He should try gaining some weight. It felt as though he's sitting on his bones. "I wonder if I should get her something..." He trailed off, not quite willing to think about that, just yet.
"Well, I'm sure she'd appreciate that," Tsuzuri replied with a knowing smile. "But you know Aiho, she's a bit... hard to figure out, particularly in things she likes. So you might want to ask around, see what she'd really like."
Hirano nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right, right. I'll keep that in mind." He glanced around at the damage. He huffed. He's gonna have a lot of explaining to do later on.
Shoving his hands into his pockets, he wandered around the site of the now unfamiliar, rundown area. His gaze wandered over the remains of the battlefield. The sense of disorientation was fading, leaving him to contemplate the scope of the destruction. Chunks of buildings lie scattered, crushing small cars and other bits of debris. People wander about, slowly coming to terms with the aftermath of the intense battle.
An overpass was close to being decapitated, its foundations damaged, but not unrepairable. Parts of the railing were shattered and dented, but standing still and tall. The remains of a few cars scattered the overpass, smoldering, but their structural integrity remained mostly intact. The fences separating the expressway and the city beyond had toppled in a few places.
He'd had his eyes watching one of the wires snapping and sparking, almost like a whip, when he felt something tap the side of his shoulder. "Sup," Misaka's brown hair entered his vision before she had even said anything. He hummed as he turned to her fully. "Whatchu you looking at?"
"Nothing," He answered honestly, "Was gonna meet everyone else at the hospital." He glanced back at the battlefield, then at her. "Ruiko's awake."
The brunette nodded. "I heard,"
Hirano smiled a little. "Well, let's head there then."
Misaka nods back, "Yeah, let's do that." She'd been worried sick over Ruiko, it would be good to see the girl now that she was awake and hopefully on the mend. The two of them start to walk in the direction of the hospital. "So, Hirano," Misaka begins conversationally, "I'm still waiting for an apology." She said, pointing to the side of her ear.
He raised an eyebrow at that. "I already did."
Misaka huffed. "That wasn't much of an apology. It sounded more like you were explaining why you did it. I want a real one." She was smirking, eyeing him with one eye, grinning mischievously. From how close their proximity is, he could almost see the reflection of his face in her irises. Her eyelashes are pretty long.
Backing away a little, he tried to remove the image of her eyes and focused his attention elsewhere. "I'm sorry," he'd sounded more passive than genuine, which might not be enough for the usually persistent girl. So he might as well add some more just to shut her up. "I didn't think that it'll hurt you or anyone for that matter. I was just trying to help, and I didn't expect it to go that far. I'm really sorry for that. I'll be more careful next time." He glanced at her, then back at the road. "I hope you'll forgive me."
Misaka quirks a brow. "You mean it?" she asks with a hint of skepticism. He hummed, and if that wasn't enough, he nodded. Then, grinning impishly, she playfully swats at him. "Don't worry about it. Friends should be able to kick each other around like that every now and then." She laughed as if to signal the end of the issue. He laughed as well, more heartily this time, but softer to her boisterous one. The air around them seemed lighter now.
"If not for these ear plugs, I would've gone deaf. God, had that were to happen, I'd probably be flaying your skin and turning it into a handbag." She snorts, still grinning. "But it's okay, big bro. I'm glad you're there to kick some ass."
Those earplugs probably saved her life as well. Shock waves from an object traveling at mach 10, on the rare occasion, could cause more than just a hearing loss. As shock waves were not compressive, like bullets or projectiles, but instead transferred pressure in all directions, and in some cases, like if it was in an enclosed space, like an airplane cockpit or a submarine hatch, it could crush or implode something. It could damage delicate organs in the ear. And given how powerful mach 10 was, if she was hit directly, the damage might be much worse.
Even with those plugs on, her ears had still bled and rang like a gong. In the end, all she was left with is a temporarily muffled hearing. It'll take a while for that to go back to normal. But at least it wasn't any permanent damage. She'd be back to her normal self in no time. She was used to it anyways; her Railguns, being shot at mach 3 within an arm's length, had her eardrums getting rather mangled every now and then. With the new implants she had now, it should be fine.
They arrived at the hospital quickly enough when an Anti-Skill truck stopped by and offered to take them there, carrying perhaps an entire squad or more of wounded personnel. It had reeked of blood and sweat at the back of the truck. The rumblings of the engine and the swaying of the truck had made Hirano feel a little queasy. Being in an enclosed space smelling of blood brought bad memories of... he'd rather not say.
They arrived at the hospital soon enough, and the moment they stepped out of the truck, the overwhelming number of nurses transferring the wounded to the treatment rooms made them both cringe.
They got off the truck quickly enough that they didn't have to deal with the chaos, already walking up the stairs towards the floor where Ruiko was kept just as the doors were swinging open for the new arrivals. Misaka lets out a noncommittal grin, winching when a nurse rushes past them, her pristine white uniform caked in a dark, damp patch of blood. "The hospital always reminds me of a slaughterhouse," she mutters, following after Hirano. "Glad they have better intentions."
The room Ruiko was kept in was just a corner away, and they could already hear the faint sound of her voice as they walked closer, even in the midst of all the chaos.
When they were just about to enter that door, Misaka froze, her eyes widening. True, Ruiko was still laying on her bed, visibly pale and rather sickly, but already fully awake from the brief but impactful coma that she had just experienced. Kuroko's cheeks, marked by the beat down several hours back, glistens with trails of tears that were wiped maybe several minutes ago. Her eyes were puffy and red, and she looked as if she had been crying for hours. On the foot of the bed, massaging the ravenette's foot, the blond hair that was not entirely familiar for Misaka, stared into her own eyes with the same look of surprise that she had.
Frenda and Misaka hadn't had the best of relationships, even back then; they were friends, yes, but not as close as they were with the others. And the fall out they had several years back made it abundantly clear to everyone that the two of them were anything but the best of buddies.
This had been the second time Hirano saw the two acting so out of character; Misaka, the normally friendly, easy going albeit tomboy-ish girl, frozen in a moment clear of discomfort. While Frenda, a cheerful social butterfly, the most extroverted girl of the bunch, had this expression of shock, and a hint of guilt in her eye.
The already quiet room was suddenly plunged into a deafening silence. The only sound that could be heard was the faint beeping of medical equipment and the ragged breathing of Ruiko. The ravenette cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "You guys are being immature," Her voice was weak, with a hint of anger that is uncharacteristic of Ruiko. "Get over it."
Misaka remained still for a few seconds, her expression tight as she processed the sudden surge of emotions inside her. Suddenly, she yelped, almost jumping from her spot when she felt a sharp pain on her side. She held over the spot where it had hurt, caressing it to ease the sting. Turning around with a look of anger and surprise, she shouts. "What the hell did you do that?!" she hissed, glaring at him. "That hurts!"
He shushed her, walking past the clearly furious Misaka and taking a seat next to the still silent Kuroko. "You were standing in the way and wouldn't move." he spoke in a matter-of-fact tone, the smirk on his face made it clear that he had enjoyed it.
"No shit, you didn't tell me to move!" Misaka protested, still holding her side. "Why didn't you say anything?!" Misaka's protests fell on deaf ears as Hirano continued to ignore her, his attention fully on the twin tailed girl on his side, recounting the entire thing that had happened earlier when he'd left.
The brunette's expression sours, then turns back to Frenda, who is looking between them with a frown. "Well, we're here now. Let's not bicker, yeah?" Frenda says, and she looks like she means it. The look of anger on Misaka's face slowly wipes away.
"Yeah..." she says, still feeling annoyed at being ignored. Though, she was uncertain on exactly what to feel about Frenda, as the blond was the one who'd instigate the fall out between them. The reason for her to start acting all angry and demanding was not unfounded, much to Misaka's displeasure.
And it was all because of the white haired boy, on that seat just a foot or two beside her. He'd been very weird that day. The same day that he disappeared for 2 years. The same day that their tight-knit group dynamic shifts into something else, before suddenly reintegrating himself back into the group just several months prior.
What happened to him back then was still, to this day, unknown.
Misaka's frown darkened at the memory of it. He was shaken. Very. Quiet, even outright hostile. But the thing that was most noticeable; is him flinching whenever he'd even stared at Misaka for even a second. It wasn't clear to anyone else, but Misaka knew that it was there. Knew that he had been feeling guilty. Of something that she doesn't know the reason for. The clear look of fear, the overly aggressive behavior, and the complete withdrawal from the group. It was as if he was haunted by something, and the group was powerless to help him.
The brunette huffed quietly, running a hand through her hair before looking at Hirano's profile again. His expression hadn't shifted from its neutral mask, his hands folded neatly on his lap. He'd look better now than ever, now that she noticed it. His posture being the best example of it all. Though, he was still rather short; if he was of average height, then that Touma guy would probably be above it.
Misaka snorts, not able to contain her mirth any longer. It comes out more like a giggle as she struggles to hide her smile. "Umm, what's up?" Frenda asks at the grinning girl. It must've looked like she had just seen something amusing. Misaka composes herself quickly, the grin wiping away.
"Nothing much," she replies flatly. "Just feeling a bit sorry for this little guy here." A hand waves lazily in Hirano's direction.
As Frenda follows her gaze over to where Hirano is seated, she cocks an eyebrow and looks back to Misaka, clearly curious about her statement. However, the ravenette laughing along with Misaka seems to draw out attention from the room's corner, and the opportunity passes without further comment.
When Kuroko brought it up that it was almost 2 o'clock, that appears to be the que for the white haired boy. He also looked a bit... say, is 'panicky' a word? Don't know, but that describes his frantic movements and the worried expression on his face best. When asked why he was leaving, seeing that it was only 2. His answer was a little surprising, maybe even amusing.
"Aiho wouldn't let me hear the end of it if I skipped class." He'd said whilst trying to tie the lace on his shoe, cursing when nearly trapped his fingers in the process. "Nagatenjouki is too good of a school. It'll help out with my resume later in the future. Her words, not mine." He added, shrugging helplessly. The others exchanged glances, not quite sure what to make of his explanation. Being adopted by an Anti-Skill captain, what could possibly NOT go wrong?
"Your teacher called."
Nothing, apparently. The poor boy's eyes twitched when those words came out of her mouth. He stood frozen in the doorway. His shoes aren't even off, and already, the woman is already on his case. You can see the tension in his shoulders as he tries to compose himself, taking a deep breath before turning to face her. She looks stern, her arms crossed as she waits for his explanation.
He opens his mouth to speak, but she raises a hand, as if to shut him down before he even begins. "I already heard. Tsuzuri came by earlier." The stern look she had was already gone by the time he looked up to see her face. She was smiling. "I don't condone your actions, good deeds it might be, but the risk that you're putting on yourself. That Level of exposure isn't good. We've seen what it can do."
He nodded. She was just worried. Looking back, he kind of didn't think it through.
"But I'm not saying that you shouldn't help others, you hear me?" she says. Her smile widening, showing off her bright, white teeth. Hirano blinks, confused by the sudden change of mood. "Change your clothes first, then tell me what happened." Her tone is almost gentle, almost motherly. "I want to hear the whole story, from start to finish."
He looks around, slightly embarrassed. Last Order and Kikyou were in the living room, listening to the whole thing while seemingly making themselves comfortable on the sofa. The thought of reliving the entire incident was not exactly pleasant. Especially when the two looked at him expectantly. He sighed at the look they're giving him, quickly heading for his room and changing into more comfortable clothes.
He didn't really feel like telling them anything, considering that according to Aiho, they already knew what had happened. Knowing Tsuzuri, and the scale of the attack from a while back, they should already know everything. Maybe small snips and bits, but should cover most of the actual event. Truth is, he doesn't even know the whole story.
He made sure to return a bit later, taking his time to stretch a little and do a quick in place warmup (which is like, not even 10 push ups or something before his arms give out), laying on the bed to take a breath for nearly another 10 minutes before the people outside got a little impatient and sent out Last Order to fetch him.
"Nii! Come on out or we're coming in! Shouts Misaka while banging on the door." she yelled. Her voice was surprisingly loud for such a cute little girl. Of course, she was a high-level automaton that took robotics and biology to a whole new level, so it wasn't that surprising anymore. Still, it's unsettling nonetheless.
Hirano groaned, sitting up reluctantly. "Yeah, yeah." He came out of the room, scratching the back of his head. He felt messy, mostly because his hair is starting to grow out again. He should probably go get it trimmed or something. "Well? What's so important about this story that you had to knock like that?" He glares at Misaka as he crosses his arms over his chest, feeling a little defensive.
The brunette just snickers, shaking her head. "Kuh, you're funny. Misaka scoffed cutely, putting on a naughty smug." She did just as she described, crossing her tiny little arms. "Nii, you're the one who got in trouble at school, not me. Misaka points out while pointing her finger at him accusingly!"
"Now, now, you two, don't yell or the angry neighbour might come here again," Kikyou called out behind the little girl, shifting her gaze from the tiny Misaka before turning it towards him. "As for you, come on out. We got tea and biscuits ready."
Hirano finally relents, moving to follow Kikyou and Last Order out of the room. He planned on sitting on the side of the couch, but they must've thought of that when Aiho scooted over towards his destination, with the other side being taken by Last Order. How he knew that they knew was because Kikyou went for the lone armchair. The lazy woman preferred to lay down, keeping her legs on the lap of the person whom she was watching tv that day. And you can't lay down on that.
They have something on mind. And he has absolutely no idea what it could possibly be. Probably something devious; like that time they made him play DnD, a roleplaying game of some sort. They made him play as this ridiculous character whose backstory made no sense at all, and every situation had them either lose an eye, lose their cool or some combination thereof. Not that any of the characters he actually found himself roleplaying as have fared any better, but this particular instance seemed to attract attention of others with no good in kind (Like the lousy, angry neighbour). Kikyou never apologized. Last Order didn't laugh. Aiho is just ruthless.
In retrospect, Dungeon Master Aiho is a strange sort of person. Not all of her stories end, as if they were only half-finished or as if she had too many ideas to fit in just one narrative. There's a kind of whimsy and dreamlike quality to the way she tells them. Even when they're violent or tragic, there's a hint of beauty and wonder behind it all. Most of it involves saving children, weirdly enough.
They mostly play after dinner though, and that was maybe during Friday nights or something. Today is Tuesday, and it's not even evening just yet. That was the unspoken rule that was almost never broken. They want him to recount the event that took place just today, but they got the board game out.
It's not that it was weird or anything like that. Just a bit counterproductive; telling stories while playing a game based on storytelling.
"I hope the difficulty spike isn't gonna be a vertical line again," He jokingly murmured, saying it loud enough for others to hear. Only Last Order laughed, though that was probably forced. He was never good when it comes to comedy; they always came out dry.
Kikyou rolled her eyes and poked him with the back of her elbow as he sat down between the two. "Don't start it, Hirano," she said, smirking. "Now, spill the beans already."
Hirano sighed, leaning back on the couch. "Well, for starters, Ruiko just got out of a coma."
Hell of a bean he just spilled. Kikyou gasped, her eyes widening in surprise. "Ruiko? The long, black haired one? Really? But she came over just like 2 weeks ago." she asked, her tone of voice full of concern. Aiho looked at him expectantly, her eyebrow raised slightly, asking how the ravenette was doing.
Hirano shrugged. "She's doing better. She was talking just fine the last time I saw her."
Kikyou breathed out, relaxing a bit. "I'm glad to hear that." She paused for a moment, her expression shifting to one of curiosity. "But how did she get into a coma in the first place?"
"I don't really know the details," Hirano admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Something about Level Upper."
"The same thing that Tsuzuri talked about earlier then." Aiho joins in on the conversation. Her eyes narrowed as she seemed to be thinking. "She also said something about a scientist. Was it a... y'know...?" The blue haired woman is visibly tense.
"I didn't get to see the scientist. All I know is that she's not a Kihara."
The conversation continued on until dinner, mostly revolving around Ruiko and Level Upper. There was really nothing interesting for him to talk about. Even then, he wasn't much of a talker to begin with. He just went along with the flow and said what needed to be said.
When Last Order proclaimed that she was hungry, they left it at that and decided to eat outside. It was cancelled though, when a storm ruined their plan.
They peeked through the top of their cubicle seat as their ring leader, Mugino Shizuri berates yet another person for putting in a spoonful more sugar in her tea than the requested, "Two for acceptable measure." Kinuhata and Frenda, glanced at each other with wry smiles as she continued her tirade. Takitsubo was just on her seat, staring at the two's backs whilst trying her best not to fall asleep.
"Are you an inbred? Is your head stuffed with sand?! Is there a single brain cell inside that thick skull of yours?!" Kinuhata glances back at her friend and snickers slightly at Mugino's harsh words, but remains unperturbed. It's almost as if they're used to this kind of treatment from the captain.
Outside, the clouds loom overhead, dark and foreboding. Evening had set in, and the wind picked up. There is a storm brewing, which just so happens to coincide with Mugino's currently very much sour mood.
The poor waiter is being dragged this way and that, his apologies falling on deaf ears. The cafe is quite packed for a Tuesday night, which makes it harder for them to concentrate on their meal and Mugino's outburst. However, no one dares to disturb her, least of all Kinuhata. She'd seen what happens when one crosses the captain, and she had no desire to experience it firsthand.
The outburst of the Level 5 isn't caused by something so mundane as a misplaced sugar packet, though. A mission they were assigned to as ITEM, an underground group that works in the dark side of Academy City, a mission that they had been anticipating for quite some time now, were cancelled due to outside force.
The person that their informants had been feeding their 'Operator' information, had suddenly gone silent. The mission was a bust before it even started. And Mugino was not happy about it. This was their chance to go up the ladder. And it was all taken away from them by an unknown force. Frustration and anger coursed through her veins, making her snap at everyone and everything around her. Kinuhata just shrugs, chuckling softly to herself. She was used to this. Being a part of Mugino's team wasn't easy, but it had its perks too.
Meanwhile, Mugino seriously looked like she was gonna kill the waiter. A quick tap from Frenda and Kinuhata Saia already knew what to do. "You stupid little piglet! Who fed you glue?! Are you fucking- What?!" The girl's tea-coloured hair, reaching down her waist, slapped the guy (Its hair, it felt like nothing, don't worry) across the face from the force in which she turned around.
Saiai, still holding onto the hem of Mugino's dress, told the older girl, "You're being SUPER unreasonable right now,"
"I'll show you unreasonable! You're lucky that I don't beat you up right now! You hear me?! I'm talking to you!" Mugino yelled, her fury only seeming to grow as she glared at the girl. But then, she took a deep breath and slowly composed herself, sitting back in her seat with a sigh. "Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it, Mugino-san. How about some salad to calm and ease your nerves?" Frenda offered, picking up a leaf from the salad plate in front of her and nibbling on it. The older girl accepted, of course. Takitsubou Rikou, the 2nd eldest of the group, appears to be staring blankly into space again. Either that, or she's fallen asleep with her eyes open. Again.
The diner they were in was totally silent. They were uncomfortable with the atmosphere their leader had left, the other customers, that is; they were used to it. After screaming for another cup of tea, Mugino quietly ate with rage that was repressed into her every movement. It was a surprise that the workers here were still willing to serve them, considering the amount of foul language and harsh treatment they had to endure from Mugino. Maybe it's the intimidating green lights that spark every moment she grumbles?
The others tried to make light conversation, but it was clear that their hearts weren't in it. "So, what're we gonna do now, Mugino-san?" Frenda asks with a polite smile. The captain merely glares at her for a moment before turning her attention back to her plate.
Mugino's eyes narrow, her breath hitching slightly in anger. "We report this to the higher ups, of course. How dare they cancel our mission? Whoever's behind this is going down, and we'll be the ones to pull the trigger." Her gaze hardens, a smile on her lips. Murderous intent gleams in her eyes. She glances at each of her companions in turn, finally settling on Kinuhata. "What do you say, Frenda?" she asks, her tone softening slightly. "Do you think we have what it takes to track down those responsible and teach them a lesson?"
The blond girl nodded with an almost greedy eagerness. "Of course, Mugino-san! We'll get to the bottom of this, no matter what it takes!" She looked equally determined, her gaze fixed on the leader. Kinuhata glanced at her partner and smirked, mirroring the determination in her eyes. Takitsubo, on the other hand, looked up with a yawn, knowing that there'll be more for her to do later on.
"Now that's the spirit, girls. We'll show that bastard why they shouldn't fuck with us." The storm outside intensifies, the wind howling and the rain lashing against the windows of the diner. It's as if nature itself is echoing Mugino's anger and bloodlust. "Well, fuck, its raining."
The downpour had been the first in a while. Summer is coming and spring is short. The rain of the changing season was pouring down, thick and heavy, obscuring everything beyond an arm's length. Kinuhata had her eyes plastered on the window whilst the other two talkative members of their group chatted away; like the master-servant dynamic they have, Frenda continuously listened and responded to whatever Mugino said while Takitsubo silently observed and kept to herself.
The rain pours down outside, obscuring the view of the city. Kinuhata, closest to the window, leans her forehead against the glass and watches the droplets race downward, rooting on a particularly determined one as it battles against the wind, finally succumbing to the force and spinning out of control.
She'd never said it before, but she enjoys the time she spent with the rest of the group. Eccentric, murdering, violent, savage people they can be, they were still friends. Though the scent of burnt flesh and death would always linger in their wake, it made them who they were. She would've liked it better if they could avoid such violent conflicts. But that's not how the world works, is it? It was a harsh and cruel place, and survival of the fittest was the name of the game. And she'd be damned if she let her friends down.
"By the way, have you heard? There's this new drama that's about to start airing," Frenda mentions suddenly, breaking the somber silence that had been building up. "Basically, something about time travelers or something." Kinuhata glances over at her with an amused look. Kinuhata might've heard of it.
"Doctor Who?" Frenda shrugged. "That show's been SUPER running since the 60s. Nothing new," The blond 'oh'd, Kinuhata chuckled softly. "Maybe you're only SUPER seeing the ninth Doctor. Ecclestonn. The weirdly shady, thin looking guy with the SUPER protruding ears and strange hair." she clarified.
Frenda snorted. "Yes, that one."
Though the two started to converse about Doctor Who and which of the current nine doctors were thought to be the best (Kinuhata herself was more into the fourth doctor, though she was willing to give the second and eighth a run for their money), going on and on as Frenda masterfully shifts the conversation onto something else when she got bored of hearing Saiai rant about how the fourth doctor was the only one who truly understood time travel.
"I'm telling you, - with his recorder and long scarf, he had it all SUPER figured out! No wonder he was always my favorite!" Kinuhata insisted. "I mean, what about that time he SUPER outsmarted the Ogrons and the Sontarans? Classic!"
Mugino tilted her head at that, eyebrows furrowed to a worrying degree. "What the fuck is sonte-or whatever you call it. What the fuck is that?"
"SUPER aliens!" Saiai exclaimed, hands raised up, almost eager to educate the uninformed to the greatness of the legendary show that is Doctor Who. "Sontarans are alien warriors from the planet Sontar. They're bred for war and have a SUPER obsession with strength and honor." The girl pulled out her flip phone and began typing something on it.
She showed it to Mugino, then to Frenda. They don't look so amused. "Why did he look like a red potato with a nose?" Mugino asked, making a face.
"They're supposed to look like that!" Saiai insisted, a hint of desperation in her voice. "It's their SUPER design! They're supposed to be intimidating!"
Mugino snorted. "Well, they ain't intimidating me."
"How is something with a head shaped like a sack of potato supposed to be intimidating, huh?" Frenda teased, grinning at the younger girl. "Better yet, he looks like an abnormally large ball sack!"
Saiai pouted, clearly not appreciating the mocking tone. "How would you know what a ball sack looks like, you SUPER perv?" she retorted, making a face. The blond blushed at that. It was unlady-like to be called a perv. In her attempt to defend her honor, she countered with a snort.
"Well, you're the one who's obsessed with Doctor Who, not me!" Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms. "And what do you mean by that, anyway? It would be unbecoming of me to insinuate such things." It was a weak attempt.
Mugino smirked. "What? You're saying that you wouldn't know?" Kinuhata giggled, not meaning any harm. Frenda turned beet red and shook her head, staring down at her hands and refusing to look either of them in the eye. "You should stop trying to sound innocent," Mugino told her, still amused by the girl's embarrassment. "You really didn't think that I'd not see you, meeting with that guy with that white hair?"
Rikou, who had been trying to doze off for a while now visibly shook. Frenda knew what this could possibly mean. "You've been spying on me?!"
Mugino merely shrugged, unapologetic. "I wouldn't go so far as to call it 'spying'. All I did was have her tap your phone." She gestured towards Rikou, pausing to take a drink from her tea. Still too sweet for her taste, but she wasn't one to waste a perfectly edible thing. Frenda wasn't so pleased to hear this.
"That's not very nice, Mugino-san!" The older girl doesn't seem to be bothered by the protest.
Saiai merely chuckled, Rikou's expression remained neutral. "Don't worry about it, Frenda, we didn't read much." Rikou's words, though meant to be reassuring, only served to further annoy Frenda. She frowned, looking first at Rikou, then at Mugino.
"Bah, don't be such a wuss, I did the same to their phones as well. You're not special, brat." Mugino's blunt and rude words made Frenda flinch, but she knew better than to argue with the older girl. The rain continued to pour outside, obscuring the view of the city. Kinuhata glanced at the clock on her phone, wondering how much longer they had to wait.
"So," Mugino added, resting her chin atop of her hands and leaning further back in her chair. "Who's this guy? What's so special about him?" She'd started to sound interested, curious as to who could catch the attention of someone like Frenda, of all people. But there was something in Mugino's eyes, something that suggested it might not be a totally altruistic motivation. Frenda shot a sideways glance at the other girl, unsettled by the gaze.
"He was a friend of mine..."
"So are the thousands of other contacts on your phone. Be more specific; is he a friend with benefits?" Mugino's voice was dry, almost mocking. "A fucking boyfriend? Hell, maybe a cousin?" Her tone was almost accusatory. Frenda felt her cheeks flush, the warmth spreading down her neck.
The blond shrunk from the scrutiny from three of her friends, not entirely sure how to answer that question. "He's a friend from elementary school..."
Mugino doesn't look to be impressed. "Is that it?"
Saiai made a face at Mugino's blatant answer. Frenda didn't need to share every detail of her past with them. They'd understand. Eventually. "Friends from childhood mean more than just a name on a phone." The 12 year old knew that better than anyone else. Her words held weight in them, catching the attention of others.
Mugino dropped the topic. She knew when to be invasive and when not to. It wasn't like she really cared anyway. It wasn't like they'd tell her something interesting anyway. The silence that followed was broken only by the rain outside, tapping against the window with an irregular rhythm.
Kinuhata was unmoving on her spot. Clearly her own words had some sort of effects on herself, as if taken back to the olden days. It was almost amusing, really. Almost. But not quite. Her mind drifted back to those times, those simpler times. When the world was just beginning to open up, and everything was still new and shiny. When the only worry was about what to strive for that approving nods from those scientists and not piss off the rest. Maybe even before those times as a test subject.
She missed it, but also hated and despised and wished for the past to never happen. It was a conflicting mess of emotions that she had long learned to live with. Not everyone was so lucky, though. She saw the way Frenda would sigh and look distant. She knew that she too had her own demons, her own ghosts that she had to deal with. It was a strange kind of comfort, in a way.
Today isn't so different from then. Just that they're all older now.
8
Ruiko was discharged pretty quickly. The comatose wasn't induced by physical or mental trauma, so the recovery was fast. She had been sent home with some medication and was advised to take it easy for the next few days. It didn't take no more than a full night's sleep for her to look mostly recovered.
Of course, she was going to be sore and fatigued for the rest of the day, and the doctor had suggested a light diet for a few days, but all things considered, it was nothing that couldn't be handled. Uiharu was there in case they needed anything. Her roommate even went so far as to take a day off from school and Judgement work.
However, that day-off went to waste when the two of them tagged along with Misaka to visit the Judgement's 177th Head Branch, Konori Mii, at her place in District 7th.
Kuroko didn't come, still feeling way too sore for her liking to go on a walk or anywhere on a bus. Hirano... well, he had to take extra class because of yesterday. That must've sucked so bad. I mean, who in this world would fancy a bloody extra class? It's not like he's a delinquent or anything.
The poor bastard had to endure the wrath of the instructor, the annoyance of his classmates, and the condescending glares from the high schoolers that he shared the school with (Tainting the rep is not a good thing). And all because of a certain ravenette's hospitalization. Oh, the irony.
Kuroko on the other hand, appears to be rather chipper that day, despite the pain that is plaguing her limbs and her side. Perhaps it was the knowledge that Ruiko was going to be alright, or maybe it was just the fact that she had someone to talk to and hang out with; not just because it was him that she gotta have him to spend whatever little time he had away from his work.
Who knew? All that matters was that the two of them were enjoying the conversation they were having in the park close to the School Garden. She had specifically chosen this area simply because it was quiet and distant enough from the main road. Not that she thought anyone would bother them. Though she was also hoping for no God forsaken criminal would interrupt their time again, what with the things these past two weeks.
The main reason being; just the quiet. Quiet atmosphere made it easier for them to focus on what the other person was saying. And right now, Kuroko was feeling rather talkative, especially when they've finally buried the hatchet that's been between them since the incident back in the mall. It was nice, talking to him again. She missed this, missed him.
He laughed.
Her own heart, the uncooperative thing that it is, decides to do another one of those palpation thingy where she feels like it's going to beat out of her chest, and her cheeks flushed red. Great, just great. Not the time for that, body; you can't just do whatever you want, whenever you want. Grow up.
She fidgets, trying to hide the blush by looking elsewhere. It didn't work. The blush stayed, as if it was painted there. Stubborn. Hirano, on the other hand, seemed to be oblivious to her reaction. Probably because he was too focused on whatever that she just said. Damn it.
When he stopped that laugh, she couldn't help but glance over at him. "Umm, Kuroko?" he said, the humor still present in his eyes. "You're... really red." Her gaze met his. It was an innocent remark, nothing more, nothing less. But still, she felt her face grow even hotter. She cursed internally, mentally willing her face to cool down.
The twin tailed girl kept herself quiet for a moment, trying to regain whatever sense of cool she had left. Her gaze drifted back to the scenery, focusing on anything but him. "This reminds me..." she said, her voice somewhat distant.
Hirano raised an eyebrow as Kuroko seemed to retreat into herself momentarily. "Of what?" he asked, unsure if he should pursue the topic or let it drop.
Her gaze flicked back to him. It feels weird, seeing him smile so easily now. It was hard to erase that image; his brooding, distant expression that she had grown so accustomed to. It was like seeing a different person. Nothing like the boy she once knew.
And she likes this change. It was easier to talk to him now. He listens more, laughs more, and smiles more. It was refreshing. Though, his attitude isn't the only thing that has changed.
His scrawny is beginning to show a semblance of muscle. The once pale, smooth skin now tinged with a hint of sun-kissed tan. His face seems thinner, more defined, almost mature. But perhaps it was just the passing of time. They were getting older, after all.
She let out a soft laugh. "You've grown up, you know?"
Hirano hummed at that, watching the grass blades sway against the soles of his shoes. He felt weird now that she said it. Him too, was reminded of something. Kikyou once asked him a question that he has no answer for, even now. His left hand rubbed the nape of his neck absently as he thought about it. 'What will I do once I graduate from Nagatenjouki...'
He'd never thought much about it. He is a 9th grader, not even in high school yet, so it's only natural that he never considered what he'd do after that. But Kikyou's words echoed in his head. He could probably still go to college. But after a few years, what? He can't stay in school forever, can he? Will Aiho even want him to join forces with her in Anti-Skill? She probably wants him to be a doctor or lawyer or something that most Asian parents do. There has to be something that he can do, or wants to do. For her, he could find out. But for him, he's just unsure.
"Kuroko," He interrupted his own thoughts, glancing at her. "What are you gonna do, once school is over?"
The girl shrugged. "I don't know. Either go to college and do something else or take over once my parents retire." It's funny how he asked the question, like he needed something to base his decision off of. Like it mattered. Like their plans would change anything in their lives. Well, at least not until the future rolls around and they face the consequences of their choices. And who knows, maybe by then, they'd have something else in mind. Stranger things have happened.
"Why are you asking me that question anyways?" She says with a light tone, laughing a little as she brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
He paused for a moment, watching her as she spoke, then glanced away briefly before looking back at her. "I don't want to be like this forever," he said, gesturing vaguely to himself. "I want to know what I'm going to do with my life. I want to be able to look back on it and say that I did something worthwhile."
She smiled softly. It was touching, seeing how sincere he had said it. She didn't quite know how to respond. He's always seemed so sure of himself before, even when he wasn't. But now, there was a small crack in that facade, a flicker of uncertainty that she had never seen before.
"You have time." There is wisdom in those simple words that belie Kuroko's appearance. For all of Hirano's attempts at being calm and rational about his life, the mere fact that he had bothered to ask what Kuroko planned on doing after high school spoke of his own doubts. He could tell from the way her voice soothed his worries, that her words weren't just some passing platitude. She had meant what she'd said.
She hadn't been the most insightful person before; never really the type to spend her time pondering deep philosophical questions or reflecting on her own actions. Back in their childhood, she was much more adventurous and imaginatif when he was still trying to fit in among the crowd of his peers. He was the one who thought about such things. Time to reflect upon one's life, one's choices, and the reasons behind those choices; things that one had either made a part of who they were or things they desperately wanted to discard like old and faded trinkets; these were the musings that plagued young Hirano.
For a long while, he had kept to himself, trying to be the calm and collected presence that others could lean on during times of need. It was flawed, seeing as how it only ended up masking his turmoil, his doubts and fear. It all bottled up and broke and he was left scrambling to put the pieces back together, only for the cracks to remain visible.
Kuroko was the one who made him realize that, even in the face of his stoicism. Frenda reminded him that there was more to life than just existing, that they could find joy and happiness in the little things that they did. Uiharu's innocence, untainted by the cynicism of the world, showed him that there was beauty in the world, and that it was worth protecting. Ruiko's enthusiasm over silly little things like tofu burgers made him see the wonder of life in ways that he hadn't thought possible.
His friends were not the people that he had always envisioned himself with; their personalities, the ways they viewed the world were so different from his. But they were who he had. And it was enough. More than enough. They had changed his life, even when they didn't mean to. They had been his anchors in a stormy sea of emotion and doubt, grounding him when he needed it most. They were irreplaceable. His precious treasures.
And Shirai Kuroko was at the centre of it all.
His throat tightened, his hands clenched. The back of his neck burned, and a lump formed in his throat. He doesn't know what Kuroko truly means to him. He doesn't want to compare her to Aiho or Kikyou, as they were his family. Comparing them felt wrong. But she is special to him. Different. She's been one of the very few people he was grateful for, happy to be able to call her his friend. Even happier when she declared them best friends. Their friendship is deep-rooted, built over the years they've spent together.
If he had to pick her out of anyone in the world, to spend the rest of his life with, he would have no regrets. Maybe it's just a feeling, but it's a feeling he cherishes.
This chapter is a tad bit too soft for optimistic, decent for an intermediary for the chaos that is gonna ensue on the next chapter. Most of the shit is tackling some personal subjects that is life.
Now, I'm gonna give you some chaotic shit next.
Let me remind you a little of what the fuck happened in the novel in the month of August - September; SISTERs, Necromancer, Misaka 5.3, and then Academy City Invasion. If that's not enough, fucking World War III takes place the next month. That's where I will end this fic. Right after WW3. No use going going further, seeing as how the Toaru Fandom are already dying from the lack of content from the studios.
Anyways, with this chapter I hereby declare this July arc finished. Hopefully, we'll have a new chapter ready by next week!