NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: chapter 26
In the abyss beyond physical world, there were dragons. Many of them, some of which disappeared in the darkness below. Kamijou Touma stood alone, as 7 of them gathered around him, hovering ever so slightly in the air.
"We have no time. It is of the essence that you learn about what should be done" the black dragon spoke in his deep voice.
"Okay, okay. Time out. I know that this is probably something important, and as much as I regret it, that's not the first time I was kidnapped like this. But I need to know... who are you? Are you really... dragons?"
"Humans learned to perceive us under this guise. But we are more than this" the green dragon...no, dragoness, judging from the voice, spoke in a melodic vibrato. "There were once dragons, real ones, creatures of myth and legend. Symbols of evil but also strength and power. Once we came to be, we took a form similar to the first one who brought us together."
"I...don't really follow" Touma looked at the towering creatures in confusion.
"Eons ago, no one knows exactly how much time past, Magic Gods put their powers together and created one of the most fundamental forces of the universe. One that always knew the way to the objective world of original creation, from the time when everything was young. Imagine Breaker, born to harmonize those which harmony was taken, normalize all that deviated, rescue everything that strayed from the path of original world "the first dragon Touma encountered, the one he summoned while fighting to save Himegami, spoke to him" But this power exceeded the expectations of its creators. Gaining sentience, and exceeding their reality altering magic, it escaped to the young Earth. And then, something marvellous happened, something that changed everything"
The mist of the abyss shimmered to showcase something that looked like fusion of all 3 states of matter, and shining faintly in colour Touma couldn't identify, shooting across the sky above the Earth. Then a big flash of light occurred, and although Touma saw that shockwave that followed didn't physically affect anything in the vision, he got goosebumps and was filled with premonition of power that he couldn't explain. It was like when he was standing in front of an enemy that had an ominous sense of otherworldly pressure to him.
"That was when Imagine Breaker first bonded with a material being. "Now, the flaming skeletal dragon spoke" This event, unprecedented in the history of the universe, affected the entire cosmos and tore through every phase there was at the time. This feedback that cleaved through the feedback of spacetime harnessed the phase energy and condensed it in a manner similar to implosion, right in its center. In Imagine Breaker itself."
"Wait... that means you are..."
"We are reflections of the universe, shards of the phases that formed history and time. Imagine Breaker is a map of reality itself, and we are collection of layers of reality that are found on the blueprint. Even we don't know why this phenomenon gave us sentience. It is one of the biggest mysteries, even to us"
"Eh? That's strangely suspicious..."
"WHAT?! You doubt us?! You better be grateful, human. There were only few hosts who knew of this!" the golden dragon growled fiercely, and air around him crackled with lightning.
"There, there..." the white dragon, also sounding feminine and sporting crystal scales, blocked the way of her comrade" Forgive him, Kamijou Touma. He tends to be a little brash"
"Okay but..." Touma was still trying to piece things together, at least somewhat" You mentioned that you took this form in honour of someone..."
"When we gained sentience, Imagine Breaker already incarnated. Its first host was one of the greatest in terms of adhering to the ideals of this power. He spent his life travelling, fighting, and gaining in strength, but also protecting weaker creatures from the influence of divine powers that started to mess with the world at the time. He was feral but wise, unyielding but just, demanding but protective. He truly changed the world. We each take draconic forms to honour the memory of this great first one. Even though we are trapped here, his actions made us realize that until we don't figure out how to overpower Imagine Breaker itself, we may as well not hinder the actions of the hosts if they follow such path of nobility."
"Wait... do you mean... the first host of Imagine Breaker was... A DRAGON?! An actual dragon?!"
"Why are you surprised? Dragons, although rare in your era, existed as the real animals one day. Gifted with both power and wisdom" the cobra dragon spoke. He had a playful yet slightly raspy voice, as if he drank something that made his throat sore. As he spoke, the poison fell down in sizzling droplets and Touma cautiously took a step back" This power doesn't discriminate. It has a plan and reincarnates through space and time. There were others before you. So, so many others..."
There was a roar of thunder and Touma saw the crowd of ghost-like mirages. They were differing in shapes, sizes, there were objects and living beings, from structures and creatures that Touma could not even properly visualize to more familiar objects and people.
He suddenly felt dizzy. He could have been mistaken but he thought that the mirages were seeing him... some were even bowing slightly. As he focused even more, he noticed the a small thread-like line of the same otherworldly colour going through each of countless shadows. The glowing thread stopped at him, at his lowered right hand.
When he looked at them, he noticed that assumingly random crowd was in fact forming some sort of a pattern. It reminded him of something Sotzy Exica once showed him on their adventure. It was called.. mandolina? No, mandala!
He felt the strangest of feelings. It was as if you were invited to a party to a distant relative and introduced to people you never actually met in a way you could have memories with them... but you knew something linked you.
"I never realized... there were..."
"That many?! Imagine Breaker has more stories than any human brain can comprehend. It's the story of war, chaos, beauty, mystery, love, sweat, and tears. It's the story of reality of itself, The Greatest Story Never Told!"
Suddenly, Touma felt as if his body was stretching and burning as his mind was filled with visions.
He was a dragon, shielding two humans with his wings and unleashing a roar that blew away surrounding magical attacks like candles...
...he was a sword, that dropped down on enemy's head, magical defence breaking as he made contact...
... he was a guarding dog, protecting village he lived in from the thieves...
... he was a fresco in the temple, that was deemed miraculous thanks to healing the ailments...
... he was the lake that was revered as a mystical place until the draught came...
... he was a preacher in ancient land that was burnt to crisp because of accusation of heresy, as his right hand could dispel even the magic of clerics...
... he was an arrow made from the bones once kept in a certain sanctuary...
... he was a chest at the bottom of the ocean... then a dove... a tree...a knight... a crucifix... a horse... some creature made of energy he couldn't recognize...
Suddenly, the visions faded, leaving Touma panting heavily.
"How... how long..."
"No one knows for sure. While you humans perceive time as linear progression, each change in phases renders the proper chronology of the universe a mere illusion. But Imagine Breaker forms its own objective timeline, unaffected by the phase manipulation. What you saw and experienced was a mere fraction of your past lives." the indigo dragon rumbled, lowering his head to look Touma directly in the eyes "I am keeping track of memories since we came into being. You can only learn one bit at the time, otherwise your mind would burn."
"Yeah... I think... I have more than enough of memory destruction for one lifetime, thank you... come to think of it, how should I call you?"
Dragons looked at each other... well, at least it seemed so, because some of them lacked eyes.
"We are imprints of phases themselves. From time to time, Imagine Breaker collects samples of phases and they form us. So as far as they go... our names are the true names of phases that we came from." the green dragoness explained" For example my name is..."
What followed was a series of sounds that resembled church organ, rustling of leaves, mixed with sharp sound of vibrating glass, as if all the windows in the world were about to be smashed.
"I am..." the black dragon spoke and Touma almost fell back when he was assaulted with the sound that sounded like rocks smashing each other or scraping against metal, with a booming, low echo that seemed to sap all of the light of the void.
Each of the dragons started to speak, and when Touma felt that he would not be able to bear it anymore, the sounds lessened.
"That's some intense names..." Touma mumbled, after which the cobra dragon made a hissing sound of laughter.
"What are you talking about, human? Those were merely first letters of each!"
"HUH?!"
"Why are you surprised? Our names are our own history, of course they would be long"
"This doesn't work like this in case of human names. This isn't going to work, so I will just stick with the colours or something like this until I find something better"
"It better reflect our mighty nature, our splendor and glory-" the golden dragon began once again, but crystal dragoness snarled at him to be quiet.
Touma looked at them again, before realizing something
"Weren't there 8 of you when I released you at Daihaseisai? Oh, I remember. The angelic dragon! What happened to him?"
That question must have been sensitive, because some dragons growled, shaking their heads.
"We don't know. She somehow escaped while the seal was weakened, and was controlled by a human child"
"W-What? That's awful! We should help her!"
"Nothing can be done now. She was destroyed, by the one who smells like incoming storm..."
"Misaka? Misaka fought that dragon?"
"We only learned of that after the fact. We have no knowledge if her essence will gather back here after time... or else what will become of her."
The silence that fell was almost suffocating.
"To the order of business..." Black dragon, that Touma began calling Obsidian Dragon in his head, spoke once again" Kamijou Touma, we glimpsed your actions during your time as Imagine Breaker's vessel. We believe that you are someone we can ally with, even if only till our goals coincide. You've proven worthy of our attention. There are many other incarnations of phases in Imagine Breaker, but that was why we, the eight oldest, responded to your call and emerged to devour that sphere of dark power"
"It was tasty... would you give us more in the future?" asked the Cobra.
Touma blinked in surprise
"You were watching me?"
"Yes, we sometimes get flashes of outside world. Call it a gut feeling or intuition, as this place does not allow us to actually exit and watch" Skeletal Flame shook his skull head.
"You surely must have realized that the seal keeping us inside weakened. While one of our goals is also freedom, it worried us immensely because of the way this is happening" Dark continued. Although he had no eyes, Touma felt pressure of his attention on him "Something is stirring under the surface... something that can even get into our heads..."
"What... or who is this?"
"We are still trying to figure that out. He strikes like a coward, takes different forms and manipulates events before the scenes here. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to take control" Golden Lightning groaned solemnly.
"I... once got under his control... I have no excuses for this" Skeletal Flame bowed slightly in front of Touma, who waved his hand in confusion.
"I-I am not mad... but... if I understand correctly, something is basically trying to... hack you?"
"Hijacking would be better. This is a serious issue. This foe has the same amount of influence over us as Imagine Breaker itself"
Seeing Touma deep in thought, the Emerald Dragoness came to the rescue.
"We are not the same thing as Imagine Breaker itself, you see. It contains us and it is a little bit like a semi-parasite. It uses us for becoming the reference point, but also lets our own energy grow stronger in containment. Even though we are closely connected to it, we have minds and ideas of our own."
"Kamijou Touma, this is not something we would normally do... but we believe that if we join forces, we can stop this new danger. It is imposing the risk for our plans and for your life as well. If we fail, we will be consumed by him and he will surely take your place in the outside world to pursue his own goals. Do you know of anyone with influence and power to do such a thing?"
There was a moment of silence before Touma spoke up
"No... not really, nothing comes to mind"
The dragons didn't look convinced, but the moment of silence ended there.
"Truly?" the crystal dragoness spoke in a pleasant, resonating alto" Well, if anything does come to your mind, feel free to tell us. The enemy we are facing will try to turn us against each other. He will attempt to corrupt us, and this will put in danger not only you, but the balance of the world you live in. We crave freedom, so it is not in our interest to return to desolation caused by some unhinged mind"
"Why? Aren't you powerful enough to overpower him?"
"Our foe is crafty. He targets us individually, he managed to take control while you were in the battle. If not for the intervention of Lady of Mourning, our comrade would be corrupted"
Skeletal Flame lowered his head in regretful display.
"I have nothing to say for an excuse. A dark presence engulfed my being and suddenly I felt... as if I was consumed by... emotions I never even felt. Kamijou Touma, on my honour, I swear it will not happen again!"
"O-Okay, non taken. So... we have a picture of this mysterious enemy." Touma looked around at his companions" I know that you know me well enough to realize I will not stand idly by while people around me might be endangered. Not to mention, this guy puts your existence in a problematic position too and I don't want to abandon you in need. You helped me a lot in rescuing Misaka that one time. Count me in."
"We hoped you would say that. Imagine Breaker's ways are mysterious, but this choice was perfect" hissed the Cobra.
"I suppose human is good as is" Golden Lightning looked at Kamijou with slightly less heavy gaze.
"So... what's the plan?"
"We have a simple, yet precise solution." Obsidian Dragon resumed his moderating role" Our foe can somehow channel our abilities through his body once he begins his corruption. When you were asleep, Lady of Mourning and Nordic God of War bypassed Imagine Breaker, contacted us and pleaded with us to guide you. The relationships between us and Gods of Magic are very delicate. Yet, in the eve of dire situation and out of respect for your actions, we agreed to mentor you. You shall become equal in abilities to our enemy, to be able to truly oppose him"
"So... you will train me? Wait, is this the moment when I realize that I wasn't actually weak all along and had some cosmic power in me all this time?! Will my days of being broke and lonely end?! Will I be like one of the Shonen Jump protagonist, where-"
"NO" all the dragons said in unison, causing Kamijou to flinch.
"At... at least you could hear me out..."
"No... not fully. In your normal life, nothing will change. Imagine Breaker is still Imagine Breaker and it will not allow any other power through. You will remain left with solely your body. But... if you happen to unseal us, as it happened before, then it will be another story. Listen, we will lend you our strength and allow you to channel our abilities through your body, just like our enemy does. We will become one with you and aid you in fight"
"That sounds helpful, although it probably has lots of complicated details"
"Remember Kamijou. Imagine Breaker chooses hosts with potential. But what you do with that potential is exclusively up to you. Everything in the universe is the subject to phase changes. Everything, except you. Because Imagine Breaker, you alone walk truly objective timeline of reality. It's a great freedom, but also a great responsibility, as you cannot accuse fate of your failures. Let it never leave your mind"
"Wow... you guys don't hold back on pressure, do you? So... who will teach me first?"
Memory dragon lowered his head
"This should be me. We already know each other, Kamijou Touma. We crushed Ars Magna together and I devoured the very being of one known as Aureolus Izzard. We should join forces again. My power allows you to reshape and destroy memories, as well as ego and personality."
"No, I need to redeem myself. Please, let me be chosen" Skeletal Flame shook his body, flames and sparks scattering around" I will guarantee victory with my undead flames. They will sap the lifeforce of ever being you deem your enemy, so if you could-"
"SILENCE!" Obsidian roared, causing everyone to quiet down. He then turned to Touma" I am the oldest of firstborns. I shall be the one to start the process."
Although there were mild whispers, no one opposed the black dragon.
"I understand your hesitation, Kamijou Touma. You are weary of us, and this is why I will guide you first. My power can cause any creature to experience their deepest hidden nightmares and fears. Those fears will cause them to flee, stop their thinking, or induce such a deep terror that their hearts will cease to beat."
"T-This is not really making me interested, you know..."
"But... even though this power can break, it can also heal. Heal hearts plagued by darkness of despair and shadows of terror. You have a good heart, Kamijou Touma, so if you manage to brace through your fears, I hope that when time comes and you will face the enemy, you will be able to use it wisely, to save others in need"
Touma gulped, but clenched his fist in determination.
"Okay, I will go with that. What will we do?"
"Usually..." mused Crystal "establishing connections like those requires practice, meditation, and effort spanning over decades or centuries..."
"D-DECADES?! CENTURIES?! I will be grandpa or dead by then! Isn't there a faster way to do this... unifying thing?!"
Dragons looked at each other and then at Obsidian.
"There is a way to speed it up..." the nightmare dragon spoke slowly" but it is not one a human child would enjoy. Perhaps..."
"If there isn't any other alternative, I will take anything that makes me sure that I will be able to save my friends. Do it!"
Obsidian nodded and other dragons stood aside, as he came closer to Kamijou.
"Very well. You are either very brave or very foolish. It's probably both in your case. Let us begin and don't say I didn't warn you"
"Okay... so what is this super speed-up method?"
"Well, magic relies on symbolism. And the fastest way to have two become one, is to put one into the other and erase the boundaries"
"Wait, what?..."
"I will try to make it as quick as I can. If you awake, the process of your learning will already begin. See you next time, if you survive"
"Wait a second... you don't mean..."
It dawned on him too late what the dragon desired to do.
Before Touma could even scream, he was picked up and swallowed whole. As the grey teeth clenched shut, Touma fell down into the dark tunnel filled with shadows and terror.
(AND THEN...)
Touma awoke, gasping for air, and covered in sweat on the couch in the living room. He was about to shot up, but something, or rather someone, held him down.
And also gently stroke his cheek.
"Ssssh... ssssssh... sssssh..."
The gentle hushing whisper accompanied with delicate motions of slender fingers made Touma slowly lose his tension and succumb into the softness below him. His thoughts were slowly returning to normal. He opened his eyes to notice a familiar face
"Rikuri?"
"Hello again. I was worried about you, so I thought it would be better to rest with you here."
"I am sorry, I will just-"
"No... stay. You always help me out with my problems, so let onee-san work some magic with relaxing you. I think by this point it's a known fact that we both enjoy this"
Touma could not deny it. But...
"My head..."
"What about it?"
"It's on your... chest"
Rikuri's smile got the accompaniment of slightly narrowed eyes, with magenta irises reflecting Touma's flushed face.
"It is indeed. That's not a problem, isn't it? It IS the softest thing around, but with enough firmness to keep you comfortable."
"I-I see you put quite the amount of consideration into it."
"What can I say, I am aspiring scientist. Also..." Rikuri's cheeks also reddened slightly" No one is saying that I am not enjoying this sensation as well. Seeing you like this makes me want to sleep here with you and just forget the world. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Rikuri was soft and smelled incredibly nice. The caring onee-san aura was almost too overwhelming and definitely didn't allow for Touma for anything other than total agreement.
The older girl snuggled with him and looked at the TV.
"Hey, do you want to see something cool?"
Touma nodded.
Rikuri pressed few buttons on the TV and took a joystick from the table, while still stroking Touma with the other hand.
As Rikuri fiddled with joystick, the image on the screen became clear
"Is that... a drone view of Academy City from the air"
"Yes, and relatively high up. I find this quite relaxing. To just watch this amazing wonder of a technology in the form of a City while we relax on the sofa"
So they sat down and watched as Rikuri's drone flew by the familiar location. It was indeed strangely relaxing experience. The girl then set the machine on autopilot and relaxed as well.
"Hey..." Rikuri said as she rested her head near him "While it would be nice if yours truly was the cause of you awakening with racing heart, something tells me that was not it. Did you have a nightmare?"
Touma's gaze shifted slightly and became colder.
"That's complicated. You don't have to worry about me"
"Oh, but I do worry. Because I pride myself in being the oldest here, I would love for you to feel safe. We don't make you feel uncomfortable, do we?"
"What? No, Rikuri-san, that's not the reason-"
"Because I assure you that Amazora may be a little wild and free, but she will grow into a splendid young lady. And Kaibi-chan may be cold and brash, but she does care for you a lot."
"Rikuri-san..."
"As for myself, I am still learning some housewife-qualities, and I am not very fit, but if you want, I can-"
"Rikuri-san, you are amazing!" Touma interrupted her, successfully shocking the girl into silence" More amazing than I actually dream to believe. I am glad, very glad even, that we managed to meet again. Even if my bad luck destroys this moment of peace we have, I am very glad they last as long as they can and that I can have fun with all of you"
"You... have fun?" Rikuri mumbled, suddenly sounding as if she was more bashful and couple years younger.
"Yeah. It's a bit of strange type of fun, involving drones, weird chemicals, heart distances, and lots of holes from gattling gun, but yes, I enjoy spending time with you. Othinus and Index will also like you, given enough time."
"I see... that's a relief" Rikuri didn't even hide the happiness in her voice" So... when you'll be ready, can we talk about what scared you so much? About your nightmares?"
Touma was hesitant for a moment, but finally nodded
"Only if we talk about yours, too"
"How did you-"
"When I cover with blankets at some nights, you trails of tears on your cheeks"
Rikuri sighed, blinking a few times, as if trying to erase something from her imagination.
"Since it is you... I will be honest. It's a deal."
"So... you are the guardian angel, protecting your sisters from nightmares as well?"
"That's the role of oldest sister. I also can make you something to help you sleep. Maybe some... colloidal butterfat globules with dissolved calcium phosphate throughout casein micelles. This aids the slumber."
"I know you say it to make it cooler, but please explain this to someone with zero chemical knowledge"
Rikuri leaned to his ear and whispered:
"M I L K~"
Touma looked at her, trying the fact that his heart accelerated once again.
"W-Why did you say it like that?"
"Like what?" Rikuri looked at him innocently, though it will obvious that she was one step away from laughing.
"Y-You can't just whisper about milk into the ear of the guy having his head on your breasts. That's..."
"Really now? I was curious what the mind of a perverted high school would make of that, but this is hilarious!"
The girl already started giggling, and Touma screamed.
"Don't laugh, they are jiggling with my head on them! I might as well die from overheating at this point!"
"Well..." Rikuri dried her eyes from tears her little laughing fit caused and rose up, with Kamijou finally lifting himself as well." I wouldn't like that. But this simply won't do."
"What won't do?"
"Do you remember what happened before you passed out? I got a little carried away..."
"I agree"
The girl, who was leaning down, paused in mid-motion
"Huh?"
"You wanted to spend some time with me. The answer is yes. I was a bit... shocked, but I wanted to agree anyway."
"Well, this just makes it even better" the busty blond brushed her hair aside, before closing the distance
"What makes-"
Rikuri's lips found their way on his cheek, causing him to stop talking. The lips pressed on the skin for quite a while, before Rikuri broke contact...
"This is an apology for scaring you earlier on"
...before shifting and kissing his other cheek, with the same length and intensity.
"And this is a thank you for agreeing to accompany me again"
Then she backed away, before flashing a small smile at Touma, who was currently trying to piece together any coherent explanation.
'Calm down, she explicitly said she was apologizing and thanking. It's just that.
But she kissed me!
Maybe it's some high-society custom? Or maybe it's from the dark side?
Some people DO thank each other or exchange greetings by kissing one another to the cheek
Did that softness on my skin was tip of her tongue?!
Focus, focus here! She didn't do it because she...
Marry me! Can I marry her?!'
However, this moment was interrupted when something hit Touma to the back of the head
"Don't be tricked onii-chan!"
The smaller girl in a dark pink dress adorned with small bows were pouting at them. They didn't even hear her enter.
"A-Amazora?! When did you come here?! You are back from the shopping?!"
"Onee-chan is still riding here with bags, but this is not important! My onii-chan can't be stolen like this!"
"My cute sister, if he is your brother, and I am your sister, then he is my brother too. That's called transitivity..."
"Hwah?! Was everything I knew a lie?!"
"But please, I do not wish for Kamijou-san to see me in the same sisterly way you want"
"B-But you still kissed him! Onii-chan, don't abandon me! Remember all the oysters we had together..."
"As far as I remember, you always take half of my portion..."
"Remember when I dressed like a maid for you and did moe moe kyun thingy?"
"While I admit you looked very cute, you don't do moe moe kyun with gun in your hand..."
"... and our first meeting. The heat of blazing fire, two of us, trying to take a breath..."
"If I understand correctly, you almost made me into a swiss cheese. And we couldn't breathe because there was literally no oxygen, and Rikuri-san had to make some shrimp blood..."
"That wasn't shrimp bloo... never mind that, he is right Amazora. You were trying to shoot through him, and I at least managed to have civilized conversation with him"
"But from what was told, he hit you in the face. Meanwhile, I was hit in the chest. Did onii-chan actually likes my chest too?!"
"P-Preposterous!" Rikuri cried out, trying to recover from surprisingly stinging comment.
"W-Wait a moment! Amazora, why do you look so smug?! Rikuri, why do you look like you are about to crumble into nothing any moment now?!"
"It's true that you didn't touch my chest when you did with Amazora... you didn't do anything to me while you knocked me out?!"
"N-No, I didn't lay one finger on you, I told you that earlier!"
"Sigh..."
"Did you just sigh on that?! What is going on in this conversation?!"
"Heh heh heh, you see Riku nee-chan, onii-chan already knew who's best back then. He's smart for investing in the future... owowowow! Not the cheeks!"
"Ho~, is this any way to talk to your older sister?! And where is this endless stream of confidence coming from?!"
"Onii chwwaaaaan, do you looooove me?!"
"W-Well... you're like a sister I never had..."
"Doki, doki, doki..."
Rikuri stared at blush that emerged on little girl's face.
"Amazora-chan, for most girls, being called a friend or a sister would be well... a wrong sign"
"That's my inherent superiority. I can be happy twice more with onii-chan as a sister and as a partner. When I grow up, the rest will be history."
"Kamijou-san, is that true?! Was your plan to wait for Amazora to grow up to my age and then do what you want with her?! Well, dear sister, there is no time like the present, and Kamijou-san likes older women!
"What plan?! Calm down, two of you!"
"Arrrgh... no, that's a lie! Onii-chan touched me in that garage, and I will touch him as well to prove myself even if I it's the last thing I do! Onii-chan, I will prove that younger is better!"
And so Amazora started to chase rather confused Touma with a kissy face.
"Amazora, wait up! I don't doubt that you are pretty and stuff, but there is time and place for everything-"
"But auntie Lessar said-"
"ERASE! Erase from your pretty head all things that foolish girl said about love! You will be corrupted beyond return! Amazora, come back from the dark side of deviancy!"
"Is that because Riku onee-chan can make you milk?! When I grow up, I will be able to do that to!"
"WHY ARE WE BACK TO MILK AGAIN?!"
"Amazora-chan, humans don't lactate unless they have an offspring. Unless you have a child, that's a no"
"Hmm... Kaibi onee-chan always says to me that I have to consider infinite times and more before I will be ready for babies. It has to be with someone you truly care about"
"W-Well, she is certainly right..."
"Then onii-chan can help with that!"
"..."
"Rikuri-san, don't look like you are about to chase me as well! Normal milk will suffice! Please don't attribute me with fetish I had no idea about!"
Then Amazora, launched herself in the air. Touma easily side stepped, causing the girl to fall head first between pillows and sofa itself. At the same time, there was a loud yell from the direction of the door to apartment.
"Amazora, you have guts to leave me with all those heavy bags!" Kaibi barged into the room, before eyeing the scene with a mixture of confusion and exhaustion" Why... why are Amazora's legs sticking from the sofa and why are you staring at them, Kamijou?!"
"Onii-chan doesn't want my milk and only wants Riku nee-san's because she has big, fat chest!" Amazora wailed, to which Kaibi sighed and looked at Touma
"Pervert. Disgusting, stinking pervert"
"No, seriously, that's a misunderstanding!"
"I know you love Rikuri nee-san's type, but something like this is off the charts. Do you like big boobs that badly?!"
"Please, stop with the chest and milk talk! Tell you what, you are all god damn great so stop fighting! Why are you even so upset in the first place... Amazora, you are eleven! But even if you don't look like a grown up woman now, you are super cute and I can cheer you on when you got even prettier. You are someone who makes my daily life so much more brighter. While that Thigh Flashing Seduction thing is dangerous for your age, it's great that you know your strengths. Kaibi-san, I admire your personality and sense of taste. I already made some great memories. Someone who looks so good and acts so professional, someone who is reliable honest and trustworthy. that's super attractive quality, and one of the reasons of why I enjoy to spend time with you. Rikuri-san, I won't deny that you are very beautiful and I wouldn't probably be able to stop looking even after seeing you 100 times. But what's even better is the fact that you shocked me so many times since we met with great things and sides to your personality that only make you more interesting. I can't wait what will you show me next!
So, what I want to say is, you are all great. I am happy to met all of you and had a chance to truly experience life around you as well. I don't want to see you fighting like this, over something like this too. It's the greatness of each individual flavour of every one of you that makes the Gokusai family something I want to have around. And the other way around, the power and strength of Gokusai family as a whole makes each of you shine more in my eyes. I wouldn't like to know you any other way than all together. All of you are amazing, and all of you are the Gokusai. So... would you stop fighting, please?"
The confession stunned three sisters into silence. Earlier on, even Kaibi, who didn't actually participate in earlier quarrel, got agitated after the explanation. Now, they looked at each other, slightly ashamed.
Kamijou Touma, in his noble heroic heart, said honest things with no undertone whatsoever. Always the one to resolve conflicts and return to the smiling times, he intervened so the sisters would stop fighting. But as he was the main subject of the fight, hidden underneath trivialities...
After so many naively honest compliments, Kami-yan disease unlocked new skill: Simultaneous Triple Sibling Blush.
"Well, I can't be mad if onii-chan says stuff like that..."
"Ekhm, for once he may be right, this is a bit pointless..."
"Y-Yes, let's be mature here..."
Touma nodded with satisfaction and yawned.
"Wow, that was a long day. If you have nothing against, I will turn in now"
And with this, he left the sisters in their own company.
"Wow, human. So smooth~" Othinus, who ran through the floor and jumped on his leg, muttered sarcastically, as she headed to the bed with her Understander.
Meanwhile, the trio looked at each other.
"That does not change the fact that competition is still going on" Kaibi commented.
"You bet, onee-chan!"
"Naturally. But he is right... we must not forget the important things. We are family beyond all. It is so sweet of him to say that he came to appreciate all of us."
Even if the sisters had their rivalry regarding Touma's love and attention, the fact that they were family meant that they all wanted to give something to Touma as a team, as a group.
That boy saved them both physically and mentally. They were broken, tainted, and patched together with blood and darkness, but he saved them and introduced to life they longed for without ever realizing it. They had little morality, but for the remaining honour, they wanted to make Kamijou Touma happy.
They knew he would not approve, but if someone was to threaten Touma, he would probably end up with mind altered, holes from bullets, and cyanide in the blood.
Amazora was thinking about something, before finally speaking:
"Something's bugging me... if onii-chan said that we are the greatest as a family and that he wouldn't want us in any way other than together... so is he all green for harem option?!"
Rikuri chocked on air, while Kaibi reddened and shouted
"AMAZORA! How the hell did you get that idea?!"
"No worries onee-chan, if I get my oysters and spoiling time, I wouldn't mind sharing him"
"That's not the issue here. Why is 11 year old openly talking about harem?!"
"I am not a baby, I know a bit of manga! Onii-chan already has a harem, so if we want to win, we have to ally ourselves, not fight!"
"Amazora, that's complicated and it's not like-"
"But in school they told us that sharing is a basic thing in a good family and it wouldn't be bad if we had onii-chan together, cause we are sisters!"
"Stop being a smartass! That's exactly the strange part because we are sisters! Rikuri nee-san, say something!"
"Ekhm... khmm...ugh..."
"Trying to cover your embarrassment and wild imagination with coughing is failing, so drop it"
"A-Amazora-chan, p-po... polygamy is a very serious thing to consider, and that's adult stuff..."
"Well, I am a lady, so adult stuff is fine with me."
Rikuri looked at Kaibi and shrugged helplessly.
"Okay, let's stop this nonsense, and go to bed, all of us." Kaibi tried her hardest to make a blush fade from her face as she lifted Amazora, despite her protests.
Finally, they dressed up and went to bed. Even though Amazora claimed to be eager to stay awake, she was out like a light almost as soon as she touched the pillow. Despite her claims, she was still merely entering teenage years and was still a kid. Her older sisters however were way too agitated for instant sleep.
"Well, as outrageous as it might sound, this would be an option to stop actual fighting and-" Rikuri mused, playing with her loose hair covering the pillow.
"No more word about Kamijou, nee-san! I am trying to maintain my pride, dignity, and sleeping schedule"
"Kaibi-san, let's not delude ourselves, you're thinking about him too and it will not change for some time"
The middle sister, with face hidden under the pillow, let out a mumble of frustration.
And just as Rikuri said, it was two hours until tiredness overtook them.
(IN THE MORNING...)
Touma woke up first and went to wash himself.
Even though he didn't tell anything yesterday and was thankful for the distraction, the meeting with the dragons was fresh in his mind.
He didn't feel any different than before, but he knew dragon's plan was working, even if he didn't fully understand it.
Touma was genuinely happy that he managed to communicate with some of the mysterious forces within him. He didn't doubt that they had good intentions. But...
This foe they were up against already attacked and could turn allies within Imagine Breaker against each other. What if he had spy or someone like this?
Normally, this distrust would not come to Touma's heart, but he withheld something from the dragons. He did have his suspicions. But if that was really that guy... if it was really him... that could become really dangerous.
"But why and how did he return? And if he got more powerful than the last time..." Touma mused, before taking off his clothes.
When he wanted to put them down, his gaze slid past the mirror...
As his reflection didn't repeat his motions, instead glaring at him back with sadistic smile.
'It's been a while, huh? Quite a life you got here... Kamijou'
Touma stumbled backwards, but the person in the mirror did not even flinch, observing him with amusement.
"You... why are you back?"
'You are living this life, our life, so you must be aware within your heart. But do you really think I will tell you straight up? You are not a little kid, so think about it... and fear what you might encounter in your revelations, you failure'
"I defeated you! We ended this before and I will not let you return!"
'That we shall see. Have fun while you can' the Touma in the mirror smiled wider, and the mirror cracked, with the cracks glowing in otherworldly colours...
Of shocking pink and emerald green.
As Touma backed away, he slipped and fell into the water, laughter from the mirror filling his ears before he submerged.
He got out of the bath, coughing and looking around wildly for any possible danger.
But the mirror was intact. It looked as if it was just an imagination.
But it wasn't, Touma knew better.
What was that about?
He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't hear the sizzling sound behind himself.
"Oh, Kamijou. Hiya!"
"Huh?! What the-"
As Touma shook of terrible feelings in his heart and turned around, he was stunned to notice that the part of the wall was gone and there was a girl staring at him through it.
"Nice abs"
" Youen? No... Kaai?"
"I am impressed. It usually takes people longer to learn to distinguish us"
"What are you doing in my tub?!"
"I think our tub is a better word now"
Only now Touma noticed that part of the wall was dissolved and apparently this linked two separate bathtubs into one. The pools of water were limited from 3 sides and stuck to the waterproofed wall on one side. Touma did not think that behind the wall could be another tub, as if in mirror reflection. And so, the passage was created, making two bodies of water one.
"Okay... why did you melt that passage?"
"Well, I told Riku-chan I will leave her certain chemical formula, so I thought 'why waste time and got to you straight from where I had that thought! Now, I will just drop it and-"
"D-DON'T STAND UP! You have no clothes!"
"So? You saw Youen naked already. Except for modifications caused by environment and epigenetic metylation, we are natural clones."
"That doesn't make it okay... wait, why is the water grey?!"
"Oh, it is my remineralizing bath water treatment. Works wonders on the body"
"You didn't dissolve anything... or anyone... in it, right?!"
"Bwahahaha! Of course not, silly! I only add organic components on weekends"
"W-What?"
"Onee-chan, what's the ruckus about so early in the..." Youen, with her hair in disarray, opened the door to the bathroom of the neighbouring apartment, before opening her eyes and noticing Kaai with Touma.
"Kami... Kami...Ka...Ka..."
Needless to say, she also didn't wear clothes.
"See, what did I tell you? We are twins, so nothing new to see"
Touma turned around, as Youen rushed to the tub.
"Kaai, get out of there at once!"
"Why? I just entered and made a great co-ed bath integration event with our neighbours!"
"Don't just stand naked in front of him!"
SPLASH! The form of the girl liquified.
"No, I won't allow him to bathe in you either!"
"Why are you a party pooper?! You were never bothered by being naked in front of someone. Maybe it's because you became interested in hi-"
"One more word of you and-"
"... or maybe because it is me and not you?~"
In the next moment, Kaai and the rest of the water were flushed down, with angry Youen huffing in approval.
"Will... she be okay?" Touma asked in concern.
"Yeah, she was already flushed to the sewers once. And believe me, dirt and filth only turn her on, so I am doing her a favour. Sorry for her..." Youen sighed, before quickly turning around and fetching a towel, making Touma exhale from relief.
"So... what's on the agenda today?" Youen said, before going into the tub. Touma took her hand to prevent her from slipping.
"Actually, I thought I could take you somewhere with us"
"Us? You and those sisters of yours?"
"Yeah. It is important. Kumokawa-senpai planned the meeting about saving our friend. Maybe you will be able to help as well"
(LATER ON...)
Touma pressed the doorbell, while standing in front of Kumokawa Seria's apartment, accompanied by all 3 Gokusai sisters plus Hanatsuyu Youen. Othinus, in his pocket, also had full attention to what was happening outside. She and Touma were to talk later about this meeting.
After few loud noised from the inside, Kumokawa Seria appeared in the entrance.
"Hello, my cute kouhai. And you too, not-so-desirable but possibly helpful female additions."
"Senpai, do try to be nice. We are a team after all."
"Hmm...very well... come in"
This apartment was much more spacious and luxurious, equipped with various technological enhancements. On the sofa, there were two familiar girls, engaged in cart video game.
"Hi Kamijou" Maidono waved to him, while flexing her index finger to get herself a can of carbonated juice, that shot through the room towards her "While waiting for the meeting, me and Hasacchi decided to play some games. She's pretty determined to do this! Buuuut... she lost every single time"
As if on cue, the cart Hasako was driving in the game crashed, while Maidono didn't know if she should celebrate or pity her friend.
The girl looked at Kamijou with puppy version of her multi-hued irises.
"Kamijou-sama~..."
"Okay, I will teach you how to play. Bet you never actually interacted with a game like this before, being born in 1930s"
The face of a Miko girl brightened instantly and she flashed Touma a smile
"Mhm!"
"That sounds like a fun free time idea. I will join too" Maidono said, but then, Kumokawa coughed loudly and motioned to the table.
"Since we are gathered, let's have this talk, shall we?"
(15 MINUTES LATER)
The talk didn't start immediately however because Touma insisted on making some food first.
As Touma was busy in the kitchen, Kaibi approached Kumokawa.
"Look at you, getting so filled with expectations. You really change when you are around him"
"What can I say, me and this boy go together like yin and yang" Seria allowed herself a proud smirk.
"I bet you was up all morning, trying to tidy up the mess you usually have. You seem like the type to do this for the boy you like"
"Hmm, what are you talking about? I am a picture perfect senpai, I don't need to-"
CRASH!
Amazora suddenly became engulfed by the mountain of clothes and items that fell from behind one of the doors.
"I wanted to go to the toilet, but the things suddenly attacked me!"
Kumokawa opened her mouth, closed it, and quickly helped Amazora get out and shoved everything back behind the door. After small girl went into the toilet, the older girl tossed her hair aside and, ignoring Kaibi's smug look, resumed.
"W-Well, as I was saying, Kamijou never lets down my expectations and I can always count for our teamwork to be memorable"
Kaibi's eyes glowed as she confronted the girl with a red headband with one question that was weighing on her mind
"Ever since we met that time, I was wondering... why are you interested in Kamijou, and investing your time in being with him?"
Kumokawa looked at her with the expression of boredom and suddenly, Kaibi felt the steel-strong resistence, which made her turn her power off in surprise
"Sorry, but Measure Heart will not work on me. I can shape my emotions and views as easily as one shapes clay, and I can manipulate the subjective connections as skilfully as you, or even that golden cow. Don't try that again or you might just get burned. Luckily for you, I am in a good mood and will answer your question. Why, you ask..."
She looked at Touma with a fond, yet also somewhat longing look.
"For starters, I am a genius."
Kaibi, still slightly puzzled by the seemingly powerless girl fending off her power, let out an awkward chuckle at that statement
"It's not a joke, it's a fact. I think you realized it by now too. So, as someone with high intelligence, I found many things in life quite trivial. This boredom never leaves me to be honest, and I love to find new ways to challenge myself. And initially, Kamijou Touma was one of such challenges. I ventured to investigate his power and behaviour, but before I knew it, no, before my mind could predict, me, him, and Mitsuari Ayu were involved in certain adventure. Adventure you played a role in as well. During our time together, I was shocked to discover that his actions and personality caused me to feel things I never experienced before. When he came back for me and Mitsuari-san, I felt joy. When I teamed up with him, I felt elation. When we fought together against malaria, on the verge of death, I felt relief that my possible last moments were with someone like this. The most wondrous thin happened! Thanks to him, I acquired endless source of excitement, that my intellect always tries to grasp but fails."
"You... fell in love"
"It wasn't planned, it wasn't calculated or expected in any possible scenario! But once it occurred, I simply could not let it go. It was not without my touch that he came to my school rather than any other. And let me tell you, ever since he appeared, the world around me become such a lively place. There never is a truly quiet day. And before you say I am doing this only for my entertainment, while it does play a part in the equation, what endears me the most is how unorthodox and idealistic he is. It goes all against the logic he has in my head, but he still makes it work.
Of course, affection for someone like this can get problematic. I made countless advances on him, all of them ruined by some random accidents or circumstances. But worse is the fact that before feeling all of those things, I never had to worry about anyone, maybe except Maria. Everyone was disposable, everyone could have an alternative plan. But there is no alternative for Kamijou Touma in my eyes. I admit that I dreaded not being able to control the messes he gets himself into and I had little to no sleep when he disappeared after World War III.
So, for those ideals and his tenacity in trying to protect them, I am more than willing to protect him and stand by his side as well. He is cute and hopelessly bent on saving others, so he needs someone with the outlook on the bigger picture. So, there you have it. All of those things, and the fact that I can't just manipulate him or conquer him as I please... sends my mind and body into overdrive"
"What kind of... overdrive?"
"All of them, I suppose. In all the good ways..." Kumokawa's gaze became tinged with a bit of sultriness" and all the bad too. Hate to burst your bubble of confidence, but I have you know that my affection is mutual. I just need to overpower this bad luck of his somehow."
'Wow, she is the real deal. The fact that he got attracted to her after his memory loss proves that. I mean I knew that, but wow... Kamijou truly doesn't mess around with connections'
"That's all nice, yet... I still don't fully trust you, you know"
"Now, that's cold. Who arranged for your family's protection while you worked for SCHOOL?"
"And I am glad for that. I am just saying it... for the record. As a matter of fact, if that ridiculous spy network of yours spots Kakine, please let me know"
"I will think about it."
Touma called them all to table. He served small sandwiches and pasta accompanied with vegetable salad for all to enjoy.
Kumokawa smiled in delight.
"Your repertouir never disappoints, kouhai"
"Thanks, but credit for this is better given to Maria. She challenged me to cook-off so many times that I greatly benefitted from her instructions and we helped each other improve"
"Ho? So I see that you've been spending more time with my dear little sister... the fact she didn't seem worthy of disclosing..."
"Yes, she is just the best. If she didn't allow me to try the foods she made in Ryouran, I wouldn't be able-... senpai, are you cold? You are kind of... shivery"
Kumokawa Seria's eye was twitching as her face became like a beautiful yet also slightly terrifying smiling mask. Her elegant cup was shaking, spilling the tea on the small plate below.
"Ah hah hah... my cute Maria... you have a full-on soap-opera mode coming, that's for sure... what's that? You worry about poor old Seria? Why?! The vision of my younger sister and my kouhai feeding each other is absolutely alright~... heh heh heh..."
"Did onii-chan broke the forehead onee-chan?"
"Hush Amazora, it is rude to point"
"S-S-Senpai, Maria-san only came by because she wanted to test a few things on Index, since she can eat practically everything, and that's how we started to meet-"
" Heh heh heh... so there is a regularity there... and in your dorm no less... so that little backstabber wants to be a maid in that building after all... crafty, crafty sibling of mine... you have no idea what future holds for you, no idea at all~..."
(ELSEWHERE)
In Ryouran Maid School, a black haired girl wearing black and yellow uniform scrunched her nose, before shivering strongly from head to toe.
Tsuchimikado Maika, wearing a standard maid uniform and as per usual spinning on top of a cleaning robot, looked at her friend in interest
"What's wrong, Maria-san?"
"I thought I will sneeze, but the feeling suddenly turned into great chill, as if I jumped into a pool of ice. The day is still young, so why do I feel as if I somehow got into trouble?!"
(LATER, BACK IN KUMOKAWA APARTMENT...)
"Everyone..." Kumokawa spread the papers, forming a large map that looked as if pulled out of criminal movie. There were even red threads and photos of a single girl pinned in various places "We are here today to discuss one thing and one thing only. To being the operation to save our friend, who was lost to the darkness: Mitsuari Ayu"
Touma clenched his fist in determination.
"She suffered for very long" he added, addressing mainly Youen, who did not know Ayu at all" We all had some time together, and she is the only one missing. I have to find her and make things right. The others offered their help, for which I am really grateful."
"He is right. What happened to that girl was a poor mixture of bad fortune, injustice and misunderstanding. But with all of our strengths and willpower, it should be possible to bring her here, to us"
"After we heard what happened to her, we got the piece of puzzle we were missing from the Biohacker incident." Kaibi said on behalf of her and Gokusai family" Although we didn't know her long, her being targeted by us didn't help in her situation. And if it's important for Kamijou, we are in"
"I didn't really know Mitsuari-sama, but she is one of the main reasons why I was awoken. So I wish to thank you and become her friend if she wants that" Hasako voiced her thoughts.
"I don't know the girl, but I won't leave Kamijou and Hasako alone. If they are coming, I am coming too"
"Thanks Hoshimi, that means a lot" Touma smiled to the girl, who opened her eyes wide.
'He said my first name... even though it is a fake one, my heart can't stop beating loudly!'
"Kamijou asked me here, so I will go along with whatever he has planned." Youen shrugged, looking at Touma.
"Yeah, thanks for being here Youen, it will be mighty helpful"
"Then let's commence the actual planning and division of roles."
The talks started, and last for few hours. Finally, Touma was tasked with being main search force, with Gokusai sisters providing him support. Kumokawa would search intel through her connections, while Maidono, Youen, and Hasako were to investigate some dark side leads. Youen additionally got instructions from Kamijou but no one overheard what they talked about.
With that, their plans to systematically search and rescue Mitsuari Ayu began to take form in clarity.
"Almost perfect. We will be in close contact and support one another in case something goes sour. Although, there is one missing piece that would be great to cover... Mitsuari Ayu was a Tokiwadai student. Although this is only a secondary line of reasoning, knowing her from the side of Tokiwadai can provide vital clues. It would be great to have someone neutral, with good skill and temper, on the inside intel in Tokiwadai"
"I knew this might happen senpai, so I have just the person for the job!" Touma said, pulling out his phone and calling a certain number.
After a few signals, a female voice answered in an exasperated tone
"Hello? Did you got into some mess again, ape? Honestly, if it wasn't for onee-sama's wishes, I would never-"
"Hey Shirai" Touma interrupted, focusing all of his will into the words to speak to his twin-tailed ally" If what you once said about being a hero holds true, I have a task just for you. I need you, Shirai Kuroko, to help save the smile of girl lost in darkness"
(FEW MINUTES LATER, AT TOKIWADAI)
Shirai Kuroko sighed loudly finishing the call
"Honestly, that ape... I have better things to do. Like cataloguing my onee-sama secret photo collection, buying aphrodisiacs, and smuggling my Judgement paperwork to Uiharu's load..."
Another sigh...
"Then again, this case is something really interesting. And that ape did aid us in the past, so it wouldn't be honourable for me to stood him up, especially since this is the bigger thing. The fact that I want to stick him with darts for all the times he steals onee-sama should be kept separate. Now, he wants my experience, not Judgement itself though... grr, how dare he use the hero argument with me. Fine... I suppose I can give this a try. O-Only this time there will be no princess carries. H-How do I even end up in them all the time..."
Kuroko stood up, and looked at the hedge nearby.
"Before I get into it, come out already, you are embarrassing yourself"
After a few moments, the plant rustled and Kongou Mitsuko fell out of it, before quickly tidying herself up as if nothing happened.
"A-Admirable, Shirai Kuroko, to see through my flawless camouflage..."
"Your butt was sticking out on the other side, so it was far from flawless..."
"Ohohoho, you are such a jest. Anyway, I overheard that you were talking with my darling. I want to be off assistance to him"
"As thrilling as your presence would be, I have no problem in saying pass. Apparently, he already has the team of people on the case and requires me to check Tokiwadai for clues"
"Clues of what?!"
Kuroko facepalmed, and looked at Kongou heiress.
"You are not going to leave me alone until I talk to you about this"
"Of course I won't. The great Kongou Mitsuko would never abandon her friend on such a dire quest"
"What a joyful day to be your friend. Fine, listen, we need to learn Tokiwadai history of a girl known as Mitsuari Ayu"
"Okay, tell me more"
"Let's go somewhere private"
With that, Kuroko placed a hand on Kongou's arm and the two vanished.
But as usual in situations like those, the random predicaments didn't end there.
Floors above, Hokaze Junko froze with watering can in her hand and absolute shock on her face.
She was asked by the Tokiwadai Gardening Club to take care of watering the plants in one of the classroom and, being the ever helpful gentle soul, she agreed. As she stepped to the balcony, she noticed Kuroko and Kongou talking to each other.
Junko was always happy for people to get along together. Although she heard that two girls had bickering relationship in the past, it now looked that they were talking peacefully. She felt so happy that she couldn't resist but be curious about the conversation itself. She tried to fight it but it grew in strength. Even Hokaze Junko, one of the most proper ojou-sama from Tokiwadai's glorious ojou-sama galore, had moments of weakness.
With Rampage Dress amplifying her hearing, eavesdropping wasn't hard. But the conversation was just that, a talk, even with irritation on Kuroko's part. But when the guilt of violating the privacy became to strong...
A certain name was said, which stunned Junko into silence even after two girls disappeared.
"I can be mistaken, but did they say... Ayu? Is something going on with Mitsuari-san? I must..."
She stopped herself before she could go into sprint. What should she do?
Normally, her first instinct would be to inform her Queen. Both she and Shokuhou Misaki had connections to Mitsuari Ayu in the past. But after the events that ocurred on Geo Ground, Hokaze was a bit weary of another confrontation with her friend from the past. Or rather, she was unsure if she should let Shokuhou confront Mental Stinger once again.
The vision of her Queen, nearly killed by one of their best friends, nearly a sworn sister, plagued her mind and filled her with dread. Junko wanted all of her precious friends to be safe.
She clasped her hands in front of her chest and exhaled slowly
"Thank goodness Kamijou-san was there... but I have to know... and cannot allow my Queen to go through something like this again. Yet, I also doubt that possibility of something involving Mitsuari-san could be ignored."
Hokaze Junko walked out of the classroom and into the corridor.
Here's what she could do:
Option 1: Report to the Queen, guaranteeing her involvement, which would probably be emotionally-driven, because Kamijou-san and Mitsuari-san were involved
Option 2: Confront Kongou-san and Shirai-san first, and form an alliance.
Option 3: Do something by herself, without troubling anyone.
What she definitely needed was information. With those thoughts, the violet haired girl walked, contemplating the future course of action
(MEANWHILE)
On the other side of the world, Index Librorum Prohibitorum was happy to count days that were to pass before reunion with Kamijou Touma and discover, alongside equally happy Kanzaki Kaori, that there weren't many before that reunion will occur.
In the same country, Patricia Birdway and Mark Space were also observing Leivinia, who was zooming from one side of her room to the other, deciding on what to pack, as she too was preparing to head to Japan in a not so distant future, to meet with Kamijou Touma and settle the score with a certain newfound rival.
In Academy City, Oriana Thomson relaxed in a hot tub with a content sigh, while Kakine Teitoku walked alone through the shadows of an abandoned building. Different people with different circumstances, yet both targeted by Gokusai Kaibi, bent on sorting out her past, present, and future.
And somewhere, in the dark alley, a lone feminine figure, being on the run thanks to her broken and uneasy heart, stopped her advance.
A strand of chocolate-coloured hair fell down from behind her hoodie as Mitsuari Ayu, as if touched with some strange insight, turned around to look at the sky.
Her tired eyes could have been mistaken, but she could have sworn that the clouds parted to make the way of sunlight, if only for a moment.