Toaru Majutsu no Index Painted prison chronicles

(MEANWHILE, IN JUDGEMENT'S 177 BRANCH OFFICE)

"So Kamijou-san needs someone to watch his surroundings, huh?" Uiharu said wistfully.

"Yes." Saten nodded vigorously" I asked and he said I could tell you. It's not like I know actual details so..."

"Well, I will be on the lookout then too" Uiharu said, clicking something on the computer and writing on the keyboard, without hearing her friend sigh.

"Hmm? What is it, Saten-san?"

"Well, bringing Miho-san made me realize that... compared to Touma, who had his struggles parallel to our own, we look quite... underwhelming"

"What do you mean?"

"Touma had to fight conspiracies, protected Index from forces out of this world, whatever that means... suffered countless injuries and psychological damage while fighting all over the world, at almost every foreseeable conflict... while we were stopping eyebrow drawing, chilled at the pool together, or worried about bust sizes... all the while he suffered so much and we had no idea!"

"W-Well, we also have fair share of more... ekhm, dignified victories... but... yes, I understand where you are coming from"

"I just wish we could do more for him..."

Uiharu thought for a moment before snapping her fingers.

"Oh gods! Why didn't I think of that before?"

"What?"

"My cousin! I think she goes to his school. Maybe we should talk to her."

"Wait, you have a cousin in the city? You never told me about that!"

"Well, you never asked, and I never saw the need to talk about it. We are not all that close now, although we were more in our childhood, before I was sent to the city. Oh, and she is not my proper cousin, she is actually my second cousin. Our grandmothers were sisters, and our parents, my father and her mother, are first cousins. I didn't hear from her in quite some time too. But I do know she is a student at CHS"

"What is her name?"

"She is called..."

(BACK AT CERTAIN HIGH SCHOOL)

The girl that Touma bumped into was a petite girl, brunette, slightly shorter than him, massaging her head, sporting a characteristic white headband, through which she gained her nickname "Headband Girl".

"Owah!" she said, trying to keep her balance with a small tower of books in her arms" Oh, K-Kamijou-kun. Good morning"

"Good morning, Sukemi-san"

Her actual name was Sukemi Rin, and she was a president of acting club, as well as the senior member in one of the Academy City's student bulletins, with a job as a photographer. Personality-wise, she was gentle and rather shy, not to the point of social anxiety, but rather a very pronounced introversion, that she tried to overcome through acting.

"Waaaah!"

The girl cried out out, as she ultimately fell to the ground, butt up, books falling around her.

"I will help you out!"

"T-Thank you. I am so sorry"

"How are your studies doing?"

"Well... I have the theory covered very well, but I lack practical skill... my fingers won't stop shaking" the girl with a white headband

"Must be tough, huh..."

Rin was also a bit clumsy and uncoordinated. She worked on that, as she was heavily pressured by her family to become a doctor, and was even undertaking additional medical training while still in high school. In his opinion, Touma wasn't sure if his classmate was a good fit for that job, as for the longest time she was also scared of blood. But as Rin was determined to make her parents proud, he didn't voice his reasoning.

The short haired girl looked shyly at him, covering her face slightly with one of the books she was carrying.

"K-Kamijou-kun, do you think we can-"

There was a bell toll and Touma looked back to the entrance to the class.

"I-I am sorry, Sukemi-san, but if I am late, Komoe-sensei will make me stay till midnight, the patience of the teachers is still very thin when it comes to my attendance. We can talk later, okay?"

"A-Alright..."

Touma smiled and then ran back to class, not noticing that the girl sighed with sadness.

"Another failure..."

She then winced, clenching her head.

"Is it time for my medication? I shouldn't be skipping class, but Komoe-sensei knows my condition, so I will just go to the nurse office and go back..."

As the headband girl walked away, Juufuku Miho, unnoticeable to them, frowned and crossed her arms.

'I know I shouldn't get away from Kamijou-san... but my intution tells me something strange is going on here. Maybe I will follow this Sukemi-san for a little more...'

(MEANWHILE, BACK IN JUDGEMENT'S 177 BRANCH OFFICE)

"So Rin-senpai wants to become a doctor?" Saten asked.

"Well, she actually enjoys photography and acting more, but uncle Sukemi is a doctor and he was always really vehement for Rin to at least invest some part of education into medicine. My cousin is shy and not very assertive, so it was hard for her to say no" Uiharu explained" Also..."

"Also?"

"Rin was always a bit sickly. I don't remember what exactly her condition was, but it was something pressure related that caused her to faint and loss consciousness quite a lot. But I heard she takes some medicine for years now, so she should be fine. I think that her own condition may be the reason through which she may be motivated to give medicine a chance."

(MEANWHILE, AT TOUMA'S CLASSROOM)

Sukemi Rin's seat was empty.

Touma tried to focus on the lesson, but could help but direct his eyes at that spot.

Minutes passed and his anxiety only grew.

He didn't want to think about it... but...

The description that Ladylee gave him would be ideal fit for Rin.

'No, no, that is impossible... Sukemi-san is polite, kind-hearted, clumsy, and extremely shy. There is just now way she is that knife swinging maniac that Ladylee encountered and which is probably on the hunt for Ayu and other girls.'

Some more time ticked away and when he was close to convincing himself to give it up and write it off as being paranoid...

There was a loud 'clang' sound from the outside of the classroom.

This put him on high alert and before he knew it, he was already leaving his seat.

"K...Kamijou-chan?! Class is still in-"

"TOILET!" he managed to shout before disappearing behind the door.

(~~~~)

There was once a lone girl of no particular talent.

Aside from her family, including an amicable younger cousin, she had no friends. Ever since she was small, she was the sensitive type. She cried when there was noise or violence, got emotional over bird fallen from the nest, and she loved imaginative books that she read through her spare time.

The world was often too much for her. Its splendor, noise, and rush overwhelmed that little girl. And most of her friends were also loud and outgoing, so as much as she wanted, she couldn't catch up.

She ended up being considered as weird for that reclusiveness.

By all... but one. A boy who got to her kindergarten in both of their first year in the city.

He was also full of spirit, but he often sat by her side, just enjoying the silence.

She once asked him why he bothered to spend time with her.

He said that sometimes, he liked to watch the clouds, and that being in silence with someone nice meant more to him than being around people who threw curses his way.

Both of them were rejects for different reasons. And over time, in her shy and meek observations, she started to enjoy watching him. And that admiration only grew.

When that year ended, the girl was devastated. She was sad that she lost her first and only friend.

But even though she and the boy didn't consult it with one another, they kept meeting in new levels of education. Elementary, middle, and high schools. This however, could be both a curse and blessing. Without those repeated and seemingly fate-dictated meetings, that childhood admiration of boy's personality would probably withered away. Instead, it only got reinforced. Over the years, those feelings would change into crush so deeply etched into her being that she felt it would be impossible to truly describe it with that secret desire. She treasured her headband, a gift from their last trip in middle school, as if it was a family heirloom.

Yet, with the passage of time, that boy was involved into more and more conflict and attracted attention, also of the romantic type, of many people. And soon that girl, who was average in almost anything, felt overshadowed, as every opportunity and her own shyness kept stealing her the chances to finally tell the boy how she felt. She said it was no problem, but drop by drop, the sadness and bitterness seeped into her soul like poison.

Unknowingly to her, the boy forgot about her and everything else from the past. Unfortunately, that only reinforced her belief that it was the world and people around the boy who took him from her. Of course, she was too innocent and shy to do something with that poisonous bitterness. Until, one night, she met someone who offered her a deal...

(~~~~~)

(AND HERE IS WHAT EVENTS LED TO COMMOTION THAT GOT TOUMA'S ATTENTION)

Juufuku Miho wouldn't call herself brave. She knew many people that were more virtuous or commending than heself. However, she also wasn't a complete coward. Especially when she was fueled by strong emotions, she could overcome her own insecurity and go against people stronger than herself. Her past eyebrow vendetta was a perfect demonstration of that, although she was under effect of Level Upper back then.

When Sukemi Rin separated from Kamijou Touma, Miho tailed her into the nurse office, which was a big space that combined office with the infirmary containing four large beds separated by white curtains. The headband wearing girl started to search for something in the designated cupboard and Dummy Check user started to think that she made a mistake. Miho wouldn't mind going away from there. She didn't like the nurses or medical spaces in schools. The strong smell of ethanol and medicine always irritated her, and she knew all the nurses she met in her life was secretly making fun of her eyebrows. Yes, Miho and infirmaries did not mix well. So as minutes passed and she observed Rin, she felt more and more bored and annoyed.

However, what she did not expect was that the other girl collapsed on the ground before reaching the bed she wanted to lay down on.

In first moment, she wanted to deactivate her ability and run to help her. But once again, instinct caused her to wait for a moment. And thanks to it, only a minute later, she was able to witness something that went beyond normal.

The girl rose up and it was clear us day that something occurred in that short moment of unconsciousness. Her posture was different, as she lazily stretched and muttered.

"Don't know how much time I have... but I guess it's time to prepare some work... if I please him tonight with some good cutting, then he may give me what I desire... and I will finally, finally have him alone... all to me..."

She flexed her fingers and slowly reached to her head, removing the white headband in front of stunned Miho, invisibly standing behind her.

"Oh, screw it, I want blood now! Why wait for night, I will just go to that hussy-hive right now! Let's get some Tokiwadai carnage"

Just as that sentence was finished, Miho stiffened.

She felt dread spread through her body. She realized what was going to happen far too late. Or rather, it went through so fast that she couldn't do anything to stop it.

She fell prey to one of the greatest enemies of a spy wishing to stay in hiding.

Despite her greatest unwillingness, Jufuuku Miho sneezed.

She wanted to throw all the curses of the world at the smell of disinfectants that compelled her to do so. But what was done was done.

Trying to steady her heart, she reminded herself to keep calm.

As embarrassing as it was for her now, she was a professional when it came to following and stalking people. That didn't only mean using her ability to become unnoticeable. She learned to walk quietly, breath discreetly, and keep all the possible noises, such as gasps, sneezes, coughs, yawns, or anything else that could give her away, to be as unnoticeable as possible. Everything about her was tailored to hide her presence.

Maybe that girl, who was giving her a premonition of terror, didn't even hear-

SWISH!

Only years of aforementioned practice prevented Miho from screaming as Rin quickly turned around, pointing something into what appeared to be thin air, but was in fact centimeter away or so from her throat.

"Is someone here?"

The eyes of that strange girl changed. Now, they were cold and focused, as if she was a precise instrument calibrated to focus on her target and fully annihilate it. It created a horrifying dissonance with how small she appeared to be and how innocent she seemed minutes earlier.

The strangest part? The thing that was almost touching invisible (or rather unnoticeable) Miho's throat, was not a weapon. It was a ruler. Yes, a regular school ruler. One would be stupid to cower in front of it...

But today, Miho's instinct didn't fail her. And right now, every fibber of her being was telling her that if she moves or makes another sound, ruler or not, she will somehow suffer.

'I-Is this it? Is this how I die? I can't die yet. I wanted to be lawyer to help those picked on because of appearances, but now I have another goal. I will go to the studies on maritial laws and work on making bigamy legal, so I can be together with both Saten-san and Kamijou-san. I don't care if that's awful or something like that. They are by far the only people from whom I felt acceptance and I want to be with them! Please, I don't want to die here without even confessing to either one!'

Droplet of sweat travelled down her brow.

After few seconds past, Rin retracted the ruler back.

"My imagination?"

She frowned and slowly went into direction of the exit. But just as Miho was about to relax...

SWISH!

The ruler flew right in front of Miho's face and embedded itself into the wall. After that, Rin finally left the room.

After waiting for a minute more, Miho turned her ability off and shakily looked at the wall.

As mentioned before, the projectile was ordinary ruler.

What wasn't ordinary was the fact that said ruler sank into the wall to half of its length, as if the the obstruction wasn't made of stone but butter.

And then, Miho heard another sound. It was metal scraping against metal.

She could only look back as the high, shelved closet made from steel fell after being cut, crushing her into the floor.

Only few minutes later, Touma arrived and was greeted by the absolute chaos, and one half-conscious girl trapped underneath the fallen closet, with a bump on her head from where part of the cut structure hit her.

"Juufuku-san!"

After a moment, he managed to get Miho from under the cleanly cut metal.

"What happened?! Who did this to you?!"

Trying to stand up, but failing, Miho pointed at the door's direction.

"She is... go... Tokiwadai... now..."

Touma didn't wait on.

Moments later, he was running with Miho in princess carry, planning to drop her by Saten's place and go after the attacker himself.

"Who is she? Who is that person?"

On the last moment of consciousness, Miho whispered

"Headband..."

(~~~~)

There was once a teenage girl, wearing a headband, who made a deal with a devil in human skin.

After the boy she cherished kept being swept by the tides of misfortune (and a tidal wave of girls of varying backgrounds and stories) she was slowly losing her confidence and becoming more and more of a character in the background. She couldn't stop following him though. She watched and watched and watched. Because his bravery, her inspiration from earliest years, did not become stale or boring to her after all that time. She also thought that watching was all the she had left.

And after being in one class for over two years, while doing some cleaning at her dorm, she uncovered some records of her memories. Although she was good at keeping her emotions in check, that caused her to weep over her own weakness: inability to take action and stop being just one leaf in the entire forest.

But as she lied in bed, she felt the chill on her spine.

Both from the fact that the window suddenly opened...

And the fact that she sensed a gaze directed at her back.

Someone was looking at her from the darkness behind her.

"Quite pitiful..." the smooth and strong voice whispered.

She couldn't take the next breath. She couldn't move.

That voice alone had something within itself... something that made her froze on the spot.

"Look at me" it commanded.

She slowly complied.

There was someone sitting on the window frame with his hands intetwined and eyes focused directly on her.

She knew who that was. She could recognize him faster than most, because just how long she was observing him.

"Are you content with that? Is this your life?"

"Kamijou-kun, why... how are you here?"

"I am here because you need me to be. Rin, I need your help"

That smooth voice made the girl feel as if she was drowning.

"Need... my help?"

"I need you to help me free myself and the world of all the suffering. Only you can do it... because you are special. You were told otherwise, but I always knew"

She was convinced it was a dream. But...

For a moment, she thought that she saw something else. The night was with a full moon, located directly behind the head of the boy in the window. She swore that for a moment, that moon turned red, with blood like halo appearing around the head of lazily smiling boy... before going back to normal.

And so, her temptation began.

The girl had no way of knowing that the boy in fact darker emanation of the power that the one she cherished possessed. She had no way of knowing that this alter-ego, escaping in his other self's slumbers, had all the memories that Kamijou Touma lost. And also that he had the personality that would not hesitate to use the information on her to wrap her around his finger.

As she thought it was a dream, she saw no harm in going along with boy's speech. But soon she felt drawn and entranced to promises he painted in front of her.

"We will be together, just the two of us. And it's up to you to make sure of that. Remember, Sukemi-san. You are the one that matters. You are the one that will have control over those third rates. And you can prove it with your own hands"

"But... you never..."

"For once, I need your help. Not anyone else's, yours. Unless... I underestimated how important I actually was for you..."

"N-No, please, I will help you. But I am... weak, and talentless."

The boy chuckled, stretching his hand through the darkness.

"On the contrary, your power is far greater than you would ever now. Right now, after gaining more abilities, I can offer you help. I will help you make way for you to be with me. I will give you the mind free of limitations of morality, body strong enough to fight for your love, new self bent on fight in the name of love, and power able to confront those who oppose us."

"I want it... I want that power. But... I am scared."

"Don't worry. When you are on my side, there is nothing to fear. I am the nightmare of nightmares"

Even if she heard some warning signals in her head, the overwhelming situation, combined with magnetic, hypnotizing charisma coming from the boy, in time sealed her fate.

That night, Sukemi Rin... or rather, a part of her... was born anew. He gave her wisdom and taught her. So now, she was ready to cut down the unworthy.

(~~~~)

(THE STREETS NEAR TOKIWADAI, SOME TIME LATER)

Mitsuari Ayu, despite definite happy occurrences in her recent life, was a rather unlucky person.

Normally, she would be happy that through her suffering, it brought her closer to her true love, but being attacked by someone was not something she would ever be happy about.

She was very happy because many of the people she was supervising in regards to Touma's presents were making great progress. She knew that she had to keep what were the exact gifts a secret for a little while longer, but could barely contain her excitement.

No wonder why she didn't notice the arm being swung to strike her or a leg of a girl appearing from seemingly out of nowhere to kick the attacking arm away.

"Woah?!"

Ayu only got time to spun around when someone grabbed her and dragged her away.

"H-Huh?! Who is this? What is going on?!"

There were two girls in front of her. One was a short haired brunette wearing a white headband, while second, the one that just saved her, wore a gothic lolita clothes, combining black trench coat with white coat, from which black hair with yellow dye stripes.

"My name is Kuroyoru Umidori" grinned her new defender" And I guess I was tasked to be your bodyguard."

"My bodyguard? Again, what is going on?!"

"Well, I am fresh to this bullshit myself..."

"Don't worry" Ayu salvaged her phone and pointed it at the girl in black" I will let your memory explain"

"Huh?"

BEEP!

(FLASHBACK, YESTERDAY'S PHONECALL OF TOUMA)

A phone vibrated in Kuroyoru Umidori's pocket. She quickly took it out.

"Hello?" she whispered into it.

"Kuroyoru-san? It's me, Kamijou Touma."

"Yeah, I noticed. I am kind of busy at the moment"

"You too, huh?"

"It's unlike you to call me... even though we do have each other's numbers after Hawaii, I suppose"

"I want to ask a favour of you."

"Huh?! That is certainly something you don't do often. Why me though?"

"I need a long-range fighter and the others are busy. I didn't want to bother you so if you don't want to meet up..."

"KU-RO-NYAN~"

There was a sing-song, mischevious voice from behind and Kuroyoru scrambled to her feet, running away as fast as she could.

"What is happening out there?"

"She wants me to dress up in a... I-I won't allow it! My dignity was already gone with those cat ears she always puts on me. Fine, I will meet with you and hear you out, anything beats staying here with that electric maniac! Where and when?!"

(MEMORY FAST FORWARDED TILL PRESENT DAY'S MORNING)

"Stoping a bloodlusted esper who is using blades?"

"Yes, I need you to protect certain person. Her name is Mitsuari Ayu"

Kuroyoru arrived at the apartment of Touma and the sisters before Touma departed to school and with Gokusai sisters already gone. He told her everything about the person they were up against, excluding certain parts about Kamijou no Touma himself. He recalled in detail how the blade girl's encounter with Ladylee Tangleroad played out (once again, omitting the part about heart removal) and asking Kuroyoru to look after Ayu.

"Why is she targeted though?"

"Ayu-san is... let's just say she is important and is an eyesore to one of my enemies. Her existence, or more specifically, something that can be done through her power and my link to her threatens his plans"

"What will I get from that?"

"I am sure I can figure something out..."

"Well, for now, that's fine with me. We should stick together. After Freshmen, I was kind of an all hating girl."

"Well, given your circumstances..."

"No need to tell me, but... after Accelerator, you, and Shiage, whacked me out good... I guess there are more things that I dislike now. I bet I will never get rid of my so called nastiness. But at least I got be something more than rebellious failure of an experiment. You are cool in my book. Even though I have more contact with Accelerator, for obvious reasons, and our good ol' ex-thug hero, their level of respect for you was enough to warrant some respect of my own. So consider it a favour. How long will I have to watch over her?"

"I don't know, but I will try to resolve it as quickly as possible"

They opened the door leading to the outside, to discover Lessar with a finger right over the doorbell.

"Lessar? What are you doing here? We are going out, you know"

"Oh? That's fine, I just wanted to drop by and leave those delicious chocolates that can wait for my next visit! Also, are you proud of my chastity?"

"Well, I am great that you are doing great in restraining yourself, although the fact that there is drool on the corner of your lips while you are looking at me with hungry eyes sends mixed signals about it. Also, do those chocolates have aphrodisiacs in them?"

"Noooooooooooo..."

"That's suspiciously a lot of Os. Last time you gave me chocolates with aphrodisiacs in them, they were all secretly eaten by Amazora. And let me tell you, it was one of the most terrifying and surreal things that I never want to experience for as long as she is at this age."

"Well, cheer up then. I... wait, who is that?!"

Kuroyoru shifted ucomfortably.

"W-Why are you staring at m-"

"Oh...my god. You look so cool! Like me, but in darker clothes! I knew that somewhere in the world there was someone who understands the beauty of contrast that is yellow dye! What is your name?"

"A-Ahm... it's Kuroyoru. Kuroyoru Umidori"

"So awesome! Can I call you big sis Umi then?!"

"Why?!"

"Just because, I don't need a reason when you look so cool! And can I also suggest that you wear my uniform?! You would look so good in it!"

"WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT TO DRESS ME UP RECENTLY?!"

They began walking. Touma had to go to the school, but in the meantime they listened to the Lessar's carefree stream of words. Apparently, she was happy that she found someone similar to her, for reasons hidden to Touma. He introduced Kuroyoru, and gave Lessar brief rundown of her history and ability, with Lessar appearing genuinely interested, trying to grasp scientific jargone and Dark May intricacies.

"Well, that is certainly random encounter, but I hope you are not disturbed that much. Lessar tends to gravitate towards everything sexual, but she actually is a really reliable when she needs to be"

The usual harsh look softened a little, as Kuroyoru glanced at Lessar.

"I don't really know my family... I wonder if I had a sister or a cousin not touched by dark side... would she be similar to this loudmouth..."

Meanwhile, Lessar carried on with her musings.

"So, what you are saying is, Umidori has thought patterns of the city strongest in her head and it shapes how she thinks and acts?"

"In part,yes"

"Hmm... so if you and Umidori did it together, would it be like doing it with a girl in a physical sense, but also Accelerator in a mental sense, so it's both different gender and boy love-"

"STOP, STOP, STOOOOP!"

(BACK TO THE PRESENT)

"Now, are you satisfied? Let's run for it. And no matter what you do, don't let her touch you!"

"I... I understand something wants to eliminate me, but I don't need bodyguard. I am on par with Mental Out now"

"No offense to you mental types, but you have to have right conditions to use your power the way you wanted. Try to click that camera with quickly moving target and see what I mean. Meanwhile... I don't think we have that kind of luxury with her"

Kuroyoru spun around and fired a nitrogen spear, causing an explosion

A petite girl emerged from the smoke and started running towards them.

"Get behind me, now, and hold onto my back!"

Although still feeling lost, Ayu complied.

They went to the alley that was blocked with a wire fence.

Using nitrogen around her, Kuroyoru jumped high, above the wired obstruction.

The girl didn't slow down. Instead of doing something to evade the obstacle, she walked straight into it. And in one second, the wires were severed, showing the hole in roughly human shape.

"What?"

Coming to a stop, Kuroyoru unzipped a dolphin plushie secured by her side.

In the next moment, dozen of strange, long, metallic arms, attched themselves to her, as the Dark May survivour grinned wickedly.

"Eat that! Nitrogen spear bombardment!"

Since they entered a narrow passageway leading to a main road, Kuroyoru's attack of nitrogen lances made the walls of the buildings crumble and fall down. Her intent was to block the way, sealing it off and causing the girl to abandon pursuit.

However, when the falling ruble was directly in front of the pursuer...

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

She made four slicing motions with her arm, one horizontal, one vertical, and two diagonal. In the next moment, big chunks of debris were cut cleanly in half, allowing the girl to pass through without any issue.

"Tch, what the hell..."

Kuroyoru repeated the attack, this time targeting the girl herself, but she evaded the lances, and kept on running, despite explosions inflicting some minor wounds.

"She is light and fast, but if we keep our distance, we can-"

The attacker smiled and snatched something of the ground. It was a pencil, possibly thrown away at some point and ending in the bins of the alleyway.

"Ballistic rampuri!"

It soared through the air and sank into Kuroyoru's leg, prompting a cry of shock.

"What?! She has a long distance attacks too?!" she hissed, as the short haired brunetter approached them.

"Kuroyoru Umidori... when I was looking over him, I did stumble upon information on you. I have nothing against you." the attacker spoke" If you give me Mitsuari Ayu, nothing will happen to you and I will let you leave alive"

"Heh, if only it was that easy. Sorry, but even if I am screwing up now, I am not a girl who runs away from her job."

"Oh, you can bet. She is the person of interest for someone I work for and also... someone I despise, personally"

"What?" Ayu asked, utterly lost" But I don't even know you! What did I do to you to warrant this?!"

"How dare you call yourself first?! How dare you cling to him now?! You and all of those filthy thieves put him into more misery than his life alone could give him. So I will erase and cut down every single one of you and protect him from any bad luck that may ever come his way... whatever it takes. And to show you how serious I am, I promise this in my name, Sukemi Rin!"

Kuroyoru tilted her head.

"Suke Mirin? Who the hell names his child 'see-through sweet sake'?"

Rin's eye twitched, as she slowly repeated:

"Sukemi. Rin. It means 'Jewel of Unseen Beauty'"

"Wow. Over the top much"

"You have guts to talk, miss 'Seabird of Black Night'."

"Yeah. Sometimes, talking too much can be a good distraction. Grab onto me!"

Once again, Ayu instinctively obeyed. Using nitrogen control, Kuroyoru got herself into the air, which looked like an extremely long backwards jump.

"Once we touch the ground, I will deploy more arms, so-"

But they never managed to land on the overpass, which was where Kuroyoru was aiming.

"Foolish..."

Running under the construction, Rin picked up a fragment of steel pipe and extended her own hand.

Although supports of the bridge weren't incredibly thick, they were still made from reinforced steel and concrete. But as Rin ran passed them, all of them were severed, one by one.

The overpass wobbled and then collapsed, blocking the road.

Meanwhile, Kuroyoru changed the trajectory of her flight, but she and Ayu still crashed into the ground, as their destination suddenly disappeared.

Naturally, Rin didn't give her enemy any rest.

"Switchblade!"

Her fingers suddenly shot out of the mist, sinking into Kuroyoru's other leg. The gothic girl cringed, but smiled in understanding.

"You are incredibly strong?" she muttered, observing the up-close adversary. She then looked at girl's fingers that tore through her leg without any visible resistance" No, that is not it. Wait... can it be..."

"So you figured it out, number one's knock off?" Rin smiled deviously at panting nitrogen user.

"All that time... I thought about what Kamijou told me and wondered how did you manage to cut Ladylee-san without any visible blade... but after fighting you for some time now, I understand. Those knives you used were to divert attention from your actual ability. It's not only that you use blades... you are the blade, aren't you?"

Smile got thinner on that innocent face, as the smaller girl swished her arm at remaining support pillar of the overpass. Despite the pillar being made from stone, and Rin's delicate hand being supposed to crash into it, it went through, until the entire support was cut along all of the circumference.

"I suppose since I am entering those battles for good, there is no need in hiding what is obvious. True, I wouldn't say it better myself. The key to my ability is sharpness. I bestow that property on anything I touch. Which of course includes my own body too. By increasing the sharpness, I am able to cut, puncture, chop, slice, or scrape, without much of a resistance. My body is rather underwhelming, but even without great strength, I can cut through the hardest of materials thanks to just how sharp I can make myself and my tools."

'Give me a break. We stumble to a yandere and she has a power of turning everything into super sharp blade? What are the fucking odds?!' Kuroyoru thought, exasperated.

"Like I said, I can sharpen or dull anything, not only solid substances. By sharpening the air gust I make by swinging my arm, I can inflict a cut in close proximity without direct contact. And the slicing power will propagate through the object, until the entire target is cut. Things I sharpen will retain that property for a short time even after leaving my grasp, hence the throwing weapons are on the table for me"

"I guess that you can imitate various types of knives and blades too?"

"You are one observant bitch"

"Well, you do shout them outloud. Are you fan of manga or something?"

"No, just theatre... also, why are you laughing? You will die any moment now"

"Well, even though close quarters with you are definitely bad idea... but thanks to it I can do... this!"

The nitrogen lance was deployed from point blank range, blasting two girls in opposite directions.

Moments passed, before both of them moved.

"You little-"

BEEP!

"Excellent assist, Kuroyoru-san." Ayu said triumphantly, pointing her remote at Rin" Now, it's all over, because I can-"

"What's happening? Where am I? I was at nurse's office and then... is this... blood?! W-What?! Where is Kamijou-kun? Did something happen to school"

Instead of being frozen mindlessly in place, the girl known as Rin was very much aware of her surroundings... but her entire composure shifted into something completely different.

"What... she is not... it's not..." Ayu muttered.

Before...

'GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY HEAD!'

As if something hit her mindscape with a hammer, Ayu was forcibly repelled, as Rin shook her head and once again assumed deranged look on her small face.

"It's not possible for a person to still be conscious or shake Mental Stinger like that. Not as a single person. It's not her..." Ayu muttered, as if in daze" It's them. Her mind was forcibly severed in two! An artificial split personality was created. But why?"

Then, before slowly Kuroyoru, slowly standing up, could even scream, Rin threw herself at Ayu, pinning her to the ground by the throat. The girls phone broke, sliced into halves.

"Don't ever look into my mind, you thief!"

She then raised her hand.

'Crap! I can't fail, that's not an option!'

Kuroyoru extended her artificial hands, trying to aim at the girl.

But it was clear who would be faster, as Rin pointed one finger at Ayu's chest.

"Scalpel" she muttered coldly." Goodbye, first pretender"

But before that single finger could cut Ayu's chest open...

Something fell on both girls.

It was snowflake. No, many snowflakes, more and more of them by the second.

"Snow?" muttered Rin "In this time of year?"

It was not just snow. The temperature was dropping quickly and ice crept over the street in addition to the growing snowstorm. In one moment, the street turned into arctic desolation.

"My, my... excuse me, young lady..."

There was a voice of someone behind Rin. It was a girl with a branched ponytail, multicoloured eyes and delicate face, now with an expression of focused coldness.

"Can you let go of her right now? She is..."

Her thin kimono fluttered in the wind as she loomed behind them, not bothered at all by the freezing cold.

"... one of my precious saviours, that I owe life to"

(15 MINUTES EARLIER)

Kankyougami Hasako was surprised how much she learned to simply enjoy life. Maybe someone who didn't know her well wouldn't say that, with the incredibly potent esper ability she wielded, she would a girl to have that kind of sentiment.

But that was just how it was. The breeze, the sun, the colourful world around her made her heart sing with joy. It was her third most favourite thing, behind only her friends... and one that gave her the chance to live again in the first place.

When she first started working on mastering her ability with Kumokawa Seria, she knew that she had a debt of gratitude for Kamijou Touma. But only after meeting him again and spending time with him, did she realize just how immense was her gratitude and how warm of a feeling the love that she fell in.

Hasako lived a life filled with ups and downs. Born in earliest Showa period, she went from being an ojou-sama daughter of an educator to first ever artificial esper, to a hated freak of nature, to a girl lost in time, alone in madness, to someone accepted and loved by her friends.

It took decades of time. All the people she knew were either dead or extremely advanced in age. But although Hasako didn't reject her roots, she didn't look back either. Instead, she only wanted to face forward. More specifically, follow the direction that Kamijou Touma, the one she fell in love with, took, spending time with him, as well as her best friend from this era, Maidono Hoshimi.

Beginning Child could describe the emotions she felt when she was with the boy that once fought her and later embraced her, allowing her to finally find her home. Calling it lust, affection, adoration, admiration, or desire... it all lacked something, it went beyond it. So Hasako deemed it too sublime and decided that her feelings had traces of all those elements. However her feelings were defined, she loved Kamijou Touma.

From her talk with Gokusai Kaibi, she learned that roughly around the adventure which she was a central part of, a fundamental change occurred in Kamijou Touma, and his views shifted, making him people saving hero he was today in the girls' eyes. Hasako couldn't deny that she enjoyed the fact of being one the first people actively saved by Touma and, although she also caused her friends some problems, was glad to be a cornerstone of sorts for his next salvation attempts.

There were many reasons why she fell in love. He was kind, hospitable, and wasn't afraid of her. In a certain way, he understood the prosecution and prejudice one's power could bring. And of course, he understood the loneliness that stemmed from it. If one took into account decades in criostasis, in which her brain got glimpses of consciousness that were driving her insane, a crushing majority of Kankyougami Hasako's life was lonely. So much so that for some time chill of the ice she slept in reminded her of that and gave her nightmares. But Touma seemed to have the warmth to thaw her heart enough for her to feel beautiful, inside and out, and to enjoy the world without fear once again. She explored, alone or with Maidono, getting acquainted with modern world, its culture and way of life. She got back to playing koto and shamisen, something she did before her long sleep, and enjoyed life in more ways than ever.

In contrast to outspoken and rather assertive Maidono, Hasako was rather bashful and sensitive when it came to love. But by the state of things as they were now, she knew that if she were to marry, she would never chose anyone else than Touma.

She blushed and shook her head. Thinking those thoughts still wasn't natural. They weren't even courting... no, in that era it would be called dating. However, Hasako could feel her thoughts drift into one particular memory...

On one night, when she was having a sleepover at the Kamijou+Gokusai apartment, she heard a noise from Touma's room. She got worried and went to investigate. The boy was talking in his sleep. He sounded distressed, as if plagued by nightmares, so after a moment of hesitation, Hasako decided to act. She went back, grabbed her koto, and after setting up, she started to delicately plucking the strings, while singing softly in the silence of the night:

Under moonlit sky

The long road unfolds

Come with me, together

And let sleep take hold

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Under silver stars

You're my true love

Let me sooth your worry

My gift from the above

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Over storming clouds

Over sleeping sands

Over scorching fires

Over freezing ice

Let this song carry

This feeling of mine

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sleep soundly, my love

Please, don't ever cry

I will watch over you

From close or afar

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There is no road too long

Or burden too great

For my loving heart

That will share your fate

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So sleep now, my sweet

Drift off, away

In morning, your heart

Will light up my day

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sleep now, in peace

Your dreams be bright

With this kiss of love

I bid you goodnight

Gradually, Hasako stopped playing the instrument, and in turn was caressing Touma's hair. By the end of the song, she leaned in and planted a kiss on his cheek. The boy now looked calm and happy, as if the nightmare didn't plague him anymore. Satisfied, the giddy and fuzzy-filled Hasako left.

Then, Hasako's reminiscing was interrupted by sudden appearance of Maidono, who waved at her from the another side of the street.

"Hasacchi! What are you doing here?"

"Taking a stroll. And you?"

"Well, I thought that I want to give something for Touma to look at. So, how do I look?"

"I-I am envying your courage to buy the clothes so revealing..."

"What can I say, for the one that I actually want to serve, I am willing to dress with a bit of spiciness. Besides, my legs and belly are my greatest assets and I know that he likes them. In fact-"

There was a loud sound from the nearby street. The girls looked at one another.

"You want to check it out?"

"Mhm"

"Hold on"

Hasako grabbed Maidono's waist and they both shot up into the air, flying upwards until they were on the building overlooking the destroyed overpass.

Hasako looked over the battlefield, before noticing Ayu and the girl pouncing on her.

She changed her demeanor in an instant, as she raised a closed fist and then spread her fingers wide open. And just as quickly, something akin to subtle breeze expanded around, as the dome-shaped environmental domain, covering the big chunk of city block, was put in place.

"Hasacchi?"

"Bring me down there. And be ready to evacuate those girls"

(BACK IN THE PRESENT)

"Can you let go of her right now? She is one of my precious saviours, that I owe life to"

Hasako was looking at Rin with cold eyes, as the short haired sharpness manipulator grit her teeth, still pointing her finger at the chest of wide-eyed and choked-down Ayu.

As if sensing the girl's question, Hasako narrowed her eyes, as Rin slowly let go of Ayu, who clumsily but hastily crawled away from her.

"I wouldn't think of trying any tricks. My ability is not offensive in nature, but it just so happens that the terraformation processes fitting the DNA specimens I have in my possession can be quite hostile for humans. And as a rule, if I don't revoke them, my environments will get progressively more pronounced in their characteristics. Some more time and your very blood will freeze in your veins. So, please step aside and surrender..."

Rin screamed, breaking free of the forming ice and making a slash motion at Hasako...

Right before the environment around them changed completely.

The temperature shot up and in an instant, sand replaced the snow. The area under sphere-like domain changed into a desert.

Rin screamed and fell back, biting her teeth when the stinging sensation of pain from her skin assaulted her.

"I warned you. Humans can't take quick changes of environments from extreme cold to extreme heat. I bet your skin is ablaze right now. So now..."

Hasako trailed off.

Both girls looked up and Hasako sighed, noticing Maidono standing in the distance with her index finger raised high to the sky and then being lowered. Dark side of Sukemi Rin cursed and started to run away

Two giant truck carrying gasoline were lifted from the ground following gestures of Maidono Hoshimi.

"How dare you hurt my friends!" Maidono screamed, shooting her index finger forward" I will never let you touch him, in this world or the next"

In the next moment, the trucks were flung into space, following the escaping girl.

Hasako frowned, looking at her friend with concern on the scale of the attack.

"Hoshimi, that's too much!"

But enraged Maidono didn't listen, focusing on the enemy with a cold, ruthless gaze.

The trucks flew on, with shadows dwarfing the silhouette of the girl.

"Maidono-san, release them!"

And then, Hasako tackled her friend to the ground.

The trucks suddenly fell down, just when Hasako desperately whipped her head around and extended her own arms.

Sparks were created. Sand disappeared.

However, the gasoline didn't explode.

Mitsuari Ayu and Kuroyoru Umidori found themselves reaching to their throats and opening their lips as if they were fish pulled out of water. Although their airways weren't obstructed, they couldn't take a breath.

That terrifying feeling lasted only for a moment and then, they were able to breathe again.

Hasako bowed apologetically

"I am sorry, when I designate radius of my ability, it's fixed until I deactivate it and I didn't have time to do it if I wanted to prevent that explosion, so lack of oxygen also affected you. Someone can't wait in patience when there is a fight going on! What was that?"

"I thought that changing environment means that you need help."

"And?"

"And... I was really, really mad at that girl. I let it consumed me."

"So?"

"I am... sorry"

"Apology accepted, as long as you know you overdid it"

"I didn't overdid it that much"

"How is tossing an enormous truck not overdoing it?!"

"Comparing to skyscraper levitation, everything else is actually not overdone at all"

"Hoshimi!"

"Alright, alright" Maidono mumbled, marching from behind the pile of rubble" I suppose I could throw something less... explosive"

Hasako used one of her most potent environments, oxygenless one designated for anaerobic bacteria, to prevent the explosions from occurring. No matter how powerful and destructive the flame was ought to be, if there was no oxygen, it would not burn.

Maidono effortlessly moved the clutter aside with motion of her hand and looked at the cut hole in the ground.

"She escaped... wow, I totally messed that up. I can split the earth open right now and chase her"

Hasako thought for a moment

"Leave her be. Both sides inflicted some injuries and we have to retreat and take care of them. I am actually impressed that with some damage inflicted by Kuroyoru-san and after my thermic shock, she was still able to escape. She is not to be taken lightly. Besides, our foe apparently wields the ability capable of cutting through almost anything. As we are now, it is impossible to regularly contain her."

"Roger that. Ayu-san, can you stand?"

"Yes... I-I am fine..."

"Wait..."

Hasako and Maidono turned around to see Kuroyoru, slightly shaking but back on her feet, and with her fist clenched, as she stared at the cut out hole in the ground.

"I underestimated her, I didn't take into account that she can sharpen objects as well as her own body... this is all my fault. I am going after her!"

She tried to reach the hole, but stiffened on the spot.

"Huh? What the... what are you doing to me?"

"You have artificial arms, don't you?" Maidono said in amused tone" You cyborgs are the best match possible for me. I can control inorganic body parts, as long as they are not covered by organic flesh. So I can very well punch you with your own arm"

She angled her finger slightly higher and Kuroyoru's arms shot up in a letter T. She was then picked from the ground.

"LET ME GO! Why do people keep violating me because of my arm parts?! Let go!"

"As you wish~"

Maidono flicked her finger and Kuroyoru was sent flying backward with great speed, before being stopped by a telekinetic hold on her arms once again.

"And seriously, let's get away from here! We need you two to be bandaged and warmed up"

And so, Hasako together with Ayu, as well as Maidono with Kuroyoru floating angrily in a T-pose, left the battlefield.

(MEANWHILE, SOME DISTANCE AWAY, IN THE UNDERGROUND TUNNEL)

Sukemi Rin was seething, slowly marching by the tunnel's wall. The nitrogen spear didn't hit her directly, but grazed skin was burning under her touch.

"That bitch... no, all of those bitches... I will get them, I swear I get them..."

She begrudingly admitted that she had no other choice. Especially with the presence of the kimono wearing girl. Whoever she was, there was something within her that should not be touched.

The dark alter ego occupying the body of headband girl shivered, mincing further curses. She almost got frostbite. Her body hurt and she knew she didn't have much time before light side of her self takes over.

But she was still unsatisfied and forced herself to stay for a moment longer, as she emerged from the canal. She was so angry and frustrated that she felt that she had to lash out on someone in those last moments of her control.

And unfortunately for that poor soul, she didn't have to wait long.

(MEANHWILE)

Yakumaru Itsuki was in uncharacteristic state of brooding frustration.

"Stupid Naru, with her stupid accusations. I only wanted to charm him into submission so our group would have a valuable asset. Then she would just got rid of him and..."

She trailed off at that thought. For some reason, it made her tongue numb and inside of the mouth sour.

At which point she started to question her relationship with Touma? By gods, Yakumaru had no idea. She was sure that she intended to make him interested in her, to make him pay for the humiliation of ignoring her cuteness when they first met. Until... she wasn't doing it anymore.

"What is going on with me?

"I think we both know that"

A version of Yakumaru wearing white clothes and her signature hat, with small wings and a halo, appeared on her right shoulder.

"It's because what Naru said is right. You are actually in lo-"

"Don't listen to her!"

Another miniaturized version of Yakumaru, with hair loose and small horns on her head, with rather skimpy clothing and dark smile, appeared on her left shoulder.

"Are you forgetting how beautiful you are? And how he trampled on your otherworldly cuteness?!" snarled Devilmaru

"He saved us from prison. Are you sure there are no feelings involved because of that?" Angelmaru countered.

"W-What" Itsuki rubbed her head" devil I kind of get, but since when do I have a shoulder angel?"

"Since that guy touched your heart"

"Ugh, you see what is going on? That guy is making you soft" Devilmaru clenched her fist" Admit that he is just one more guy that you want to conquer. He is someone valuable and if you get him to look at you like all the others, we will be able to use him"

"But is it true? Are you really satisfied with him being a position on the checklist?" Angelmaru waved her hands at that" When he saved you, when he actually talked to you, when he actually doesn't drool over you, but instead treats you with respect"

" You don't want to give Naru satisfaction, when she was obviously being hypocritical, right" tempted the shoulder devil" Now it all makes sense. Remember when you put so much effort into dressing up in attempt to woo him and waited on his usual way home. But he never showed up, and now we know that it was no accident"

(FLASHBACK)

Yakumaru Itsuki was determined to seduce Kamijou Touma. She devised a plan to invite him out. Going outside in perfectly combed hair, beautiful yukata, perfumes, and plans for the day, she set out to wait on Touma's usual route.

But he never showed up, despite nothing indicating that he would change his usual route.

She waited. And waited. And waited. And waited.

The weather got worse. Yakumaru, having to fend off couple dozens of guys trying to hit on her, was still waiting on, despite thin yukata being ill suited for the windy and cold weather that fell on the city.

"I am not giving up. He will come ba..back...achoo!"

And as if Yakumaru's sneeze was some sort of signal, the curtain of rain fell down, drenching the already chilled girl into beautiful yet wet pile of misery

(END FLASHBACK)

How could she forget? She got quite a nasty cold because of that.

"But he cared about you throughout that cold" Angelmaru smiled blissfully.

"Come on, don't tell me you will actually fall for him instead of other way around. You are better than this" screamed Devilmaru.

"SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!" Itsuki let out a shout her own, before realizing she was basically screaming at thin air. Coughing awkwardly, she sighed and hid her face in her hands.

"At which point did everything become so complicated?"

Yakumaru was so preoccupied with her own internal turmoil that she didn't sense the presence behind her. Only after seeing a shadow through her fingers, did she realize that something was wrong.

With her eyes widening, she turned around just as the knife fell down, like a lightning of silver in dark shadow.

(20 MINUTES EARLIER)

"Ghh...khh..."

"So, tell me again, why didn't you phone me when you were looking for long range fighter? My Meltdowner literally screams range"

"I would... but you keep choking me, Shizuri..."

Mugino let Touma go, tossing her hair away, as she looked at the coughing boy.

"I would think that by now you would have more intelligence than to hide things from me"

"Sure, because every guy would be super trustworthy of a girl who chokes the life out of him in a fit of rage. Very convincing"

Mugino glared at Ladylee with irritation.

The short story of what led to the three being together in that moment.

After Touma left Miho in care of Saten, he phoned Ladylee who immidiately got to his position as quickly as she could. Together, they ran towards Tokiwadai's direction, before Touma, for third time in his life, collided with Mugino Shizuri on the street corner. Naturally, the girl didn't overlook their haste and demanded the answers. Combining it with the fact that Shizuri had a very good talent in unmasking Touma's lies or hesitations, it ended it

Normally meeting Mugino in itself would not be a problem anymore, but right now, he felt as if his luck played tricks on him. In the city of millions, he kept stumbling on familiar faces.

Mugino was extremely powerful, so involving her didn't seem like a bad idea. But Meltdowner was a bit of a 0-1 power. Either you get hit and die, or get badly burned in the best case scenario, or you don't. There was a small space for something in between, although by spending time with Mugino, Touma did learn few utility trivia of her power.

Nevertheless, when he was hesitating, Ladylee didn't miss the opportunity to completely annoy Meltdowner on the spot.

"Look, we are extremely busy, so go bother someone else" the immortal girl said fearlessly, which caused Mugino to bear her teeth in a scary smile.

"Do you know who you are talking to right now, girly? Are you serious?"

"Yes, I am"

"Do you want to die?"

"Yes, I do"

"Hah, so if you... wait, what?" Mugino blinked, thrown off by Ladylee's blank retort" My ability will vaporize you without a trace! I bet you are shitting your pants now!"

"Meh"

"Did... DID YOU JUST FUCKING 'MEH'-ED AT ME?!"

"Is it painless? Then maybe I will give it a shot. Total disintegration always sounds promising. Although I threw myself into a volcano once and I don't recommend that..."

"Touma... that brat is scarier than I am and I don't admit it readily..."

"Shizuri, I am to assume that you will follow me no matter what, huh?"

"Back with that Veritas fuckery, when we spoke afterwards, you promised to get me involved next time"

"I promised, right... well, it's like this..."

(AFTER EXPLANATION)

"Hmm, intriguing in a sense..."

"Shizuri, if you are to come along, you can't kill our enemy"

"Huh?"

"You can't. If you are with us, you will be a support."

"What? No way!"

"Shizuri, understand, if we are to engage... this may be very personal. We have to be careful. Plus, Ladylee is kind of first in line for that particular enemy. Please, can you provide support unless we change plans?"

"Tch, fine. I can be a support for a moment. But I don't want any whining if I hit blondie"

"That won't be a problem. You may even shoot through me for all I care" Ladylee said proudly.

"Riiiiight..." Mugino said slowly, before addressing Touma again" And by the way, I am charging you for this. For moments of support instead of being in the lead, that is"

"H-Huh? I don't have money-"

"Do I look like someone who would like a payment like this in money? No, I thought about something more... natural"

"Why do you keep looking at me with that smirk? Sh-Should I be worried?"

"That depends on you, I just think that you deserve some credit for better uses of your lips than making all those speeches... remember the mall?"

"The ma... wait? You can't just resume walking after dropping a bomb like that!"

"Ekhm, can we carry on, please?! There is a knife maniac on the loose!" Ladylee cut in.

And as they went on, searching through the alleyways, Touma managed to see something in the corner of his vision.

Before he knew it, he was already moving.

Yakumaru Itsuki was about to scream when the knife was almost upon her.

But, in the last possible moment, she was tackled down to the ground.

And then, before she could get out of her daze, she was picked up to a princess carry, with panting Touma looking at her.

"Are you... fine?"

Absolutely entranced, Itsuki nodded while staring at the boy who held her in his arms. She then felt wetness under her back and realized Touma's arm was bleeding.

"Y-Your arm..."

"It's nothing. It was just grazed"

"Why did you risk yourself and threw your body in front of a goddamn knife for me?"

"Well... it's not something I really understand myself, but I know that your face and looks are important for you, right? So I didn't want someone to take away what is precious to you and what you cherish in yourself"

"Heh, that's his style alright" said Ladylee, walking up from behind.

"Slightly annoying at times, but one can recognize its value with some time" admitted Mugino.

As Yakumaru stared at Touma's focused face, she finally understood.

She didn't try to simply woo him for quite some time now. She wanted him to see her valours because she wanted him to actually see her as a person, because she wanted to understand him, not only use him, ever since he saved them from imprisonment. And with him stating that he wished to preserve her beauty not for his own gain, but because it was something he recognized as something that she valued in herself...

In that moment, the feelings in her heart were set.

'Oh, so this is how it should feel like... I wonder if Naru recognized something like this within herself too...'

"Itsuki-san, I will have to lay you down now. Alright?"

"O-Okay..." Itsuki answered, not without slight tinge of disappointment.

And as the boy put the brown haired chemist down, he straightened himself and looked at the girl in front of them.

She was weakened, slightly bloodied, with blood from her own veins and those of others mixing on her skin, with a thin knife in her hand, on the edge of losing hold of dark self that was bent on destroying every girl close to Touma.

The somewhat cruel display contrasted sharply with the girl's petite figure and overall cute physique. It could be misleading. But as much as Touma didn't want it, he knew who he was looking at. Even the lack of characteristic headband, that this dark self was taking down during its control period, didn't make that girl alien to him.

"What is the meaning of this, Sukemi-san?"

The girl looked at him and the most unpredictable reaction occurred in front of them.

Instead of being angry or scared, she seemed, with her cheeks coloured into crimson red, and with eyes twinkling as if she had a fever, as she brought her hand, with still bloodied knife, to her cheek. A visible shiver permeated her body as she asked, her tone as elated and sweet as someone struck with a hurricane of first affection

"What are you doing here... my love?"