Toaru Majutsu no Index Painted prison chronicles

There were five people in the narrow alley. Tension permeated the air, hanging over the group like a thick mist. Kamijou Touma, alongside Ladylee Tangleroad and Mugino Shizuri, and with Yakumaru Itsuki on the ground, stepped forward, looking only at the petite girl who would normally wear a white headband on her head.

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

"What are you doing here, my love?"

Touma couldn't understand. He was looking at his meek and shy classmate... except the girl in front of him was quite obviously not Sukemi Rin he was acquainted with.

"Why are you with them, Touma-kun~... that's not very intimate, to bring others in this way. Those second-rates might get jealous..."

That slightly slurring, affection-filled whisper was something that would never come out of Sukemi Rin's lips. The poor headband girl would rather pass out than utter such sultry comment.

"Sukemi-san... why? Why did you do that? What is going on?! WHY ARE YOU ACTING LIKE THIS?!"

"Why? Why, you ask..." The droplet of blood flew slowly down the cheek of small girl, when she slightly cocked her head" I think this is the way someone like me can finally get your attention. When there is too many people around you, it gets hard to get around. Wouldn't you agree?"

"No... what? I... I don't..."

"They confined me to the background. But not anymore. I will cut anyone who will stand between you and me so just-"

"Okay, okay, I think that's enough, miss-butcher-attention-seeker. I don't even know him all that well, but this is obviously not going to win you any major points"

Rin blinked and glanced at the girls by Touma's sides.

"You..."

Ladylee bowed down in a mock gesture of good manners.

"Thank you for trying to kill me. It kind of sucks that you couldn't get it right"

For the first time since they saw her, Rin actually got tense and trace of fear appeared on her face, before she shook her head.

"HOW THE HELL ARE YOU STILL HERE?! I cut out and dissected your heart. There is no way for you to just stand there!"

Mugino shot a curious glare on the smaller girl, who shrugged

"Unfortunately, not all dreams come true easily. In my case, I am still alive."

"Unforgivable..." Rin clenched her fist, taking a step forward"... when I say you are dead, you are to be dead!"

"Hey, can you please do what we talked about?" Ladylee mouthed to Mugino.

"Are you actually insane? I told you that..."

"Come on, just do it! I want. To. See. What's. That. Like!"

"No matter how absurd your power is, if I cut you down to millimeters, you won't get in my way again!"

Rin launched herself forward towards the still smiling and relaxed Ladylee.

It seemed that the blond didn't have any intention of evading the attack.

But the source of that relaxation soon appeared from behind... or rather, through Ladylee.

Yes, the beam of light suddenly emerged from Ladylee's chest and headed straight towards Rin, who froze in mid-slash.

She had no way to get her body away from the meltdowner beam.

"AAAAAAH!"

As if he was a goalkeeper, Kamijou Touma reached in mid-jump, managing to intercept the beam of light in the last moment with his right hand and refract during his flight.

Afterwards, he crashed into Sukemi Rin, tumbling down and rolling on the ground. After they finally stop, he raised to his knees and shouted

"Did you two lose your minds?"

"Don't dramatize..." Ladylee looked at the big, carbonized hole in her chest, before coughing out a big stream of blood" She wouldn't actually... be... hurt..."

And with that, she tumbled to the ground.

Meltdowner orbs faded as Mugino started at the fallen Ladylee with puzzled expression.

"One weird ass girl, that's for sure. That was first time someone wanted to be shot through with one of those. Also... is this slashing girl unconscious?! That seriously sucks!"

And indeed, Rin appeared unconscious as she laid on the ground. Touma placed her there gently before getting up himself.

"Well, that is fucking underwhelming! I am a damn #4 level 5, I was expecting someone who could actually keep up, I don't think that's too much to ask?"

"Shizuri, she was clearly worn out and injured beforehand. If anything, we should be grateful that she was apparently weakened by someone before things got ugly. Her ability, while it surely has other, non-violent uses, seems almost perfectly tailored for the killing"

"So is mine. Which is why I wanted to battle. But hey... I think I can charge you anyway"

"Charge m-"

Mugino slammed both of her hands on the alley's wall, forcing Touma to fall back on that surface.

"Instead of charging you for my service, I am charging you for lack of thereof and for my disappointment."

She brushed her tea coloured locks out of the way and closed her eyes, moving her face closer to Touma's.

The boy observed the closing lips as if entranced for a second of two, before frowning. His hand shot up and Mugino suddenly felt her advance halted, as Touma's hand forcibly stopped her by squishing both of her cheeks, causing Meltdowner to be suspended with her lips puckered out.

The girl's eyes opened up with an angry glare present within them.

"Woo du ak af yu dooin'?!" she mumbled incoherently.

Touma let go of her cheeks and instead forced Mugino's hands off the wall, countering their strength with his own, so it now resembled a push-and-pull wrestling match.

"I am not doing it like this"

"Do you have any idea what you are rejecting? I am already going out of my line of pride to admit that I want to proactively initiate it, so you are going to make me mad if you-"

"It's not like I don't want to. I do think you are one of the most attractive girls around the city"

"Then why are you resisting?"

Their arms still pushing against one another, Mugino almost rested her forehead on Touma's own and the view of her eyes was directly in front of his.

"Because I am willing myself to stop. There should be place and time. And doing it like this seems wrong. This is not something you charge people for! I want to truly know you and earn this, Shizuri."

"I do not like being defied, Touma"

"Well, then this Kamijou has a news for you. I do not like being exploited like some resource" Touma muttered, and Mugino suddenly felt that she was being pushed back, little by little, in boy's sudden burst of inner power" I like you, Shizuri, and I really want to have you around me. But I am not someone that can be used in all the ways you want. I told that to Lessar, someone who also likes to get physical, some time ago, and we hugely benefited from that."

"I still don't get it though. You basically admitted that you want it. And... ugh, fucking fine... that charging thing was just an excuse... tch, I hate that you make me throw my pride away, but fine... I admit... I liked kissing you. And I... want to do it again. Do you have your satisfaction, damn it?"

"No"

"What?!"

"I am honoured that you feel this way. I really am. But because it felt so damn good, I want this to have a meaning. If we could throw our desires around like this, I would feel like some random guy trying to have a good time. And I am not like that! So I am sorry, but we are not dispensers of body fun for me! I want it, I really do, but what I want even more is for something like this to be special! Look at you! You are beautiful, I bet you had tons of guys who just wanted to go for a superficial make out or something! So I am not doing it in a moment in which I don't feel like doing it, because that's just a promise that when we both feel like doing it, it will make you feel cared for and just straight out fantastic, Mugino Shizuri!"

Touma panted heavily, finishing the explanation of his behaviour.

It could be seen as somewhat exaggerated, the fact that he was so heavily and emotionally invested in this... but was it really?

Wasn't Kamijou Touma often seen as someone that could be used, by his possession of Imagine Breaker, or simply because he encountered people who believed in their strength and standing so much that they wanted everything their way, not even bothering with Touma's own needs?

He often brushed it off and went along other people's desires but it didn't mean he didn't have his own. And that he wasn't bothered with rather usual neglect. So while he often couldn't do much about things regarding Imagine Breaker and that side of exploitation, he at least wanted to have his saying in interpersonal relationships.

When he focused back on Mugino's face, he almost didn't believe what he saw.

The usually violent girl's face looked... Touma couldn't believe that he would ever use that particular word in association to that specific face... but Mugino Shizuri's face looked meek. Submissive even.

That lasted only a few seconds before usual haughtiness and arrogance returned, but Touma felt that it was engraved in his memory.

"Huh?" Mugino chuckled, when they both looked to the side, hiding their faces from each other's view" So I guess romantic teenage boys are not completely extinct"

"I don't know if this is romantic, it's just... something that I thought would be better for overall experience. You deserve something like this to have a grander meaning"

"You are ridiculously hilarious. Even when you are horny, you are still thinking about my comfort?"

"I-Is that so weird?"

"Comparing to many people I knew? Yeah, very much. Well, I suppose making out in the alley with your deranged friend out cold and corpse of the idiot who wanted to experience my beam is a bit anticlimatic even for me. And when it comes to people hitting on me... those were the guys who actually didn't know who I was. When they knew... they were almost pissing themselves."

"Shizuri... I told you that I didn't want Sukemi-san dead"

"It was that brat's idea"

At the very least, Mugino looked sideways, with a somewhat apologetic look.

"I would wait for calling me a corpse, that was exciting, but didn't work either. Maybe you should totally vaporize me instead?"

It was kind of funny for Touma to see Mugino jump slightly, similarly to a cat encountering a cucamber, when completely healed Ladylee Tangleroad patted her on the back.

"Are we going home or what?" The small immortal smelled herself and winced" I smell as if I was smoked over a grill, I need to take a shower"

(KAMIJOU + GOKUSAI APARTMENT)

"I am sorry that I caused problems... I sleepwalked? It's first time it happened during the day"

Rin muttered quietly, wanting to disappear from the face of the earth. She smiled shyly towards Kamijou.

Yakumaru Itsuki accepted the tea with gratitude. Afterwards, Touma sat down and focused on his classmate.

"Thank you for taking my headband with me. It means a lot to me. Do you remember how-"

"Touma" Kaibi said, pinching the poor boy on the arm" Why is Meltdowner here?"

"Not your business. I can go wherever I want"

"Not to my home, you can't"

"That's not only your ho-

"Girls! L-Let's be calm, we are friends he-"

"WE ARE NOT FRIENDS!"

Apparently, animosities between Kaibi and Mugino, stemming from battles between dark side factions, would take more time to disappear. Not only that...

Kaibi and Rikuri decided to form some sort of defensive formation by sitting on each side of Touma, in a way that he could barely move. They were both looking at Mugino with... well, in case of Rikuri it wasn't hostility, more of a silent, haughty challenge, combined with making sure to maximize the surface in which Rikuri's body was touching Touma's own.

Even the fact that Rin regained consciousness as her 'polite' self, and was now staring at Touma with adorably lost expression of her face, was not enough to distract Mugino from slowly boiling up with irritation, which was only amplified by the apparent trouble in figuring out how did Ladylee survive Meltdowner's ability.

Touma knew already how much pride Mugino had in her power and how much she hated being outmatched by someone who could counter it in some way. The times in which she could kill over it were over, but she was still getting pretty angry if that happened. And in Ladylee's case, it was worse than in two other notable cases in which her power was ignored.

Ladylee didn't avoid the attack like Hamazura, didn't block it like Touma, but allowed the ability to work in the way it should, and still lived. All of that pissed Mugino off, despite being the one who voluntarily shot at the girl.

And the only distraction he hoped for seemed to backfire...

But let's go back to moment in which Maidono, Hasako, Kuroyoru Umidori, and Mitsuari Ayu all returned to the apartment.

Ayu slumped on the couch, clearly out of energy from the nerve wrecking encounter. She kept her distance from Rin, even though the latter's personality already underwent a shift when she was unconscious. After Hasako's whispered explanation to Touma, everyone went to an uneasy silence. They had to decide what to do next.

"I think... I will walk with Sukemi-san" Hasako offered" She looks like she needs some fresh air"

Hasako's suggestion was silently accepted by everyone. It would be much easier, at least at that stage, to discuss plans without Sukemi Rin being present.

"Oh, Kankyougami-san, was it? Alright, I will go... but... can I talk with you when I get back, Kamijou-kun?"

"Of course"

"I am sorry you had to find me in that state. I never sleepwalked like that before. I even hurt myself. I am pathetic..."

'So that's how she explains this to herself, huh...'

"T-That's not a problem. You don't happen to remember anything from that time, do you?"

"No, I don't think I remember anything. It is so hazy..."

"Please, make sure to contact me whenever you feel dizzy or nauseous. I want to help you as much as I can"

Rin blushed coyly and nodded in embarrassment.

"I...I'll do that!"

When Hasako and Rin left, Ayu sighed

"Can you please explain to me once again why did the alter ego of that girl targeted me? I already know the basics from Kuroyoru-san's memory... is this anything there is?"

Not wanting to complicate things further for now, Touma confirmed it.

"Yes, that's basically all of there is to it. You are the target of an enemy of mine... a part of me"

"A part of you... wait, you have an alter-ego too"

"You can say that... Ayu-san, I promise I will handle this. Can you promise me to be careful?"

"What are you talking about? I want to help you if there is some trouble-"

"Maybe... but not now. It's important for you to be safe. And I want Kuroyoru-san to still watch over you"

"Are you sure? I am actually ashamed of my own performance" mumbled Kuroyoru.

Despite her own sulking, Touma personally patched her up and prepared warming soup, which the girl devoured with gratitude on her face, earning the glances of envy of other females across the room.

"With the lacks in knowledge on my part, you did good in my eyes. You tried your best and if you think you failed, you will just try to be better next time"

"If Kankyougami-san didn't arrive, there probably wouldn't be a next time... but... thanks." Kuroyoru smiled weakly at Touma" There will be no room for mistake from now on"

"So, what will you do with that girl?" asked Mugino

"I think it's best to observe Sukemi-san for now. And when she changed back into her dark self, I might have something that can subdue her"

"Something that can't be cut by her? It has to be something insanely durable"

"I think it might just work. Now, let's rest and eat"

Time passed by. After everyone were fed and everyone shared their bit of intel regarding recent hours, Yakumaru Itsuki thanked Touma and even hugged him before departing with slightly flushed face. Ayu and Kuroyoru quickly followed upon insistance that Mental Stinger should rest, although the mental esper forced Touma to swear on his promise upon their reunion that he will be safe himself and will keep her notified about the entire case of Rin and Kamijou No Touma.

And thus, with Ladylee showering and Index visiting Maika with Othinus in tow, only Gokusai sisters, Mugino, and Maidono were left alongside Touma in the living room.

"So... what do you propose?" Kaibi asked Touma.

"I think something is troubling Sukemi-san. I doubt he could achieve that personality split if that wasn't the case. Something tells me that listening to her and learning more about her darkness can be beneficial" Touma explained.

"So... you want to spend some time with her?"

"I don't know how to do it yet... I am still thinking how to do it"

"Well, one thing's for sure, wherever you'll go, we'll go too" Rikuri hugged Touma and Kaibi, with Amazora jumping on their knees with a smile on her lips" Like a team and a family"

"I am also going. No discussion" Mugino added in a firm tone.

"Do you mind? We are having a moment here" Kaibi glared at Meltdowner, being sure to rather exaggeratedly rub her cheek against Touma's, giving boy shivers.

"Does Mugino-senpai actually has to go?" Maidono asked in a way that did not hide the sarcasm laced in the 'senpai' honorific.

"It bothered me for a while..." Touma asked, looking at two powerful espers, shooting quite hostile glares at each other" Did you know each other from before?"

"You mean before I turned her into skipping stone on the river?"

"Yeah... before that day"

"Well, we had couple of clashes when we were in the murky waters of dark side. She tried to drag me to her group" Maidono muttered" I admired her at the beginning, but she was very... exploitive. So in time, I started to think my opinion was too high and tried to distance myself. Why was someone like her given the spot as a level 5?"

"Power and talent, that's why" Mugino answered nonchalantly" And a bit of favouritism, I suppose... You know, I didn't recognize you at first when you tossed me into the river because back then, your hair looked different, but now I want to teach you to have respect even more. Do you have any idea of the destruction you caused in each time we crossed paths standing on two sides of the barricade? If you agreed to be loyal to me-"

"Then what? You would make me another dog, like that girl in the tracksuit, that you drugged for your means? You shattered my opinions of you to tiny pieces. I know for a fact that you would try to make me into your slave. You would abuse me... like everyone before you. Even the fact that you are getting closer to Touma makes me boil with rage."

"Don't act like you are better than me!" Mugino snarled back" You are just as destructive as me, if not more. So don't try to suddenly seem all innocent. Someone like you can never create. It's a pinnacle of arrogance that you think you can even belong somewhere"

"No, that's not... I am not..."

"Destruction is in your blood, you know."

"NO! THAT'S NOT TRUE!"

"Really? Then what about the incident I learned when trying to recruit you? You want to know the reason why I was made level 5, despite being similarly destructive to you? When someone ended up dead, I actually wanted them dead. You know what I am referring to, don't you?"

Blood left Maidono's face as she whispered

"No... stop..."

But Mugino was relentless.

"You mean you didn't tell him? You didn't inform him what was the event that pulled you into the darkness? Something that made you so infamous on the dark side that even I, Mugino Shizuri, felt like you could be someone with a proper spine? Who wouldn't fear someone..."

"No!" Maidono wailed, covering her own pale face with hands" Touma, please, I-"

"... who took lives of half of her school?" Mugino finished quietly with bitter grin.

Silence was deafening. Until it was broken by repeated, quiet sound.

Those were quick, repetitive breaths. Maidono's eyes seemed to tremble in their sockets, her hands wandering over the face wet from sweat and string of words was leaving ghostly white lips amidst severe hyperventilation.

"ItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanit ItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanit ItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanit ItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanitItwasanaccidentIdidntmeanit..."

"Sister... is it that accident?" Kaibi whispered in shock" The one with natural disaster in the middle of the city?"

"Sensei..." Amazora muttered in confusion" What is going on?

"Maidono..." Touma asked in concern and in partial disbelief" What is she talking ab-"

"I am... I am sorry!"

Maidono got up and bolted out of the apartment before anyone could say anything... well, except for Ladylee Tangleroad who paraded out of the bathroom wrapped in the towel and was now looking left to right in confusion.

Touma looked at Mugino

"Shizuri, you seem to have a real talent in creating new enemies and making people cry"

"I didn't say anything that wasn't true though" Mugino shrugged, but her eyes were somewhat uneasy.

Touma looked at the sisters. Kaibi sighed and smiled at him.

"Go after her, you moron. We will stay with the guests and make sure no one traumatizes anyone else"

Mugino scoffed at that. Ladylee sighed and went back to the bathroom, to dry herself from the remaining water on her body.

(HALF AN HOUR LATER)

Arriving at old switchyard, Touma roamed around until he heard sound of sobbing, He looked up and noticed the girl he was looking for, sitting on one of the containers.

"Hoshimi!"

Maidono slowly looked up and noticed Touma waving at her from dozen meters below.

"Can we talk? Please?"

After a moment of silence, the girl made few gestures with her fingers and fragment of earth on which Touma stood elongated vertically like a column, allowing him to get on top of the container.

"Are you here to question me?" she asked in slightly nasal voice.

Touma could not see her eyes yet, but they were probably reddened. It was evident that the girl was crying. Her bare arms were shaking too.

"First and foremost..." Touma said, taking his hoodie off and placing it over Maidono" I wanted to see if you are alright. It sure doesn't sound like it."

He sat by her side, as she tried to do something with her tears, which were still flowing despite her efforts.

"But... if you can, I would like you to tell me what was that made you like this. I don't think I saw you in such a state since we met. If you want to, I can turn around, but-"

Maidono suddenly hugged him, resting her face on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around him. She latched onto him as if he was one solid thing around, some kind of attachment to reality. Touma, initially surprised, hugged her back, trying his best to comfort her. After a moment, Maidono's shaking slightly subsided.

"Thank... Thank you for coming for me. I wouldn't be strong enough to see anyone out of my own now." she said quietly" I... I will tell you. You deserve to know and I feel awful for hiding it. It's your choice what you will think of me afterwards..."

Although she tried to sound calm while speaking, her voice cracked during the last sentence and Touma felt his shirt becoming slightly wet in the place that she chose to rest her face on.

"It happened after I got recruited by Veritas and developed my ability, but before I actually became a dark sider. During that time, I frequented to the school as usual. You know that people were not really... eager to socialize with me after my fingers became what they are now? Most people didn't really get along with me, and some of them... actively bullied me. People at school didn't know my full potential, you see, and I was asked to keep it hidden until it became more refined. Back in the day, it was still new to me and the problem was that I had too much raw power and too little precise control. So I seemed like some anti-social freak to most. I was not to disclose the method that optimized my power and I wasn't medically listed as disabled, so most of my classmates thought that I was just acting fancy, like chopsticks were not good enough for me. That was absurd, but I bet you know how fast misconceptions can spread, especially with a bunch of young children. Anyway, while most of the time I had my lunches stolen or had them stabbed with chopsticks up, in a way that plainly wished for my death, there was one girl, by the name Fuuka, who didn't treat me like crap and even shared her lunches with me after mine happened to be destroyed. I think the main reason for it was the fact that she had weak legs and was more eager to believe that I indeed had limited manoeuvrability with my fingers. To this day I don't know what our relationship was from my perspective, but when it came to me, I wanted to be her friend. She was a typical library-loving shy girl. As a thank you, I helped her around the place, bringing down the books that were located too high and such... it was thanks to her that I actually began to like reading... that was such a strange relationship. She didn't speak much, she was always so quiet and calm, and always blushed when she actually told me about something that was important. She... wanted me to stand up for myself, because she saw that I always let others do as they pleased. She acted... not unlike Hasacchi acts now. But... ultimately, it came to an end, because of my failure to control myself. When the group who liked to bully me found out about our friendship, they went out to get me through her..."

'A locker with its doors bent and graphitized. Supplies thrown onto the floor, and books inside thrown into the puddle of something resembling a sweet syrup...'

"Those bastards wanted to torment me through her. They destroyed her stuff, even the book she was writing alone in secrecy, and she never had the courage to think about publishing. They said they will not torment her anymore if I humiliated myself and ate without any utensils... like an animal. And as I heard them laugh, something rose within me... something dark and ugly... the fury so intense that even biting my lip and feeling actual, physical pain did not make me snap out of it."

'The laughter coming from all sides and sound of her own beating her, that was louder and louder, until she couldn't hear anything else... the feeling of pressure rising inside her like a tidal wave and her teeth clenched so much that it hurt... and when two bullies grabbed her and tried to force her to eat from the soup bowl placed on the ground...'

"I... never before retaliated. I always ignored all of those times I was bullied. And because I always bottled everything in, because I never expressed it before... when I actually felt that anger, I was seeing red. I couldn't feel anything but the pure fury. It was fine when it was only me, but they threatened to continue harassing the one person who encouraged me to stand up for myself... and when they tried to force me... I just... snapped...'

'As the laughing group was about to leave, to their confusion, the doors suddenly shut on their own, lock clicking, as the lone girl stood rigidly in the middle of empty class, moments before hell broke loose...'

Maidono closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Touma... do you know what is the most powerful usage of telekinesis?"

"Emm... lifting the skyscrapers and hundreds of tons of mass?"

"That's certainly close... but... there is one thing that is considered above that... the ability of unparalleled calamity, manifested only by the strongest telekinetics during the most intense of emotions..."

'She did not remember. She did not remember if world started shaking first or was she the one that began to do so. She screamed as the world started to vibrate, unaware of erupting sounds of terror. She wanted to do make those awful feelings disappear as she extended her index fingers without clear focus. The ground shook and wide cracks spread in every direction. Among the trembling of everything around her, the floor and the very building caved in as the earth roared, parting and vibrating in unparalleled spectacle of destruction and chaos.'

"... that ability... is the power to generate tremors, to turn pressure into seismic energy. The power to shift the earth and quake it. Telekinetic AIM fields manifest themselves as pressure. Intense pressure creates vibrations, and intense vibrations... can make tremors powerful enough to destroy everything around you. Do you recall the earthquake that happened nearly 5 years ago in this district?"

"Yeah, it was on the news and the shaking could be felt in the entire city. It made my lunch spill on the ground. Epicenter was located in some school and the whole place was... wait... no..." Touma trailed off." Was that..."

"On that day, in my blind rage and irrational fury, my sudden burst of raw, unfocused power caused shaking equal to Richter's level 6 earthquake. Although it didn't last long, it caused the earth to cave in and completely demolished my school, alongside with the damage to few nearby buildings. I don't remember much from that time... only screaming... and then... being swiped by the rubble, buried under..."

Maidono suddenly put her hand over her mouth as if she was about to throw up. Only after a minute of calming, massage-like motion from Touma on her back, did she manage to relax a little

"I got buried under a lot of stones. I lost consciousness and awoke in complete darkness. After a while of calming myself, I managed to dig myself out using my ability and then spent nearly an hour trying to find someone... anyone... but no one was answering me in that pile of dust and wreckage... . I couldn't hear anything, just static in my ears. When Anti-Skill arrived, I helped them save others, but...almost no one was... and if anyone was... they were... I am sorry, I..."

Maidono got silent and rubbed her eyes, before continuing

"Nearly half of the school was killed. A quarter was severely injured. I did what I could to help... until they found her. Fuuka-san..."

'Almost mechanically, she walked through the rubble, when her eyes fixed on the Anti-Skill accompanied with two men from the medical team...

"Hey, can you help us identify her? She is not responding and we-"

She walked and walked, until she saw who was laying down there.

Her eyes widened as she stared... and stared... and stared...

Blood covered most of the fallen girl's face. But she couldn't be mistaken.

As if she was a robot, she made a gesture similar to swiping something aside, and the pile of rubble moved, revealing the entire body.

She didn't make almost any move besides blinking, as her eyes welled with tears, flowing down her face in many streams, making trails in the dust that covered her.

The officer wanted to say something but she did not hear a thing, falling to her knees and unleashing a desperate, broken cry of sorrow'

"Did she..."

"Head injury was too grave. She didn't make it"

"I am... so sorry..."

"I am pathetic, aren't I? The city labelled it as a natural earthquake, but I... and few of the survivours knew... that I was the actual cause. There was no real evidence, so I never faced any punishment. And I know it was an accident... but I killed so many people, including the one person I thought of as a friend. That experience... it broke me... I stopped going to school, spending all time during some part time jobs or staying in the lab... I didn't think I could face other people... and I... I joined the dark side through Veritas and started working under the Board of Directors because... when I convinced myself that maybe that was all there was to me. If I could only kill others in my attempt to protect... then closing my heart was only thing left remaining... and I went on and on like that, eroding myself to no end... until I met you"

"Hoshimi..."

"I was probed and experimented by many people on the dark side, mainly Veritas... in addition to my mastery of levitation, I apparently had the potential to cause Richter 10 earthquake if I went beyond level 5."

"10 in Richter's scale..."

As a japanese citizen, Touma knew a bit about earthquakes and he was fairly sure that Richter scale had only 9 levels of magnitude, beginning with Micro and ending with Extreme.

"10 in Richter's scale is a hypothetical magnitude. It's an 'Apocalyptic' earthquake, the upper limit of Earth's tectonic plates. The earthquake of that magnitude would shift thousands of kilometers of earth over dozens of meters, create tsunamis as big as mountains, and tremors felt on the entire planet, combined with absolute annihilation and destruction . I doubt that this is truly doable... but rumours spread and thanks to that I had some unwanted attention. I hated it... I hated everything about it... I hated myself... so I went on to actually feel like this hate is justified by killing and becoming a heartless bitch, who just following orders..."

'The group of smugglers sat in the large armoured truck. One of them lifted a pendrive with one hand and a can of beer in the other.

"We are almost at the border. Our partners should have dealt with the border patrol by now. Once we get this techno intel outside, we will be filthy rich. We-"

BOOM!

The smugglers looked around in confusion.

"What's going on out there?" one of them shouted to the driver.

"I-I don't know... the car of our security just got... crumpled"

"What the hell do you mean with crumpled?"

"Like I said, it just shot up and got crushed like a can!"

Suddenly, everybody were thrown forwards, as the truck came to a sudden halt.

"What? Why the fuck are you stopping?"

"I didn't stop! Something... something is holding us in place."

SCREECH!

The back wall of the truck bent and then split in half, revealing young girl in a blond wig. Pieces of metal collapsed next to her as she stepped forward, two marbles levitating over her index fingers, making small circles alongside their movement.

Five men shot up to their feet.

"What the hell?"

"Hello boys. I am sorry, but my boss says that this intel you have is not leaving the city. You aren't either, for that matter"

"How did you stop us? Are you an esper?"

"No, I am a completely normal girl which singlehandedly stopped a multi-ton truck and ripped its back away. That was sarcasm, in case you are too stupid to understand."

"Don't mock us! You are outnumbered five to one, and unarmed."

The girl let out a laugh.

"Unarmed? You fools... everything here..."

She raised her arm, with index finger extended towards one of the smugglers.

"... is my weapon!"

In the next moment, glass marbles shot forward... and through the skulls of two unfortunate men, who collapsed on the spot, to the horror of their companions.

"Open fire!"

With motion of girl's finger, parts of reinforced metal shot up in front of her, bullets ricocheting of it.

"Now... how many people is enough to tell me who hired you..."

A part of the improvised shield was shot forwards, and sinking into the flesh of the second smuggler. The girl swiped to the right and the man was slammed into the wall, following the piece of metal within him.

A dropped gun soared through the air to the girl's hand.

"...ah, right..."

The third man attempted to shoot his weapon, but it crumpled in his hands, as if made of paper. Meanwhile, the girl's newly acquired weapon discharged, accompanied with another body hitting the floor.

Blowing away the thin trail of smoke, she finished

"...only one"

And she put her index fingers together.

In the next moment, the interior of the truck collapsed on itself, bending and straining. She stepped back, and the mass of metal detached from the truck's cabin, floating in the air. One remaining men was sticking out, trying to free himself.

"Now, it was fun, but I need to know who hired you. If you tell me, it will only end up with all of your bones being broken and I will let you go. If you don't..."

She rotated her hands, with index fingers pointing at each other, in two opposite directions. The man screamed when the entire crumpled back of the track twisted like a wringed cloth.

"Alright... alright... I will talk!"

After a moment, the girl nodded in satisfaction.

"That's fine."

"So you will let me live?"

"Well... no, not really"

"B-But you said..."

"I said I would let you live. Unfortunately, my boss did not take your actions lightly."

Madiono shook her head with displeased look, cringing her lips.

"I was such a heartless, self-serving bitch back then. I did all of that dirty work to escape that nightmare, to justify my self-torment, when in reality, I was digging my own grave."

"Hoshimi... I am... I am so sorry that all of that happened. It's true that it was unfortunate. But that was not your fault. You said yourself that you did not have refined control over your ability."

"If I didn't let go of my judgement back then, if I didn't let myself be blinded by rage, my calculations... my ability wouldn't go berserk. So if I wasn't there..."

"I don't know if that's irresponsible or cowardly, but sometimes, thinking about all the what ifs simply doesn't work and will only drive you insane. I am a walking magnet for bad luck. It is natural to attribute every single bad thing that happened to me, but... I really don't think I could be the source of all of that. And I think that if you feel remorse and cry over what happened, then I think you are still okay. You are a good person. I am very happy that I managed to meet you. Do you... have..."

"Nightmares? Plenty of them. And because of that accident, I also have taphophobia."

"Tapho...what?"

"The fear of being buried alive. It's usually associated with graves, but can also be broadened to being buried alive by earth"

Maidono broke the embrace to look at him.

"I had no idea you were so troubled" Touma said bitterly" I wish I could do something for you..."

"Are you kidding? Don't you see? You are doing more than enough. I am so happy that I met you as well. After that accident, I was so lonely. So I am... so honoured that you confided in me about your memory loss. It made me feel of enough value to go on. It put things into perspective and made me realize that even though I wanted to torment myself to make up for that day, in the end I was just pitying myself. I indulged in dark side to forget the pain I experienced before. You made me realize that self-tormenting for the past instead of trying to figure out the way to make a better future is not an apology at all! Thanks to you, I was able to think about going on without shortcuts to be myself that I wanted to be before all of that madness that I put myself through. It's because you kept me from straying after our fight that I could do so. It's because you believed in me and my ability to change that I was able to attain the highest freedom. I could thank you for not thinking of me as a freak, of not dismissing me because of how absurd my obsession sounded... for giving me best friend that I love to see smile... I could thank for those things and more, but I doubt it would cover it all... so instead..."

Maidono closed the gap between them so quickly that Touma wouldn't be able to react even if he wanted to.

Their lips connected for couple seconds, being rather intensely pressed from Maidono's side, before separating. The girl smiled sheepishly

"I guess... that instead of thousand 'thank yous'... one 'I love you' should suffice... I wanted to tell you this for quite some time, and my breakdown just now sort of... gave me courage. I want to say this again: even though I am my own person now, I offer you my love and servitude."

"Thank you" Touma honestly did not expect such turn of events, and tried to refocus his attention

'Crap, after that I kind of look like a hypocrite with what I told Shizuri. I will have to return the favour to her, even if she doesn't know. And it would be better if she didn't.'

" Really, I... am glad you feel this way. Do you feel better now?"

"I was feeling awful before you came for me. Now it's much better. By the way, how did you know I was here? You got here relatively quickly"

"I know this switchyard since... well, I fought here once. And as for how I knew to search for you here, Hasako told me that this is the place you like to visit when you feel upset"

"Hasacchi, huh..." Maidono smiled, taking one step off the container and suspending herself in the air" At which point did that girl learned so much about me... but she's right. Something about the solace of this place is... comforting, when there is too much noise in my own head."

She floated down to the ground and slightly bent the container, allowing Touma to slide down.

So... are you going back to Sukemi Rin? What are you going to with her?"

"For now, I will have someone keep an eye on her at all times. But I have to get involved with her, otherwise this won't make any sense in a long run. She obviously does this because of what he did to her... but also because she is something to me. If I could only remember..."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am... I am used to trying to get those things from scratch by now. But I need to think of what to do next"

(SOME TIME LATER)

"...and that's why I phoned you" Touma finished his explanation. "What do you think about all of this?"

There was a moment of silence, before Rimea spoke on the other side of the line.

"Now, that's quite a conundrum. There are clearly many variables here... and just as much scenarios that can arise from that shady self of yours being back."

"Yeah, you can say that again. I don't want to have my new roommates and others that I treasure to be put in danger. Even if he is holding back, I am sure he is plotting something. Sukemi-san's case proves it."

He heard a sound of flipped page over the phone as eldest princess spoke again.

"Out of personal curiosity, why did you decide to speak to me about this?"

"Because I never have enough mature and intelligent women that can actually hold a normal and deep conversation?"

A composed, quiet chuckle resounded. Even though Rimea had specific sense of humour, Touma noted that she laughed (or at the very least chuckled) more frequently compared to when he met her, which actually made him happy too.

"It's a nice and flattering, but do be serious, Kamijou."

"Fine... I thought that it may also be personal for you. After all, you've been there when he appeared last time. During the ball at the castle... you helped me and I just thought..."

"You are correct" Rimea replied curtly" More so, he conversed and managed to outsmart me, in a way. It's not such an exaggeration to say that I want to get back on him as well. I would like to engage personally, but..."

"You are to stay in the UK, right?"

"Just a glamorous life of the heir to the throne, Kamijou." there was an irritation-tinged sigh from the queen-to-be" Once again you speak the truth. However, being here will not stop me from aiding you in strategy formulation or consulting, should the need arise. I do owe you that much after the effort you put in this relationship my mother concocted"

"Oh no, it's a pleasure. And seriously, thank you for finding time to talk anyway"

"It certainly livens things up here. You must realize that you hold a unique position of someone who knows who I am but is still allowed near me due to my own take on your actions, and our correspondence. I think I can say with all fairness that if all people are annoying, you are the one besides my family who annoys me the least. Your companionship is very valued."

As always, Rimea complimented him in convoluted way. In that instance, she actually wanted to express her liking to their exchanges through phones and letters, but external observer probably would not be so quick in picking that up.

"It would be nice to get together in some bar again."

"Yeah, you looked great in that leather-"

Touma blinked, realizing what he just said.

"Rimea-san, I am sorry, I didn't mean it in a-"

"Oh my, you do know that say such things to a princess with a proper protocol can give you lifelong imprisonment?"

Silence...

"That was a joke. You may laugh now"

"Not after something like that! You are getting better in small-talk, but this kind of jokes won't relax the atmosphere!"

"Really? I thought it was about calculating the correct amount of tension into the joke"

"You are overthinking it again, Rimea-san..."

"Don't fear, I am not offended. I like to dress like that as well and I would prefer you to be able to speak your mind freely. That's what we agreed when mother got us to write to each other. As long as you are friend of United Kingdom and our family, nothing bad will befall you when it comes to forces of our kingdom. And in truth, it would be nice to once again venture out. You still didn't change your mind about staying in Japan? The knighthood offer remains open. You would be under my personal protection"

"I am sorry princess, but my friends and home are here. I can't just leave"

"A pity" came the response. If Touma didn't know better, she sounded genuinely disappointed" Nevertheless, I will repeat this offer for you. In the meantime, notify me about the development of this case. For now, I would recommend investigating and talking with that girl in the presence of something that can mediate her psychological state, in addition to some physical protection."

"What do you mean by that?"

Touma's phone beeped and he looked at the screen.

"What is this? A GPS location?"

"I pinpointed someone who can help you. You will find the details in the message"

Touma scanned the text and his eyes widened.

"What? She is in Japan? Why?"

"Why else other than the reason most females seem to have?" Rimea said quietly" She misses you"

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Missionary work, so I've heard. I bet that personality-wise, she is a good candidate for psychological assessment of your split-minded friend... and I think, given your past bond, she might be of help to you, too"

"Rimea-san, thank you so much."

"That's nothing. And please, do notify me about your progress. I find your dilemmas properly stimulating in the stiffness of court life"

"Please don't treat the miserable life of this poor Kamijou like a sudoku for royalty!"

The call was ended with one more dignified chuckle.

"Now then..." Touma, walking back to the living room, where 3 sisters, Index, and Othinus were occupied with their" Who wants to have some family time near the seaside?"

(FEW DAYS LATER)

The large car with three rows of seats travelled swiftly on the road near the shore.

"It's the sea!" Amazora cheered, peering over the window like a happy puppy, her blond locks fluttering on the wind.

"Amazora, you are crushing my legs!" Rikuri wailed, getting the smaller girl back inside

"But Riku nee-chan, aren't you excited too?"

"Of course I am. I have my swimsuit ready to go on my body at any moment. Beach is truly my kingdom"

"And you, Ori nee-san?"

Oriana, driving the small bus, flashed a warm smile to her youngest cousin. "Of course. I am happy to be invited. How could I disappoint the cutest little cousin in the world? Besides, aside of being able to spend time with my newly found family..."

She stared at Touma and lightly blew him a kiss, causing the boy to quickly look away.

"Yes, this seems like it can be a lot of fun... also, it would be fun to see someone from the Dorm again..."

The british magician was invited to go alongside Gokusai sisters as both them, Index, Othinus, as well as Mugino, Ladylee, and Rin, joined Touma in his journey to small christian church on the cliff overlooking the ocean. Additionally, from his own side, Touma invited no one other than Shutaura and Arisa to help provide additional protection if things got ugly with knife wielding alter-ego.

In total, 10 people. Well, actually 14, counting the fact that Touma, Shutaura + Arisa, and Rin were honourable part of DID aka Split Personality Club. That was the reason they had to get a small bus rather than a simple car.

Regretabbly, Maidono seemed to come down with something, so Hasako stayed behind to watch over her. It seemed like it was just a cold, but according to Hasako, Maidono was the type to overdramatize in sickness. They hoped to rejoin Touma as soon as they could.

"Kamijou-san, is it really okay for me to go with you? It's so strange to go with you on the trip like that?"Sukemi Rin fidgeted in her seat, looking around the car.

"Our school nurse recommended you some rest. My friends were going for it too, independently, but if we are inconvenient-"

"No, no, no! I was just surprised, but it will be... v-v-very nice to rest with you" choked out the now red girl.

'I-I would never expect for Kamijou-kun to just contact me and ask if I was interested in trip to the beach. Why would he do it? And who is that person he wants me to talk to? Oh, so many unknowns. I thought that he forgot about me, but he wouldn't ask me about going with him... oh, what should I think? It's just like with those over the top fantasies of Kazari. Of course I will go. Although those girls...'

Rin looked back and forth. Out of the girls in the car, three of them had chests that were an epithome of 'massive' and 'impressive', depending if you wanted to talk in metaphor or not. Oriana, Rikuri, and Mugino seemed to take with little mass other girls have and add it on, even if it was only psychological effect. It certainly didn't help with Rin being more on the flatter side.

"Kamijou, not trying to rush or anything, but how much longer until we get to the place you talked about? You locked me in the bus with some nutjobs!"

Touma glanced back at the people on the sits.

"Arisa, I don't care about the fact that we switched just before the trip. Why didn't you pack spare..." Shutaura blushed in frustration, glancing at Touma, while shouting angrily to her recording device" I am so through with that chaos you call your packing style!"

"Ah..." Ladylee sighed, observing the cliffs by the seaside" If I were to fall from there, I could probably lose all of my limbs... but that wouldn't do it. And there, with the rocks... that would be a nice impalement, but... no, too painful. Maybe if I set myself on fire at the same time..."

"I don't think you can call other people nuts, Meltdowner" Kaibi shot back. She was beautifully dressed in a new dress, crimson with golden lining that resembled vines and accentuated her developing curves. She also sported a pair of sunglesses and decided to curl her hair only partially, the majority falling back in the ponytail.

"Oh, shut it! If I hear one more off-tune song, I swear..."

"TOUMA, I am hungry! Those rations you supplied me weren't nearly enough!"

"Maybe they would be if you... *hurgh*... didn't eat everything within the first hour after departure" whispered Othinus.

Apparently, Oriana's driving style on the bending road over the seashore wasn't for everyone, evidenced by the fact that they had to pull over 3 times (mainly Amazora). For some incredible and incomprehensible reason, Index, who gobbled down great amount of food was almost unaffected, which couldn't be said about slightly green Othinus.

"Look, we are here!" Touma shouted, glad that they somehow managed to get to their destination without Mugino blowing off the car or Index staring to eat the car itself.

They parked in front of the medium-sized convent on the edge of the cliff. It looked sturdy, being made of grey rock and having a european-style, red roof, with a golden cross on the top of thin tower on its eastern side.

Everyone got out of the bus. As they got their luggage from the trunk of the car, they were greeted by two woman, who came outside through the gotic-like portal on the front of the convent's church.

Touma instantly brightened and walked forward.

"It's great to-"

But to his surprise, it was the woman in roman catholic habit who got to him first and embraced him in a hug.

That sent wave of gasps through the crowd of females that gathered on this trip.

Big breasts pressing onto him.

Short hair tickling his ear.

Pleasant smell and warmth.

Many different sensations caused Touma's brain to short-circuit for a few seconds, being snapped out of it by the words.

"I thank the God's grace that you travelled here safely"

Touma pulled back and looked onto the warm smile and caring face of Orsola Aquinas

"Hello, Kamijou Touma. I'm very happy to see you again."

"I...I am very happy to see you, too" he reincorporated the joy of the greeting.

In truth, he was happy how efficiently everything went. Luckily, besides implying some measures of invigilation and additional security, Accelerator wasn't as formalistic when it came for him and his group leaving Academy City for the few days, at least when comparing him to Aleister.

The pair stared at each other with smiles on their faces, until a sound of coughing made Touma looked past Orsola.

"Huh? Lucia? You are here too?"

The blond nun, the right-hand of Agnese Forces, quickly turned to the side with arms crossed.

"I-I am here because Agnese thought someone should watch over miss Orsola. I-It has nothing to do with you being here as well"

"Hah! She is like Kai nee-san when she was all 'it's not like I like you', right Riku nee-san"

"You may be onto something, but it's not polite to point, Amazora."

Lucia glared at whispering sisters, as Orsola spoke

"Come on, don't be so cold, miss Lucia. I believe Agnese wanted to convey her best regards to Kamijou. And if I weren't mistaken, you also promised Angelene to-"

"I-I... don't know what you are talking about! I promised nothing. I will not... look at that, miss Orsola! He brought with him 9 women, including small children. He already engaged in sin upon arrival! This man is a bringer of depravity"

"That's not your true thoughts. Such attitude does not suit your beauty!"

"T-The nun should be pious, not beautiful!"

"Ekhm! Can we get going? And also, maybe some introductions are in order?" Mugino asked in a voice that didn't really leave much room for arguments.

Soon, they were inside.

"Everyone, please feel free to move around the convent and use the beach down below" Orsola addressed the freshly arrived guests" This place is a church complex that I was sent to, as it is my mission to check its state and order any eventual renovations. I am sister Orsola Aquinas, a nun specializing in preaching and decoding the writings of christendom. This pouty nun here..."

"W-Who are you calling pouty?!"

"...is sister Lucia. You are our guests, so if you have any problems, please turn to us for help or advice. And speaking of that... are any of you miss Rin?"

"T-That would be me..." Rin shyly stepped forward" I am still quite confused by this trip... but Kamijou-kun said you would help me with my condition"

"I can't make any promises about full recovery. I can however, provide you with some heart-to-heart talk, as well as benefits of mineral hot-springs in the nearby caverns, that are used by the nuns of this convent"

"H-H-Heart-to-heart... talk?"

Orsola's gaze became even gentler.

"Indeed. Preaching and studying the word of Lord is not the only task of the nun. Healing hearts and opening them to healing light of grace is equally as important. And I will dedicate myself to it for those in need"

Mugino made a sound that even with most merciful interpretation could be interpreted as anything other than 'mocking'.

When everyone left the baggage in the prepared rooms, and gathered in the living room, it was time for the introduction queue

"I am Gokusai Kaibi. This is Rikuri and Amazora, my sisters, and we are here to support Touma in his own desire to aid Sukemi-san"

"And also to have some lovely family trip" added Rikuri.

"BEACH! BEACH! BEACH!" the third and youngest member of the triad clearly gave away her exictement.

"My my, what lovely ladies Kamijou Touma brought in tow with him"

"Mugino Shizuri, also known as Meltdowner" Mugino spoke, saying no more than needed to be said" I am not here to make friends or anything, I just want to keep that fool in check and see what he gets involved in"

"Ladylee Tangleroad, I also follow Kamijou for similar reasons. He helps me with personal problem. Call me Ladylee. And contrary to miss nuclear reactor, I don't mind company that much. Especially one that can lead me in lethal direction"

"In that moment I am... I mean, I am Shutaura Sequenzia. I am here because of Kamijou's invitation. I am a bodyguard... and a singer, apparently. I shall probably execute both of those roles here... it's a pleasure!"

"Oriana Thomson, a courier. But I don't thing I need introduction to my cute family members, to this scrumptious boy, or to you, Orsola. Though I am not formally a dorm member, we had our fair share of encounters in Necessarius HQ."

"I am pleased to see you in good health" Orsola clasped her hands in the sign of gratitude.

Lucia rubbed her temples

"I swear, this woman dresses more and more indecently each time I see her..."

Index and Touma were already acquainted with both nuns, so afterwards, everyone moved to eat dinner together. It was cooked by Orsola, and Touma's tastebuds were in absolute heaven through and through. The girls also expressed varying degree of

"Got to say, your friends are a bit... well, not what I expected. But they still seem rather nice too" Rin commented.

"That's certainly one way to put it. Sukemi-san, do you have any of those headaches that you told me about?"

"No, I didn't since I awoke in that alley. But it often comes with intervals so it will probably happen soon"

Touma glanced at Shutuara over Rin's shoulder. The raven haired girl nodded.

"Right. Be sure to tell me if you feel worse. This trip is not only for my friends, but for you, first and foremost."

POOF!

Rin's face exploded with redness, her hands going and grasping her white headband as if it was some protective amulet.

"O-Of course... thank you so much for caring..."

As Touma got to his room, he looked around. The space was a little bit unassuming, austere even, but nevertheless welcoming and decently equipped with closet, small library, and spacious, comfortably looking bed.

"Well, I guess everyone is tired. Now, it's time to go to sleep..."

After using the bathroom and changing clothes, he thrown himself onto the bed. After couple of minutes, he glared at the closet.

"'It's time to go to sleep...or so I would like to say, but..."

He got up, walked to the piece of furniture, and abruptly opened its doors.

"WOAH!"

Amazora, Kaibi, Rikuri, and Oriana tumbled outside. Touma gave them flat look, putting a hand on his face.

"How did you get in there?"

"You are talking to... a successful former darksider..." Kaibi muttered, getting herself out of the pile" It's natural we can do some lockpicking"

"It's true. Lock mechanisms are much easier than drones..."Rikuri flashed him a slightly sultry look" Although I wouldn't say that's the best usage my hands can have"

"You practiced that?" Oriana grinned. Touma noticed that she was wearing a pyjama, which reminded him of some sort of see-through dresses worn by exotic dancers.

For that matter...

"Why are you all dressed up as if you are going to..."

Four smiles flashed in front of him, so similar that Touma wouldn't doubt in the blood relationship of the girls even if they were each to drastically change their appearance.

"C-Come on... it's clearly too small for-"

Smiles didn't vanish. In fact, they only got bigger.

"Hmm... nothing I say won't convince you to stop, huh..."

"Nope" quartet of voices sounded.

"Oriana, I wouldn't... I know, we have history and all... but I never thought that you feel like this... f-for... me..."

"Oh?" the busty magician twirled her curls with a more innocent smile, yet with eyes not losing any of the fire" I don't remember ever saying I wasn't interested, boy. And I think the shared interest of my cute cousins was the final straw. Don't you see the pattern of people you hit coming to like you?"

"Oh, right" Amazora remembered" Onii-chan hit both me and Riku nee-san, and now we love him. But Kaibi nee-san jumped out of the garage and was never hit"

"T-That's because I came long way around!"

"I know we once were enemies" continued Oriana" but so were they, isn't that true? When it comes to confessing... I am a firm believer in the practice of actions before words. I am going to make my commitment such that you would accept my proposal without any hesitation."

"A-Alright. I guess, I am really flattered... so if you want, you can..."

"Don't think of sleeping in the bathroom." Kaibi looked at him" You are not getting away from family time"

"Alright, you have your pyjamas on, so I guess... we are all rational here..."

"He tries so hard, it's honestly cute" Oriana whispered to Rikuri, and two oldest girls nodded vigorously.

"You forget about two things."

"What?"

"You have to remove our jewellery, and receive goodnight kisses"

"H-Huh?"

"Unless... you don't want to?"

"Alright, that can't be too bad..."

Touma removed the necklaces and bracelets from necks and wrists of both Kaibi and Rikuri. That in itself wouldn't be anything special, except that the girls shivered every time he touched them, for no apparent reason, which made him slightly hot from such a simple procedure.

Just as he finished putting the accessories away, the girls swiftly formed one line.

'No, that's a legitimate question, did they practice this?'

Amazora looked up at Touma and made a 'pick me up' gesture. Touma grabbed her below the armpits and lifted her to his face level. He planned to give her a kiss on the brow, but the youngest girl in the room surprised everyone by taking the initiative and snatching a quick peck on Touma's lips, and then flashing sassy, completely unapologetic grin.

"A-Amazora! Since when-"

"Tee hee! Onii-chan won't treat me like an adult unless I am being proactive. I promised to stop with thigh flashing seduction until I am older, but I never said anything about surprise kisses!"

"Our little sister is growing up so fast. Soon she will blossom into a beautiful flower of her own making!"

Kaibi gave Touma gentle and subtle kiss, with lips lingering longer and brushing against each other in tender fashion, with boy's hands caressing her hair.

Rikuri went a step further, enveloping him in the hug, and french kissing him while gently sucking his lips at the same time.

As for Oriana...

"Oh, I think I overdid it a bit..."

"You think? That was supposed to be a goodnight kiss! Now he is knocked out, but-"

Oriana initially pushed Touma's face in her chest, which ended up in him kissing that area, and only then kissed him so intensely that he nearly passed out.

"But I only thought it was unfair not to take while giving. Rikuri, you have to try this. Kiss on the chest is pleasant both for him and for us."

"Kai nee-san, can I get a kiss on the chest too?"

"Absolutely not! Come on everybody, it is time to get some rest!"

When Touma came around, he found Rikuri and Oriana sleeping on both sides of him, on the outer side, with Kaibi and Amazora, between older duo and himself.

It took some time, because of his heart rate, temperature and external pressure on his body, but he finally drifted off into sleep.