Interlude
"Where are you two headed?" Shika asked, resuming the conversation.
Her smile caught Saten and Uiharu off guard, leaving them dazed. No jealousy or envy—just the refreshing aura that washed away such feelings, as even Seiri, who hated Tokiwadai, had succumbed.
"Hm? Another Seiri-san situation?" Shika teased, about to repeat herself when Mikoto cut in.
"What're you two doing next?"
If Shika kept charming people, she'd be a walking hazard. Their focus snapped to Mikoto.
"Oh, sorry, spaced out! We're going to Seventh Mist to shop for clothes," Saten replied.
"Nice! Mind if we join? Cool with you, Mikoto-san?"
"Sure, I could use some new clothes."
Shika clapped, delighted, and Mikoto agreed. Saten and Uiharu exchanged glances.
"Totally welcome!! But…"
"It's just a regular chain store. Not exactly Tokiwadai's style…"
Seventh Mist was affordable and varied but seemed beneath elite girls. Yet, they responded casually.
"It's not a big deal. Tokiwadai requires uniforms outside, so many of us don't fuss over clothes," Mikoto said.
"And we're not exactly princesses. I shop at local supermarkets and read manga," Shika added.
"Really? I thought manga or games would be frowned upon as 'dumbing'," Saten said.
"That's just adults who never read manga talking. Standing around at a convenience store is fine, but don't rip open packaged ones with freebies—that's rude," Shika advised.
"Eep," Saten flinched.
"Manga builds common ground with others. It can open new worlds through shared hobbies. Friends from those connections are precious, even a decade later. Manga's a great tool. Games stimulate the brain's multitasking—eyes, fingers, sound—creating a halo effect for cognitive control. Even seniors benefit, keeping their frontal lobes active to prevent dementia. Online, you can connect globally. Finding something 'useless' is harder than cherishing this moment, like in Ichii Hajime's new song after that big explosion."
"You know Ichii?!" Saten exclaimed.
Shika's supermarket visits and penny-pinching tips painted her less as a princess and more as a seasoned housewife. Maybe they could hang out casually after all.
As they headed to Seventh Mist, Saten mulled it over.
Park
"Unfortunately, Touma-san doesn't understand a maiden's heart despite having a kind, cute sister. If he claims otherwise, he's full of himself."
Over a decade as a big brother, yet he'd never earn a gold license. More like he'd need remedial lessons every six months for constant accidents.
This was around middle school graduation. For a year, Touma shared a class and commute with a girl. Walking home in awkward silence, he suggested, "Wanna grab something to eat?"
"Sure, I'll leave it to you," she replied.
"How about that convenience store?" he pointed, only to run into his wise sister, who immediately called him out.
"Can you read the true meaning behind a girl's words? When a boy asks, 'What do you want to eat?' and she says, 'Anything's fine,' what would you do, Touma-san?"
"Pick something nearby."
"Wrong. She's saying, 'Guess where I want to go.'"
"Really?"
The classmate fidgeted, her eyes darting away, clearly disappointed he chose a convenience store over the chic café nearby. Shika nodded firmly.
"Exactly. I could give you a hint, but that'd spoil you too much. I believe you can do better."
"How about those roasted sweet potatoes, Professor Shika?" Touma pointed at a nearby stall.
"Why there…?" Shika clutched her head.
"Don't you like those? Was that a bad call?"
"It's not bad—but why base it on my tastes?"
Despite spending a year with the girl, Touma took his sister's preferences as a guide. The girl missed her one shot, striking out.
Now, present day.
To avoid another run-in with the zappy princess from yesterday, Touma took a detour around School Garden and his sister's dorm. At a park, voices came from behind a signboard. A young girl—kindergarten or early elementary—was being harassed by a boy his age. She protested, but he kept talking, ignoring her. Normally, Touma wouldn't care about flirting, but this wasn't friendly. The boy, with a large bandage on his nose, was picking a fight.
"Hey! Laughing at my face, you powerless brat?!"
"Huh? What?"
The girl, unused to malice, looked confused rather than scared, which only fueled his paranoia. It was petty but dangerous. As the boy raised his hand, Touma's right arm prickled. He rushed over, grabbed the boy's wrist, and twisted it up.
"What the hell?! Stay out of it!"
His last "pretend friend" tactic got him scolded by his sister, so he kept it short.
"Get lost."
Touma glared, his sharpness triggering déjà vu in the boy, who let out a small yelp. But his eyes soon burned with defiance. In a tense, prickling silence, as onlookers gathered, Touma released him.
"Tch, haven't had luck since that chick got me…" the boy muttered, fleeing without looking back, cursing a name Touma wanted to chase but let go. He wasn't one for violence.
Turning to the girl, her big eyes gazed up at him. Her cute skirt and pouch made her seem younger.
"Don't apologize to jerks picking fights," Touma advised, acting the elder.
She stared curiously at a small pouch on his schoolbag.
"What's that?"
"This? A charm."
He held up the four-leaf clover encased in glass.
"A four-leaf clover! Cool! I only find three-leaf ones."
"Wanna see?"
She nodded eagerly. Touma placed the charm in her cupped hands. She held it to the light, her eyes sparkling.
"Thank you for helping me."
"Be careful."
Crouching to her level, he met her gaze.
"So, why're you alone here? Lost?"
"No, I'm shopping by myself. Just got a bit mixed up."
"That's called being lost."
"I'm a big kid already!"
She insisted she wasn't a child, fresh out of kindergarten and sensitive about it.
"Who're you, big brother?"
"I'm Touma Kamijou."
"Kamijou? Like Shika-neechan?"
"Shika?"
"Yeah, her name means 'singing poems,' and she's kind and cool! When I lost the bag my parents gave me, she helped find it!"
Touma was surprised but not shocked—his sister's network was vast. Thanks to their mother's training, Shika's maternal instincts made her a magnet for kids. Their shared acquaintance eased the conversation.
"So, you're Shika's big brother."
"Yep, her big brother."
"I'm Kana Hazamaya."
She pulled a name tag from her pouch, likely used at school, with "Hazamaya Kana" written in marker.
"Nice name, but a bit complex with all those strokes."
"Yeah, writing it's hard."
"But you wrote it well."
Praised, Kana grinned, her unguarded smile stirring nostalgia in Touma. She'd come to shop at a clothing store advertised on TV but got lost after a bathroom break. She'd tried using landmarks on a park map, impressive for her age, but it wasn't enough. Kids shouldn't wander alone in Academy City, especially with creeps like that guy and recent incidents like the Graviton Bombings. With summer heat rising, heatstroke was a risk. Seeing she had no water, Touma offered to buy a drink, but Kana requested a fat-burning health tea.
"I'm stylish, so I'm dieting."
"Dieting at your age? Like Fukiyose," Touma muttered, buying her the pricey tea and a coconut cider for himself. Kana sipped, grimacing.
"Bitter…"
Kids her age rarely liked tea. His sister used to crave sweets, too. Kids were honest—tasty or not, no overthinking. Reluctantly, she stared at the bottle. Touma swapped it for the cider.
"Coconut juice has potassium and minerals, low-calorie. Stylish Tokiwadai girls love it. You're stylish, so drink this. The bitter one's for grown-up guys."
"Really?"
"Shika-neechan said so. No mistake."
He handed her the unopened cider, which she gulped down eagerly, clearly thirsty.
"Want a donut?? Packed with lecithin—perfect for future beauty."
"Really?!"
He was supposed to give one to that perverted gentleman, but no need. Kana munched happily.
"Good?"
"Yum!"
Her small hands holding the can softened Touma's expression. He was weak to kids, not as much as Shika, who volunteered at Child Error facilities, but he couldn't be harsh. Maybe it was their father's lessons to protect his sister, even before she was born.
So, Touma would drink the bitter tea.
"Are you a hero?"
"Huh? Why?"
"You saved me."
"Anyone would do that. It's not heroic."
He was a "fake." Compared to the "real" thing, the difference was clear, and others were better suited. Kana stared, then shyly looked away.
"You're cooler than Morita-kun."
"Who's that?"
"A boy in my class. He's mean but likes me and wants attention, so he's all dere-dere. Shika-neechan said so."
"I see."
"She said to write down everything he does in a diary. In three years, it'll be blackmail to get the upper hand, so I should watch him kindly."
"What's she teaching you?"
Poor Morita-kun. Wait—did Shika keep a diary of his antics? Her Big Brother Diary could fill dozens of volumes! Best not to think about it.
Touma changed the subject.
"Where were you headed?"
On the Way
"Shika-san and Misaka-san are childhood friends, right? What were you like as kids?" Uiharu asked.
"Well, Mikoto-san's reliable now, but she was a clingy kid, always holding my sleeve," Shika said.
Mikoto froze, embarrassed, as Shika closed her eyes nostalgically.
"When I left for Academy City, she cried so much it troubled Misuzu-san, your mom. I almost delayed coming here a year."
Shika opened her eyes, giving Mikoto a mischievous grin.
"Now it's just 'Shika-san.' I miss the 'Onee-chan' days. Where'd that Mikoto-san go?"
"Shika-san! What're you telling them?!" Mikoto blushed.
"Just old stories. Nothing weird. Have you forgotten?"
"Ugh… I remember a little…"
"A little? Oh, Onee-chan's heartbroken. Maybe I'll show everyone the MIKOTO folder to jog your memory."
"I remember everything! You were so sweet, I couldn't help calling you Onee-chan!"
Red-faced, Mikoto seemed her age to Uiharu, closing the gap. When introduced by Kuroko, Mikoto was cool and central, but now she seemed like someone who needed pulling along.
"So, Shika-san was your kind big sister? What'd she do for you?" Uiharu asked.
"Probably more than my mom. Holding hands, playing, helping with studies and abilities from Level 1 to 5… Ugh, it's nostalgic but embarrassing…"
Mikoto's face burned from her own words.
"Your bond is unreal," Saten said.
"But she won't call me Onee-chan anymore," Shika teased.
"Ugh, say what you want!"
"Permission to spread your cute, funny stories across Academy City, then?"
"Sorry, I slipped. Please don't…"
"A rare Mikoto-san plea! I can't resist."
"I said that because I can't keep relying on you forever! This topic's done!"
Fearing escalation, Shika shifted focus. "Oh, right. Uiharu-san, your left pinky."
"Huh?"
Uiharu noticed a small cut bleeding.
"Don't move."
The saintly Tokiwadai girl pulled a frog-patterned bandage from her pouch, deftly wrapping Uiharu's finger.
"All done. Be careful—a small cut can get infected, especially with a cold. Though the doctor would probably fix it quick, even if your organs started dancing."
"Thank you! This is…"
"I always carry them. Someone close gets hurt a lot, and kids love character bandages. Plus, they're essential for being called Onee-chan."
It smells nice, Uiharu thought. Shika also fixed her messy hair and flower crown, a nurturing gesture. Was this the "Onee-sama" vibe her colleague craved? Her face flushed beyond red, verging on a strange hue. Her multitasking brain, adept at handling multiple devices, risked a shutdown.
"You can call me Onee-chan instead of senpai."
"Uh…"
Uiharu nearly floored it like her colleague but braked. She knew Shika meant it kindly, a teasing gesture.
"But you'd need Mikoto-san's permission to call me that."
"Why?!"
"You were thinking weird stuff during my talk with Seiri-san, right?"
"?!"
"I don't miss a thing, Mikoto-san."
"You weren't even looking! And that phrase feels off, but why are you so sharp about this…"
"You used to stop crying with these Gekota bandages. So cute. But now, in your rebellious phase, you're making me cry."
Shika slid behind Mikoto, resting her hands on her shoulders, nuzzling her head and fake-sobbing.
"Sniff, sniff. Since you're not honest with words, I'll ask your body."
"Eek! Shika-san, what's that?!"
"No need for formalities like permits. Spontaneity's the key."
"It sounds convincing, but it's a totally different issue! I I don't have your steel heart."
"Oh, you'll hurt my (bulletproof) glass heart. Five more minutes, then."
"No way!"
A comical shriek escaped Mikoto, unimaginable from a Level 5. Her natural expression hinted this was her true self, shared only with close friends.
"Level 5, huh… so cool. If only Level Upper existed…" Saten sighed.
"What's that?" Uiharu asked.
"Just a rumor. Something that boosts your ability level. Level Upper… probably just an urban legend."
Academy City brimmed with urban legends—conspiracy theories, the stripping lady, reverse-spinning wind turbines, the phantom Null District, a nullifying Level 0, a witch who defeats high-level espers with a fist. Saten loved chasing these mixed truths.
At Level Upper, Mikoto, struggling against Shika's hug, froze and looked down. Shika, watching her crown, listened to Saten.
"No way. If it existed, we wouldn't struggle," Uiharu said.
"But if it's real, even I could…" Saten trailed off, head lowered.
(Hmm…)
Shika sensed Saten's complex about her level. Releasing Mikoto, she turned to Saten, speaking slowly.
"Want to be a high-level esper, Saten-san?"
"Of course. I came to Academy City to become one."
A predictable answer. Levels were status here, often defining worth. But Shika learned from her brother something more important.
"Sure, levels are status. But they're not everything."
"But a high level gets you respect."
"True, it's a status. But I believe something matters more."
Shika glanced at Uiharu.
"Meeting people is life's greatest treasure. Bonds with friends like you and Uiharu-san are irreplaceable."
They faced each other. Shika came to Academy City not for powers or tech but to be with someone dear. Now, beyond Touma, she had Mikoto, Hina, Kuroko, her mentor, and teachers.
"I'm thrilled to meet you both today."
Maybe, as her father said, a harsh environment caused her brother's persecution, when friends turned foes. Shika learned the fear of loneliness, the terror of groups, and the strength of bonds. Connections were power; meetings were treasures. In this city without parents, kids needed new bonds to grow and avoid past mistakes.
"I feel the same!" Saten said.
"Me too! I'm so glad to meet you, Shika-san," Uiharu added.
Their responses convinced Shika they were good kids, and she wanted to deepen their bond.
"Thanks, you two. As a sign of friendship, I'll treat you to crepes."
"No, that's too much!" Saten protested.
"Yeah, Shika-san," Uiharu agreed.
"It's my senior privilege. Are you dieting?"
"Not really…" Saten said.
"I'm not either…" Uiharu added.
Spotting a plaza, Shika pulled out her wallet, muttering, "Oh, right."
As if suddenly recalling, she dangled bait.
"I got a flyer this morning. Crepe House Labrun's opening event gives the first 100 customers a Gekota (gentleman version) mascot."
Mikoto's eyes lit up, though she feigned disinterest. "Oh, really? News to me," she said, ears practically growing to catch every word.
"—Anyway, crepes sound good, right, Mikoto-san?"
"Y-yeah! I'm craving crepes. You two cool with that?"
"Uh, sure," they nodded, swept by her enthusiasm. Mikoto's eyes screamed, Want it, want it, want it…
"I'll pass on the strap," Uiharu said.
"Me too. You can have it, Misaka-san," Saten added.
"What? No way, it's not about frogs or amphibians! I I just want crepes. But if you don't want it, fine. Gekota's just a silly name for getting carsick, but it'd be a waste."
No one mentioned the frog strap on her bag.
"Got it. What flavors? I'll get matcha dough with anko cream," Shika said, overpowering their reluctance with senior authority. Managing their shared allowance, she had plenty for crepes.
Saten and Uiharu chose flavors.
"I'll bring them when they're ready. You two go ahead. Mikoto-san, help carry."
Two hands, two crepes per person. Four crepes? Easy—get help.
"No way! We can't make you or Misaka-san do that!" Saten protested.
"Yeah!" Uiharu echoed.
They couldn't let elite girls run errands. But the childhood friends were in sync.
"No worries. Mikoto-san's a senior too. Right?" Shika said.
"Exactly. Don't sweat it," Mikoto added.
"Plus, coming along might expose my cute hobby. Too late, maybe," Shika teased.
"And we need leverage for when Kuroko causes trouble. Shika-san's whims are a lot," Mikoto said.
"Bribery in front of me?" Shika smirked.
"More like an indulgence," Mikoto quipped.
"Am I a sin?" Shika pouted.
"Your free spirit turns black to white," Mikoto said.
"Harsh world," Shika sighed.
"Reality's tough," Mikoto agreed.
"So, we good?"
They nodded, senior privilege prevailing.
"If it bothers you, look after your own juniors next time," Shika said with a commanding smile.
They surrendered.
"We'll take care of juniors," Saten said.
"I'll be a senior like Shika-san!" Uiharu declared.
"Good kids," Shika praised, turning to Mikoto as they lined up. "When Saten-san mentioned Level Upper, you got pensive. Something up?"
"Huh?"
"I know my precious sister's thoughts from a glance. What's on your mind?"
Childhood friends since before Academy City, Shika was like a big sister. No point hiding things.
Mikoto sighed, spilling her thoughts.
"Kuroko said the recent bombings are by an unknown high-level esper, not in Bank's data. Maybe it's someone boosted by Level Upper… but that's just an urban legend, right?"
She waved off her own theory, but Shika paused.
"No… Level Upper might exist. My ability exists, after all. It helps espers grow, like it did for you. Level Upper could do something similar."
"True, but…"
Shika's Imagine Tracer was perfect for boosting espers, helping Mikoto from Level 1 to 5. Students emit faint AIM fields, but Level 0s can't control theirs due to a lack of self-awareness. Knowing one's ability is the divide. Unlike drugs or stimulation, it requires personal effort, shaped by individual sensibility.
Shika's ability could give Level 0s that first push, with staggering results. In under a decade, she'd likely uplifted 180,000 of the city's 1.8 million students. Even for espers, her one-on-one guidance matched years in top labs. For mental issues tied to abilities, she was more reliable than doctors.
As the boy said, if he could "turn a 5 to 0," Shika's power was the opposite, "turning 0 to 1." Mikoto pondered this, hand on chin.
"But your ability's rare, a Gemstone. I've never seen anything like it in Bank."
Mikoto insisted Level Upper was a myth, but Shika countered.
"Dismissing urban legends as jokes is easy, but seeking truth means shedding assumptions. Like archaeology, start with a hypothesis as truth, revising with new findings. Something like my ability could exist here. And—"
She met Mikoto's eyes.
"No one can prove something doesn't exist. You met that 'Level 0 who negates all abilities' recently, didn't you?"
Riverside
Graviton detected.
A precursor to the bombings that had injured many Judgment members.
A minute later, an explosion shook the air, smoke rising.
Thankfully, it was an empty riverside, with no casualties—only a portable safe.
"Keys are meaningless before Teleport," Kuroko Shirai, a teleporter with the 177th Judgment branch, said. "Shall I retrieve the contents, Konori-senpai?"
"Wait, Shirai-san. If there's aluminum inside, it's risky. I'll clairvoy first," Mii Konori, a clairvoyant, replied.
Peering inside, she found a single paper. Reading the printed text, she gasped.
A challenge from the bomber.
To the dear members of Judgment,
I am the enforcer of justice, punishing the evil of true incompetence.
I post as 'Executor' in a B-movie review forum, but you dimwitted Judgment members will likely suspect a copycat, so I've chosen this method.
You must know by now: my power accelerates gravitons via aluminum, causing explosions.
Judgment cannot stop me.
My ability now triggers explosions one minute after graviton acceleration, a timed mechanism.
Judgment is relegated to cleaning up afterward, less useful than a cleaning robot.
Thus, I request you clean up my grand demonstration at 5:00 p.m. today.
In a certain locker, I've placed a bomb like this one, with ten times the aluminum and power.
You incompetent fools will miss the four scattered number clues, so here's a hint:
Arrange in order: great ability, strong ability, different ability, low ability.
Then in reverse: low ability, different ability, strong ability, great ability.
Hold a battle royale, eliminate them.
Keep eliminating until satisfied.
The remaining honor student will find the answer at Seventh Mist.
To Be Continued