The Man in a Suit left the coffee shop, found a deserted corner, and pulled a mobile phone from his coat.
"Hello, negotiations failed. The Number One won't listen to a word I say. Yes, that's right. The two newcomers will participate in the next Periodic Testing. Understood."
After finishing the call, the Man in a Suit let out a sigh of relief. As a Level 0, the pressure of having just been in direct contact with three Level 5s was imaginable.
However, the pressure from above was even greater. Two unrecorded Level 5s had suddenly appeared, their specific abilities still unknown, making them potentially more threatening than Accelerator. Fortunately, the two would participate in the next Periodic Testing on July 16th. It was already early July, so it was only half a month away.
Once they were hooked up to the machines, their abilities would be identified by calculating their aim diffusion fields.
As for the matter of cooperating with Accelerator, the higher-ups would send someone else to talk to him.
The Man in a Suit vanished into the crowd.
Inside the coffee shop, after the Man in a Suit left, Accelerator said disdainfully, "Tch, the higher-ups are always like this. Just like paranoid schizophrenics, they want to keep all espers under their thumb."
Leaning against the back of his seat, Luke asked curiously, "You didn't even want to know what they wanted with you before chasing him away?"
Accelerator looked out the window boredly and said without thinking, "Ever since I became the Number One esper, they've dragged me into countless experiments. This time is probably no different."
Luke feigned a look of envy.
"Must be nice. I want to be Number One too. Why don't you let me have it? I'm Number Two right now; how about you lose to me on purpose?"
Accelerator gave a light snort, his expression arrogant.
"You can't even land a hit on me. Since I became Number One, there are always blind fools wanting to challenge me. It's annoying as hell all day long."
Luke didn't argue. Without endangering Accelerator's life, he truly couldn't break through his defense for the time being.
After thinking for a moment, Luke asked, "What if someone said they could help you ascend to Level 6? Would you go?"
Accelerator pondered briefly before replying nonchalantly, "The Absolute Power that no one has ever reached? Heh, if such an opportunity really existed, I might actually be a bit interested. That way, there would be fewer of those brainless idiots who don't know their place."
Luke looked thoughtful. Seeing a server bring over a latte, he casually took it and took a sip.
Krul:?"
"Mhm, tastes good. I tasted it for you; it's not poisoned."
Luke very naturally handed the latte to Krul.
Krul's lip twitched. Keeping a smile on her face, her hand under the table launched a fierce assault on Luke's thigh.
To save face in front of Accelerator, Luke gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound.
Seeing that Luke didn't react at all, Krul stopped teasing him.
Luke felt a wave of relief.
Noticing Luke's odd expression, Accelerator frowned and asked.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. How about we go for a picnic tomorrow?"
Accelerator's first instinct was to refuse, but seeing Luke's 'you're definitely coming, right?' expression, he compromised.
"Fine, I get it."
Refusing now would only lead to more questioning tomorrow. Come to think of it, he had never been on a picnic before.
The three chatted for a bit longer. Krul and Luke were getting ready to go eat and asked Accelerator.
Accelerator declined, "I'm not going. I just finished a sundae and I'm full."
"Alright then, we'll head out first."
Then Luke followed Krul out.
Just as Accelerator was about to leave, the server came over with the bill.
"Sir, your total is 180 yen."
Accelerator froze for a second and clicked his tongue, but he paid honestly, inwardly cursing Luke for freeloading off him for even this.
7:00 AM the next morning.
Knock, knock, knock!
Accelerator opened the door with messy bedhead.
Seeing Krul with her hands in her pockets, Accelerator felt a bit of morning grumpiness. He glanced at the wall clock and suppressed his temper.
"What do you want?"
Krul said with a mischievous grin, "Obviously, I'm waking you up."
Accelerator suddenly remembered he had agreed to go on a picnic yesterday and ruffled his hair irritably.
"Do you people eat breakfast at your picnics?"
Krul shook her head and explained, "We have to buy ingredients for the picnic. Luke's state isn't much better than yours."
Accelerator walked downstairs listlessly and saw Luke sleeping on a bench nearby. Accelerator sneered and kicked a small pebble on the side of the road, sending it flying toward Luke.
"Whoa! Accelerator, you turtle, what are you doing?"
The pebble didn't have much force. Just as it was about to hit Luke's forehead, he suddenly caught it with his hand, a flash of red light passing through his eyes.
Seeing that he missed, Accelerator curled his lip. There was no anger at being called a turtle, only disappointment that he hadn't hit him.
"You had Krul wake me up so early, yet here you are snoring away?"
Luke yawned, looking innocent.
"I'm innocent! I was dragged out too. Krul forced me to 'boot up' at six, and I didn't get to sleep until two last night."
Accelerator turned an inquiring gaze toward Krul.
Krul didn't care at all. She gave Luke a light kick to signal it was time to go and started walking toward the mall.
A short while later, at 7:23 AM at Tachikawa Station, the three of them stood facing each other in front of the closed mall doors.
Luke spotted a sign nearby.
"Business hours are 9:00 to 23:00. Krul, why did you bring us out so early?"
Krul frowned as well. She hadn't expected the mall here to open so late. In Tokyo during this season, the sun rose at 4:30. Usually, she wouldn't wake up until seven or eight, but she had drunk Luke's blood last night and had been hyper all night, not sleeping at all.
"This is my first time planning to visit a mall. Let's wait a bit; it's less than two hours."
It was also Accelerator's first time coming to a mall so early, so he had only just learned the opening hours too.
"Seriously."
Accelerator didn't complain much this time. He went to a nearby vending machine, bought three cans of coffee, tossed one each to Krul and Luke, and sat on some steps to drink his coffee.
Krul shook the coffee in her hand and teased, "I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful."
Accelerator replied indifferently, "Shut up. If you don't want to drink it, there's a trash can over there."
Luke opened his coffee and downed it in one go. A robot happened to pass by, and Luke threw the can in front of it. The robot swallowed the can and moved on.
In Academy City, even the trash cans were fully automated.
Although the mall wasn't open yet, the breakfast shops were. The three went into a breakfast shop to eat while they waited. After over an hour of boring waiting, the mall finally opened.
Pedestrians gradually increased on the streets; a lively weekend in Academy City had begun.
"Hurry up, Kuroko! We finally have a day off. I have to get the limited edition gua tai badge today!"
A girl with shoulder-length chestnut hair shouted to the twin-tailed girl behind her and then rushed into the mall.
"Wait for me, Onee-sama!"
Shirai Kuroko panted heavily and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Espers couldn't abuse their abilities in the city, and Judgment Members had to follow this rule when not on duty. This made things hard for Shirai Kuroko, as it was difficult to keep up with the exceptionally athletic Misaka Mikoto.
"Honestly, it's just a gua tai with extra eyelashes. No one besides Onee-sama would spend an extra 20 yen on that."
Despite her grumbling, she still pushed herself to catch up. She wouldn't waste this hard-earned time alone with her Onee-sama!
Once inside the mall, Misaka Mikoto stopped running, and Shirai Kuroko finally caught up.
Soon, Misaka Mikoto reached the shop selling gua tai badges and successfully bought the eyelash gua tai. She couldn't put it down.
"Great! I finally got it!"
Shirai Kuroko leaned in with a fawning expression, looking completely different from the refined young lady others usually saw.
"Onee-sama, then next..."
Misaka Mikoto put the gua tai badge into her handbag and nodded.
"Mhm, I'll spend the rest of the time shopping with you. Where's your first destination?"
Yes! Next, I'll take Onee-sama on a grand tour of the mall and leave her with unforgettable memories!
Thinking this, Shirai Kuroko couldn't help but giggle foolishly. Snapping out of it, she grabbed Misaka Mikoto's arm and headed toward the clothing section. She would conquer Onee-sama's aesthetic first!
Misaka Mikoto inexplicably had a bad premonition.
Ten minutes later.
"Ku! Ro! Ko!"
"Ow, ow, ow! Onee-sama, be gentle!"
A blushing Misaka Mikoto emerged from the clothing section, dragging Shirai Kuroko by the ear.
The reason was simple: Shirai Kuroko had faked a fall in the fitting room. Misaka Mikoto, waiting outside, heard the sound and rushed in, only to find Shirai Kuroko wearing a very provocative outfit and winking at her!
"Does Onee-sama like it?"
She had clearly been on guard and saw Kuroko go in with normal clothes. Which step had gone wrong?
Misaka Mikoto was baffled. Under the threat of electric sparks emanating from her body, Shirai Kuroko changed back into her school uniform and was then dragged away by her ear.
"Onee-sama, wait! I haven't gotten my clothes yet!"
Shirai Kuroko's shouting attracted many looks, making the thin-skinned Misaka Mikoto even more mortified.
Suddenly, Shirai Kuroko stopped shouting and stopped resisting.
Misaka Mikoto felt it was much easier to pull Shirai Kuroko along and turned back in confusion.
Shirai Kuroko was staring at a figure in the general goods section.
Misaka Mikoto let go of Shirai Kuroko's ear and followed her gaze, seeing three exceptionally good-looking people picking out items.
"Do you know those three?"
Shirai Kuroko nodded, then shook her head.
"Not exactly. That girl helped me catch a criminal yesterday and then asked me for directions. Let's go, Onee-sama, let's look somewhere else!"
Misaka Mikoto understood.
"They look like international students. Since she helped you, you should go say thank you if you've run into her."
Shirai Kuroko thought about it and agreed. She couldn't help but think: As expected of my well-mannered Onee-sama!
Shirai Kuroko and Misaka Mikoto walked toward Krul's group.
Luke was carrying a barbecue grill, with several shopping bags hanging off him.
"The tools are about done, right? Still need to buy ingredients. Also, Accelerator, why aren't you helping carry anything?"
"Didn't you take them yourself?"
"...Stop talking and take the bags off my neck!"
Accelerator took the bags from Luke's neck and, while he was at it, took all the other bags too. To him, carrying them was the same as carrying nothing.
Suddenly, Luke only had to carry the grill, which was much easier.
Accelerator couldn't help but complain.
"You two, was this picnic idea really just a sudden thought yesterday? You didn't prepare anything."
"Obviously."
Accelerator really wanted to give these two impulsive people a good beating!
However, compared to Luke's truly spontaneous nature, Krul had clear goals and quickly gathered everything they needed. After paying, the three prepared to head to the food section.
Then they saw two girls walking toward them. Misaka Mikoto spoke first.
"Good morning, you three."
Accelerator didn't say anything. He didn't know them; they were clearly there for Krul or Luke.
Krul recognized Misaka Mikoto and Shirai Kuroko at a glance. Although a bit confused as to why they were greeting them, she gave a light chuckle.
"Good morning. Is something the matter?"
Misaka Mikoto pointed openly at Shirai Kuroko and said to Krul, "I'm Misaka Mikoto, and this is my junior and roommate, Shirai Kuroko. I heard you helped her catch a criminal yesterday, so seeing you just now, I wanted to thank you."
So that was it. Krul nodded and gave a simple self-introduction.
"It's nothing. That guy was just blind enough to block my path yesterday, so I took care of him in passing. You can just call me Krul. This is Luke and Accelerator."
"Ah, I see..."
Misaka Mikoto scratched her head. She really hadn't expected someone with Krul's appearance to have such a direct personality. She was also somewhat surprised.
"Eh?! Accelerator? The Number One Level 5?"
Seeing that he had been pointed out, Accelerator felt it was unnecessary but still replied impatiently, "Yeah, that's me."
"Wait, wait, wait... hold on! Onee-sama, all three of them are Level 5s!"
Misaka Mikoto had heard there were new Level 5s but hadn't specifically looked into it and didn't know Luke and Krul's names. However, Shirai Kuroko had seen the new rankings and immediately blurted out their details.
At the same time, Shirai Kuroko was quite excited. She was actually with four Level 5s on the same day; she had to find a chance to brag to Ruiko about this!
Misaka Mikoto was also very shocked. She hadn't expected to meet the other three Level 5s so easily, and their rankings weren't low either! Except for Dark Matter, the top five were all here.
You will get 30 chapter ahead for this fanfiction.
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