And so it happened that at the same table and eating the pot food, we have on one side (from wall) Uiharu, Saten, Shirai and on other Shokuhou, Kamijou, and Misaka. Of course, it almost immediately became clear, that the two Level-5s were like two roosters in the same garbage dump. They simply couldn't help but spark competition between them.
Even Kamijou felt this tension and almost froze, not knowing why they muss drag him to whatever they doing.
The attentive Shokuhou took the opportunity to grab his attention by offering to roast piece of Touma's meat just for him. After all, he looked so helpless, as if it was going to burn right under his hands, thanks to his rotten luck.
Misaka, on the other hand, objected to the blonde; (Are you serious?!). She wouldn't trust her to even use a kettle to successfully pour a boiling water over a tea bag. Allowing her to do something like reach for a turn-on grill was like asking for an unnecessary trouble. She made a point of explaining to her, that what they had on the table were pots and not pans. It was almost as if she had busting a blatant plan, in which some idiot would take over the reins from this clumsy girl; while she challenging him to teach her a few cooking tricks. All so that she could have his attention all to herself.
Of course, the lad didn't notice any of these political moves between those two, even when the blonde clicked her tongue almost loudly, 'Tcs!', and the brunette's eyebrows twitched at that.
.
The other side of the table silently watched the competition for attention unfold. And in fact, those expressions could be described as a cliché with a reference to the well know statue of the three monkeys. (Blind, deaf, mute/dumb) Kazari enjoys her meal with her eyes closed. Ruiko watches the trio so intently that she freezes as if deaf. Kuroko sits there with her throat parched from how much she wanted to say an (Objection!! What the heck is this?!).
As expected, Saten was quite, excited that they finally had time to sit together and chat, and this anticipation had been building since Saturday morning.
Shirai, who was already in a depressed mood, could tell from their urban legend enthusiast's face, that she had another gem of urban nonsense to share, so she sighed. "Although I'm not looking forward to it at all, you're going to do it anyway. So Saten-san, let's get this over with!" She glanced at other side, clearly hopping for some distraction from what going on other side.
This statement offered Kamijou the much-needed change of subject, as he was sweating from the presence or aura, that was radiating from both girls on either side of him. "What's up Saten-san? Have you gotten yourself into some trouble again?"
The brunette glared reproachfully at the black-long-haired girl, well aware of her tendency to get into trouble, literally walking onto them.
.
But the enthusiasm and the imaginary spark in Ruiko's eyes hinted at euphoria. When she saw that she had gained the attention of her friends, she didn't wait for anything else and let her passion for urban legends loose. From where she sat, she started strongly gesticulating with her hands, throwing cool poses like the main characters entering the scene from some popular series like the 'Power Rangers' or 'Magical girls' category, which was to be part of a short performance and iconic statement. It was a flaming speech. "Fear not! Because this detective had been successful. I think I've finally managed to crack the mystery of Misaka san and her sisters!! Believe it!: it's a bomb that will shake the world!!"
The redhead immediately raised her eyebrows and turned to her co-sitting friend to reprimand her. However, she only managed to say half of the offender's last name when her sharp eye of an experienced detective caught it; a hint of important evidence. (The trio sitting opposite, flinched/flickered like a suspect in an investigation, when an important detail was mentioned, that could lead to their exposure and conviction.) She literally gasped with a loud groan (Uh!!…) when with wide eyes she saw how the group of elder students, averted their gaze from the opposite younger trio, when she turned her head to them with a (What?...) question on her face.
Hero Kamijou, from where he was sitting, managed to urgently extend an open palm towards the speaker. "W- wait Saten-san!! Do you even realize the extent of what could happen if you mess with this? It could mean the end of this city!"
On the other hand, Misaka's gaze became so heavy that she lowered her head, so that her crushed dewy expression wouldn't be visible. She had to support/hold her head with her hand so that it wouldn't fall and hit the table. It nearly look like she face-palm herself.Yet her heart was beating fast and loud until she felt it in her throat, when she realized something serious about the black-haired girl opposite her. It was obvious that Saten, left in the face of her hobby, would break free from her chains and let her passion take its course. All this without bothering to think about the consequences of her passion. In pursuit of urban legends, she would go blindly forward like some adventurous archaeologist exploring a dungeon full of traps. With imaginary stars in her eyes, she would even be able to step among a group of hungry beasts. While her hand would reach for the illuminated Idol on the pedestal in the center. In the case of Mikoto and her sisters, the brunette did not fully understand that her action/reaching for the idol could lead to a reaction that would result in a disastrous collapse and destruction of the dungeon.
In contrast to the brunette was Shokuhou, who with a businesslike smile and narrowed eyes, simply decided to leave the question in silence. Perhaps she thought it was none of her business and would only get involved, if one of the two sitting together asked her to. But in reality she was weaponless because Maika had put away her purse and so her arsenal of TV remotes was out of her current reach.
Rounding out the six was Uiharu, who appeared uninterested and outwardly devoted all her attention to the food on her plate, as she gently smiled with a (blue sky in her mouth).
.
Except Detective Ruiko Saten, ignoring the atmosphere at the table, was unstoppable. "This may come as a shock to you, but our dear Misaka-san, is actually..." She allowed herself a dramatic pause for a second or two, before adding triumphantly. "...a vampire!"
Something immediately fell in response to this statement...
It wasn't a hand on the lad's face in the iconic face-palm sense, but the brunette's head slipping from the hand that was supporting it. It fall loudly, face-first onto the table at a more than embarrassing moment.
In contrast, the petite girl with flower head band enthusiastically took another bite into her mouth.
The wavy blonde, on the other hand, was struggling to maintain her forced smile on her dewy face, probably glad to have remained silent. However, it was clear that she was waging an internal struggle to keep herself from correcting the brunette's statement. Or she was near to burst in laugh.
The redhead with drop jaw-bone was another one who got caught up in the momentary tension of the situation. With a genuine (Huh?/ What?) expression, she was left completely derailed. The build up for a criminal revelation was so dense, that all of them mistook a simple fact: The goofy nature of Saten.
.
Saten, seeing their reactions, got a little more excited. "Although some newspapers claimed that: (It's an infestation of Misaka!) Many urban legend experts deny, that our Misaka's numerous sisters pose a greater threat, than the mere presence of Espers in this world." This commentator ignored Shirai's remark, which rhetorically asked, which experts she was referring to? "The latest studies say, that it's quite possible; that Misaka san is actually a modern vampire, developed in the Academy City as a tactical weapon. And anyone who get bitten by her, risks turning into a Misaka, or a clone version of her. That would explain why she keeps Miss Shirai at bay. Because she doesn't want to bite her and turn her into another of her sisters at any cost." She clenched her hand into a fist making a praise gesture. "What a determination."
Although the herald flinched at the thought, she still shuddered and looked at the black-haired in disbelief. "What?! Is this day really going to be filled with nonsense until the evening? Haven't I had enough for almost a whole week?!"
.
However, proud of herself/ conceitedly Ruiko nodded raising her index finger in a (No! No!) gesture. "Tss, tss, tss. Our dear Shirai-san, your keen attention is missing important details. Or do we have the well-known case of vampire bewitchment here?" The sassy girl from Judgment wanted to object, but was silenced by the mentioned index finger pushed to her face. From which she recoiled like a vampire from a holly object when it approached her face. "It's no secret, that after observing you, anyone would think, that you're crazy affirmative about our dear Misaka. As if you had been spell charmed by her." As Shirai arched her back with a sour smile, heading away from Saten, just a little more was enough and she would have realistically risked collapsing back, from the bench onto the restaurant floor. Except that the urban legend enthusiast didn't care. "I'm sure, everyone has heard, that when a vampire bites you with its fangs, you too can become a vampire or a ghoul. But in our case, it means that you will transform into a version of Misaka."
The flower pot girl spoke up, as if she was adding a trivia to the case. "Well, the way how viruses reproduce inside the host cell, by rewriting the DNA sequences; Can be applied to a personal reality, when too strong push onto a too weak; So In a critical state, the weak one is forced to adapt, by accepting the properties of the strong one; Actually mimicking the original. At last, those are the more grounded fact about (strong genetic echo), cooked theories from microwave oven forum society." And she happily put another piece of food to her mouth.
Shirai tried to seek help from her chosen one. "Sissy, are you responsible for this nonsense? Why are you not saying anything against it?"
Misaka had trouble keeping herself from collapsing under the table. "I hope this gossip has nothing to do with this morning, when dormitory manager asked which one of them, was you when she was leaving our room." Kuroko could only manage a confused (Huh?) when she realized, that her idol wasn't referring to Inoue in the singular, as if there was multiple of them. Like the saying when cat is not a home, mice having a party, and she miss it. She almost imagined a full room of them as if it was a club house of Misaka doing some kind of club activities.
The blonde finally decided to speak, when it was clear that she had more to say to the topic. "Oh, you don't mean to tell me, that our ruthless Iron wall of Tokiwadai has such a mundane hobby as spreading rumors about students under her jurisdiction? Or do you mean to say, that in single moment of her drooping her strict guard for a second; she carelessly uttered a random trivia information as self note somewhere; and it accumulated into something like this nonsense, since today morning? Do you realize?, that if this flow of information wont be cut off, at this rate all sorts of fairy-tale creatures will start strolling the streets here?"
Kamijou, who had suddenly been worried about his own little peace he had in his life, decided to speak up. He also realize, that there are people on table, that are after the pieces of food he has cooking for himself inside the cooking pot. "As for those magical creatures-- well, that's seriously just a guess. Because some can actually be already found wandering around this city. However, you shall not joke about vampires. No matter how abstract it sound, from what I've heard, they're not so different from humans. They can laugh, cry and die the same way. In fact, apart from certain eccentric matriarch, they don't stand out from the crowd. Remaining mysteriously silent, sometimes even in the shadows, the difference in their presence is like that between the clan's madam and the servants."
.
The gazes of the entire female part of the table focused on the brunette, and we can hear as some of the girls repeating the pair of words (eccentric) (matriarch).
Railgun herself let out a forced smile. "So that's another one of those wild gossip stories that slipped through my fingers." She ended it with a forced, desperate laugh. ("He, he.")
A drop of cold sweat ran down the cheek of the young sassy detective from Judgment, when she saw that its not just the imaginary princess, but even the queen of Tokiwadai had a struggle to maintain that forced fake smile. However, the dewy face, the rattling line of her pursed lips, and the body language that tried to convince the observer that she was only interested in food;… clearly revealed to the experienced eye of the junior police-girl, that the blonde knew something crucial. Therefore, the redhead became suspicious: "Please, all of you! You're not serious with those urban legend gossips, are you?"
.
.
It was like a call to arms between Ruiko and Kuroko, with the long-haired drawing first. "Shirai-san, come o~on!... You still have doubts about believing that Misaka-san is actually a vampire? Just imagine it! All of her sisters were actually people like you. Maybe a roommates, ormore, like a partners. Then charmed by her presence, they demanded the safety in arms of their lover." In an instant, she switched to the theatrical tone, narrating the story for them. "But one fateful evening, Misaka let go of the reins of her passion. During a warm embrace, she succumbed to the seductions of smells, pounding hearts beating at a dizzying pace, and the blood pulsing in her veins. In a warm embrace, her prey had no idea of the approaching danger... At first, Misaka only softened the spot on her neck with her kiss. Then her tongue come out, perhaps just to taste the skin.But in the end, she still opened her mouth wide... The pair of fangs teeth that remained hidden crawled out of their hiding place like a sinister pair of beasts. And after she breathed her warm breath on the neck of her future treat she became dewy... The vampire matriarch dug her fangs into the tender neck." She even make the flirty bite gesture towardthe redhead, so Kuroko herself was spellbound by proposed sceneimage.
The speaker continued her speech, focusing her attention on Kuroko. "Or, Shirai-san, are you telling me: that you can't imagine how Misaka-san will take your wrist with one hand and hold you around your waist with the other? Then she will pull you from behind until you are practically body to body close. In such a tight embrace, you will feel yours heartbeats synchronizing. Do you seriously want to tell me, that you can't see this scene, occurring live in front of you?... How she will put her nose on your cheek and take a deep sniff to inhale your scent? How, after a seductive giggle, she will lower her face to your shoulders? How she will gently bite the collar of your shirt to slowly pull it to the side with her mouth? To reveal your bare neck and shoulder? How she will teasingly pass her fangs, a few times here and there, over your bare skin to find the right place? Then she will moisten the skin with her tongue..." She added a theatrical moment of imaginary inspiration, although someone would wait for that moment with bated breath. "...and then finally take a bite."
No one at this table dared to interrupt the storyteller and her story. "As she sucks your blood,-- sip by sip,-- in a heady stupor. For a moment you will look into the mirror so that in a fainting intoxication, you will see how you are changing, bit by bit, into the perfect image of the one to whom you have pledged your allegiance. Not only will you become one with the Misaka clan in the fullest sense, but you will become her newest Imoto/little sister. Her newest addition to the family." Saten looked up at the ceiling, moved by the romance, as if from where she sat she could see the stars.
.
.
Since the redhead was motionless like a bewitched, blonde decided to make a comment: "Seems like someone here, leveled its ability to stay up late during last night. Are they serious? Or provocative? Like if its a plot, to trick someone, who can't stand it and out of frustration, it will say the right answer? And I thought that such storytelling was a rare thing. At last is more decent that normally spread through Garden of Education."
Kamijou rakes his hair. "I've heard, that girls tend to like to quote passages from their favorite books, but this seriously borders on misleading the original point."
At that, Misaka put her hand to her face (face palm herself)as if she remembered something. "If only there were books from where she taking the inspiration. But there's an entire Underground Website. A bulletin board for insiders only, or those who find it. This forum is run by Tokiwadai students. On top of all, there are authors who can't hold back their excessive creativity at all, fully dedicated to express themselves by writing new stuff. Although I only got to glance at one notebook of manuscripts and notes. But Inoue took a look at the site itself, praising they effort to already taking steps to restore it if I it happens that I stump on it." Because number-Five make a note that, (Is hard to be popular.), Number-Three added in dry voice tone. "I'm not the only one, they're writing about."
.
At this moment, Shokuhou could no longer feign/pretend disinterest and barked at the brunette, full of concern. "Wait a minute! You just let something out of your mouth that sent chills down my spine! You do realize, that this needs to be investigated?! Don't you?!"
The brunette considered the suggestion for a second. "Heh… Okay!-- I admit that when I show with you on my neck, those two foxes from student council will not have as many excuses for me as they had before.Or fast feet in front of you. Not that they'd be needed them in front of the slowest student in Tokiwadai." Railgun completely ignored Mental-Out's sharp glare.
.
Ruiko was smiling so hard that her eyes sparkled. "Look at those two lovebirds! What a synchrony of energies circulates between them. At first glance, a lovers' quarrel, but on the other one, they've arranged a date for themselves right in front of us."
But Mikoto looked at her sternly. "Saten-san, are you done yet? I'm not a vampire and neither is Inoue and so on. Also, nobody get married during the incident on that tropical island. Just a bunch of people hop on (This sound fun.) prank. On the other hand, I have a very strong suspicion, that we have a naked snail at the table and not on a plate." [A snail without a shell; Shokuhou + her handbag as shell = snail.]
The aforementioned blonde almost bend to the side in shock, her smile considerably eroded. "Ara, ara. Aren't you trying to divert the discussion from essential details? Such as certain tomboy issue of starving its own babies? Do you understand, that this nonsense needs to be put to a clear end? Otherwise, they will continue to dig into it?"
.
Then Mikoto got serious. "Just wait until they get to the topic of nona-cuplets…" [novem = 9] Because Misaki dint like the nine twin child's reference, she complain that this is not a math class, for them to talk about nonagons, a nine side polygons. A hint on Ruiko and Touma faces shows that those two have no idea about what they are talking. Yet Mikoto dint not care as she continue. "Actually, those two hooligans from early, really tested my patience. Their theories about frog demons from history novels, who were imitating humans to the point of being able to infiltrate human society, were just too much. You should know that a certain honey-haired sea anemone played a significant role in their story. How much sleep do you really have to get during the day, you lazy bum?" The two girls exchanged frowns. [Sea anemones are related to corals, jellyfish, tube-dwelling anemones, and Hydra. Unlike jellyfish, sea anemones do not have a medusa stage in their life cycle. Don't get fooled by thinking they are bind to place: They can flee!]
Kazakiri stirred. "It's still a better explanation, than that theory from the scientific community, about a materialized AIM imprint that level-5s leave behind when someone teleports them. In terms of numbers; AIM field on Level-Five is far more massive that four. So we shall not expect a successful displacement on every try. That will leads us to chance of an error, that got self solved by materialization of the left over AIM, cut out by teleportation." She swirl her fork as if turning onto new page. "For example: That confused expression on that white-haired judge's face during the pool performance, was really something, when he looked at the white-haired girl, who then triggered that avalanche." [There's at least one instance where teleportation was used on Accelerator. Loook and behold!: From that moment we have here a Yuriko-chan.]
Ruiko didn't wait long for her input to the topic. "Oh, the classics have something to them, but modern science has much more knowledge on which to base an explanation. And at this moment, our dear Shirai san and her teleport come in. Before any of you can say, (This is nonsense!), please remember how much electro affinity Misaka put into our dear Shirai, when she gives her her lovely electric shocks. Perhaps nobody didn't find it strange that after all this, not only Shirai not have any permanent health consequences. But she even build up, some kind of resistance to electroshock, which shouldn't be possible since she is not an electro esper."
Kuroko's expression got a (I see what are you trying to do.) touch onto it. "Why do have a feeling, that one day, you will try to convince me to touch a bare wiring on an electric network gear box, saying I can handle it?"
.
There's no doubt that Uiharu and Saten made a good combo, complementing each other so well. "Oh, it seems my student Ruiko san has studied my materials thoroughly."
"Oh, that's just because they were written in Kazari sensei's understandable language."
Kuroko had meanwhile recovered from the spell and was moving again. She spoke lifelessly to the commentator. "You bribed her with something, didn't you, Saten san? I don't believe there would be a chance, that she would so willingly assist you, in your nonsense with urban legends."
.
Except the interviewee was prepared for a confrontation of opinions. "Oh seriously? That sounds like someone is worried about interpreting certain facts, like... When you look at your ability to teleport, isn't it a bit like penetrating another reality?"
Shirai frown. "Whatever you come up with, it's going to be a very stupid theory. Didn't I tell you, to stay away from that nonsense on that site?"
.
"So, you refuse to admit the possibility that you would have knowingly or unknowingly abducted them from another reality? It's something you would have done in the heat of your passion. All those Mikoto Misakas who failed to reach the fifth level. You would have only had to reach for them, and it would be done."
"Unbelievable. I should point out, that our mutual acquaintance Kongou Mitsuko also confirmed, that Sissy sisters are not Mikoto Misaka." Although, she tried to act somewhat complacent, she quietly added: "(I don't believe I'm referring to her claim.)"
.
Ruiko was not letting the sassy girl out of the hook, yet. "Then how do you want to explain your own ability? Which can be simply described as if you executed the command 'Copy and paste' in a computer? Has it never occurred to you, that your teleport is actually an event, where you copy-out yourself from where you were and copy-paste yourself to a new location? Or more precisely, that you copy yourself to a new location and delete yourself from the previous one? The very fact that you teleported with Misaka-san so many times must have left some consequences? Maybe you had been a tired, and accidentally don't do properly the cleaning part? Like, for example, that with each teleport with Misaka and her massive AIM field, you failed to completely erase her from where you had been? How could we argue?, that even though she disappeared into the space-time subspace, it eventually spat her back out. But what came back was a changed Misaka, who was marked to be disposed in the subspace, yet she managed to get out. So she could no longer be compared to the original, because she was missing something, as if she was just an incomplete copy." Her gaze hardened before the finale of her proof. "You never stopped to think, why she was hiding them from everyone? How many hundreds or thousands of times have you teleported away? Shirai san, no matter how many times you look away, you'll must finally to admit it! Your teleportation, upon contact with Level-5, caused a glitch in reality, and you inadvertently cloned an army of her sisters."
This time Kuroko was really gasping for breath.
Uiharu, still with a look of well-being as she finished the food in front of her, spoke up with a comment to nudge her colleague from their branch of Judgment. "None of them want to engage with a skin ship that involved you. But if we look at it from a purely scientific point of view, teleportation ability is such an enigma that tearing apart the normal explanation of personal reality. Just a few decades ago, they will say, that you should never had enough energy to perform an instantaneous transfer from one point to another one. You shall not be able to displace anything larger than a coin, not yourself or even another person. The laws of preservation the energy and matter, shall not allow it. Except, you are capable of it. Moreover, you are not even the most capable teleporter in the city. There was even a note, that the collision of two teleport esper abilities, caused something like a black hole, when there was an argument between two customers in a certain unnamed restaurant. Or something like that." Kuroko flinched when she remembered what she was talking about, the entire building collapsed because of that. But Kazakiri didn't notice and continued her explanation while taking another portion from the pot. "Just imagine this: The ability to teleport itself, is actually a reality warp from a certain point of view. So technically, your body would never have enough energy to make even one jump. But you do it, every day. Moreover, Misaka often apply on you her own essence, her own AIM imprint, in the form of an electric shocks. So if it happened to some extreme, or coincidence, you could say, that a new Misaka was created, or the old one returned in delayed state. But if this theory doesn't suit you, then we can talk about the fact, that with every teleport you perform, you only send a copy of the original to the new location while it travels into the void below time-space. So don't be scared if one day when you leave the house, then during returning home, you meet yourself. Shockingly you will stare to each other while standing between the doors.Then she step away for you to get in. Only for you too see a hundred of your mirror copies wandering around your home."
However, the redhead sharply retorted to her colleague: "Nonsense!!"
.
Except it was Ruiko, who supported her classmate again, while speaking to red-head. "Shirai san, why are you even allowed to be around someone as important as Misaka? Especially when, you don't have the makings of a true lady, both in character and body?" She completely ignored the cold (Hey!) the redhead objected to her. "I guess you still haven't figured out that the academy city, wants to have its own army made of Level-5s and your ability is the key to that." The trio on other side stiffened a little. "They want you to get to the root of this process and unlock the secret of cloning, or rather pulling AIM copies into reality. They want you to grow to the point, where you can simply teleport Misaka out of the room, only to have a whole new copy come out of the bathroom a minute later."
It was unclear what was going through the red-haired pervert's mind, but her body was shaking and she was breathing heavily. "Shut it up, okay?! What you're babbling about is beyond the scope of anything a Level-4 can do. And that's a maximum level my ability can reach!"
But Uiharu had dropped that imaginary bomb on her partner more than once, completely at ease. "Are you sure about that, Shirai-san?" Although it sounded quite innocent, it earned the attention of the entire table. "What if you managed to advance to level five? And push the boundary of what the highest level for teleport espers?" The rest of the table watched as the redhead flinched at that remark.
.
The taller black-haired girl didn't keep the audience waiting too long. "Just like she says: What if Level-4 isn't your maximum, and you're actually waiting for it to finally advance to the top five. That means, that behind the ranking of the individual level-5s is some mysterious medium who predicted them far in advance. And the fact that behind the ranking is the fact, that they were reported to the system as they were discovered, is just a superstition for the masses. So without further ado: The legendary Level-5 #6, in fact, is no one else..." She stood up theatrically and almost stepped on the table with her foot to point her finger at Shirai Kuroko sitting next to her, as if the speaker herself was a self-proclaimed detective, who had just revealed the deepest mystery of the case to the entire jury in the style of a popular detective show. "A person who can steal the same person from the infinite realities created by the AIM field. A person who can simply steal another person from the clutches of adverse fate, sending them into space-time and bringing back an unharmed version of them from the infinite realities. Literally a chalice of eternal youth." Shirai wanted to argue but Saten silenced her. "Admit it! The very fact, that you still look like an elementary school girl, even though you're already in junior high for a ladies, is undeniable proof that the undiscovered Level-5 is actually the 'AIM teleporter copier', Shirai Kuroko!!"
Who would have thought that the current scene at their table would require the other members of the jury to clearly let out that surprising 'Ooooo' as a sigh or an expression of shock... But except for the excited reporter and the clueless Judgment girl who looked like she had to seriously reevaluate her life, the rest of the table was less than lukewarm about the whole story. From their expressions, it seemed like they weren't that bothered or interested.
Actually, Mikoto, during her (ladies' struggle?) with Shokuhou for the attention of a certain gentleman who missed all the little details and hints, that the girls were giving him, commented on the story in question. Or rather, on a part of it. "Actually… I met a member of Kuroko's family, and I feel that in terms of body type, taste, and everything else; they were extremely similar."
That allowed Uiharu to insert a comment. "So the strong genes, getting another point..."
Since Kamijou paused for a moment, as if he had seriously thought about it, and directly imagined an entire family of petite redheads with their hair styled in a pair of ponytails; Misaki's eyebrows jumped and she decided to tease not only her co-sitters, but also her co-sitters. She was clearly acting surprised. "You don't say? I guess, when we already talking about Lilliputians, I hope that someone here didn't imagine a numerous ninja clan, that could boast/chatter the adjective 'legal Lolly' ability?" [Too youthful and childish appearance for an adult or small stature, like Komoe Sensei from Kamijou's class, who is often mistaken for a child.] Misaki giggled like a slob when the black-haired lad flinched, and so did the brunette with a dark expression.
.
Kuroko gasped again as her body became mysteriously heavy. Almost as if the gravity of the earth had doubled. Except her thoughts were fixed on the detail her idol had slipped in and she despaired. "So it's true, Sissy prefers huge breasts. Even so much so that in her eyes, I'm simply not a juicy enough prey for her to even consider hunting me. And it doesn't look like this flower will bloom anytime soon." It was as if a dark cloud had weighed down her soul, with which came a short, empty laugh. 'he, he...'
This time it was Mikoto, whose body had become mysteriously heavy. "I hope this isn't a reference to that incident, with that big-breasted midget from the lacrosse team, from that store." Since Touma had responded by saying the person's name in a short innocent remark, did he understand correctly who he was talking about (Lessar?); The brunette's eyebrows jumped with disgust at such a direct mention of a (imp?) and with a semi-demonic look, she pressured the fork in her hand to the point where it bent grotesquely. She grunted in a low voice: ("Of course you know immediately who I talking about."), ended that line with a short, desperate, not-so-laughter: (he, he...)
Kazakiri ignored the dew on the lad's face opposite, or the jealousy of the two ladies at his sides, and continued where their duo left off. "Thinking about athletic talent, the statements made, would explain why Misaka san is so overly competitive when it comes to Shirai. I mean, she's always ready to fight you Shirai san.As if she's following the rule, that the fastest way to get stronger is through fighting."
Ruiko immediately followed up. "That's it! Shirai san, Misaka wants you to finally advance to level five, as if you loitering at level four. Except she knows very well that it won't happen as long as she's soft on you. That means that when you reach her level, she'll congratulate you with a smile."
.
Kuroko froze again with wide eyes as she imagined the whole scene: (Her Idol with a smile on her face, took her little one into her arms and hugged her warmly. A moved Mikoto with tears in her eyes congratulated her for finally reaching her level and so on.) The redhead with an expression of awakening looked as if a large stone had fallen from her heart and went into awe. "If I advance to Level-5, then nothing will stop us, or dare stand in our way together..." At this moment, she lit up, stood up energetically, crushing the handkerchief she had been wiping the sweat from her face in her clenched fist and exclaimed her declaration full of passion. "So me and Sissy will finally be able to get married and have a lot of love and children!! Sissy!!, Kuroko won't keep you waiting any longer!! Our mutual love is the destiny that the stars in the sky have predicted for us!!"
The Uiharu Saten duo, with welcoming (or awkward) smiles, applauded the fresh young wife, in congratulations gesture.
Trembling, Mikoto, who was losing it with embarrassment, was ignored.
This time, it was Misaki who had a dark expression with a forced smile a fake sweat voice tone. "Shirai chan, we are in more serious company, when as young ladies of Tokiwadai, we should have something to represent our school. But you are giving it a bad name. So get back to you skin, sit on your place! Or I will seriously do a risky operation on your brain, as your dear roommate suggested I shall do!" Finally her voice cooled. "Perhaps you do realize what I mean by that." The redhead swallowed so hard that one could claim to have heard her whimper conveniently like a dog as she sat down. When that happened the blonde sighed. "But seriously this time, I have tried so hard to give a helping hand, to make Tokiwadai and the garden of education as such, a haven of inner peace for all the girls. Who would have thought it would take such a turn?"
.
Although the honey-haired girl sighed like a gentle lady in trouble, her statement was responded to by a person behind her back. Don't forget that their booths were actually just tables with two benches between a pair of one and a quarter meter high boards on legs, so the other table can overhead they conversion. A certain long-haired brunette, poke above it as she turn on her seat, and spoke to her neighbors with a smile. No she was LOL that sound like a fun. "What are you talking about? It sounds like you picking a low hanging fruit to add it onto the compote you brewing together. Especially you Misaki-chan: What kind of effort are you talking about here?"
Of course Mental-Out flinched and immediately turned her face to the troublemaker, barking at him. "Dolly!! At first: I think that a considerable amount of the nonsense, that has been said over the past few days, has its roots in what came out of your mouth, when you left your answers vague enough to spark too much imagination. Secondly: It's probably clear to everyone, that we don't attach any serious importance to the fantasy storytelling that is crafted on this table. And thirdly: Just who?, is feeding you those unsavory turns of phrase and expressions?" At that, she tried to redirect her attention to someone, calling for someone should be with the brown-haired girl on the other side. "Mitori! How are you taking care of her?" Except that there was no answer.
Saten got excited: "Here she is! The legendary AIM ghost. The one who is referred as source of the line (How many you see them around, right now?)"
.
Yet the new girl tilled her head. "You do realize, that you are talking about different person, right? Not even a ghost chan, having that title. She is the one, who had been immaterial/intangible, and who can be seen only by people who get posses by her or hunted by similar entity. Also I am not a regular account compare to others."
Since Kamijou gave this Misaka a surprised look, the long-haired brunette decided to get involved in this group a little more. Without any shame, she squeeze herself between the wooden board and the wall to get on they side. Without asking, and with an amused smile, she walked over to Kamijou from behind, and pressed herself against his back. She gave him such a big hug that he had to tense his abdominal muscles to keep from collapsing onto the table under the weight of that backpack. Of course, both girls on their sides not only widened their eyes but directly protested that (what does she think she's doing?)
This finally alerted a certain black-long-haired girl with a hairstyle in two ponytails [Mitori], who also peeked over the barrier and was also pulled out her eyes as if horrified.
Except that the long-haired brunette laughed while hugging the lad. "Don't worry! I didn't come to catch you! I'm just curious, what is it that everyone sees in you that makes them want to fight over you." She smiled gently at him as he seemed to calm down, noting that he wasn't sure what she was referring to. So she spoke to him in a serious tone. "However, Touma-kun, as far as I'm concerned, I'm fine as long as you decide to take care of our bee and firefly." [Firefly = lightning bug = Misaka. Bee = Shokuhou] "However, you should realize that at your pace; it will be the werewolf who ends up in your arms with a white veil on her head." She nodded her head at Shirai to support her statement.
It's worth noting that it wasn't just the three aforementioned girls who were gripped by a shudder of horror, but also the black-haired duo whose eyes lit up. The redhead herself was foaming at the mouth as she tried to process what had been said about her.
.
As the lad began to sweat excessively, his backpack smiled and sniff him, causing both Level-5s to flinch uncomfortably. Inoue somehow sensed their growing discontent and before their jealousy could break through, she opened her arms wide with a big smile. She make a call: "Group hug!!" None of the three in front of her could do anything but state a confused (Huh?) as she pushed them together: shoulder to shoulder. Of course, since it was so sudden, none of them were prepared for it and so a partial panic set in. As a result, the whole bunch started swaying from side to side and it wasn't just shoulder to shoulder anymore. The said bunch shrank and we can already say that more than one chest pressed against the male in the middle.
But to make matters worse, Index and Kanzaki arrive at their table... just as the Level-5 duo, (with Dolly's help?), (compete?) for the black-haired gentleman.
Anyway, the silver-haired girl waits a few seconds, when she, along with the black-haired young woman and her two-meter katana, coldly stare at the happenings at the table. Index voice was neutral. "Touma, can you please explain to me, what I'm looking at?" The whole bunch stopped shuddering at that moment, as they looked at the visitors. "Unbelievable, I barely take my eyes off you for a moment and you're already flying in something. I should have known right away that something was happening, when I saw that excited crowd of determined brides." She puffed her cheek in insulted expression.
As the white-robed nun give an opening to response, Mitori asa companion of Dolly, peering over the dividingwall from the other side, called out to the brunette, to return to their table. Smiling girl, with undisguised amusement, obediently disengaged herself from the trio; "Someone here is popular." With a curt greeting and a wave gesture to the crowd, she squeeze through the gap. She slipped back and returned to her place, leaving (the battlefield to a new challenger?).
.
So as expected Index's gaze became serious as the rest of trio dint disband the snuggling. "Touma, you know what's going to happen next, right?" She threatened as she opened her mouth and her exposed fang flashed at them ominously.
However, as before, the hero thought quickly. With the help of his cutlery, he lifted the piece of meat that he had been so fatherly caring for, but had not yet bite onto it. "Of course I know, it's time to finally start to eat."
This 'Ultimate move' had a guaranteed effect, as hungry saliva showed at the edge of the mouth with a fang... Therefore, it didn't take even a few seconds... and four people were already sitting/crouching on the bench. Then it was a completely different fight that was taking place there.
.
.
But to put things in perspective... As Kamiyou's rooten luck and his never-ending sufferings, this fest turned into another kind of riot... fighting over every piece on sight.
And after a while they were actually thrown out... (Touma, Index, Mikoto and Misaki)
His desperate exclamation didn't help either: "Such a bad luck..."
Mikoto who originally headed to the location to search for answers, again dint get any useful one.
Additionally, Itsuwa worked as a kitchen helper. When she decided to join a certain table with her creation to please Touma… She was carrying a lot of food to place it in front of him. She almost fell to her knees in horror, when she was told what had happened to him.
.
.
[Notes/Explanations:]
Battle Royale is a video game genre that combines survival, exploration, and battles in which the last person who standing (stay in game), wins. Games of this type are played simultaneously by a large number of players, who usually start with minimal equipment, must search for weapons and equipment, and eliminate other players. The winner is the last player or team left in the game. The playing area gradually shrinks over time: players are forced to stay in an increasingly small area (the safe zone), outside of which their characters lose health. The name of the genre is taken from the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale, which presents a similar concept of fighting in a gradually shrinking zone.
Underground Websites - Tucked away in the dark corners of the web, with no advertising or other direct exposure to the world, they are only for the select few who know about them or find them. Their "underground" aspect comes from the fact that the people who participate in these sites are clearly not mainstream - they exist in underground communities and are connected to each other through their shared bizarre interests via the internet.
Ouch… It took a while, but I guess it was worth the wait. The episode may seem like a jumbled mess of ideas and thoughts, but after a long time, I finally managed to finish it and put it together as best I could. The theme was supposed to be the confusion that actually prevented Mikoto from finding out what was going on in the background.