105Chapter 8 - Anchored by failure
Kamijou Touma wasn't the brightest person on the face of the earth. It might seem unfair to compare him to others, especially considering he had barely lived a full decade, but time and again, he found himself contemplating how his foolish actions might one day lead to his demise.
"Ouch... my head," he muttered, eyes closed, body aching.
"Please, stay still."
He had just woken up, his head throbbing from a heavy blow, but that gentle voice felt like a balm to his senses. And then there was the softness beneath his head.
"Huh?" Kamijou looked up, expecting to see the sky, but instead, he was met with a pair of worried eyes staring back at him. "Who are you?"
It was a girl.
Sometimes he thought, "It always seems to be a girl," whenever he found himself in trouble. It wasn't entirely true, but the odds were skewed enough that the exceptions felt like a mere statistical anomaly.
"I said don't move. You've done enough."
She had long black hair, tousled into a slightly spiky mess on top. Her face was cute, and she looked older than him—maybe by two years or even more.
"A lap pillow?" he mumbled softly, hoping she hadn't heard.
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"Where am I? Is this heaven?"
The mysterious girl smiled slightly, a small, cute sound escaping her lips.
"Yes, and I'm an angel," she replied after a short laugh, pulling out a piece of grass tangled in her hair.
Part of Kamijou almost wished her joke were true. Receiving a lap pillow from an angel in the form of an older girl certainly felt like heaven, especially compared to the stark white-walled asylum he was living in. But life wasn't so simple. He couldn't even find comfort in this fabricated lie, as artificial as the grass beneath them or the deceitful blue sky above, a sky that would never see a single cloud.
"And you're a complete idiot," she added bluntly, shaking her index finger in front of his face. "This wouldn't have turned out so badly if you'd just turned around and walked away."
"That's actually great advice. Unfortunately, as you pointed out, this Kamijou-san is an idiot, so it's my duty to ignore it."
She laughed again, playing with her hair.
It was true. If he had simply ignored those bullies, things probably would have ended without much violence. They never escalated that far in the end. The problem was... it just felt wrong to stand by and watch, or worse, walk away as if nothing had happened.
"They kicked your ass with all of their might there," she continued. The girl's voice was a little scratchy, a certain maturity behind it. Something about her tone suggested she had gotten into unnecessary fights before, so her advice came from hard-earned experience. "But you actually did pretty well. Taking down three out of seven is impressive."
"Yeah... not bad for someone who's already died twice today, huh?"
"Excuse me, what?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it." He tried to get up, but the girl gently pushed him back onto her lap with a firm press of her index finger against his forehead. Kamijou slumped back, his strength draining away. He really had taken quite a beating. "I have to go. If I don't get some pure black coffee in a few minutes, I might just die."
"That sounds awful."
"Yes, dying usually is."
"Heh-heh... I meant the coffee, you idiot." She paused, then leaned forward, bringing her face closer to his. "Why would anyone choose to drink something so bitter? At least put some milk in it."
"Maybe there's something wrong with his head," came another female voice from nearby. Kamijou recognized it immediately. "I'm sure he enjoys getting hit."
The other girl was leaning against a wall where the artificial lawn ended. She had short blue hair, and her face and hands were covered in bandages. It didn't take a genius to figure out she was no stranger to trouble.
Seeing her apathetic expression, Kamijou smiled faintly and nodded, still lying there.
"Hey, there you are again. How have you been, blueberry?"
"Tch."
He watched with amusement as the girl rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Blue... berry?" The black-haired girl repeated, curiosity in her eyes.
"I told you to stop with the stupid nicknames. My name is Shundan. Show a little respect to the person who saved your ass."
"Yeah, you mentioned that." Kamijou shrugged, then moved off the other girl's lap, sitting down beside her. "Is she a friend of yours?"
"Yes, and you know it," replied the black-haired girl, her tone slightly scolding.
"So, she really did save me?"
"I'm right here, you know?" the blue-haired girl complained.
"Quiet for a moment, blueberry, the adults are trying to have a conversation."
As the girl nearly frothed with rage, Kamijou looked around and noticed a third girl on the lawn. She had mid-blue hair, though a different shade from the "blueberry" girl. When she caught his gaze, she offered a shy nod, adjusting the long sleeves of her oversized sweater, which seemed at least two sizes too big for her.
"Raifu, don't you have anything better to do?" Kimi asked, making a dismissive gesture with a twirl of her fingers.
"Ooooh... that was cruel, Shundan-chan," replied the girl in the sweater. "If I hadn't been with you, you'd be in worse shape than that cute boy over there."
"I could have handled everything myself."
"No, you wouldn't", said the black-haired girl, standing up and crossing her arms in front of Kimi. "You're a level 0, if you keep getting into trouble like this—"
"Honoka, my life is already hell. At this point, nothing can get worse. Let me have some fun."
"It's hard being responsible for all of you."
"Then don't be." Kimi shrugged. "I liked you better when you acted like a tough girl. Can I have my friend back?"
Kamijou narrowed his eyes as he noticed Honoka's hand clench into a fist. Even without knowing their history, the frustration behind that gesture was clear—he could feel the tension between them.
"And could you stop living in the past?" Honoka said, her voice unnervingly calm despite the tension in her posture. Her expression was more one of distant sadness than anger. "Playing the hero is for the strong. Weren't you the one who said you had no interest in that? Leave the heavy lifting to Raifu and the other high-level espers."
"You always find a way to use my words against me."
Kimi didn't seem angry either. Kamijou had a feeling this was the kind of conversation these two friends often had. Maybe this was what true friendship was like. Maybe it wasn't. It was hard for someone who had never had friends to say.
"Come on, Raifu, it's time for the experiments," Honoka said quickly. She turned to Kamijou and gave him a thumbs-up, a brief smile flickering across her face. "Thanks, Kamijou-san. My hero."
It was hard to tell if she was being sincere or sarcastically mocking him. He hoped it was the former. Deep down, he knew that getting beaten up wasn't something he'd look back on with a smile if it was the latter. Kamijou wasn't that kind of altruistic person. Not that particular type. At least, that's what he told himself from time to time.
Honoka and Raifu left the artificial courtyard, heading into the building that led to one of the exclusive laboratories, leaving Kamijou Touma sitting alone on the grass, still a bit confused by everything that had just happened.
His head was still throbbing.
"Probably a concussion... such misfortune."
"It's not misfortune if you wanted it for yourself."
But one last girl still remained. Shundan Kimi stood there, looking down at him with her chin arrogantly raised, her arms crossed as if they were a shield.
"Are you trying to understand me or something? Who are you, my therapist?" Kamijou asked as he got up from the grass in one swift movement, which made him a little dizzy. He needed to get to the infirmary.
"It's not a bad attitude to have."
Her gaze rested on him again, but this time without any aggression. It was strange. The girl walked up to him and gestured for him to follow her.
Kamijou's reason for being in this courtyard was his desire to feel freer. It didn't make much difference considering they were still underground, but at least that fabricated illusion was better than the alternative. The black-haired girl with a cute face probably felt the same. If it hadn't been for those bullies, perhaps their interaction would have been different. No. The truth was that the only reason any interaction happened was because of them. Thinking about this painful truth made him bite his lip.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot," Kimi said, kicking a tuft of grass, which revealed a strange gray synthetic material underneath. Nothing surprising, just expected. "It was all your fault, of course, but maybe I overreacted."
"My fault?" Kamijou wasn't even angry. Confused at worst. "I was minding my own business, and you came and head-butted me."
"That hurt me too, you know?"
"What kind of nonsense am I hearing? Are you serious? Just because someone does something that hurts themselves—"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, you're angry. Whatever." The way she shrugged was rather irritating. She stopped at the door leading to the inner area but stood on the edge of the porch instead of going inside. "But for the record, you messed with me by getting us both locked in that cell on purpose. You're not a better person than me, so I don't feel guilty."
"You really have a problem apologizing, huh?"
The girl sighed and ran a hand through her hair, an ungraceful movement. Maybe she didn't feel comfortable with the whole situation. Her gaze stayed fixed on him.
"Thank you for helping my friend," she said, maintaining eye contact. For some reason, she always had a slightly irritated expression, even though her voice was calm. "Not everyone has the courage to do something like that."
"Hmm..."
"I'm being honest, come on." She thrust both hands forward as if to push him away. "You're not bad, by the way. Those guys you took down, they were level 3, right? The others were just a bunch of idiots tagging along. So was it deliberate? Me and Raifu did a quick clean-up after you passed out."
"Hmm..."
"What's the matter?!" her voice rose several octaves.
"You talk a lot."
"What?"
"Normally, in the canteen, your friends make a racket, but you're always quiet, thoughtful. This is the first time I've seen you act like this."
"Like this?" She looked genuinely confused now. "Whatever. What I'm trying to say is that you're one of us."
"Sorry, what am I?"
"Me and the girls… you're one of us."
"Um, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm actually a boy." He raised his hands with his palms facing her and smiled. "I know, I know. I have a really cute face; I could probably pass for a tomboy, but it's true."
The sarcasm he used was more of a self-deprecating comment. He knew very well that his appearance was nothing special. So much so that he was starting to think about changing his look a bit, maybe making his hair spikier, just to stand out a little more. But he didn't have the energy.
The girl shook her head, rolling her eyes.
"Why do I get the feeling we'll never get along?" she spat, then punched the wall behind her with the side of her hand. It wasn't hard enough to cause any real pain, just a gesture of frustration. "Look, what I'm trying to say is that in this place, you're either part of a group, or you're bullied by those who are."
"Your friend is part of a group, so your logic doesn't really hold up."
"Just listen, you idiot." She was losing patience again, a detail Kamijou silently found amusing. "Those guys are the exception. They don't care because their little group is full of high-level espers. Our group? We've only got one person with a decent level, and that's Raifu."
"The one in the sweater? Where'd she get that thing? It definitely doesn't look like it's hers."
"It's war booty." There was a slightly devilish smile on her face. "Anyway, it's not like we're going to get a bunch of high-level people to join our group. And there's also the fact that Honoka somehow dropped a level."
That was strange. It was the first time Kamijou had heard of someone's level dropping. What kind of horrible experiments were they doing to her? He couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just an accident, though it seemed too odd to be deliberate. Maybe he was wrong, but Kamijou had a hard time dealing with his own envy. The idea that someone might be lowering others' levels on purpose actually sounded somewhat appealing to him.
"What are you getting at?" Kamijou asked, turning his attention to the blue sky above.
"Isn't it obvious?" Kimi shifted her gaze in the same direction, not seeming to understand his fascination. "I want you in our group. And just to be clear, the idea didn't come from me."
"And why on earth would I do that? You're a bunch of girls. I couldn't be more out of place."
"If you join us, Raifu and I will protect you." She paused, reconsidering her words. "Correction, we'll protect each other."
"Look..." He sighed, scratching his head as his gaze settled on her ever-rigid face. "I feel... flattered? I think? But I don't know if it's a good idea."
"Why not?"
"Didn't you say you hated me? Not even a week ago."
"I'm a rather volatile girl." The smug way she shrugged was almost cute; he even imagined a smirk forming on her face, but it never came. "I still hate you, but Honoka's kind of right... it's always good to listen to what she says."
Kamijou couldn't tell if Kimi was simply easy to manipulate, or if she just had a deep respect for that girl with the messy hair.
"Is she your second-in-command in this 'gang' project of yours?"
"Second-in-command?" She shook her head. "No, she's the leader. You heard it right; it's like she's my big sister. She looks out for all of us, always has. I have no idea what I'd do without her."
Kimi's words spilled out quickly, almost in a rush, until she abruptly stopped, as if suddenly aware of how much she was revealing.
"I'm really talking too much today."
"No problem," Kamijou replied calmly. "I'm a good listener."
A silence settled between them, and Kimi narrowed her eyes at his face with a curious intensity. The way she scrutinized him was more than a little uncomfortable.
"You're a Level 0, aren't you?" he asked, trying to break the awkward tension.
"Yes, just like you." She took a deep breath, as if about to share a secret. "And also like you, I don't even have an AIM diffusion field."
"Oh..."
So it was her. Kamijou had heard rumors of someone exactly like him—someone who was special in a very unusual way. The two of them were the perfect Level 0s, with no bright future ahead. The thought actually made him smile.
"I accept," he said suddenly.
"Hmm?" Kimi tilted her head in confusion.
"I agree to be part of your group."
A small smile began to form at the corner of her lips, but it quickly faded, her expression returning to its usual neutral state. It seemed like she struggled to express her emotions, making it difficult to decipher what that brief grimace meant. Was she happy? Still angry? Maybe a bit of both?
"Fine," she said, crossing her arms, her face now skeptical. But as always, it was hard to read her. "Just to be clear, this wasn't my idea."
"Yes, yes, this Kamijou-san understood that part loud and clear." He shrugged, teasing her.
"I wanted to punch your stupid face so badly. Maybe I should."
"Whoa!" He raised his hands in mock surrender. "You really need to work on controlling those violent tendencies."
"Look who's talking. You hit me with everything you had that day. My jaw still hurts. I want a rematch."
"Hehe."
"What's so funny?" Kimi asked, her irritation growing.
"The fact that you seem more upset about losing, like I'm some kind of rival or something. Are you sure you really hate me?"
"With all my might. Now put your guard up! I'm sending you to the infirmary right now!"
x-2-x
"What's funny? Tell me, I want to laugh with you."
When Aureolus Izzard woke up, he heard that familiar female voice—usually sharp with aggression—now sounding notably more relaxed. His feet dangled above the floor, which might not have been so strange if his back weren't pinned against the wall.
Something sharp had embedded itself into the wall just 10 centimeters from his left cheek.
"Just remembering that day you asked me to join your group."
It was that boy again. The Angel and the Demon were both in the room, staring at him. The office they were in was once luxurious, with rich, ornate furnishings, but it now showed signs of damage. Cracks in the walls, debris scattered across the floor, and a large, sturdy desk with deep gouges in its surface. Kimi sat atop that desk, legs crossed, her slender frame leaning slightly forward as if trying to get as close to Kamijou as possible without actually moving from her perch.
By reflex, Izzard tried to move, but quickly realized he couldn't. Something was holding him to the wall. A quick glance revealed it was feathers—pale, glowing faintly in a toxic platinum hue, pinning him firmly in place.
"Try not to move, alchemist." As soon as Shundan Kimi spoke, a feather shot forward, slicing through the fabric of his suit near his left thigh. She missed by less than a centimeter, though it was clear her aim hadn't been to hit him. She seemed to take a certain pleasure in the precision, a small, sadistic smile playing on her lips.
"Just so you know," Kimi said to Kamijou, her tone softer now that they were close, "I wasn't lying that day. It was Honoka's idea to invite you."
Kamijou had suspected this was true, though a shadow of doubt had always lingered in his mind. Perhaps that day, Kimi really still hated him. He could ask her if that was the case, but she likely wouldn't be able to say. That moment in her life had brought her more joy than she could admit, as it marked the beginning of the end. It was hard not to feel a pang of guilt thinking about it.
Meanwhile, poor Aureolus Izzard struggled futilely against his feathered bonds, tearing a piece of his suit in the process. He froze as another projectile grazed the skin of his right hand.
"Stay still, no one here wants me to accidentally cut off your arm," Kamijou warned, toying with one of the transparent projectiles he'd been tossing casually. He was sitting in a comfortable chair, right next to Kimi, who was watching him intently with an almost intimate closeness.
"Your aim is terrible," Kimi joked, throwing another feather with casual precision. This time it landed right between Izzard's legs—a risky move. Fortunately for him, it didn't pierce his skin, only slicing through the fabric of his pants, but the man winced anyway. Kimi's smile grew slightly wider, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. "Come on, give me a challenge."
"That's a bit unfair. My dragon's scales are better suited for a shotgun-like spread, not for precision like yours."
"All I hear are excuses."
"Heh. You've always liked competing with me."
"Yes, but it's more about having fun; I don't care if I win or lose." She leaned closer, her posture still relaxed yet subtly drawn towards Kamijou. "Honoka may have been right when she said our meeting was a matter of fate."
"Hmm... fate, huh?" he pondered, watching the Dragon King's scales play between his fingers.
With a quick flick of his hand, the draconic projectile flew, once again passing right between Aureolus' legs. But this time, the dragon scale struck the feather that Kimi had thrown, causing the two projectiles to land side by side. The perfect throw earned Kamijou a whistle from Kimi.
"Very good," she said, raising a thumb in affirmation. "That ties the game."
"What are you pathetic dogs doing? Let me go now!" The alchemist struggled again, but it was useless. His magic wasn't working either, for some unknown reason.
"Consider yourself lucky," Kamijou said, spinning another dragon scale between his fingers, the motion resembling a coin trick. "I spent minutes calming Kimi down. The last time I saw her this angry was before we started dating, and that was quite a situation. You've really done it, alchemist."
Another dragon scale landed near the poor man's right cheek, giving him no time to recover from the fright, followed immediately by a feather striking the other side. The precision of both hits was millimetric.
"I'm still itching to tear him limb from limb," Kimi said, grinning mischievously.
Just as she finished speaking, two other people entered the room: Index and Stiyl. They joined Himegami, who stood quietly in a corner, likely horrified by the twisted game Kimi and Kamijou were playing. She decided to remain silent, not wanting to disturb them.
"We're finished," Stiyl announced, lighting a cigarette before continuing. "I destroyed the core of the magic and healed all the students with Index's help. I also took the trouble to explain the situation to the church members who bombed the place without warning. I have no idea how that attack didn't hit anyone. Was it your doing?"
"Don't think too much about it," Kamijou replied. A snapping sound was heard, and the man trapped in the wall suddenly felt his body free itself from its bonds. "Good work, Stiyl. You too, Index. Always good to have experts."
"You're welcome," Stiyl replied, his voice slightly irritated as he glanced at Kimi.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" she asked, holding a pale feather threateningly in her hand. That feather was capable of killing someone with a single blow, causing the salt in the victim's body to go out of control, essentially poisoning them. It was a slow and painful death. "Maybe I should punish you too."
"Kimi, could you leave him alone?" Kamijou complained. "There's no reason for infighting."
"It's not really an internal fight. I'm just taking out my frustrations on him. I feel better when the person is an asshole." She shrugged, tossing her hair arrogantly. "Nothing personal, chimney. If I hadn't been so frustrated these last few days, I'd have left you alone."
"Enough talk," Aureolus Izzard interjected, straightening his suit. Strangely, there was no mark on it. "What's going on? Why am I still alive?"
The alchemist didn't seem to have any desire to fight anymore. Their superiority had already been proven, but the presence of Index changed the situation. He still had something he wanted to do.
"I wonder the same thing," Stiyl said, exhaling a puff of smoke. "But don't worry, you're a wanted man. They'll find you eventually."
"I don't think you've had a taste of my abilities. Shall I show you, mere flame magician?"
"Didn't you hear me? Index and I have taken countermeasures so your Ars Magna doesn't work."
"Then undo it," Aureolus demanded, striking a noble pose, straightening his back, chin held high. "Haven't you ever wondered why I went to all this trouble, knave? Do you think a vampire's power, his eternity, is something I want for myself?"
"The boy told me that you got angry when he mentioned Index's current condition."
A wave of pure, diluted anger bubbled up in the alchemist's mind. Remembering it now, he immediately lost his composure, but the demon boy's icy gaze was fixed on him. That oppressive pressure from before flooded the room, making him freeze, his breathing faltering. No matter how much Aureolus wanted to act, he felt small, overwhelmed, lost in that immense shadow. What was that boy? Why did it seem like everything around him was bending to his will?
"You were one of her caretakers back in the day," Stiyl continued, taking another puff of smoke. "I've had plenty of time to think about it, so I can safely assume that you were planning to do what that boy already managed."
"What?"
"Saving her." Stiyl's smile was tinged with bitterness, his frown betraying the physical pain he felt at the thought. "Index has already been saved. She doesn't need to have her memories erased every year. Aureolus Izzard, whatever you were planning, you've failed."
"Index... was saved?"
The alchemist looked away, feeling a heavy weight settle in his chest. His eyes found the girl who had been his sole focus for the past few years. She was the reason he had become what he was, the reason for all the madness he had been pushed to commit.
It all seemed so absurd.
For a moment, he thought about laughing at the sheer stupidity of it all. But... his gaze landed once again on that boy, sitting comfortably—the demon. And for a brief instant, on the expressionless angel who had somehow survived an attack meant to kill. They were special. Everything about them screamed ordinary, perhaps even more so in the demon than in the angel, but he knew that wasn't the case. If it had been that boy, then it had to be true.
His silent rage didn't last even a second. Aureolus could only feel emptiness. He had been ruthlessly stripped of the powers he had sacrificed everything to obtain, and now, adding insult to injury, someone else had usurped his place and accomplished his life's work. And what was worse, it might not even have been difficult.
But the universe sometimes plays tricks.
"Raise your head," said Kamijou Touma. He tossed the transparent dragon scale aside, making it disappear into thin air. The games were over. "Stiyl lied to you."
"Hmm?" Aureolus could only show a confused face.
It looked like the flame magician wanted to say something, but he just sighed and lit a cigarette, probably to stop himself from doing anything.
"It's true that I did save her life, I guess." He said it casually, but he was serious. The subject was being treated with due respect, at least that much was clear. "But... Index."
"Yes?" The nun approached him, her hands clasped together as if in prayer.
"Take a good look at this man." Kamijou pointed casually at Aureolus and waited while the confused girl examined him. "You have a perfect memory, so tell me... do you know this person?"
It even sounded a bit cruel, so much so that the alchemist's silent anger showed on the surface, but his expression changed slightly after Index spoke.
"I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head from side to side.
Aureolus couldn't feel worse right now. The way the boy made a point of citing Index's perfect memory first was surely deliberate.
"Tell me, Aureolus Izzard," said Kamijou Touma, leaning forward in his chair. He subtly gestured with his head towards Index. "Does that look like someone who was saved to you?"
The question struck deeper than any the alchemist had faced before. If her life was no longer in danger simply because she was special, then she had indeed been saved. No matter the method used, not having to suffer every year for something she has no control over is a great relief. But... even so...
"No," replied the alchemist, then gritted his teeth. He could barely discern what he was feeling. "She's still missing something that was taken from her. Though her fate may have shifted, I cannot in good conscience declare this a complete victory."
"So we share the same vision," Kamijou said, "but saving her was never my responsibility to begin with. I acted on impulse. Maybe because she's cute, or maybe my heart is softer than I let on—who knows." He shrugged, almost allowing a smile. "But that's beside the point. The point is, I took the place of someone else, someone who should have been the one to save her. So because of that, I feel obligated to give you another chance."
"A... new chance?" Aureolus repeated, as if savoring the words.
"Yes." Kamijou paused for a long moment before standing up, facing the alchemist directly. "You're a wanted man. If I just turn my back and let you go, something tells me that disaster will follow. So, the ideal solution is for you to stay here in this city, away from the magic side."
"That seems rather reckless. Lingering in enemy territory?"
"Don't worry, I know someone who can keep you hidden. And she probably has an interest in alchemy." Kamijou's tone was oddly reassuring, though it lacked any true sense of security. "Maybe if you two work together, you'll be able to save Index for real. What do you say, alchemist?"
Kamijou's right hand slipped out of his pocket and extended towards Aureolus. The alchemist weighed his options, though there weren't many. His gaze shifted to Index, who stood in silent prayer.
"If I refuse, what happens?" Aureolus pondered.
"Well... I can't just let you go."
"If you're in doubt," interrupted Stiyl, "leave it to me, Kamijou Touma. I know a few methods, both to convince people and to punish them."
"I'll keep that in mind, but we'll hear his answer first."
Aureolus wasn't intimidated by the flame magician's bravado. To him, it was mere posturing. The boy, on the other hand, showed no intention of using violence, which said a lot about his character. Even demons can show kindness at times, just as angels can be cruel when necessary.
"So be it," Aureolus said, shaking Kamijou's hand without hesitation. "But I won't allow myself to be treated as some kind of lackey. I have no alliance with you or anyone connected to you; my only interest is in Index."
"That's good enough for me." Kamijou smiled. "Honestly, it's not like I want anything to do with you. I'd prefer never to see your face again, so I'll be on my way." He nodded and turned away, ignoring the profanities muttered under Aureolus' breath. "Stay here in this room. A troublesome woman will show up in a few minutes to give you instructions. Don't try to flirt with her if you don't want to end up dead."
With that, the situation was resolved, though it had merely been a distraction. Kamijou's real battle, the one that truly demanded his attention, still loomed over him, waiting.
x-3-x
Later that evening, Kamijou and Kimi were alone in the Kamijou residence. For some reason, the girl was wearing more flashy clothes than usual, which was difficult coming from Shundan Kimi. She was even wearing make-up, and also...
"That smells good," Kamijou said, his eyes drifting to Kimi as she sat cross-legged on top of the kotatsu. "Peach... with a hint of blueberry." His gaze then shifted to the pans simmering in the kitchen.
"And here I thought you were talking about my new skin cream." Despite her mild disappointment, Kimi struck a playful pose, cupping her hands under her chin like a shell and tilting her head. "Look at me. Isn't my skin a lot brighter? Come on, give me a damn compliment. I spent all my remaining money on this."
"Huh? Are you having money problems?"
"I'm rarely not, and you know it."
Kimi was an extremely resourceful delinquent, but that didn't mean she was swimming in money. Her gang of girls, who by all rights should be in prison for life for what they had done, extorted money by kidnapping all sorts of important scumbags in the city. This was their main source of income, but it wasn't uncommon for them to break into an ATM or two or take down dark side agents and beat them until they handed over cash. Considering how infamous they were, it was a miracle they were still alive. Of course, this miracle took the form of a giant dragon energized by a black hole, but the fact that almost no one sought revenge was odd.
"Have you tried spending less?" joked Kamijou, with his arms crossed.
"Wow, what incredible advice."
"Don't hit me with sarcasm, look at that." Kamijou gestured broadly around the room. His apartment was becoming increasingly crowded with the latest technological gadgets, all meant for recreation.
"You know I have to distract myself. Would you rather I go around beating up idiots? And it's not like this is where I spend most of what I earn... no, forget it. You can't complain since you enjoy it too, you damn hypocrite."
Kamijou smiled slightly and sat down on the floor next to the Kotatsu. Kimi immediately crawled over to him, a smile playing on her lips. It was a familiar routine: after throwing verbal jabs and minor annoyances at each other, they'd quickly return to a comfortable silence, acting as if the argument had never happened. This was normal—for them, at least.
Much of the blame lay with Kamijou, not Kimi. Or so he felt. Perhaps he was too lenient, didn't push her hard enough. Not enough when it came to the dragon girl, of course; he was too critical. But she hardly cared, which was clear from that strange smile she flashed when she got close to him, that sweet smell of her skin wafting up his nostrils. He never really got angry with her. And the same seemed true for her.
This was the kind of thing he chose for himself. Kimi was like a wildfire, an unstoppable force of nature that consumed everything. She lived her life with an energy that seemed endless, hardly caring about the consequences. And Kamijou was an admiring fool, staring at those beautiful embers, hoping the wind would never change.
"This seems like a good time to put on some music," Kimi said, reaching for the remote control and settling down beside Kamijou on the floor. "Maybe it'll help set the mood."
"Are you aware we're not dating anymore, or is your memory slipping again?"
"Shut up. I'm just trying to take advantage of those 'benefits' you mentioned."
Kamijou shook his head and decided it was time to cut things short and get to the point. After all, he had asked Kimi to convince Index to go to Komoe-sensei's house so they could have some time alone. Naturally, Kimi interpreted this as some kind of advance.
"At least with this music, it'll be harder for anyone to overhear us," Kamijou said as the soft melodies filled the room.
"You planning something noisy, then?" she teased, licking her lips.
"That was never my intention, and deep down, I think you know that."
"It never hurts to try." Kimi chuckled softly, running a hand down his back, her fingers tracing a slow path before stopping to grip his shoulder firmly. She leaned in closer, whispering in a sultry tone, "I bet my outfit is having the desired effect."
Kamijou swallowed, visibly uncomfortable, his eyes flicking away briefly before returning to hers. Her outfit, although it screamed 'casual,' was extremely eye-catching: a cropped white blouse that revealed a little of her toned belly, combined with a tight miniskirt that hugged her hips. Kamijou found himself staring too long at that asymmetrical cut, a small slit on one side that showed a little more of her thigh when she moved. He didn't know anything about fashion, so it was hard to tell if the only purpose of that strange knot on the front of her blouse was to attract attention.
"I hope the way you're dressed doesn't affect Index."
"Of course it will. Have you seen those legs?" She gestured broadly, as if outlining a silhouette in the air. "And let's not forget that nice ass. I'm definitely going to spend my time polishing this rough diamond."
"I'd rather you didn't."
"Too late. I've already ordered several new outfits for her, and some of them..." She paused dramatically, leaning in as if to share a secret. "Let's just say 'brave' doesn't even begin to describe them." Kimi seemed a little too proud of this, which made Kamijou a bit uneasy.
"Kimi, do you want me to spank you again?" he asked, exasperated.
"Yes, please!" She moistened her lips seductively and winked. "My clothes are designed for easy access during moments like this."
Surprisingly, Kamijou arched an eyebrow, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"Playing it safe, I see. If you wanted maximum effect, you'd be wearing just an apron or something."
Kimi laughed, throwing her head back before leaning in closer, her eyes sparkling with amusement and renewed interest.
"Keep those suggestions coming," she murmured, tracing circles on Kamijou's arm with her finger.
They shared a small laugh. No matter how much time passed, they always enjoyed each other's company in moments like these. Kimi thrived on adrenaline, lived for violence, and a good fight never failed to excite her. But even she knew everyone needed a break, though she often criticized Kamijou for seeking one. Perhaps she feared he might eventually prefer the calm over the storm.
"So, what exactly are you planning?" Kimi asked, turning the music up just a little. "How many years will be added to our sentences once we're done?"
"Does it matter? What do you have now? Three life sentences?"
"Four. I'm going for a personal best." She shrugged and casually smoothed her hair. "And after what you pulled today, I think your sentence might be extended too."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Uh-huh. Let's pretend that helping and giving shelter to someone who is for all intents and purposes a terrorist doesn't count as a crime." It wasn't a criticism, she actually had a smile on her lips. "Why were you so keen to help that guy?"
Kamijou sighed tiredly before answering.
"I see a bit of myself in that alchemist."
"Hmm?" She tilted her head, curious but already half-guessing what he meant.
"Someone whose failures have made him into a person he was never meant to be."
His tired gaze drifted into a seemingly empty space, though something was lingering there. He looked away when he felt Kimi's arm on his shoulder, her embrace gentle and comforting. There was no romantic intent, just a moment of shared warmth amidst the chaos.
They remained like that until the song ended, which served as a cue for Kimi to adjust the playlist after the next track—a new release from one of her favorite bands—started playing. She hated that. Kamijou always smirked when she launched into one of her never-ending rants.
Dinner followed after she "fixed" the music. As usual, Kimi didn't hold back in the kitchen. The citrusy touch she added to the fish was excellent, and the garlic-based fried rice was restaurant-quality. These days, she was undoubtedly more committed to creating delicious dishes on a budget than Kamijou himself.
"Tonight's menu is protein-heavy," she said, placing a steak on a small electric grill. That was definitely a violation of the apartment rules. "It's summer, so we should both get back into working out seriously."
"I don't know if I'm interested," he replied, disappointed, as he toyed with the steak on his plate. "I can never seem to get those perfect six-pack abs."
"Then eat better."
"Think that's enough?"
"That's my food we're talking about."
"Something tells me that someone is getting too cocky, or is it just my imagination?"
She smiled, but didn't answer. That was exactly the point. Cooking with precision, controlling the ingredients, mastering them. All this brought a sense of control that she didn't have in other areas of her life, especially with the increasing tension she had to deal with. It was a small refuge, but a refuge nonetheless.
Kamijou, not knowing what was going on in her mind, continued to eat, but his gaze wandered to the window. The streets outside were busier than usual. Vehicles were rushing past and the sounds of voices echoed like the buzzing of bees in the distance. The world outside was different, darker and more unpredictable.
After they had eaten, Kamijou finally asked Kimi to sit with him on the balcony. A heavy weight seemed to press against his chest—in the form of a yellowish envelope filled with nothing but paper. Ironic.
"Take a look at this," he requested, gently placing the envelope on her lap.
Kamijou watched as she quickly examined the document, her eyes scanning the text, occasionally pausing with a raised eyebrow. She didn't need to read far to grasp the situation.
A grimace formed on her face.
"Touma..." She hesitated, searching his eyes. "I'm confused. Where did you get these documents? And... what exactly are you planning?"
Kamijou's breathing grew slightly erratic, but this was not the time to hesitate.
"Remember that night? When we helped Index?" he asked calmly, without taking his eyes off her for a moment. "I left you alone afterwards to talk to someone."
"'Someone'?" It was practically a rhetorical question. She already had an idea of where it would lead.
"That night, I visited Aleister Crowley in the windowless building."
x-4-x
On that fateful night, Kamijou Touma had made a simple suggestion, but it carried immense weight.
"Tell me your side of the story. I want to know why you want me so badly to believe that the magic side is our enemy."
The "human" known as Aleister Crowley likely smiled at that moment. Perhaps there was some hesitation, but in the end, he chose to reveal his story to Kamijou Touma. Memories suddenly flooded the boy's mind. He saw Aleister Crowley as a young man, revolutionizing the Golden Dawn; he saw him find love, and he saw the genuine joy that came from the fruits of that love. But he also saw it all torn away from him. And then, the violence of Blythe Road.
"It's called 'sparks' and 'spray,'" Aleister Crowley said, floating in the tube, his voice devoid of emotion. "I tried to suppress the effects by creating a new mythology. In doing so, I distorted the concept of 'God.' This was meant to serve as a cushion between the phases. Unfortunately, it failed because the Christian church sought to protect their monopoly on the concept of God, sending their billions of followers against me."
"So, that's why this city exists?" Kamijou asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice. It was unsettling to discover that the leader of the science side was this incredibly powerful magician. "Because of one man's selfish crusade?"
A terrifying silence fell between them. Kamijou hadn't known fear for a long time, and that hadn't changed today. Yet, deep down, he wished it weren't true. No matter how he looked at it, he could only see a pathetic human, consumed by his own failings.
"Magic is a plague," Aleister continued, his face still expressionless. "When someone creates something from nothing, it's inevitable that destruction will emerge from nothing too. The problem is, this destruction isn't always directed at the person responsible. There are people out there suffering without even knowing why. Losing loved ones who should still be alive, or letting true love slip away because a random clock ran late or a bus stopped running. These little things accumulate, creating a snowball that crushes the hopes of someone who doesn't even know the truth."
When the man stopped talking, the monitors around him went out. A sinister atmosphere hung over that windowless building, the dim lighting hiding the features of Kamijou Touma, who stared at the "human" with clenched fists.
"In other words," said Aleister, without changing his tone. "People right now are being crushed not because of their choices, but because fate wanted it that way. Or at least something very close to that concept. Judge me all you want, Kamijou Touma, but even you can't deny that there's some justice in my cause."
Those were bold words. Kamijou didn't like viewing things from that angle, but perhaps now was the time to start.
"What do you want..." Kamijou said, taking a deep breath. "I'll set aside whether it's 'good' or 'evil.' But between right and wrong... I think there's something deeply wrong with what you're doing."
With a clenched fist, Kamijou calmly walked across the room. As if making a final decision, he placed his hands in his pockets and fixed the "human" with sharp eyes.
"I understand," Kamijou said, nodding. "I'll help you."
It was his final decision. A barely perceptible smile crossed Aleister's face.
x-5-x
"Are you serious?" Kimi asked, rising swiftly from the floor. Her posture was aggressive, arms crossed, and her pointed canines bared in frustration.
Kamijou stood up slowly, almost lazily. This was exactly the reaction he expected from her. He wouldn't have liked her so much otherwise.
"Are you working with that guy?" Kimi nearly shouted. "This has to be a joke. Very funny, Touma-kun. Not even if hell froze over would you accept something like that."
A faint smile appeared on Kamijou's face.
"Thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with you," he said calmly. Instantly, Kimi's posture shifted, a flicker of nervousness crossing her face. "I said I'd help him." He shrugged nonchalantly, which only made Kimi narrow her eyes further. "But I never said how."
Kimi looked slightly puzzled, her gaze dropping to the papers still in her hands.
"These documents, he didn't give them to you, did he?" she asked, starting to grasp what her ex-boyfriend was up to. "I bet it was a surprise for him when you showed up, which means he had to improvise. He wouldn't be so careless as to just hand you information."
"I have someone helping me. Let's just say she has a thirst for knowledge and isn't afraid to screw him over if necessary."
A relieved sigh escaped Kimi as she finally relaxed.
"You scared me for a second there," she said, rubbing her temple. "I thought you'd gone mad. That bastard has to pay for what he did to my friend. If the person I love suddenly decided to become his doormat, I don't know what I'd do. Don't do that again, please. So much stress might make me destroy this entire city in a gravitational collapse without even realizing it."
Kamijou wanted to smile at his troubled ex-girlfriend's dramatic words, but instead, he grew serious.
"I have my own plan," he began, glancing at the stars outside before meeting her eyes. "I've been right all along. If fate exists, then what choice do I have but to destroy it until there's nothing left?"
"If any part of your plan involves screwing over that son of a bitch, count me in." Her resolve was clear. She took another look at the documents. "So, you want to recruit that girl from the dark side? Is she special like us?"
"According to my contact, almost. But she'll do."
"Alright." Kimi turned a page and sighed, scratching her head. "I'll ask around. I have some contacts on the dark side, so it shouldn't be too hard to find out where her base is."
"Hmm..."
"What?"
"I like that you're already making decisions and are totally on board with everything."
Kimi smiled slightly as she tucked the documents away.
"I'm loyal, even a bit convenient. But you know I'd tell you to fuck off if I didn't enjoy at least a little of this madness. Luckily, I'll never have to worry about that."
It was brave of her to say, considering she was the one who often did reckless things, with Kamijou supporting her, even if only a little. Deep down, he also secretly enjoyed these wild moments, so there was no judgment on his part.
"Besides," she continued, now with a satisfied expression, "this sounds like one of my crazy schemes."
As always, they had reached an understanding. Kimi had always had a goal, ever since she was young. She dreamed of a world where everyone had a chance to fight back, to push oppression back onto those who thought they were superior. Over time, Kamijou came to understand her vision. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was fundamentally wrong with the world.
It was time to change that.
"Let's get started then," Kamijou said, thrusting a fist in Kimi's direction. She promptly slammed her own fist into his. "Time to fight fate itself."
x-6-x
August 20, 6:10 PM.
Kamijou was supposed to be attending supplementary classes, but at this point, he could hardly believe he wouldn't end up repeating the year.
"I'm telling you, Fukiyose-san, the ATM exploded and—"
"And I told you to stop making excuses!"
The irritated voice on the other end of the phone made his heart race. After a deep sigh, he calmed himself and continued walking, alone and exhausted under the summer glow. It took a bit of courage to put the phone back to his ear. If he kept making excuses, the girl on the other end would surely find a way to rip his head off via wireless signal.
"Can't you cover for me for just... two or three more days?"
Instinctively, he made a face that would trigger anyone's maternal instincts, but unfortunately for him, this wasn't a video call. The silence that followed was more piercing than a bullet to the heart.
"I'm going to kill you," the girl finally replied, her voice heavy with frustration. "I know I've said it a hundred times, but I really feel like your time is coming, Kamijou Touma."
"Look—"
"Just attend the damn classes. It's not that hard."
He almost smiled at that moment. Remembering that he had a constant argument with Kimi saying the exact opposite was amusing.
"If you help me out here," Kamijou said seriously, "I promise I'll try my best at the Daihasei Festival." He even paused, waiting for his friend's reply. In a way, he knew he was playing dirty.
"Are you serious?" Her voice was calmer now, though still tinged with skepticism. "Just to be clear, when you say 'try', do you mean you're going to give it your all?"
"Going that far would be overkill, but I promise to participate in every possible event and actually be useful."
"Heh." Her giggle wasn't mocking. She knew what he was capable of. "We have a deal. I'll cover for you for a week."
"A week? How generous of you."
"And I'll do your homework if you secure first place."
"For just a week too?"
"I'll extend it to a month."
Something told him she wasn't really negotiating. She didn't need to offer so much help; she was doing it because she genuinely wanted to assist him, even if she wouldn't admit it out loud.
"And I'll take care of your cat when you're away," Fukiyose added.
"You're really going all out, huh? Thanks a lot, you're a good friend."
"You're welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll let the rest of the class know to get ready. Thanks to you, they'll have to train at least three times as hard. We can't have anyone falling too far behind, right?"
"Eh, Fukiyose-san—"
But before he could finish, she hung up, punctuating the call with an evil giggle. That was her revenge. For the rest of the summer, he'd be hated for directing Fukiyose's wrath toward the rest of the class.
"Well... such misfortune."
Without thinking much about it, he slipped a 2000 yen note into a vending machine in the park. It didn't take him long to realize he'd made a mistake.
"Wait... this vending machine."
Being distracted does that to people. Now, Kamijou stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the juice vending machine that sat alone on the road.
"Why does this kind of thing keep happening to meeeeeee?!"
Kamijou held his head in his hands, contemplating his life choices. Desperately, he kept pulling the change return lever, hoping his bad luck wasn't playing tricks on him.
"Come on. Give me my money back, you stupid piece of junk. Are you the leader of some machine rebellion or something? I'll punch you so hard your atoms will quantum leap straight into the future! Think I won't do it? Huh?"
Suddenly, he noticed something around him.
For a bit of context, his senses were slightly dulled. The stunt he had pulled against Aureolus Izzard had taken its toll. Having his body turned into a red puddle was not an easy thing to recover from; a significant amount of energy was needed to heal it perfectly. His Dragon King had sacrificed its own tail to bring him back. The proud beast wasn't angry, even though Kamijou had let himself be hit on purpose. But healing that tail was proving problematic.
In other words, Kamijou needed the Dragon's protection at all times, which impaired some of his functions. He was totally safe, no matter what. Even if someone dropped a literal nuclear warhead on his head, he would be perfectly fine. Anyone with aggressive intent would also be detected, but his extra perception granted by his powers only went so far.
"Excuse me! Would you quit spacing out in front of that vending machine? If you're not getting anything, then move it, will you? I'm gonna faint from dehydration if I don't drink something as soon as possible."
A gentle touch on his arm accompanied the voice, as a girl's hand led him gently to the side. She was wearing a light sweater over a short-sleeved white blouse, her brown hair flowing down to her shoulders. He knew exactly who she was.
"Oh... it's you again, biri-biri."
"I have a name. Misaka Mikoto. I like it, so could you use it, you idiot?" she asked, tapping her foot nervously.
Her expression was a mix of anger and exhaustion. With a little focus, he noticed that she hadn't been getting much sleep, likely spending her nights wandering the streets in search of alley fights. In fact, he might have been projecting a bit.
"Anyway, if you don't have anything else to do, then move it. I've totally got something to do with this vending machine."
She was definitely hiding something. Kamijou had a feeling this might lead to yet another big distraction.
Hey, dear readers, it took me a while, but here's another chapter. We're in the "Sisters Arc".
Today's chapter was heavy on flashbacks, I hope it wasn't too bad. As usual, more and more of the original plot is changed, this time a character has a different fate. And Kamijou is trying something dangerous.
We'll soon see the return of over-the-top fights, which is what I like best about writing this story. I think this arc will be over in two, maybe three chapters. I don't intend to cover more than is necessary. I want to add a few extra scenes at least. Do you think the pace is okay?
Let me see your reviews:
spartenpride11: I'm happy to hear it. How was this chapter?
5had0wHand: More flashbacks here, I want there to be one at least every two chapters. This Kamijou isn't messing around, lol. Stiyl was just unlucky to meet Kimi at this point. I'm glad you liked the fights. I want Kimi to have at least one fight every arc since she likes to flex, but maybe some won't be possible. Thank you very much for your concern. I took a long break, and I'm much better.
Guest: Thank you for reading. We'll have more applications of her power in the future.
Guest: A benevolent demon and a cruel angel, basically.
Syafielone1359: Yeah, that's a shame.
Amad0: Lol. I make references to singers and bands sometimes in my stories, but they're very subtle. Here's the story where the subtlety has gone, taking advantage of the fact that Kimi canonically likes music (who doesn't?). Long chapters are complicated for me, more because of the editing than the actual writing. That's why in one of my stories I tried to keep the chapters between 4-6 thousand words. Here they average 7-10 thousand. ACDW was only so long because I had more time to spare at the time. I intend to use Index whenever possible here, if she's going to be a damsel in distress, may it not be every other arc. My God, now that I've read this I realize that Himegami doesn't even have any screen time in this chapter. Wait a minute * Edits for a few seconds* Okay, how could I forget, a mention is better than nothing, right? LOL. Thank you very much. My health is better. I'd say about 60 percent.
Guest: In this arc she will have a lot of screen time. Maybe not so much afterwards.
Zatil Hidayah Spensa: Strangely, I know that line because of the memes, but I hardly know anything about that anime. Do you recommend it?
Nicko2545: Thank you. I feel much better.
Kuroshiragami0: I hope you enjoyed it.
See you next time!
For those who didn't understand the explanation of the final scene, it's me taking a few liberties. I have no idea if the Dragon Tail that Touma uses to revive himself can grow back, but I imagine it can. It only takes a long time here because he uses the Dragon King 24/7. That's all for now. Sorry for the delay, I promise to update soon. Blueberries technically aren't blue. Moon leaving.