[SS] A Certain Valuable Remnant

“Fine then.”

Aiko turned back to face the twin-tailed girl after hearing what sounded like an exasperated exclamation. Kuroko grabbed the lab coat girl then briefly disappeared before appearing next to Aiko. Kuroko grabbed her arm and the next thing Aiko knew the three of them where up in the air above the rooftops and travelling rapidly in the direction of their target. It didn't take long for the trio to reach their destination, strange though it may be. As they appeared on the rooftop, Aiko stumbled forward a bit.

"Teleportation definitely beats the shortcut I was going to use, but it's a bit disorienting. Musujime-san, you've got the right idea. Don't mind if I just take a load off as well and let this dizziness pass."

Aiko then proceeded to plop herself down on one of the open beach chairs. She then expended her electron field to cover the roof of the building, and amplified the incoming city lights to give the roof a strange facsimile of daytime.

---

"M-Misaka-san, wait up! You shouldn't go running off! E-especially towards something like that!

What Unimato said was probably the smart decision. Small children running off towards signs of obvious conflict was generally a bad idea. However signs of obvious conflict for Last Order might as well be a beacon in her search. Ignoring Unimato's request, Last Order sprinted as fast as her small legs could carrier her until she arrived at the entrance to the ally the sounds were coming from. Looking into the Alley, she was at first elated. There he was, directly in front of her. All her nights of searching had paid off. However, she couldn't talk to him right now as the conflict was still going on and his opponent was probably the strangest thing she'd seen in a while. If she'd ever seen a monster movie, she could have probably said it looked like a werewolf, but lacking that comparison, it seemed to her just a large beast with strange hair and pants. As Accelerator and the strange beast traded insults, Last Order decided it was probably a good idea to hide around the corner until the fight was done.

‘What’ was truly an accurate reaction to what she was seeing. The beastman, at least that was the best descriptor Maria could possibly could come up with for what she was facing, had come to some sort of realization about her dear Master.

Of course that realization came at a cost to her as rather than being in the periphery, she was now his focus of attention. So, there was no way to avoid confrontation.

Seeing the incoming attempt to grab her, Maria didn’t falter. The expert in various forms of dance was not one to simply turn away. Rather, she moved inwards, aiming to land her hands right under his field of vision.

In doing so, she would pivot about her hands into a handstand, aiming to kick beneath the beastman’s jaw, much like an uppercut. Violence Doughnut was a power to behold and the multiplied force of slamming her feet into his jaws would be far too much for the average human to take.

Her total lack of regard for the fluttering of her clothes and whatever may be exposed in the process was another thing entirely.

---

Teleporting was something that did not take much of a toll on Shirai Kuroko, fortunately. After multiple teleports, she was hardly winded as the group landded upon the rooftop where they traced Musujime too.

While Aiko stumbled, Kuroko silently let go of the hands of the two girls she had teleported and made one more jump.

Towards right next to where she had seen the other teleporter leave the suitcase she was carrying. She just needed to separate her objective from the girl as soon as possible. With one hand on the multiple pins she was carrying, she attempted to drop her other on the suitcase and initiate the teleportation.

Even as the sky lit up and even as Aiko used her words to draw Musujime’s focus, Kuroko would aim to initiate check without saying even a single word.

After finally catching up with the energetic and all-to-excited-to-run-into-danger child, Unimato would double over for a moment, in attempt to catch their breath in front of the alley, unaware of the dangers inside. They look over to Misaka, noticing she has flattened herself against the wall, but not immediatly noticing why or what the reason before they begin talking to her in between breaths, which she would more than likely find pathetic given the relatively short distance travelled, but Uni wasn't exactly the athletic type to begin with.

"Pl...please do not... run off like that. You have no idea... what you might... get yourself into in this city... you could get hurt or lost."

They would manage to utter between gasps of air before realizing that Misaka's gaze was not focused on their self, but the the opening as she stood still and quiet. They follow her gaze, slowly straightening up as they notice the strange, hairy, bipedal beast staring down an albino boy before turning its attention to what looked to be a literal girl in a maid dress and taking a swipe at her only to be vertically-spin kicked in the jaw by that same maid.

Unimato, in what one would simply describe as shock or surprise, stood frozen for a solid moment as they watched the scene unfold, wondering if they were somehow hallucinating this bizarre series of events, only to come back to their senses at the resounding crack of the beast's jaw reverberating through the alley. By this point, Unimato was very much convinced that whatever that thing is, definitely exists, and not only that, is more than likely a threat. At this revelation, they immediatly grab the nearest blunt object on the ground-an old mallet-with the intent of hiding immediatly after, hoping to not have to use it unless necessary. However, the object proves to be much heavier than expected, causing them to fumble and drop it on their foot, letting out a yelp of pain as they fall backwards on their behind, immediatly becoming transparent as they hit the pavement with a thud.

"ooowaaah..."

Is all they can utter in their pained daze.

Musujime Awaki did not get what she wanted. As another girl claimed the seat she had been headed to, the illusion of calm was finally broken; instead making way for another conflict. One that became all the more apparent as she noticed the two other girls, one of which making way towards the suitcase.

And with a sway of her flash light, it disappeared right before that twin-tails’ eyes. Where to? Unknown.

«So you’re the next group? Tokiwadai girls, again? Don’t tell me you’re friends with that bunny girl.» Her speech was naturally very confident, a stark contrast to the sight they had witnessed only a moment ago. Even as the space was shrouded in lights bright as day, she puffed out her chest, looking down upon those two. The third one, with glasses and labcoat, she did not even acknowledge. «Look, we can make this long and painful or cut it short and easy. You let me run and we’re good. If not, then I can’t guarantee for anything.»

For someone who had been cornered twice in a row now she had been very cocky. Yet not for the wrong reasons. In a way she knew that she had been the most powerful on this rooftop. All she needed to do was strike with care and timing.

«My my, Musjime-san. Do you trust that much in your teleport ability? You’re still just a Level 4, did you forget that?» A strategy that would have worked until that blue haired girl took the center stage. Mirroring the other girl’s confidence, she stepped forward with as little care for her own life and health as she could, invading Musujime’s line of defence. «A Level 4 could never hope to best a Level 5. You should remember this ︎»

Naturally, Shokuhou Misaki was bluffing. Being the Mental Out she had little edge over a brute who solely relied on force, but that was a calculated risk. For that reason alone she wasn’t present on that rooftop personally. However, it also allowed her to play this game of poker more wildly. All she needed was to shake their enemy. Even if ever so lightly.

And then, Move Point swung that flash light again. And with it the labcoat girl disappeared into thin air, reappearing in an instance, screaming loudly as she fell down from the sky, right above the intersection of a nearby street. The height had initially been 80 metres, but things pass quickly when you’re falling, does it not? A few more seconds and she would be mush.

It happened again. Again the creature changed its path of motion ahead of its opponent’s strike. This time pulling its monstrous arms in between its jaw and the girl’s leg, defending against the strike with a clean block. One that completely ate away the impact. But not only that, throwing its arms to the outside right the next instance, it easily knocked the maid away, sending her flying for a couple of metres. A testament to its raw power.

Yes, that thing was far beyond human.

Clicking his tongue once more, Accelerator finally saw the bigger picture.

This thing must have had some kind of instinct for danger. That was how it avoided certain defeat multiple times by now. To make matters worse, it had that superhuman physique; meaning it could pull through with whatever.

But that only went as far as its own limits.

Which meant…

The beast had retaliated against the girl; meaning it now needed a different card to play against that boy. It understood there was nothing it could do against him by brute force. Hence, it needed something else, something to pressure him into defeat. A hostage. Normally a coward’s strategy, but there was no cowardice in a street fight. And it was at the echo of metal colliding with asphalt followed by a cry that dragged its attention to the perfect cards to play. The flimsy boy and girl among the audience. Yes, those two were ideal!

Thus it set off into a charge towards them, reaching its oversized claw to grab either. Highly intent on pulling through with its new strategy.

And yet it never connected. All it could do was tilt its head, but by then it had already been too late. As though struck by an invisible force, the pompadour beastman was sent flying. Flying along the street only to crash into the side of a vacant truck parked a hundred of metres away. The force of the impact so immense is spat blood. Lots of it.

Having come to a standstill after nearly breaching the sound barrier, Accelerator once more clicked his tongue in annoyance.

…all he had needed to do was strike faster.

Unimato sat completely still, daring not to even move regardless of being unseen, knowing the unnecessary amount of noise without a doubt gave them away as the beast shifted its attention now in their direction. They look back and forth between the walls knowing they could easily phase through one but were too scared to move, even if they were unseen and, by extent, untouchable in this state. They also noticed that during their little accident, the maid seemed to have been flung off by the beast in a different direction, now realizing that the cracking noise from earlier might have been her bone's as apposed to the beasts jaw, as it still appeared to be unfazed, now lunging in their direction. Unimato held their breath, hoping they can maintain their ability long enough to not get killed. And right when it would have connected... the beast was instead sent flying past them and into some far off truck.

They finally release their breath, letting out a sigh as they phase back into view, now looking up at the bemused albino boy, clicking his tongue in annoyance, as if all they simply did was swat away a fly.

"Th-thank you for that. That would have ended v-very badly if it stood around a moment longer... i-its very difficult maintaining that in a stressful s-situaution."

They somehow managed to mutter in their very bewildered state as they slowly stood back up, practically shaking whilst brushing their self off.

"I have to say though, th-that is quite the ability you have there. It looked like y-you barely lifted a finger, i-if at all."

Unimato continues, their expression changing from one of fear to admiration, which fade into worry after a moment as they recall someone else being here a moment ago.

"Oh um... is your maid ok?" They inquire now looking past the albino boy.

She had been beaten to the punch in her attempt to reach the suitcase. It had disappeared from view and from the rooftop before Shirai Kuroko had any chance to lay hands on it. The reason was obvious. The culprit had made very minimal movement but Shirai Kuroko could tell what she was seeing.

Musujime Awaki. A teleporter who didn’t even need to make contact with her targets.

Her hopes of gaining an advantage had been dashed. But that hardly meant their chances of securing her and the payload she had hidden had been knocked to zero.

“Or how about we do something besides those two choices like skipping all of the preamble and arresting you, Musujime Awaki.”

Having lost her first advantage, she had initially attempted to ready herself with her usual tool to begin the arrest. However, things quickly took another turn as Musujime called the bluff by swinging her flashlight in the direction of the blue-haired lab coat girl, sending her into the air.

Just within range!

There was no time for her to drop a pin in Musujime. Before the girl could fall out of reach, Shirai Kuroko aimed to teleport towards right next to the girl, grabbed her hand, and teleport back to the ground.

“Get out of her range of vision, you idiot! You’re not safe if she can see you!”

Shirai Kuroko exclaimed to the girl as she glared back towards the other teleporter.

---

Being thrown away and landing a great distance was a dangerous thing. Fractures, visceral damage, and concussions were all likely realities for someone who had the misfortune of experiencing that. At least that was what would happen to most normal people.

Though Kumokawa Maria was not a monster, she was hardly normal. Centrifugal force manipulation. Contortion via dance. By using those aspects, she could easily make it so that her body would land on its feet.

Without even a scratch~

Though she was on her kness, hands on the ground, her fair skin hadn’t even been scraped. The pain in her belly and muscles from the strike itself were a different story, but that was all fine. After all, she was still in-training. One could hardly expect her to achieve that kind of superlative status just yet.

She could however see that the beastman had made its next target known after she had been knocked aside. An unassuming young boy and girl who had been unfortunate enough to be audience to the whole scenario.

And thus, the worst case scenario would happen. Unlike her, they were probably more normal. Which meant…

She had to prevent that worst case scenario. From her pose, she sprung up from the ground in an attempt to strike that beast’s back.

However, that was all cut off as the beast was quickly tossed to the side by the boy she had called master with minimal effort.

“Well, that was a pathetic of me,” she said as she slowed down to a walk and move towards the boy while dusting off her clothes and keeping one eye closed.

Shortly after, she came to a stop behind him and began waving the hem of her maid uniform up and down in a way that was far too dangerous for someone with a skirt as short as hers. A maid could not be covered in as much dust as she was now.  “To think the maid had to be protected by her master. Really does things to her pride you know.”

«So you’re the next group? Tokiwadai girls, again? Don’t tell me you’re friends with that bunny girl. Look, we can make this long and painful or cut it short and easy. You let me run and we’re good. If not, then I can’t guarantee for anything.»

"Oh, were there more of us earlier? They should have invited us to the party. Also if you want to run we'd be happy to let you as long as you bring that case back and leave it behind."

Some light banter before things got really serious was often how these things played out. Though if somehow Aiko managed to convince her to hand over the case that would be a plus. Meanwhile Masaki was speaking through her surrogate with the confidence of someone not actually in the line of fire.

«My my, Musjime-san. Do you trust that much in your teleport ability? You’re still just a Level 4, did you forget that? A Level 4 could never hope to best a Level 5. You should remember this ︎»

That was, until, a wave of Musujime's flashlight teleported the girl high into the air. Then the cockiness was swiftly replaced by screaming. Fortunately Kuroko quickly teleported into the air to save the girl as Aiko had no means of her own to rescue her. That left just her and Musujime on the roof for a moment. Taking advantage of the fact that the roof and by extension Musujime were both already within her field, Aiko shifted the field from making the area brighter to plunging it into total darkness. With the cover of darkness, Aiko then quickly pulled her gun from the holster on her leg, firing one shot at the flashlight in Musujime's hand and another at one of her legs. Most espers that targeted objects at range with their abilities needed to see them to do so. By cutting off sight, Aiko hoped to quickly disable their target before they could strike at her as well.  

---

The beast man clashed briefly with the maid, sending her flying before quickly scanning around for a new target. It was at least intuitive enough to realize the it couldn't strike at Accelerator and that it should instead use more indirect means. Unfortunately for Last Order and Unimato both, the loud clang in their direction made them the primary targets. The beast man quickly lunge at the pair, and though she was a clone of a level 5, Last Order had nothing she could do to stop this situation. Hold up her frail arms frail arms to shield herself from the strike, she braced her self for an impact that never came. Last Order looked up to see Accelerator standing there and the beast man down the street smashed against a now destroyed truck.

"Th-thank you for that. That would have ended v-very badly if it stood around a moment longer... i-its very difficult maintaining that in a stressful s-situaution. I have to say though, th-that is quite the ability you have there. It looked like y-you barely lifted a finger, i-if at all. Oh um... is your maid ok?"

Wasting no time, Last Order ran over to stand by Accelerator's side.

"Misaka knew you would save her says Misaka as Misaka jumps with elation that she has finally located who she was looking for."

There was but one problem with Aoki Aiko’s strategy: Musujime Awaki had was using a flashlight to direct her attacks. And thus, the moment darkness shrouded them both, she immediately pushed the button to cast forward a cone of light. More than enough, given she already knew her opponent’s position.

«Too slow!» Thus, by the time the girl would have pulled her gun and aimed it, Musujime Awaki had disappeared. No. In fact, it wasn’t Musujime who had, but she herself. No longer standing on the even surface of the building roof top, she would instead find herself floating in the air.

Well, not floating, but falling.

At exactly the spot the other girl had been launched before.

After all, you didn’t need sight so long as you had a grasp of the environment.

Using what she had been able to memorise of the space, the Move Point sat into motion immediately. This had been her playing field, after all. The safe point she hadn’t picked at random but chosen ahead of time. Which meant she knew the approximate layout and could make her escape.

And escape was all she needed to do, given that the suitcase had already been passed on into good hands.

You see, Musujime Awaki wasn’t working alone.

As elaborate as her plan had been, it wasn’t even a one woman show.

By the time she had set foot upon the rooftop and stashed the suitcase away with her ability, one of her collaborators had set into motion to grab it and move on with it. Through the building, down into its underground parking lot and from there into a vehicle.

And as she had neutralised the gun girl and teleporter for large enough a time window to break away, all she now needed to do was block the path, by launching random objects such as the beach club’s furniture to cloud it as she descended.

A clean escape.

Or so it should have been.

As she had fled into the nearby staircase, hurrying down the long flight, she put her cell phone to her ear, seeking to connect with her comrades. However, when it had been picked up, all she could hear were noise, static, screams, and something best described as a… howl?

«Hello? Fujou? What’s going on?» Yet even as she asked, no reply would come. Just more noise. Until the connection cut under dry static.

Accelerator would click is tongue. The annoyances hadn’t stopped to pile. One moment it was that pesky maid tracing his every step through the city, the next whatever that monster had been and now he was circled by children, in awe at his being. Or something. How very annoying.

Something he would have normally shrugged off and turned his back on without even giving so much as an answer.

However…

There was something that prevented him from doing so, would he answer to it reflexively. «Did you just say Misaka?» Although he regretted it immediately, he had let his guard down enough to no longer have an easy escape from that conversation. Which caused him to at least scan the small girl before him. «You’re one of them…», he’d mutter in the moment of that unfortunate realisation. Only to arrive at the most reasonable conclusion a moment later.

«I got no business with you anymore.»

With that said, he would turn away for real, not minding any courtesy as he returned to his original course. To somewhere else.

“DAMMIT!”

In retrospect, this whole scenario was why Shirai Kuroko should have challenged Musujime on her own. The best way to deal with a teleporter was with a teleporter. But with so many other potential targets for Musujime as well as a dangerous location like the roof of a building, Shirai Kuroko was at an unquestionable disadvantage.

There were only so many people she could protect from a fellow teleporter without completely outpredicting them and even then, the situation would inevitably spiral out of control the moment she fell a step behind.

Yes, it was clear that that was what had happened here at this moment as the other girl she was with had gone flying to the exact same location as the one she had just rescued.

As her heart skipped a beat, she jolted back up into the air towards the now free falling girl before once again before teleporting them back to where she had brought the other girl she had just rescued.

“We’ll grab her from inside, but stay hidden. Don’t attack until I’ve already exposed myself.”

She had already seen Musujime head towards the stairs. Various pieces of furniture were disappearing and likely occluding the path meaning pursuing on foot wouldn’t help.

She couldn’t afford to teleport the group into any objects but she was able to tell where things were near the windows from what she saw during the rescue attempts.

In other words, they could beat her down to at least halfway down the building and meet her there.

Eighty-one meters was quite the distance after all.

So, she teleported the group all the way down to the second floor, being careful enough to avoid porting the three of them into the office table before teleporting the group to the door near the stairwell.

Afterwards, she would teleport across the door into the stairwell, all to await the moment the exhibitionist girl would poke out of the stairs so she could drive a stake into her leg.

---

“Wait, you’re just going to ignore her?!” Maria exclaimed as she saw Accelerator take the moment to turn away.

Ah, her master was truly pathetic. And the pesky maid would refuse to let this slide. She knew full well she couldn’t simply grab him, not that it would have been appropriate for her to do so. But even so, she needed to cry out.

“She’s looking for you and asking for help. Can you at least hear her out, Master? It would hardly eat into your time to at least listen for a bit.”  

After all, part of the maid’s job was to help manage the master’s time. Or was that a secretary’s job?

«Too slow!»

While her initial reasoning had been sound, Aiko had made a critical error. Her target was wielding a flashlight and in response to the darkness, simply clicked it on to be able to see her. Then suddenly her target was gone. Or more accurately she had sent Aiko somewhere else and as Aiko had just watched what happened to Shokuhou's stand it, she had a good idea of what had happened to her. Aiko's ability offered her a lot of utility, but in a circumstance like this, while she hurtled back towards the ground, there was only one solution.

"KUROKO!!!!!!!!"

Luckily for Aiko, her plea was heard and judgement girl appeared in the air next to her before sending the both of them back down to the roof.

“We’ll grab her from inside, but stay hidden. Don’t attack until I’ve already exposed myself.”

Aiko answered with a quick nod before the three of them were then teleported into the building. Aiko took up a position behind a chair and learning from her previous mistake shrouded herself by stopping light from leaving rather then blocking it from entering. This way even if the light was shined on her, the area would not be illuminated. Holding her gun firmly in hand, she prepared for when their target would appear.  

---

The albino boy seemed ready to dismiss her without a word, though as he actually processed the words she'd said, he stopped and turned to look at her.

«Did you just say Misaka?»

It was clear by his tone of voice that this was not a pleasing revelation. Even if that was what his tone of voice usually sounded like anyway.

«You’re one of them… I got no business with you anymore.»

“Wait, you’re just going to ignore her?! She’s looking for you and asking for help. Can you at least hear her out, Master? It would hardly eat into your time to at least listen for a bit.”  

As Accelerator turned to walk away, Last Order ran around in front of him throwing out her arms in a display to show she was blocking his path. They both knew that if he really wanted to leave there was nothing she could do to stop him, but she didn't need to stop him. She just needed to convince him.

]"You're the only one who can help says Misaka as Misaka reflects on the fact that there's no one else she can turn to."

Almost as if to answer Unimato's inquiry about the maid, she enters their field of view some distance behind the rather pale individual, brushing herself off in what some may consider bordering on indecent, in regards to her waving the uniform up and down as she drew close, causing Unimato to instinctively look in the other direction as they feel the heat rise in their face.

“Well, that was a pathetic of me... To think the maid had to be protected by her master. Really does things to her pride you know.”

She went on in what sounded like a rather indignant manner. Meanwhile, without hesitation Misaka ran up next to the stranger that saved the both of them, exclaiming:

"Misaka knew you would save her says Misaka as Misaka jumps with elation that she has finally located who she was looking for."

'So, this is the number one Esper?' Unimato thought to their self as they turned their head back towards the one in question. 'That ability of theirs was no question something on that level... but I thought the number one would be a tad more... approachable. If anything they look like the sort that would kick a child the size of Misaka without remorse... but as they say; can't judge a book by its cove... even then-''

Their usual paradoxical and skeptic train of thought was suddenly broken off by a particularly cold, annoyed sounding tone as Unimato snapped back to reallity.

«Did you just say Misaka?» The number one mumbled, followed by a short pause as they appeared to be sizing up the kid. «You’re one of them… I got no business with you anymore»

And as the number one turned on their heel to walk away, they were immediatly met with protest.

“Wait, you’re just going to ignore her?! She’s looking for you and asking for help. Can you at least hear her out, Master? It would hardly eat into your time to at least listen for a bit.”

Than as if taking advantage of the number one's brief pause, Misaka ran in front of him to block their path, demonstrating the resolve and determination she had showed only earlier that night when Unimato attempted to persuede her towards another course of action.

"You're the only one who can help says Misaka as Misaka reflects on the fact that there's no one else she can turn to."

For a moment, Unimato looked between the Maid and Misaka before deciding to add their input, putting on a nervous and pathetic smile as they did so.

"She is a v-very persistent... trust me; I-I tried to convince her to try someone else, earlier, but Misaka-san seems to be convinced that y-your the only one she can ask... admittedly I am not quire sure what it is she needs help with, but it sounds very important... e-especially so if she requires someone of your prowess. I-if need be I will apologies for her later if this ends up being an inconvence for you."

They finish in an already-apologetic-sounding-tone, bowing in the number one's direction out of respect.

«Are you really sure this is a good idea, Shirai-san?»

Shortly after the connection cut, there was a noice coming from the top of the stairwell. Which could only mean one thing: Her pursuers had already caught up with her. The remaining distance, even with the blocked paths would form only a minor hindrance to them. To Shirai Kuroko, the teleporter.

So why had Musujime Awaki placed them in the first place?

As she ran down the flights of stairs at mad pace, hurrying more with each passing second. Not out of fear of her pursuers but out of worry for her companions, the Move Point wouldn’t waste time carelessly. She simply needed to deal with both of the problems at the same time.

There was only one place Shirai Kuroko would be able to teleport to safely; especially if she brought her friends along: The bottom. Thus, when Musujime reached it, she would swing her flashlight twice.

The first swing made the door disappear.

The second would greet whoever awaited beyond it with a barrage of neatly placed corkscrews to appear within the flesh and bones of their bodies.

Then, if she could, a third would follow…

Once more Accelerator clicked his tongue in annoyance. Surely, people enjoyed ganging up on him today.

«Fine», he’d scoff, continuing his walk away from the group, passing by the maid, the little girl and the boy, with as little regard to their attempts as he could give. Until… «Tag along. I doubt you want an audience.»

Their previous fight had spawned quite the crowd. Amused onlookers drawn by the prospect of violence between a high level Esper, a bunch of thugs, and a monstrous beastman that may have taken a run around social media. Not the ideal backdrop for a conversation like that.

Which was why they would find themselves seated on the comfy benches of a popular family restaurant chain’s most closeby shop mere moments later. And although Accelerator took no pleasure to any of it, he had become the host of this little family dinner, they had forced upon him by coming at him from all sides.

Which was why he would ask away immediately: «So what is it that you want?»

It was a good plan. Or it would have been if it weren’t so predictable. Shirai Kuroko had expected that she would be able to cut off Musujime Awaki en route to her escape but she had failed to take into account that a cornered beast was far more prone to biting back.

Yes, she had thought she was a step ahead but she had been outplayed.

The door that had vanished behind her was proof of that.

The corkscrew that had jabbed itself in her right arm was proof of that.

The corkscrew that had jabbed itself into her flank was proof of that.

There was no momentum. No force. Yet, with the new sudden searing pain that burned through her body, she found herself falling backwards.

“DAM—”

It was hardly the first time she had been pierced by a teleporter’s weapon. Though it was hardly something she was used to, it was also not something she found herself at a complete disadvantage. But that wasn’t the problem here.

Not only had she made herself vulnerable, she had also made the other girls with her equally vulnerable.

She could not see whether the target had teleported any more weapons beyond the barrage she had been pelted with and only partially evaded but if so, they were in danger.

---

“Your pancakes.” Maria took the plate off the tray in her hand and placed it before the little girl who called herself Misaka and clearly had some sort of history with her master. Though history may have been a bit too heavy of a word for it.

“Your green tea.” In front of the person who was clearly dragged along by the little girl, she placed a cup of hot tea on a coaster.

“And for you, master, a freshly brewed cup of coffee, black.” She said before placing an equally hot coffee cup on a small plate before the albino. She had wondered exactly how refined his palette was considering he was the type of person to drink truckloads of canned coffee so she had made the entire cup with freshly ground coffee beans rather than using any of the powdered stuff.

There were many questions one could ask. How did the young maid bring out all of the food quickly? How did she get access to the kitchen? How did she cook all this food in the kitchen?

It was surprising just how much pull the name of the Ryouran Maid Academy had in the service sector in the city and it was just best to leave it at that.

In the end, she never sat down, instead opting to stand by her master’s side with a towel atop her arm and the circular tray pressed to her belly.

Aiko leaned forward on the chair as she aimed her gun pre-emptively at the doorway. Though she wasn't expecting the door to be opened by it actually being teleported away, Kuroko's scream in pain certainly seemed to Aiko like her being exposed and she took the initiative to go on the offensive.

"Kuroko, you okay!?"

Taking aim first at the flashlight in Musujime's hand, Aiko fired off two shots, quickly followed buy one more at each of her legs. Aiko then quickly crouched down below the chair, hoping that the fact that she couldn't be seen would keep her safe from any teleportation reprisals.

---

Luckily for the young girl, the new friend she had made also had her back.

"She is a v-very persistent... trust me; I-I tried to convince her to try someone else, earlier, but Misaka-san seems to be convinced that y-your the only one she can ask... admittedly I am not quire sure what it is she needs help with, but it sounds very important... e-especially so if she requires someone of your prowess. I-if need be I will apologies for her later if this ends up being an inconvenience for you."

"Misaka refuses to take no for an answer says Misaka as Misaka stands tall to show her determination."

«Fine. Tag along. I doubt you want an audience.»


The group then, not wanting to continue causing a scene, relocated to a nearby dinner. Luckily there was a nice comfy booth available that would fit them all. There wasn't even a wait.

“Your pancakes. Your green tea. And for you, master, a freshly brewed cup of coffee, black.”

After they had sat down, and somehow at incredible speed, the maid following Accelerator had managed to bring out food and drink for the group. As Accelerator prepared to begin his interrogation of the small girl, she had already begun stuffing her mouth full of the delicious pancakes.

«So what is it that you want?»

"Mmishka wahsh looking fshor you shinsh you have connecshins to the schienths."

A mouth full of pancakes did not make for the most intelligible speech but the girl was certainly trying.

Shortly after everyone delivered their protest, Unimato included, the reluctant number one gave in.

«Fine... Tag along. I doubt you want an audience.»

They replied, continuing forward without giving anyone a second glance.


One not-very-long-walk later, they find their selves at a nearby diner, the last place anyone would expect a brooding individual such as 'the strongest' would bring them, though it might have simply been for the fact it was nearby, and thus convenient. And not too long after, the maid in the group brought out a tray and began to serve them all in a typical, straightforward fashion.

“Your pancakes. Your green tea. And for you, master, a freshly brewed cup of coffee, black.”

Unimato thanked her quietly with a quick nod as she set down their green tea, thinking it was best not to question how she was able access the kitchen in order to do it, assuming they simple had some sort of 'special maid clearance.' They gently blow on the contents of the cup before carefully taking a sip, brushing off any other notions they might wander to, unintentionally, as they did so.

'Huh, almost perfect temperature. Must have steeped it instead of letting it fully boil...

As Unimato and Misaka began to enjoy what was probably the closest thing to a 'normal' moment that evening, the pale one broke the silence.

«So what is it that you want?»

"Mmishka wahsh looking fshor you shinsh you have connecshins to the schienths." The little one responded almost immediatly, mouth still full of pancake.

Unimato choked slightly as they went for another sip, almost certain they heard her say something about 'scientists' or at least something close enough to it. They quickly and carefully set the cup down as they attempted to stifle the coughing fit, almost certain the liquid went down the wrong pipe. Unimato was never the most fond of those scientist, their prodding and electrodes and whatever other methods they used to 'awaken' a person's abilities only resulted them in being more of a nervous, insecure wreck than they before, in addition to adding trust issues to those insecurities... and a hatred of being poked in any way.

"Wait..." They managed to get out after catching their breath from their coughing fit. "...I was under the impression the scientists didn't make contact with us after the initial tests... aside from the occasional ability development check, from what I have heard, but n-not staying in contact with them. I-I mean, unless that simply has to do with your... standing as a level five." Unimato continued, letting their skepticism get the best of them, but trailing out towards the end as they realized they may have also overstepped a boundary, daring to question someone of unimaginable power.

In situations like these split seconds were all that mattered. Take the one Musujime was preparing her third strike in compared to Aoki Aiko who prepared herself to shoot to avenge her fallen comrade. One was already set to aim, the other had yet to adjust, revealing enough of herself beyond the cover to target.

It was obvious who would win.

However…

«Aoki-san! Noo!» A blue haired girl – who had foreseen this outcome – was flailing her arms as she threw herself onto the other girl, knocking her over that very split second she stepped out of cover. And it was just then that another corkscrew would drop down upon their heads from above.

A turn of fate that was all the more startling to the blue haired catastrophe as she let a short shriek escape her mouth. A panicky solution, perhaps, but one that had saved them an asset.

As for Musujime Awaki, her footsteps could be heard in the distance. Eratically running through the space as she fortified the corridors she had passed with more and more objects, randomly plastered into space to block both kinds of paths: The physical and vision.

And who could blame her, was that parking lot not all too distant anymore.

«I’m not your Mas— you know what forget it.» It was that moment Accelerator was too annoyed by the situation that he threw the towel; a fact that became quite audible as his sharp voice shifted to a sense of defeatism; albeit one overflowing with disdain towards the situation. Fortunately, he could at least drown it in that cup of coffee. Its brewing fresh and strong, far more excellent than any he had tasted from his preferred convenience store brands. Not anything he would voice, however.

Having listened to the two kids as he leaned himself back into comfy paddings of his chair, Accalerator let an exhasperated sigh escape his lips. «That only means you’re not interesting to them. If your ability is deemed rare enough, you’ll have scientists chase you down on every step you take. They like their data, you know. So you’ll spend most of your life in some shitty lab or another, getting mentally dissected for whatever illusive purpose they have.» He first gave the, in his vision, most unnecessary explanation he could have, sounding quite condescending even though the lack of the boy’s knowledge may have actually been a blessing to him.

However, the girl – that strange Misaka – wouldn’t get away that fortunately. A reality that announced itself when he clicked his tongue. «Of course not. I cut ties with those bastards the moment I could. Told them to fuck right off when they tried to change that. So, sorry, can’t help you.» He paused for a moment, taking another sip from his cup. «That’s all, right?»

And in no short order, the entire chase had fallen apart. The short moment they were on the offensive had been reversed as they, too, were forced to play defense. The moment that she fell forward from pain was a moment of pure vulnerability.

No matter how much she tried to focus her mind, she could not help but let that searing sensation of pain reach the core of her thoughts. Any calculations she did in that state would be thrown off entirely as the potential error magnified while the room for error shrunk further and further.

Moreover, Musujime was once again tossing obstructions at what were likely intervals too irregular for her to simply ignore and go around. After all, any misstep would lead to an unfortunate accident.

The others are safe for now. I just need to focus on getting to her.

But if she let herself dawdle here, there would be no way to catch up. The suspect would escape in short order. There were a few points of exit, but given her injuries, there was no time to check them all. Could they narrow them down.

“FOLLOW ME!”

They were behind again, so she started the most brute force method possible.

Getting rid of the obstacles herself, one by one. Until she or one of the others could think of a viable plan to cut the suspect off again.

---

“Well, that’s surprising.” Kumokawa Maria, despite her primary function being done and despite the fact that she was supposed to be a wallflower at this point, interjected.

“You cut ties yourself, but you just said it, didn’t you? If your ability is considered rare enough, then those scientists would chase you down to the end of the earth.”

Therein lay the contradiction. It was like lions letting a plump zebra go. There was no way they would simply let bygones be bygones and part easily.

“So there’s no guarantee one isn’t trying to hound you given...recent events. Though that does beg the question of why you’re after those kinds of unsavory people...or how you’re familiar with her...or why she’s using that name.”

Despite all the burning questions, she cut herself short. “Apologies if I’m prying too much, Master.”

«Aoki-san! Noo!»

Before Aiko could take shot at Musijime, she was tackled to the ground by their blue haired companion. Before she could complain about it though, she realized she'd just been saved from an unfortunate skewering. Aiko quickly jumped to her feet, to prepare to dodge any additional attacks and shoot back, but their target decided that escape was more important. Fleeing down the hall and blocking their pursuit. It would have been difficult to follow for Aiko on her own, so it was good that they had their own teleporter to clear the way, injured as she may be.

“FOLLOW ME!”

As Kuroko cleared the way Aiko ran down the hall after her. As they ran, Aiko's field surrounded the group, blocking light from leaving. From the outside it would look just like an approaching wall of darkness and should prevent Musujime from any kind of accurate targeting, giving them some chance of approaching.

"Kuroko, if you can disable the flashlight she's got, I should be able to pin her down."

Aiko's plan was the same as before. Trap the teleporter in an area a pure darkness. Being unable to see would make it so she could find things to teleport or aim at them. Teleporting herself blindly would be very dangerous as well. That flashlight of hers though was a hindrance in that plan.

---

«Of course not. I cut ties with those bastards the moment I could. Told them to fuck right off when they tried to change that. So, sorry, can’t help you. That’s all, right?»

Despite their best attempts, Last Order was not about to let Accelerator brush her off so easily. After all, he was her last hope.

"If you cut contact, that means you have a way to make contact says Misaka as Misaka sits up trying to look smug. The experiment ended before Misaka was finished into the tube and Misaka need to go back in says Misaka as Misaka pleads her case while gesture to her small form."

While she spoke, a feeling of fatigue washed over the young girl and she started feeling as if she could pass out right where she was sitting.

After they had received their, noticeably disdainful, answer from butting in before, Unimato decided to lay back with their tea and simply listen in from this point, especially since it was just Misaka whom was after the 'number one', in the first place. And given her particularly stubborn and determined track record up to this point, they figured she could probably handle it from here. However the more they listened in on the conversation, the more they began to realize that something was off, that this was something much further beyond their self than they intially thought. Just how much did Unimato not know here? Those last few responses from the maid and kid are what bothered him the most;

“So there’s no guarantee one isn’t trying to hound you given...recent events. Though that does beg the question of why you’re after those kinds of unsavory people...or how you’re familiar with her...or why she’s using that name.”

As well as

"If you cut contact, that means you have a way to make contact says Misaka as Misaka sits up trying to look smug. The experiment ended before Misaka was finished into the tube and Misaka need to go back in says Misaka as Misaka pleads her case while gesture to her small form."

'Recent events? Is she talking about that abomination from earlier? Or something else entirely? And what did she mean by "that name?" Thinking about it, I might have heard it elsewhere, but didn't think much on it since I assumed it was common, at the time... than there is the kid herself. They thought, now looking at Misaka, taking note of her oddly fatigued state. 'What's this about an experiment and being in a test tube? This seems a bit much for the usual child's game of make believe... and it all goes back to him.' Their eyes landing on the albino as their train of thought leads them there.

"W-what is Misaka, truly? And... how much do you really know? They eventually pipe up, stating the questions they finally arrived at, and odds are, what the maid was also thinking given her prior confusion, as well.

The chase continued through doorways and corridors, past a lavatory and at its end into a larger hall. A space in which the breath of cold air would greet three girls as the echo of their steps travelled through the far distance. Far more spacious than the narrow pathways they may have grown accustomed to this was a wild field. One mainly made up from thick concrete pillars stabilising the structure standing above and lined with cars here and there.

However, it was not a peaceful silence they intruded upon, as would become evident as a dull force clashed upon metal and glass, bending and shattering them as it landed. Then a howl followed, overflowing with anger and bloodlust.

«Don’t think you can run you little weazels!», an unpleasant voice groaned. Its speech obviously human but its likeness far from it. Animalistic. Beast like.

Befitting of its owner who entered the three girls’ vision as his heavy steps that shook the entire hall, carried him past a pillar that had blocked their line of sight. A tall grown creature, covered in fur, travelling on all fours, yet not like an ordinary hound would. Having the grace of a human being in its gait, as well as being clothed in what amounted to a combination of leather pants and jacket, both stretched to the point of tearing by his massive stature, he was neither animal nor man. But if anything else accentuated that accordingly it was his hair style coming down to a classic pompadour that had long since ceased to be fashionable.

And as he tilted his head, it became obvious he was searching for something or rather someone.

That was why a single rattle behind one of the parked cars was enough to spring him into motion.

He set into a charge. Not after building the necessary momentum, but from his idle stance. Immediately launching himself through the space and at the source of the sound with unimaginable force.

«Nice try.» Yet, as a certain girl, hidden out of sight, swung her flashlight, it was no longer that car his mass was flung at but the very entrance through which the dark dome that surrounded her pursuers had emerged. And vicious as he was, he would slam into the doorway like a meteor upon the earth, mighty enough to tear through the walls as though they were made of paper; running over anyone and anything else that would appear in his path.

«Now’s the time! Go!« A distant command could be heard, sparking the steps of numerous feet to ring through the halls as they made their way to their destination. Audible in a panicked hurry.

A heavy sigh followed after the words of the maid. Not shy to express his disdain for her meddling, Accelerator would put a hand to his forehead. «Look. I cut ties with them. And I’ll gladly remind them of that when they come knocking at my door again. In fact, I already did.» Done with cutting back, he took another sip of his coffee before falling back against the lean of his seat.

His tongue being clicked on reflex to any input from anyone at the table at this point.

«Look. You’re better off not asking or knowing. This is none of you two’s business and it shouldn’t be, alright?», he declared with an audible hint of agitation in his voice.

Then, his attention would return to the little yet again, eyeing her directly, before he spoke again. «So what? You’re free now. Enjoy your life. If you can’t. Find someone else. I won’t take you back there. And I shouldn’t. Have you forgotten what I did to you people? Have you forgotten what all this is about? I doubt it. So do yourself a favour. Find. Someone. Else.»

Those words weren’t left to hang on their own, would the albino boy stand up from his seat when he had finished speaking, deadset to make way for the door, with or without any of those three stopping him. Very unwilling to yield.

The group continued their pursuit of the teleporter down the hall past several rooms before eventually emerging from into what appeared to be a concrete parking garage. With a quick glance, Aiko didn't see the girl they were pursuing immediately. Most likely due to the fact that her attention was instead drawn to a massive creature, covered in fur but also standing upright, wearing human clothes, and for some reason sporting a pompadour. Though not one to usually jump to conclusions about such things, everything about it's appearance screamed werewolf to Aiko.

«Don’t think you can run you little weazels!»

The werewolf screamed before charging at one of the parked cars. It's behavior confused Aiko until she hear a familiar and very unconcerned voice.

«Nice try.»

Suddenly the massive furry creature was no longer heading in the direction of the teleported, but instead directly at their group.

"Incoming!!"

Aiko leapt to the site to avoid the beast hurtling towards them before quickly turning back towards the source of the voice.

«Now’s the time! Go!«

This time the voice was followed by the sound of many people moving. Gun still in hand, Aiko fired off a shot towards the source of the voice, though given the poor line of sight, she did not expect it to hit. Regardless, Aiko took of sprinting in that direction, keeping her field up to ward of targeted attacks.

"Let go, she's getting away!!"

---

"W-what is Misaka, truly? And... how much do you really know?

Understandably, the boy had a lot of questions. He was being fed a lot of piecemeal information about things her really would have been better off not knowing. Even so, the Albino boy all but refused to answer any of them.

«Look. I cut ties with them. And I’ll gladly remind them of that when they come knocking at my door again. In fact, I already did. Look. You’re better off not asking or knowing. This is none of you two’s business and it shouldn’t be, alright? So what? You’re free now. Enjoy your life. If you can’t. Find someone else. I won’t take you back there. And I shouldn’t. Have you forgotten what I did to you people? Have you forgotten what all this is about? I doubt it. So do yourself a favour. Find. Someone. Else.»

As the Albino boy stood up and turned to leave, there was a soft Thunk as the head of Last Order hit the table. To say she was in poor condition would be understating it. She was completely unconscious, sweat could be seen beading across her entire body, anyone who checked would feel her head burning up.

«So what? You’re free now. Enjoy your life. If you can’t. Find someone else. I won’t take you back there. And I shouldn’t. Have you forgotten what I did to you people? Have you forgotten what all this is about? I doubt it. So do yourself a favour. Find. Someone. Else.»

And with that, the oh-so reluctant number one esper stood up without a second thought, making their way straight for the exit, deciding they were already done answering to the trio. Before Unimato could say or make any movement in protest, they turned their head to the dull 'thunk' of Misaka's head hitting the table, appearing to be completely out cold. Unimato carefully placed the back of their hand on the kid's forehead, recalling her fatigued state only mere moments ago, before looking back up at the maid for a moment, shaking their head grimly as they felt both the dampness caused by the sweat and the alarming amount of heat the poor kid was currently emitting.

At this, they stood up suddenly, calling out to the cold, pale excuse of a human being, without thinking. And as they do so, phasing the very next floor tile the albino was about to step on and solidifying it as the bottom half of their shoe passed through, in hopes to at least slow them down.

"I-if you're not going to take her to the scientists, then I will! They state in an almost uncharacteristically stern tone and against their better judgement, given prior experiences. "So c-could you at least tell us whoever the head of the experiment was or put us in contact with them...? I-... if you can at least do that much for us we'll... leave you alone and you won't have to deal with me or her again... ever, after this. So... please, can you at least spare us that much?

Unimato finishes with their voice notably wavering towards the end, whether its with worry for the kid or fear for talking back to the most powerful esper in Academy city. Either seems plausible, given the situation.

“Dammit!” They had been giving chase for far too long. They had driven Musujime down to the lowest floor and were still in hot pursuit though it felt like they were multiple steps behind the target.

But that was not what had caused Shirai Kuroko to cry out. After managing to chase her through multiple locations in that building, before they could even catch sight of her, a large creature barreling towards them after tearing through the door in front of them.

Her sight had been blocked entirely by this beast.

She had no clue where the enemy was.

But moreover, she was en route to be torn apart by a large creature careening towards them. There was no guarantee she could teleport herself into a safe location. On the other hand…

She raised her hand in front of her until she came into contact with the beast. And the moment she did, she attempted to teleport it. To where exactly? She had no idea. She could hope that it would be the same place as before, but all she could do was pick a random coordinate before them.

Her hand might get damaged in the lag time, but this was the optimal choice regardless.

---

The whole conversation came to an end as the young girl calling herself Misaka lost consciousness. As unceremoniously as her head hit the table, the young man she called her master had clearly decided it was all over.

But despite it all, the young boy who seemed to have just been caught in all of this by pure accident had still decided to stand up and face down someone he was clearly afraid of. The genuine effort was almost enough to move a heart—well, it was enough to move hers at least.

The maid’s job was never to impress her own will onto her master. Doing so would be a major violation. Yet, that girl decided there was no better time to do so as she stood following behind the strongest Esper.

“No ordinary hospital can take care of her, but I am sure there is a scientist out there who could at least take care of things. Not every one of them is a Kihara, at the end of the day. This may bee presumptuous of me to say, but surely, you would rather not try to wash your hands of the matter without closing some loose ends, master. You never know when things could come back to bite you because you tried to trim things off in a half-baked manner.”