Chapter Text
He never wanted to be a hero. He never wanted to be pulled into all these troubles and tragedies. If anything, he would rather be an ordinary high school boy, worrying about grades and hanging out with friends. And for a while it had been like that. The misfortunes eased down and the worst he had to worry about was Valentine’s chocolate from a certain brash girl. His attendance was good; he was catching up on his studies and preparing for the exams.
It really looked like things were turning up for the better.
But of course that couldn’t last. His rotten luck just had to kick in right in the middle of the exam week. And it was no ordinary trouble either. Everything he had gone through and faced ever since he found the silver-haired nun on his balcony – it was leading to this.
A culmination, a final battle.
Once more he had to go on a quest that would take him half way across the world, to fight powers beyond his ability and comprehension. His legs would shake; he would be beaten but he wouldn’t back down. People would come to his aid – close friends, reluctant friends, former enemies and those he wouldn’t even expect. There might even be dragons and perhaps, what had been lost would finally be recovered.
But most certainly, when he was at the end of his rope, there would be a certain girl by his side. That brash, impossible girl who snapped at him for every tease, yet never hesitated to follow him to battle. Who refused to say her feelings out loud, not until her vow was fulfilled.
She would climb up to that stage and stand next to him. They would fight side by side, keeping each other safe. Where one was to fall short, the other would step up. So that what could be a cut would become a scratch and instead of crippling, near fatal wounds there would only be simple bruises.
The boy and the girl would prevail ending the final chapter of their long, ridiculous adventure.
But…
What about the epilogue?
What awaits them when they return home?
Could it be that the girl would finally say the words she had been keeping locked in her heart?
Or…?
***
“I’m sorry, Kamijou-chan. You failed,” Komoe-sensei announced with a smile that could be saying “yep, totally expected that”.
Touma blinked. “Eh?”
“I know you’ve been working hard. But I guess it wasn’t enough…”
His mind was going blank – just like his future.
“But no worries! In light of your efforts… and the Chairman’s insistence… you’d be allowed to re-take the exams that you failed. I’ll be waiting for you next Friday, 9 am sharp. Be sure to prepare this time.”
Yet Touma was blind to this glimmer of hope. The only thing on his mind was the old, familiar thought.
Such misfortune!!
***
The exam week had come to an end but the only ones breathing out in relief at Tokiwadai Middle School were probably the teachers. The students, on the other hand, were far from cheerful. Having survived their first year, the juniors couldn’t help but imagine how worse it would get from here. The second years had to start looking for a prestigious high school afraid of putting Tokiwadai to shame. And the graduates were battling memories and melancholy as they were saying goodbye to their alma mater.
Kuroko had witnessed quite a few teary scenes, particularly among Shokuhou clique. Poor Hokaze Junko was bawling her eyes out and assuring her dear Queen that she would always be there for her, at the first call. Shokuhou Misaki tried to maintain a cool, almost uncaring façade but it didn’t take long for cracks to start showing. A pout here, a tease there – and many, many head pats in the end.
Watching them, Kuroko couldn’t shake off this anxious feeling nipping at her. Next year, this will be Onee-sama and me, she lamented. But she quickly swatted the pesky thought away, along with other fears and concerns for the future.
It was no time to get moody. There were two weeks of freedom and fun ahead. Sure, she would still have her Judgment duties and things might get busy, with all the kids out and about. Running wild, pulling pranks and misusing their powers, as they usually do. Still, Kuroko was determined to enjoy the break.
Together with Ruiko and Uiharu.
And of course her dear Onee-sama.
Oh yes, she was planning to spend lots and lots of time with her.
So what that a certain ape had figured out Mikoto had some sort of feelings for him? It didn’t mean Kuroko would just take a backseat. Nothing was set in stone. The way that boy got so easily entangled in his thoughts and feelings it’d take ages for him to figure out his own heart. And while Mikoto was waiting there was a chance she would finally notice someone else who was right there, always ready and eager for whatever she desired.
The ape could very well screw up and at long last Mikoto would realize her mistake. Kuroko didn’t wish for it, no, – she would hate to see Onee-sama sad. But there was this tiny sprout of hope taking root within her.
Which only grew and blossomed after the closing ceremony.
Mikoto had been very quiet and distracted that following weekend. On Saturday, whether it was at the dorm or out with friends, she kept checking her phone. Her eyes would spark at every little buzz or ding – only to dim as she looked at the screen. Little by little the excitement would lessen, replaced with a pout.
When the four of them sat down at a café, Mikoto put her head on her hand and fiddled with the phone on the table. The others grouped around the menu, yet she didn’t even glance at it.
“Misaka-san?” Ruiko called.
Mikoto kept staring at the phone, her finger spinning it this and that way,
Ruiko called again, louder.
Mikoto blinked and looked up a bit confused. “Mm? What?” She looked around, as if only now realizing where she was. “Oh, sorry. Give me a moment,” she said looking at the menu.
The three of them exchanged a glance. Uiharu appeared confused but Kuroko almost immediately looked away. Of course, she knew what was wrong but there was no way she would speak of that damn ape so openly. But that alone was enough for Ruiko to grin.
“Ah, right, weren’t you going on a date with Kamijou-san?” she asked in that sly voice of hers.
Kuroko choked on air and Mikoto froze for a moment.
“It wasn’t a date,” Mikoto mumbled finally. “We were just supposed to hang out, like friends. Or so I thought,” she added and pouted.
Kuroko scowled and the others raised their brows. “And that’s it?” was written clearly on their faces. No snapping? No profuse blushing?
“So, he hasn’t called?” Uiharu asked careful.
Mikoto grunted out something incoherent, yet clearly vexed.
“I always thought he was lacking as a gentleman. Both in manners and attitude,” Kuroko said. “You shouldn’t get sad over someone like him, Onee-sama.”
There was a pause and Mikoto sighed loudly. “Yeah, you are right.”
The others stared in surprise and for a moment Kuroko thought her prayers had been answered. But then Mikoto smiled affectionately and said, “I might be just overthinking it. Maybe he was too stressed about the exams and now he is having fun with his friends. Celebrating and all that. It probably just slipped his mind to call me.”
An ultimate sin, Kuroko growled to herself. To treat Onee-sama so lightly… to choose his Neanderthal buddies over her… For that alone he should be erased from memory!
Then, to her horror, Ruiko offered, “Maybe you should call him instead?”
Eyes big, Mikoto looked at her phone. Her face started to pale – only to turn bright red in the next moment. “No, no, no, no!” she said shaking her head so fast it could tear away. “Why would I? It was that idiot’s idea! He should be the one inviting me…” Mikoto paused briefly and bit her lip. “Shouldn’t he?”
Ruiko’s grin grew bigger. She nudged closer to Mikoto. “But that’s so last century, Misaka-san. Nowadays, girls often ask boys out,” she singsonged.
“Like I said, it isn’t a date!”
“Then what’s stopping you?” Uiharu asked. “If it really is just friends hanging out, it doesn’t matter who is making the first step. Think of it as calling Shirai-san, or Saten-san, or me.”
Ruiko nodded eagerly. “Right, right.”
“It’s… not the same,” Mikoto said twiddling with her fingers.
“And why is that?”
“Because… because…”
Mikoto looked from one girl to the other. Uiharu had a simple, welcoming smile; she was only slightly curious. Ruiko, on other hand, was like a shark that had smelled blood. Leaning close, she was ready to ask and tease until Mikoto spills every embarrassed thought and wish in her heart.
Kuroko cleared her throat. “How about we give our order before they kick us out for loitering?”
“We should,” Uiharu said after a moment and Ruiko pouted.
Mikoto sighed in relief. She touched her face, still red, and stood up. “I need to go to the bathroom. Kuroko, could you order for me, please?”
“Gladly, Onee-sama,” Kuroko said but Mikoto already hurried off.
Ruiko sprawled over the table. “Buzzkill,” she grumbled to Kuroko.
“You know how Onee-sama is. She won’t just say things out loud.”
“But the faces she makes! I can’t help but poke her to see more of them…”
Uiharu shook her head with a smile. “Misaka-san is not a toy, Saten-san. Maybe we were a little pushy,” she wondered. “But… those two might need a bit of nudging, the way they keep dancing around it.”
“I swear it’s one step forward, two steps back with them,” Ruiko grumbled.
Kuroko did her best to keep her face and voice neutral. “If Onee-sama and that ap… Kamijou-san don’t get together, that is their business. Forcing them would never end well.”
“I guess…” Ruiko said with a sigh.
Uiharu patted her shoulder. “We’ve helped them a lot already.”
That “we” stung quite a bit. Back on White Day, Kuroko begrudgingly had done what she believed was the right thing. But as time had gone by, she was coming to regret it. Seeing Mikoto’s happy face, hearing her laugh… all of it had now made Kuroko bittersweet. Even though a certain boy’s name didn’t even come up, she would still wonder if the joy in those smiles and laughs was because of him.
If before Kuroko only had been annoyed with Touma, now she was starting to hate him. For staining her feelings for Onee-sama like that. She wished the things could go back to how it used to be – before Valentine’s and White day. Before the distance between those two had begun shrinking.
To the old status quo, when they used to bicker like kids, not understanding what they could be.
When Kuroko could fool around and flirt with Mikoto… and not feel guilty about it…
She really didn’t want to help anymore...
It is their relationship. They should be the ones figuring it out and I… I will just wait. No matter how sad Onee-sama becomes. I’ll steel my heart and wait.
***
Mikoto remained quiet for the rest of the lunch. Kuroko wanted to stay and cheer her up but duty called. Thankfully, Ruiko promised to keep Mikoto company and hauled her off in search of fun activities. Though still reluctant, Kuroko left with Uiharu for the meeting.
The conference hall in the main Judgment office was buzzing with chatter. They made it just in time, with only a few seats still empty. Uiharu flocked to Kotori Mii and the rest of Sector 7 Branch. Kuroko thought about joining them but Makigami would probably chew her ear out for that. She looked around for any Tokiwadai Judgment members.
“Twintails?” a voice called from behind.
Kuroko turned and saw the nun in white. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her face quickly souring. Her eyes darted left and right but thankfully the ape was nowhere to be seen.
“Amakusas asked me to help out with the security preparations,” Index said pouting.
Right, she was part of that magic side. And beside her stood a girl with black hair Kuroko vaguely remembered from her visit to the church.
The girl bowed to Kuroko and spoke softly to the nun, “Shall we take our sits, Index-san?”
Considering it briefly, Index shook her head. “I’ll stay with Twintails for now.”
Why? was clearly plastered over Kuroko’s face. They had never been friends… not really, even with the recent events. More like comrades in misfortune.
The black-haired girl frowned briefly but didn’t argue. “Ok, I’ll be in the front row if you need anything. And don’t forget that Tatemiya-san will call you on stage.”
“I won’t,” Index said. “Thank you, Itsuwa.”
Once the girl walked off, there was an awkward silence. Index just kept looking at Kuroko, seemingly unable to say what she wanted.
Kuroko scowled and urged. “So?”
“That Short Hair… what’s she up to?”
“Her name is Misaka Mikoto and she is enjoying her spring break,” Kuroko said. Or trying to, she added to herself. “Why?”
Index hesitated again, then mumbled. “Why isn’t she calling Touma?”
Kuroko instantly snapped. “And why should she? It’s a gentleman’s duty to make the first step. If that ape wishes to have some of Onee-sama’s precious time, he needs to call her. But he would rather fool around with his Neanderthal friends, it would seem.”
Index frowned. “What are you talking about? Touma hasn’t stepped out of his room since Friday. Even right now, he is buried in books studying.”
“Studying? But the exams should be over…”
“He failed.”
Kuroko blinked. “He what?”
Index sighed. “Maybe it was because of that battle or he focused too much on the return gift for stupid Short Hair. But he failed and now he is studying really hard to take the exams again. Too hard… He is only eating when he is starting to starve and even then it’s only some small snacks. He would rarely move from his desk… he even sleeps there… The longer he is like that the worse it gets and no matter what me or Othinus say he doesn’t listen. Or it’s like he isn’t hearing us. I don’t know what to do…”
The concern in her voice made Kuroko keep all the snarky comments to herself.
“So I thought… maybe Short Hair could help,” Index said. “She is smart, isn’t she?”
“I doubt you could ever comprehend how much of an understatement that is,” Kuroko grumbled.
“Could you call her?”
“Why should I?!”
“Please…”
Index pleaded looking her in the eyes and Kuroko wavered faced with such sincerity.
“She wants to spend time with Touma, doesn’t she? But she is just beating about the bush again, right?” the nun guessed.
Kuroko scoffed. “So what? Even if Onee-sama has been a little moody over the weekend, she is on her well-deserved break right now. What she needs is fun and not tutoring some dumb ape.”
But Index wouldn’t back off.
“You do know what will happen if Onee-sama gets involved, right?” Kuroko asked. Then, as her voice dropped low, hollow, she added, “Wouldn’t it be better if they stayed away from each other?”
For a moment, Index’s face stiffened but whatever thoughts and feelings took hold of her, she chased them off with a shake of her head. “It wouldn’t be better for Touma. Right now he needs someone who can give him a good shake and it’s not me,” she said with a bittersweet smile.
Kuroko crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t see why I should care about that ape.”
“But you care about Short Hair, don’t you?”
“And? Onee-sama would be perfectly fine without him! She might be sad now… and she might get sadder… miserable even… but she will get over it…. over him… surely…”
Kuroko trailed off. She had thought exactly that during the whole White Day escapade. But she still ended up helping that damn ape find a proper gift. She still gave Mikoto the push to face him. Seeing their struggles and efforts, perhaps convoluted but genuine nonetheless, she couldn’t help but get involved.
Because she couldn’t stand the idea of her dear Onee-sama being hurt.
Because it was the right thing to do.
“Why?” Kuroko muttered. “Why should we keep doing this? Haven’t we helped them enough?”
The nun’s smile wavered only slightly. “Do you really need a reason to do the right thing? Don’t you just do it because it’s right?”
Kuroko glared at her but weakly. “Like you always do the right thing.”
“Hardly,” Index admitted with a chuckle. “But when I come before God and He judges me, I’d love for my gravest sin to be stealing Touma’s last pudding.”
“Just so you know, I don’t believe in any of that…”
“But you believe in this, don’t you?” Index pointed at the Judgment armband. “I might not know much about Academy City – but I’m pretty sure this Judgment group stands for what is right. For justice.”
“It does…”
“And you fight to protect peace, the future of others… their happiness. Don’t you?”
“I do… of course… But… what about my happiness?”
The moment those words slipped out, it was like the other people disappeared and now there was only her and the nun with a small warm smile.
“Can’t I be selfish? Just this once?” Kuroko asked.
“You can,” Index said readily. “And I can ask someone else for help. Maybe Aisa… or Hyouka if I could find her… or Itsuwa, since she is right here. Though they would be too sweet on Touma, probably.”
Kuroko didn’t know about the other girls but if they were anything like this Itsuwa… older, well-endowed… Of course, none of them could compare to Mikoto in Kuroko’s eyes. But to a lecherous adolescent boy? He would be swayed in an instance. Especially if such a girl was caring for him all day long.
Perfect. Let that ape fawn over some other girl and leave Onee-sama to me. No matter how sad she’d get I can cheer her up… eventually… Kuroko tried to convince herself. I just need to…
“But,” Index said softly.
All the thoughts in Kuroko’s head halted.
“Do you remember White day? When those two walked into the café?”
There was no way she could forget. Not the smiles or the looks they had shared… and least of all the glow that seemed to make everything else dimmer.
“Don’t you want Short Hair to always be like that?” Index asked. “Because I want that for Touma.”
“Even though he is not like that because of you?”
“Yes,” she said and for just that one word her voice trembled. But then she managed a smile. “Is it weird?”
“No… It just means that you truly care about that ap… that guy.”
Index beamed. “And you care about Short Hair, don’t you?”
“Of course!” Kuroko said as if offended. “I’m her… best… friend…”
Only then did she realize.
What had made the turmoil of White day so sweet despite the bitterness?
“Thank you, Kuroko. I’m so lucky to have you as my best friend!” Mikoto’s voice echoed from the back of her mind.
Yes, that’s right. I’m her best friend, Kuroko thought with those same bitter and sweet feelings swirling in her heart. And I have to live up to it.
“Damn it, damn it, damn it,” she grumbled, then took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. “I liked you better as an airhead glutton,” she told the nun.
Index pouted – only to beam as Kuroko took out her phone.
“You are buying me sweets after this.”
“I will, I will… well, if Itsuwa lends me the money.”
Despite herself, Kuroko chuckled. But then, as she was about to call Mikoto, a voice rang through the conference hall, “Please, take your seats. We are about to start.”
Immediately, as if on cue, two voices came from the audience.
“Index-san, over here!” Itsuwa called from the front row.
“Oi, Shirai, hurry up!” Makigami shouted somewhere in the middle.
Kuroko and Index exchanged a look.
“Crap… I’ll just send Onee-sama a text, I guess,” Kuroko said.
“And make sure she knows it is urgent,” Index stressed.
The calls came again.
“Index-san!”
“Shirai!”
The nun ran to the front raw and Kuroko simply teleported right next to Makigami. She sat down and quickly typed the message.
“Stop texting!” Makigami hissed.
“This is important!”
“The meeting should be your priority, stupid!”
My priority is Onee-sama, Kuroko almost snapped but held it back and sent the message. It ended up somewhat jumbled Hopefully, Mikoto wouldn’t just brush it off. After a moment, she sent another one, despite Makigami’s death glare. Then she had to turn the phone off and put it away.
The chatter in the hall died out. On the stage, a young woman in a uniform spoke into the microphone, “Good day, I’m Yomikawa Aiho of Anti-Skill. Today, members of both Anti-Skill and Judgment, as well as our new colleagues from Amukusa Remix Church, gathered here to discuss the upcoming visit of Dion Fortune, the head of Anglican Church.”