Chapter Text
This chapter is the Prologue and chapter 1 together.
Prologue: The Rift Experiment
The underground laboratory beneath Academy City smelled of ozone and antiseptic. White-coated scientists hunched over glowing monitors, their faces lit by holographic displays showing fluctuating AIM diffusion fields. In the center of the reinforced chamber stood Accelerator with his white hair disheveled, red eyes narrowed in boredom and barely-contained rage. Electrodes covered parts of his body, feeding data into the endless pursuit of Level 6.
“Subject One is ready,” one researcher announced. “Initiating dimensional stimulation sequence. We believe this anomaly will provide the final variable needed to push beyond Level 5.”
A swirling rift tore open in the air, not magic, not quite science, but something unstable born from ancient power residue clashing with Academy City’s esper technology. From the rift stumbled a young man with messy reddish-brown hair that fell past his shoulders, wearing clothes that looked far too casual for a research facility. Behind him came three children: a black-haired boy with curious blue eyes, a silver-haired girl, and a red-haired boy who looked remarkably like miniature cat-human hybrids in human form.
The man Cale Henituse blinked slowly, taking in the sterile white walls and the armed guards. He sighed.
“This is annoying. I was trying to take a nap.”
Accelerator clicked his tongue. “Another test subject? Tch. Make it quick.”
The scientists’ eyes widened as scanners went wild.
“Unknown energy signature detected! It’s… off the charts! This isn’t standard AIM! Designating new subject: Cale. Preliminary reading Level 6. Confirmed Level 6!”
Cale rubbed his temple. “Level what? Look, I don’t care about your experiments. I just want”
Before he could finish, Accelerator moved. Vectors shifted. A casual wave of his hand sent a devastating invisible force hurtling toward the newcomer, testing him like every other lab rat.
Cale didn’t even flinch.
The Indestructible Shield activated instinctively. Ancient power swirled around him in an invisible dome. Accelerator’s vectors slammed into it and scattered harmlessly, the feedback making the #1 Level 5 stagger half a step.
Silence fell.
Cale looked at Accelerator with tired, deadpan eyes. “Hey. White-hair. If you’re going to attack someone, at least wait until I’ve had breakfast.”
Accelerator’s lips curled into a dangerous smirk. “Not bad for a weakling.”
The children reacted instantly.
“Human! That white-haired guy is strong!” the black-haired boy (Raon) cheered from Cale’s shoulders.
The silver-haired girl (On) tilted her head. “He looks scary but maybe not bad?”
The red-haired boy (Hong) grinned. “Papa?”
Last Order, who had been brought in earlier for monitoring, suddenly broke free from her handlers and ran straight to Cale, latching onto his leg with sparkling eyes.
“Misaka Misaka thinks this pretty person feels warm and safe like a mother! Misaka Misaka wants to stay with Mother!”
Cale stared down at the small clone girl, then at the three kids who had come with him through the rift. He sighed again, deeper this time.
“Fine. Whatever.”
Accelerator watched the entire scene with narrowed eyes. For the first time in years, someone had blocked his power without breaking a sweat. And now this red-haired slacker had a bunch of brats calling him mother while casually treating the #1 like he was just another annoyance.
One of the head scientists adjusted his glasses, voice trembling with excitement.
“Compatibility between Subject Accelerator and Subject Cale: 99.8%. Vector synchronization potential unprecedented. We will continue joint sessions immediately.”
Accelerator clicked his tongue again, but his gaze lingered on Cale a second longer than necessary.
“Tch. Don’t get in my way, red-hair.”
Cale met his eyes without fear. “Only if you listen when I say something actually important.”
From that moment, an unbreakable bond began to form, born in blood, experiments, and mutual exhaustion with the world.
Chapter 1: The Red-Haired Level 6 and the White Monster
Academy City’s surface was bright and bustling under the artificial sun. Students in uniforms hurried between towering buildings, espers practicing their abilities in designated zones. News of the “new Level 6” had already begun to spread in hushed whispers among researchers, but to the general public it was still just another rumor.
Cale Henituse had been “enrolled” as a transfer student in one of the elite schools. His long reddish-brown hair, delicate features, and the gentle aura he sometimes let slip (thanks to the Vitality of the Heart and Dominating Aura working subconsciously) made almost everyone assume he was a girl. No one bothered asking. He certainly didn’t bother correcting them.
“This is too much work,” Cale muttered, sprawled on the rooftop of a quiet dormitory building. He had skipped morning classes entirely. Raon was curled up beside him in child form, using his lap as a pillow. On and Hong were chasing each other in small circles, their beastman traits hidden under illusion-like control from Cale’s powers.
A familiar presence landed nearby with a crack of displaced air. Accelerator stood there, hands in his pockets, red eyes scanning the sleeping slacker and the three kids.
“Oi. The scientists want another session. Get up.”
Cale cracked one eye open. “Tell them I’m dead.”
Accelerator snorted. “As if they’d believe that after you tanked my vectors without moving.”
Raon sat up excitedly. “Father! You came to see us!”
On and Hong immediately abandoned their game and ran over, clinging to Accelerator’s legs like affectionate cats.
“Papa Accel!” Hong purred.
Accelerator’s face twitched. He didn’t shake them off. “Tch. Don’t call me that in public, brats.”
Last Order suddenly appeared from the stairwell, having followed Accelerator. She beamed and hugged Cale’s other leg.
“Misaka Misaka is here too! Misaka Misaka wants Mother to pat her head!”
Cale sighed but obligingly reached down and ruffled Last Order’s hair. The small girl practically glowed with happiness.
Below on the street, a certain electromaster happened to be walking by with her friends.
Misaka Mikoto stopped dead, staring up at the rooftop scene. There was the rumored new Level 6 beautiful long hair catching the light, smiling softly while patting a child’s head. And right beside “her” stood Accelerator, the violent #1, letting weird kids climb all over him without blasting them away.
Mikoto’s cheeks flushed with an emotion she refused to name as jealousy.
“That guy doesn’t deserve to stand so close to someone that gentle.”
Kuroko appeared beside her in a teleport flash. “Ara, Onee-sama? Are you perhaps interested in the new transfer student?”
“Shut up, Kuroko!”
Meanwhile, Kamijou Touma was running through the streets chasing a small nun with silver hair.
“Index! Wait! You can’t just bite people for food!”
Index skidded to a stop, sniffing the air. “Touma! There’s a strange power up there! It smells like magic but also like science! And food?”
Touma looked up and saw the rooftop group. His misfortune sense tingled. “Oh no”
Back on the roof, Cale finally stood up, stretching lazily. “Fine. One session. Then I’m going back to sleep. And someone needs to feed these kids proper meat.”
Accelerator smirked, stepping closer until their shoulders nearly brushed. “You talk big for someone who just wants to slack off. But fine. Let’s go break their stupid machines again.”
As they walked toward the underground facility together, Cale moving with lazy grace, Accelerator with predatory confidence, the five children trailing happily behind them... the rumors began to spread in earnest.
“Did you see? The new Level 6 beauty and Accelerator looked so close”
“They even have kids together?!”
“The white monster actually listens to her I’m so jealous I could die.”
Cale, overhearing a group of students whispering as they passed, simply sighed.
“This is going to be troublesome.”
Accelerator glanced sideways at him, voice low enough that only Cale could hear.
“Deal with it. You’re stuck with me now, red-hair.”
Cale met his gaze, a tiny, tired smile tugging at his lips.
“Yeah. I guess I am.”
In the distance, Mikoto watched them disappear into a restricted building, sparks dancing between her fingers.
“I don’t like this one bit”
Touma, finally catching up with Index, scratched his head. “Why do I feel like Academy City just got a lot more complicated?”
The power couple whether they knew it or not had officially begun to shake the city.