Chapter 26

Speaking of which, if the bank event has happened, Didn't that mean that Misaka has already encountered Touma around a month ago?

No wonder there had been reports about one of the bridges being mysteriously damaged overnight. Did she fry the cameras back then too?

'Take notes, me. Even the railgun didn't leave any traces, and yet you call yourself an expert.' I inwardly sighed as I remember my biggest blunder to date. 'Well, There weren't any cameras in Gensokyo so it wasn't like I can get any training against them back then... Although it does have a certain tengu...'

On other pressing matters, the first semester has passed.

It was sort of hard to believe that two whole months went by.

Looking back, not a lot of things happened, just some judgement business, the bullying case, and miasma catalysts.

Putting those aside for now, there is another reason why the four of us met up in the usual family restaurant other than just relaxing. The other reason is totally ordinary yet crucial for any student of any school...

How to spend the Summer break!

The four of us have already passed both the theoretical and practical exams with flying colours. Now that all students have a chance to unwind from the tense Academy City exam atmosphere, all that's left is to decide to spend our vacation.

Because after all, summer break spans from July 20th all the way to the end of August. An entire 40 days of freedom.

Of course, I --and my coworkers-- Still have Judgment duties because that's not gonna stop any teenager from letting lose. The opposite is more likely to happen, so everyone might have to take on more patrols to quell the problem.

"It finally summer break." Saten looks up from her phone and starts. "Anyone have plans on what to do with it?"

Haru answered her first. "The Tea ceremony club has an event or two that's in the works, but other than that? Nothing. You?" He asks her back.

"When I still daydreaming about it in class, I was thinking of all sorts of ways to spend it. The arcade, shopping or just playing around." She sighs. "But now that it's been actually here, all of a sudden I don't feel like doing any of that."

"I get it." Nodding, I replied. "You don't wanna do anything and just want to practically relax like jelly on the bed, right? It was hard just waking up."

"Some days are just like that." Said Uiharu. "But Shuzenji-san, didn't you apply for temporary leave?"

"That news to me." Said Haru, grinning as he slings his arm over my shoulder. "Is this the first step of rebellion? You gonna quit soon and join the go-home club?"

With three pairs of curious eyes looking at me, I removed Haru's arm and gently pushed him back to his seat before replying.

"Not at all, granny just wanted to take me around a few places for a bit." I shrug. "She probably just wanted to me expand my horizons or something, healing here and there. I should be gone for a week or so."

"Really?" Asked Saten with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Don't even think about it." I dissuaded her. "You know it's too dangerous to go by yourselves."

"But isn't that what we were training for?" She pouted.

"It was training under supervision, Saten-san." Said Uiharu. "Doesn't the coach watch over you during baseball practice even if you didn't join officially? It the similar to that."

"You heard her, Saten." Quipped Haru. "No means no, End of discussion." I deadpan at him because he tried to 'underhandedly' sneak a note from a slithering root. When he noticed that everyone was staring at him, he torn up the note and whistled as if nothing had happened.

I just shake my head at his antics and turned to Uiharu. "I know it kinda sudden, but granny's gonna pick me up tomorrow."

"That soon?" She asked, to which I nodded.

"And two weeks? That's like, half of the vacation." Groaned Haru.

"We'll hang out when I get back, but until then, let's just enjoy this quiet moment."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Waving back at my friend as the train departs, I stiffly turned to the two girls who are accompanying me.

"I never knew his grandma was the one-and-only Recovery Girl." I admit, I am dumbfounded by the revelation. I figured that he was good enough of a healer to have hospitals all but fight over him, but I didn't think he would be that important. "From your faces, was I the only one who didn't know?..."

"Hm?" Uiharu tilts her head. "I found out during the Judgment exams when one of the examiners recognised him."

"Besides, it wasn't like he was keeping it a secret." Saten shrugs. "I even overheard him answering her calls from time to time."

'Was I that dense?' I can't help but think as my roots slither in disbelief.

Saten folded her arms around her head as she and Uiharu start to walk out of the station. "In the first place, the surname [Shuzenji] is rare. You could've just figured it out by looking it up on the internet."

Scratching my head, I just accepted the fact that one of my friends is apparently the grandkid of a bigshot.

I mean, seriously.

Recovery Girl was someone who singlehandedly saved hundred of thousands of lives. And she also works as the nurse for one of the best Hero schools in the entire world. AND she was also the one who helped inspire and cultivate countless heroes and doctors!

Even with looking at his grandma, Shuzenji himself is pretty impressive too!

He's a part of Judgment, He's got mad skills in fights, He's good a healing, He's good at school-

'Yeah... That's gonna take a while to digest...' I thought while subtly glancing at my two other friends.

One is a complete computer Wiz with enough skill to probably get her into I-island or something and she's a dedicated member of Judgment, while the other is a sought-after talent for sports that put even professionals to shame and she has a really great memory that she can memorize a book the night before a test!

Glancing in another direction, I see my own image reflected on the showcase window of a store.

My singular eye, a glassy black that it looks like it belonged to an insect. Dark straight hair with patches of uneven green and leaves. And worst of all, my own roots.

'Makes me wonder, I kinda feel like I'm not supposed to be here.' I look down at my hands and feel my roots slightly wriggle in agitation. I unknowingly furrowed my brows while pushing down my emotions.

They look so off-putting and creepy that people always avoided me back then. Always.

It was why I came to Academy City. I wanted a fresh start.

On the first day, before the orientation began, I introduced myself to everyone in my would-be class as well as the others in neighbouring classrooms. I even tried to hide my roots in inconspicuous parts and angles so they wouldn't normally be seen, and yet, people still flinch and revolt in disgust when they even so much as to catch a glimpse of them.

I can see it. They didn't want to hurt my feelings but they weren't exactly trying to hide it either.

I was glad when I met Shuzenji, really.

He wasn't even fazed by me. He even looked curious about it!

That how we became genuine friends.

Even if he doesn't talk much, you can tell what he usually means by the way usually carries himself.

And there are times when he acts like a tsundere too! By the way Kazari and Saten look at him during such times, I know they find the gap cute.

I read manga too, so I understand where they're coming from. --And it also helps that he looks the part.--

Looking back, I really am grateful that out of all the people I met, We became friends.

That's why, I need to get stronger.

I don't know how and I'm not that smart to figure it out immediately, but I'll get there one day!

'I swear that one day, I can stand proudly next to my friends!' I proclaimed in my heart as i walked next to my friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, at a certain student's dormitory at the same time.

"I'm starving..." Said a petite silver haired girl. "I'm starving I'm starving I'm Starrrrviiiiiingggg!!!! Didn't you hear me?" She said, much to the chagrin of the spiky haired teen.

The teen, Touma, is currently taking in his current situation.

'Eh...? What kind of event is this?' He thought in tired exasperation. 'Waking up to see a nun suntanning at my balcony, how could that even be possible!!?'

She glanced around his room and turned her sights back to the teen, but seeing that he still wasn't replying to her, she spoke again.

"I'll be so so happy if you are to let me eat till I'm full!" She implored as Touma finally accepted that it was not an illusion and a nun is actually in his room.

"No,no,no,impossible-----! This has nothing to do with me!!" He dreaded as she continued to stare at him. "From past experience, this is a forecast to an even more unluckiness---!!!!" He lowered his head in defeat and noticed a bag of yakisoba bread by his side.

"..." Touma picked it up and presented it to her. "How about this? Want to eat it?" She nodded in confirmation. "Alright! Just eat it then! Eat all of it!!!"

'Fuu... With this sour smell, she should run away barefooted, eh!?-' His thoughts were interrupted.

"Thank you! You are a kind person, right?" She beamed a bright smile.

"Eh!? Erm, wai-" Baffled, he tried to say something but it was already to late. She bit hard in full force, chomping down on the sour-smelling yakisoba bread he was holding, bag and all, along with his fingers.

A pained scream was heard from the dormitories that day.

Some snacks and a bag of chips later, the girl finally introduced herself to Touma.

"My name is Index." She proclaimed. "As you can see, I am from the church."

'Index?...' He thought. "...Whoever hears it will think it's a nickname, won't they?!" He retorts in irritation.

"Ah, I'm not a Vatican, I'm a puritan." She explained.

"I have no freaking idea what you're talking about!"

Despite his outburst, Touma kept his skepticism inside his heart. He finds the situation odd, to say the least.

From what he gathered so far, he can conclude that the girl, Index, is not from Academy City. But if that is the case, how did she get inside?

The checkpoints of the city are more than what meets the eye. In addition, because various and multiple researches are going on, security is tight.

Anyone whose profile is not registered and caught by the cameras would have security guards immediately notified. No matter how he thinks about it, it was suspicious.

"Hey... how did you end up suntanning on my balcony?" He asked.

"I wasn't suntanning, I fell off." She explained. "I was being chased after, and so I jumped from the nearby building's rooftop and landed on my back."

'She's being chased by someone who wants her life?' He thought before noticing a certain detail. 'Speaking of that, her back... There's not a single scratch of injury.'

"-cause" He snapped back to reality and listened once more. "I am [Index]. I am holding on to 104 thousand volumes of magic books. I think this is why I am being targeted by the organisation."

"Or... Organisation?"

"Magic Chapel."

The two stared at each other for a second before Touma blinked and started to laugh.

"Haha... heh..." He wheezed between breaths. "...Sorry, but I don't believe it... I don't believe in magic."

"I wouldn't go so far as to say 'Mysterious things in the world do not exist!!'. I know of supernatural abilities exist, that's what quirks are."

"... Without thinking, you can't say that I am wrong in that sense." Index said softly.

"Then... Supernatural abilities, quirks, are not uncommon. Most of the the world has it at this point." Touma elaborated. "Granted, most quirks can be guessed by looking at the parents but sometimes, outliers happen."

"When that happens, people generally get tested and undergo through various experiences. To figure out what quirk they get or how to awaken their quirk factor. It is an accepted statement, if the explanation of it is done using scientific reasoning."

"That is why, unless it is science, I will not believe in it." Touma said solemnly. "Through consumption of MP to revive the dead, or to cast spells, who will still want to undergo enhancements, or to work hard on the gifts they already had?"

As if time has stopped, a still moment elapsed quietly. It wasn't until the silence was broken by small voice.

"...But magic exists..." Pouted Index. "THERE IS MAGIC! THERE IS MAGIC! THERE IS! THERE IS! THERE IS!" She yelled, throwing a tantrum on the floor.

"Then show me!" Shouted Touma as he covered his ears. "Like floating in midair or using some sort of power to transform yourself!"

His words halted her tantrums abruptly.

She stared to nervously sweat as she averted her gaze. "I... I Can't use magic..."

"Hmm! Making superpowers seem so farfetched, why don't you show me some?" She said defensively. "You believe in the existence of supernatural powers but not magic... Humph!" She pouted.

It was then when an idea suddenly dawned upon her. She briskly went to the kitchen under the gaze of an angry Touma. But that anger quickly faded and replaced with panic as he sees her come back with a knife in her hands.

"Woahwoah- Index-san?!" He said as he put his hand in the air as a sign of surrender. "Sorry! I'm really sorry!! Please throw that knife away and clam down!"

"Pierce and see-" She said smugly. "-As a member of the church, this robe is an important element. Everything was calculated, from the usage of fabric, sewing to embroidery!" She said while showcasing her robes to Touma who was relieved she wasn't going to stab him.

"The fabric, although it's a copy, it has the same characteristics as the [Holy Cloth] and it is the highest grade in the church." The more Touma listened, the stronger his sense of unease felt.

"Even if shot by a bullet or pierced by a knife, it will not do any damage, so here!" To his horror, His gut feeling was right. "Pierce my stomach with all your strength and see!!!" She said as she tries to shoved the knife into his hands.

Instantly, a vision of tomorrow's newspaper about a murdered nun was displayed in his thoughts.

He refused the knife, of course, but she was adamant to showcase the prowess of her robes. After a brief back-and-forth, the knife slipped from both their hand and fell.

The knife landed blade-first into the floor, right in-between the toes of a barefoot Touma and dealing a shallow cut.

While dealing with the pain, Touma had an epiphany. "You asked what I can do, right? This right hand... This is what I like to call the [Imagine Breaker]. It has the ability to engage any attacks or effects such as railguns and god's works..."

"In other words... If what you said is true, then... My right hand will turn your robe into dust upon touching it, right?"

"Fufu~~~n" She pouted, clearly not believing him. "With your 'power?'"

"Oh?" Touma has long since been annoyed. Giving into his irritation, he made a move. "Let's do it then!!! Take this!!!"

*Poof* His right hand gently made contact with her shoulder. With bated breath, they both waited as seconds passed.

"Look, nothing happened! You liar magical girl!!"

"You too, your whatsoever Imagine Breaker is fake!"

As Index placed her hands on her hips in smug victory, her robes fell apart from the seams and exposing her body.

The sudden development has caught them both off guard. Their minds were still as the shock left them temporarily unable to register what has happened.

When they both came to, Index, in her embarrassment, has already moved by instinct and started biting on Touma's head.

Touma, who's is now covered in bite marks, rethinks his current situation as Index sullenly puts her robes back together using mundane safety pins given by a guilty Touma.

'What Index said could be true since there's an observable effect from my [Imagine Breaker]...' He thought. 'Magic and magic books, I still don't believe in them but...' Touma catches a glimpse of the clock.

"WAAA! SCHOOL! SCHOOL!" His loud voice caught the attention of Index. She watches as he stumbles around and prepared himself.

"I'm going to school, what are you going to do? If you're staying here-" Touma stubbed his toe on the doorframe, losing his balance, he fell down and coincidentally landed on his phone, cracking the screen much to his dismay. "Ugh, such bad luck..."

"Rather than saying unlucky, why not blame it on your own failure." She said teasingly, now wearing the repaired robes.

"Oh... You're still wearing that? Isn't it as good as not wearing anything?" He pointed out dumbly which irked the silver haired girl.

"You don't even do any self reflection on what you did, do you!?"

"Ah, I'm sorry." He timidly scratched his chin. "Seriously...really sorry."

Index then went out the open door.

"Oi! Where are you going?" Said Touma, worried for the girl.

"Going out." She said with new determination. "Staying here won't help, I don't even know when the enemy will reach here."

She turned her head to meet his gaze with a smile. "Thank you for the meal~!"

Seeing that, Touma worries were still not appeased. So he went forward and grabbed her arm. "Wait! Do you have any other place to go? I don't know the situation well, but if there are magicians prowling around it'd be better if you stay, wouldn't it?"

"I can't" She said. "It will become 'unlucky' right? If Imagine Breaker really does exists, I'm thinking that god's protection, your own luck and any other things that fall in the same category will be abolished, right?"

"Eh?" Touma is shocked by the revelation. "Wha..."

"In other words..." Index continued. "Your right hand is the reason for your misfortune."

Her words were like thunder to him. He weakly fell to his knees in shock as the answer to his lifelong mystery was finally revealed.

Touma then shakes his head as he remembered focuses once more and said "No, wait. That has nothing to do with this right now. I'm certain that it's dangerous for you to go out, do you think that I'll let you go off just like that!?"

Hearing that, Index smiled from the bottom of her heart. "Thennn, together with me, will you follow me to the depths of hell?"

Touma couldn't find the right words to answer immediately. But before he did, a still-smiling Index turned around and ran.

"Hey wait! What are you going to do alone!?"

"I'll be fine! If you're running away from the church, you should be hiding somewhere~~~!"

"... she's gone..." He muttered as the echo of her voice faded away.

This was how Index, the girl with more than a hundred thousand grimoires, and Touma, one of the world's chosen, have met.