Chapter 28: Trouble

Kamijou Touma was an unlucky person. There was no need to look any further than the Daihaseisai to understand that. It was clear to everyone. The Daihaseisai was an athletic festival-like event where espers battled it out against one another. But for some reason, Kamijou had gotten tangled up in a battle among magicians on the very first day, and he'd been the last one standing in a huge battle to prevent Academy City from subjugation. He was always getting caught up in crazy situations. Even with that problem resolved, it didn't change the fact that he was fundamentally unlucky. He'd accidentally walked in on Komoe-sensei changing, endured a head-butt from the steel forehead of Fukiyose Seiri upon her recovery, been bitten by Index, catapulted skyward by Tsuchimikado, only to have his head forcefully brought back to the ground by both Misaka Imouto and Kanzaki. Threatened by Kanzaki, faced gumballs pelted at him from wheelchair-bound Himegami Aisa... Kamijou was exhausted in more ways than he could count. He heaved a sigh as he made his way back to the dorm after a quick trip to the convenience store for breakfast. It was ten in the morning, and with nothing left in the fridge, he had to buy something for Index before she would starve to death... literally. "I wonder if it was just my imagination," he mused, absentmindedly scratching the back of his head while his other hand juggled a bag of collectibles. Around sunrise, he had woken up to a slight tremor in his apartment, possibly a mild earthquake. Nothing unusual, considering they lived in a seismically active country like Japan. Although he thought he heard distant sounds of explosions from time to time, Index didn't seem to notice, deeply asleep. In the end, he found it a bit curious but didn't have the energy to dwell on it further. Kamijou descended the staircase that led down from the petite bridge spanning across the main street. "Huh!? Is it raining?" muttered Kamijou as he looked up into the cloudy sky. A few drops of rain were finding their way to the black road surface. It was the end of October, so the air had grown quite cold. (I don't think I had a futon hanging out to dry. I hope Index remembered to close the window before continuing her act of starving.) Kamijou headed off at random while still looking up at the sky, which was covered with a thick layer of clouds. It was raining, but not enough to need an umbrella. When he thought about how near his dorm was and the fact that the dorm umbrella stand was full because he would buy a cheap convenience store umbrella whenever it rained, he really did not feel like changing his path and heading to the underground mall to buy some rain gear. (Is it just me, or are there a lot of Anti-Skill members around here?) Whether due to the time of day or the weather, there were surprisingly few students on the road trying to find cover. The only people he saw walking around were Anti-Skill. The Anti-Skill members wandering around wore defensive armor made of layered plastic and shock-absorbing polyurethane. Their equipment had to be waterproof, but Kamijou felt a bit sorry for them when he saw them walking around in the cold rain without an umbrella. (Hmm. If we're out here late enough, they'll probably try to lead us home. I know how to slip past them...) Kamijou was just about to look away from the Anti-Skill members. But before he could do so... He heard an unusual noise. "...?" Kamijou halted. A distant explosion echoed from the west, strong enough to make the ground beneath him tremble slightly. "Perhaps that's the reason..." He shifted his gaze toward the assumed source of the sound, within District 15, a neighboring area to his residence in District 7. Kamijou couldn't fathom what might have caused such a disturbance. However, he began to piece together the likely explanation for the unusually high presence of Anti-Skill members. It dawned on him as he observed their organized formation, as though they were actively preventing anyone from entering District 15. (Terrorists?...) Right before he would involve himself in matters that don't pertain to him, his phone rang in his pocket. Startled by the unexpected ring, Kamijou hastily retrieved his phone. The caller ID displayed a number with a familiar name— "Tsuchimikado..." He immediately brought the device to his ear, realizing that the call, given the caller and the timing of it, was his ticket to understanding what the hell was happening. "...Kami-yan~~" There was a brief pause from the other side before he spoke as if catching his breath. "There's some chaos near my area... any idea?" Another moment of silence followed, though Kamijou was half-sure he heard the noise of gunshots and explosions from the other side. "...Are you near District 15 right now?" "Why do you ask?" "Is there an abnormal amount of Anti-Skill around?" "...Yeah, answer me, Tsuchimikado. What the hell is happening, and why do you sound as if you are running for your life?" Even though Touma asked twice already, he hadn't received any answer from Tsuchimikado yet. Instead, he heard him mutter to himself. "As I expected, he was planning the whole thing..." Even though he was supposed to be mumbling to himself, Kamijo could hear him. "Planning? Who?" "Ah, nothing, nothing... Anyway, Kami-yan, we are in big trouble right now." "?" Kamijo took a moment to find cover at the side of the road as the rain started to pour heavily. "In short, the entire Academy City is under attack by an unknown number of enemies from several parts of the magic side." "...And the reason?" "...A war is about to start, and the attackers are targeting what they assume is one of the Science Side's trump cards." "Wait, wait, I can't grasp what you're saying... A war? From who exactly, and how did they get inside? Are they the cause of the chaos in District 15?" "Listen calmly, Kami-yan. I don't have time to explain everything right now. What you need to know is that there shouldn't be any magicians who have entered. We're keeping them at bay, and the chaos you're mentioning in District 15 isn't related to the magic side at the moment." Kamijou was stunned. He didn't stop, though—he at least wanted to know who the enemy was. "Everyone is your enemy right now, Kami-yan. Listen, I called for a reason." "Figure it out." "The target they are after, the clone with the white hair." "Huh!????" "You have to find her and move her to the Academy Airline; there you should find an assistant. We need to transport her to England, where she'll be under the watchful eyes of the Anglican Church." "Hold on, Tsuchimikado, why are they after—" "Listen, damn it...." Before Kamijou could utter another word, Tsuchimikado's voice was urgent, cutting through Kamijou's attempts to seek clarification. He heard a sudden commotion on Tsuchimikado's end. Frantic whispers and what sounded like hurried footsteps filled the background noise. "There's no time for explanations now. Just trust me and get her where I asked you. And if you fail, just kill her." "Huh? What are you—" "That's our last option. If she has to die, you have to be the one to do it. If they succeed in getting rid of her, they'll secure the help of the Russian Orthodox Church, and we'll be screwed. If you don't want the whole Academy City and the Anglican Church to fall into ashes, do it!" Kamijo was about to protest, but he held himself, taking a moment to process the whole situation, and just then, he heard a voice. "I have a question for you." From in front of him, the blue lights on the side road symbolized a certain man: Beyond their halo, under the heavy rain, came the rough voice of a man. "And I advise you not to play dumb with me because I'm well aware of who you are." He heard footsteps. But they weren't the steps a normal human would make. With every step he took, a dull noise rippled along the road. A glimpse of overwhelming power. A countdown to death, now distinct. The strange footfalls closing in on him from the blue darkness presented an unfairness that went far beyond brute force. "That voice... damn it, how did he manage to go through?" Kamijo could hear the confusion and nervousness clearly in Tsuchimikado's voice, yet the presence of the man in front of him took all his focus. Kamijo could hear the confusion and nervousness clearly in Tsuchimikado's voice, yet the presence of the man in front of him took all his focus. Brown hair and features like a stone statue. His clothing closely resembled blue golf wear. He looked physically strong but not in a healthy way. His was the body of a blood-soaked soldier. "So that's one of the many that's after the Imoutou..." "Kami-yan, run away now! You can't take him alone—" Kamijou hung up and shoved the phone back into his pocket as he locked eyes with the approaching man. "You're..." "Acqua of the Back." At the same time, one possesses the qualities of a Saint. "...And what do you want from me?" "The clone with the white hair, where is she?" Kamijou cursed in his mind. Why did trouble always seem to come walking toward him like this? "...The way you're approaching me, it seems like you're about to beat the crap out of me instead of asking a question." Kamijou took a cautious step back, ready for whatever was coming. The presence of Anti-Skill around him gave a sense of safety, but he knew they might not be able to hold the monster that was approaching. "Hmph. Perhaps I was too nice." Irritated, Acqua cast a glance at Kamijou, looking him up and down. "I've only come to eliminate the source of the disturbances throughout the world." "What are you even talking about?" "You can't pretend you don't know." "...Are you talking big like that while you guys are hunting down an innocent soul?" As he said this, Kamijou noticed a brief shift in Acqua's expression, a flicker of surprise. It was quick, returning to his usual demeanor in an instant. "What?" Kamijou asked, feeling as if he said something wrong. "...It's just ironic that you used 'soul' instead of 'person'... you have no idea about the host of this clone, do you? The people you assume are your allies don't even tell you, do they? No... Perhaps even they have no idea what exactly this clone is." "Huh?" "Nevertheless, I'm sure you'll find yourself helping us once you know the truth. But for now, I need you to tell me where that thing is." Kamijou Touma tightly clenched his right fist. He was lost in understanding what that Acqua of the... or whatever he called himself was talking about, but he had grown accustomed to hearing nonsense from those on the magic side. What he knew for now was that he had to take the man in front of him down and go find Misaka Imouto. "What if I said I don't know?" They were ten meters or so apart. As far as Kamijou could tell from watching him, he had nothing like a weapon, and it didn't seem like any were hidden in his clothes. The golf outfit was stretched around his muscles, not giving him any space to stow something inside it. "So that's how you want it to be..." Kamijou focused his mind entirely on him, watching for even the slightest move of a fingertip. Avoiding conflict was an impossibility. Because he was fully aware of that fact, he wouldn't move recklessly and would instead try to gauge the best time to charge in. (God, I hope the hospital bill won't be so expensive this time...) Part 2: Tsuchimikado Motoharu was a man who often found himself navigating the intricate web of Academy City's magical and scientific sides. As he hurried through the rain-soaked streets, with the phone in his ears, trying to call Kamijou over and over again but without picking up from the other side. "Damn it!" He cursed as he navigated the rain-soaked streets. He was in the southwest of Academy City—School District 2. Its primary focuses are training areas for Judgment and Anti-Skill, and military-related facilities. The district is said to be dyed in the colors of heavy industry, especially about vehicles, weapons, and ammunition. His footsteps splashed through the puddles as he rushed through the district. The rain poured relentlessly, but Tsuchimikado pressed on, his mind racing to find a solution to the escalating crisis. "Come on, Kami-yan, pick up!" he muttered, frustration evident in his voice as he continued his attempts to reach Kamijou Touma. The chaos around him was palpable. Explosions echoed through the air, and the sounds of conflict seemed to draw nearer. Tsuchimikado couldn't shake off the feeling that the situation was slipping out of control. Without receiving a response, he gave up, slipping his phone back into his pocket as he sought cover between the buildings. The magicians were targeting both District 2 and District 23 in the eastern part of Academy City. District 23 was utilized for aeronautics, space development, and airline flights. These districts weren't randomly chosen; instead, they were vital hubs for specific functions critical to the city's operations. District 2 played a key role in maintaining order and security within Academy City. Disrupting their operations in District 2 would not only create chaos but also weaken the city's ability to respond promptly to threats. On the other hand, District 23 was likely targeted to prevent any attempts to move the clone out of the city via air. Both Kanzaki and Stiyl were summoned back to England; he just didn't understand why that woman would summon both of them back, leaving him alone to deal with the whole situation. Had she betrayed Academy City? Likely not, as both the Anglican Church and Academy City were in the same boat, no matter what she decided now, both sides would end up with the same fate. Which means that Fox had a plan. The Academy forces were likely to buy him time, holding off the outside attacks until he came up with a solution. The only option for him now is to pay a visit to a certain old man in a hub. (At this rate, my hair would drop before I reached my thirties...) Part 3: It was a straight, narrow area, fenced in on both sides by concrete. A wet sound could be heard within the dark narrow hallway. It was the sound of blood dripping to the ground. If you were to glance around at the ground, you could see nine, eleven over sixteen men lying unconscious on the ground, all of them holding weapons such as jackknives, truncheons, and tear sprays. The bodies were surrounding a single person. "Y-You're a monster..." A faint sound that could hardly be heard broke the moment of silence, coming from what seemed to be a friend of the men on the ground. He was being held by the collar, his eyes wide with fear as he stared at the lone figure in the center of the unconscious bodies. A girl in a nun outfit, long white hair, and brown eyes—Misaka-10000. The girl didn't answer the man; instead, she directed a soft fist to the man's gut, leaving him dropping to the ground unconscious like his fellow friends. Surveying the surroundings, she leaned against the side of a building, gasping for air, exhausted. It certainly wasn't because of dealing with those gangs; rather, it was harder for her to not kill any of them, leaving them just unconscious without inflicting life-threatening injuries. It was akin to stepping on a bug without killing it. (Did I lose them?) She pondered to herself, eyes gazing into the distance. Her hand reached up to wipe away several blood droplets on her head. There was no clear injury in any part from where the blood was dripping, but one would assume the reason with the way it dripped—A gunshot. It didn't matter where she hid or where she ran; they somehow knew exactly where she was, even if she tried to conceal her presence from the tracking devices using an electromagnetic shield. They just knew her location, and she had no idea how. Even if she attempted to take refuge inside the buildings around the area, she would find herself brought down to ruins by explosives planted in the structures. She sighed, her gaze shifting to the several unconscious men on the ground. The worst part was coming to know that there was a price on her head on the dark side, and anyone even with a superficial relationship with the dark side would come trying their luck against her, which was annoying. Sometimes, she would even save their lives when she would be under attack from those snipers. (At least I know why that woman wants to kill me... and I'll assume the academy higher-ups are the ones who put the price on my head...) She gazed at the cloudy sky, spotting several drops of rain. It was going to be raining soon, and she hadn't gotten rid of the annoyance yet. It was already ten in the morning, and she hadn't slept, let alone eaten anything for a whole two days. She was starving. As the rain descended in a gentle cascade, Misaka's ears spotted faint approaching footsteps. (Another one?) She asked herself as she turned her eyes to where the sound was approaching. "??" And to her surprise, it was the least one she would imagine to come and take her life. A small body, skinny as if it hadn't eaten anything in days. It was a little boy in scrawny, worn-out clothes, probably no older than ten. "G-give up!" He was pointing a pistol toward her. His thin arms were trembling, probably not just because of fear, but also because he was struggling to hold the pistol high enough to point it toward Misaka. She took a moment of silence, processing what was happening. Her gaze scanned the boy up and down. "The poverty is scary... Say, Misaka." That was her conclusion, though the boy's fingers were heading toward the pistol trigger, not paying attention to what Misaka said. "D-Don't move or—" "Or what, asked Misaka, curious" She tilted her head to one side as the boy was fighting not to collapse in fear. No matter how everyone pictures the Academy City as the perfect city for children, in any city around the world, it has its dark side. And by dark side here, we don't just mean the criminal part but the poverty one. On one side, you may have children with access to the most advanced education, cutting-edge technology, and a comfortable life. On the other side, you have children struggling to survive, facing poverty, and resorting to desperate measures just to get by. The stark contrast within the same city was something Misaka couldn't ignore. The sound of rain started to drum against the concrete surroundings, and the boy remained silent, unable to find an answer to Misaka's question. In the end, Misaka moved her right arm, "!!" Out of fear and surprise, the boy accidentally pressed the trigger. The force behind the shot made him fall onto his back. After the brief silence that followed the gunshot, the little kid quickly fixed his gaze, trying to assess what happened to the girl. To his surprise, she was already standing in front of him, kneeling as she offered a small sandwich. "That's all Misaka has right now. Misaka will look after you and help you when she finishes her business. Here, eat it. Misaka is not hungry, says Misaka as Misaka feels bad for the little kid" The boy hesitated for a moment, still processing the unexpected turn of events. His wide eyes flickered between Misaka and the offered sandwich. "Eat, before the rain ruins it, advises Misaka" The boy slowly reached his hand toward the sandwich, snatched it away, and then ran off without even bothering to retrieve the pistol he had brought with him. Misaka watched him disappear into the rainy distance. With a satisfied nod, she stood to her feet, and just then— "?!?" Her head violently jerked forward in impact. A familiar warmth spread at the back of her head. The ground was coming weirdly closer to her face, and just then, the sound of a gunshot reached her ears. With both her knees and hands on the ground, she reached for the back of her head. The bullet was still lodged there, causing a mixture of pain and discomfort. The rain intensified, mixing with the blood on her hands and face. Grabbing the bullet, she threw it away, trying her best not to scream in pain. Her vision was already damaged because of the hit to the back of her head, specifically the occipital lobe. With the injury being healed, she stood to her feet, a crack of electricity sparking around her as she jumped through the air, moving from side to side between the two buildings until she reached the roof of one of them. Without wasting any time, she sprinted across the rooftops in the area under the rain. Running in the open might be dangerous if she didn't know the enemy's location, but the risk was the same in a closed area. At least in an open space, she could potentially locate the snipers. (Where are they?...) The worst part of the situation was that she didn't know the whereabouts of either the Level 5 woman or her team. However, just in a moment of omission, she remembered something: a way to know where the bullet would come from before it reached her. "The electromagnetic fields..." Misaka-10000, with her electromagnetic abilities, possesses a heightened sense of awareness and reaction speed. While she can't precisely predict the future, she can potentially sense disturbances in the electromagnetic fields around her, indicating the presence of a projectile like a bullet. In theory, she might be able to detect the disturbance caused by a bullet before it reaches her. However, the effectiveness of this ability depends on various factors, including the speed of the projectile, the distance, and how well she can interpret the disturbances in the electromagnetic field. (Nothing is faster than the speed of light, and considering the distance the snipers are located—probably over 100 meters away—if I create a field of 50 meters around me and enhance my reaction speed to its limit, as the bullet enters my electromagnetic field, the signal would reach me almost instantly. The speed of a bullet from a magnetic sniper rifle is twice the speed of sound, taking about 0.01 seconds for the bullet to travel 50 meters. I have to react faster than that if I want to dodge the bullet.) She didn't waste any time focusing her electromagnetic senses, creating a protective field around her. The electromagnetic signals from the surrounding area fed into her consciousness, allowing her to detect any disturbances. As she moved swiftly across the rooftops, the rain intensified, providing both cover and challenge. The sound of raindrops hitting various surfaces made it harder for her to discern potential threats. (They could be anywhere in this rain...) Misaka calculated the potential trajectory of the bullets in 360 degrees, adjusting her electromagnetic field to cover a broader area. The challenge lay in anticipating the exact moment the snipers might take a shot. But it would be easy to guess if she made herself the perfect bait, and what better moment than when she leaped over the roofs? (My eyes are facing north, which means the shots would come from the three other directions. If I continue that path, the west would be covered with smaller buildings, probably not ideal for sniping. That leaves the south behind me and the east from where the previous bullet came. I don't know how many of them there are, but they are in contact, taking turns shooting at me. That means they have a systematic approach, a pattern. The next shot should be coming from the south. I have to give him the best position to shoot so that even if I was wrong, I would trigger his instinct to snipe me.) Misaka had experience being a sniper, a strategic move during their battle against Accelerator. She was well aware that snipers couldn't take shots whenever they pleased. There were various factors to consider, such as wind speed, bullet drop, and the target's movement. All she had to do was run in one direction at a constant speed and calculate the precise moment to take her leap, ensuring it aligned with the constant wind speed... (Got you) It was a moment of silence as she was mid-air. Her head turned to the right, and the bullet just grazed by... She dodged it successfully. But that wasn't enough for her. "What the!!" About 132.23 meters south, on the twelfth floor, in the middle window, a man in an armored outfit froze as their eyes met. Time seemed to freeze as the man tried to flee, but it was too late. In Misaka's hand was a small rock. (I'll borrow your trick, Onee-sama) The man's eyes widened in terror as Misaka hurled the small rock toward him with pinpoint accuracy. The projectile struck him in the forehead, and he crumpled backward, disappearing from the window. A cheap copy of Railgun. Due to her body twisting mid-air, Misaka ended up crashing through the window of the floor beneath the roof she was aiming for. She rolled over the floor before coming to a stop. She didn't bother to stand up, her eyes fixed on the room ceiling. She learned so much today. Back then, she had an idea. Humans have something called muscle memory. Instead of relying solely on her reaction speed, what if she gave her body a pre-order that, upon receiving the signal from the magnetic field, her neck would automatically twist to one side? Though she gambled on where the shot would be targeted, considering the man's pride as a sniper and how she presented him with the best position to snipe her, his pride would not accept anything less than a headshot. (As much as I fight, I become stronger...) The rain intensified outside the broken window, and Misaka, still on the floor, felt a surge of victorious euphoria. The moment would have lasted longer if it weren't for the familiar hissing noise, akin to one you would hear from a burning dynamite fuse... Turning her face to the source, there were several myriad peculiar dolls all around the room. (Whoever's behind this... I'll kill them!) The next moment was crucial as the room erupted into an explosion of fire and debris. The next moment was crucial as the room erupted into an explosion of fire and debris.