In the same hospital where the Sisters were rampaging, there was a lady named Yoshikawa Kikyou.

She was a former member of the research group tasked to [Experiment], design, and designate an Absolute Power (Level 6) on top of Academy City's current classification system of Idiot (Level 0), Imbecile (Level 1), Extraordinary Power (Level 2), Strong Power (Level 3), Great Power (Level 4), and Super Power (Level 5).

A self-declared "not kind but sweet" character, she manufactured a little over 20,000 clones, over half of which she killed in the process of the [Experiment]. In truth, she simply handed them to the Level 6 candidate, a certain Level 5 student, but she cannot use that as an excuse.

For now, the [Experiment], due to fatal defects that were present, is not merely frozen but discontinued entirely.

But that doesn't mean that everything related to the [Experiment] up to that point is completely erased. The girls created only to be destroyed, and the ESPer ordered to destroy them... Though special conditioning and physical constitutions were acquired, they were still only children- not to mention the unspeakable mental stress that was most likely weighing down on them. Of course, individual matters, personal disagreements, human relations, etc. have all been put to an abrupt end in a single catastrophic moment. When she normally thinks about it, she'll never be able to do anything like "create" again. (!)

But then.

"'Never--!' says Misaka as Misaka would refuse! 'Not coming down, definitely not coming down from Misaka's position on this sports bag!' says Misaka as Misaka squatting on your carrying bag would strongly protest!!"

"You...!! Don't sit in bags being carried by someone else's shoulders, you lil' bastard!! Have you forgotten that someone is still recuperating?"

The victims in question are in good spirits today, too, Yoshikawa thinks.

The [Predator] called Accelerator has a modernistic tonfa-looking walking stick in his right hand, the shoulder strap of the sports bag hanging from his left shoulder as he stands unsteadily. Pale-haired and red-eyed, he's wearing gray-colored clothes today.

The [Prey] called Last Order is squatting on top of the sports bag, holding herself up with both of her hands on the shoulder straps like a swing. Since she has the body of a ten-year-old, this technique's possible to maintain, although it is difficult for Accelerator, who is carrying the bag while also holding a cane. With shoulder-length light-brown hair and pupils of the same color, she's wearing a man's Y-shirt on top of a sky-blue camisole.

Accelerator took a bullet to the forehead and was taken to the hospital on August 31, and a month has passed before he was finally discharged. Strictly speaking, his body has not recovered; to put it more accurately, all the treatment so far was simply first aid. But because of the broken skull fragments, the injured part of his brain is being cut off; even now, his current situation forces him to compensate for that part of his brain functions by means of a choker-like electrode in his head. Without it, he cannot perform language communication or even stand on his own. Well, with that degree of injury on him, simply returning to a normal life is a miracle in itself.

With these circumstances, they are standing in the hospital's front door.

By all accounts, Yoshikawa should have taken that bullet. With her physical condition, she's in no condition to look after children; even so, she took up the role.

This is not because she had to do it.

This is because she wanted to do it.

"Right, right. If you play in the entrance, we might disturb other people. If that's the case, we should drop off the baggage first, and then we can play."

"'Misaka is not playing!' While Misaka is pushing down the bag's center, Misaka is protesting with a serious face!!"

"If this tickling-like sensation ain't play, then what the hell is it, you!"

The sports bag is about to break, Accelerator shouts. Yoshikawa, ignoring this exchange, drifts a ways from the doorway and waves lightly to a waiting taxi driver.

The taxi slides effortlessly towards their direction.

Accelerator hoists the luggage with Last Order on it to the driver and,

"I'm gonna jam this all in the trunk, open it up."

"'You treat Misaka as luggage!?' says Misaka as Misaka trembles with fear and dives for the backseat!!"

Accelerator throws the sports bag into the backseat, squashing Last Order in, before sitting down in the empty space.

The back seat still has space for another person, but Yoshikawa heads to the assistant driver's seat to avoid getting dragged into the slapstick argument.

Just to be sure, she tells the driver in advance,

"They've just gotten out of the hospital, so set the air in here to high."

"Ahaha. They're kids, so they should be healthy enough."

"The little one behind you isn't accustomed to the air inside a car, so she might vomit."

"!!!?"

The driver turns to the back in surprise. Oh, a newbie, Yoshikawa comes to that impromptu evaluation. She knew that Accelerator's holding down the sports bag, so the banging sound is only coming from Accelerator keeping himself separate from Last Order. The point is that because of what Yoshikawa said abruptly in advance, they'll have a smoother drive, though it appears that's not much for a major underhanded trick like this.

The taxi smoothly departs as if transporting raw eggs.

Yoshikawa informs the driver of their destination and checks the digital clock on top of the meter; it'll be noon soon.

Truly believing that she might vomit soon, Accelerator keeps the head of the approaching Last Order away from him and looks dubiously at the back of Yoshikawa's head.

"Where are we going?"

"There is a school where my acquaintance works. It'll be like an appointment. Will you be dropping out of your school? I know what that means to you, right."

Students residing at Academy City use the dormitories. There are even those who stay for free at places like the town bakeries, but that's extremely rare.

Being away from the boundaries of this town's schools (actually an ESPer R&D organization comprising of schools), it is often forgotten that these residences serve as dormitories at the same time. Accelerator has no attachment to residences since he was always targeted by Academy City's delinquents and even had his dorm room destroyed by them. Since even the furniture has most likely been totally destroyed, it has no worth to it. But to lose a place with a roof is, of course, still a big deal.

Even though he knows that risk, Accelerator still choosing to drop out from school means,

"......For all that Level 6 stuff, sorry, I'm not involved in that anymore."

For the time being, in indirect terms, the organization that performed the [Experiment] is already disbanded. But even if the research center that used the Sisters is gone, it doesn't mean the curse is lifted. Even in the school he went to, there still exists a totally separate structure called the "Special Development Laboratory (special class)". With him as the only student, it's basically a rectangular space serving as an isolated incubation ground for experimental animals.

To separate himself from this blood-soaked world, he has to throw everything away: research center, school, dormitory, and everything else.

This time, he has no choice but to choose a school that is not "strong-willed". Before the all-too-fascinating research subject like Accelerator, who knows if there is a researcher whose eyes won't glow, but he has to search for one.

For the all-too-special targets Accelerator and Last Order, there is nowhere to go outside of Academy City.

Unless they go back to an Academy City school, they have to spend the rest of their days in the back alleys like the armed Level 0 group (Skill-Out). Should Academy City's strongest of the Level 5s choose that, everything he holds dear will be destroyed.

Accelerator twists his lips,

"Then, is control handed down to you by the decision of the board of directors? Well, if it's you, you'll still be following orders, even if it's your own research area, I think."

Yoshikawa was once a research member involved in the [Experiment], and aside from manufacturing Last Order and the clones, she also performed Accelerator's maintenance routines.

Even with research related to Level 6 terminated, he's still Academy City's strongest Level 5, a fascinating research material. According to various investigations from Yoshikawa, if the new ESP development techniques were applied, vast benefits could be acquired.

No matter how far away he goes, he continues to feel someone else's expectations and influence over him.

Well, most people who have encountered Accelerator thus far are those consumed by a single heretical word. If he feels he can escape from the curse of such adults by lending Yoshikawa the right to decide his activities in advance, it will be somewhat easy for him to. Of course, should he disagree with her methods, he could just smash her up and try another way, but then...

"Wrong."

Yoshikawa Kikyou said that single word without turning around.

"Ah?"

"I'm not your next 'handler', as you would say. Please think about this carefully. Right now, Yoshikawa Kikyou, with the research group over, is on the verge of unemployment. Furthermore, I was involved in the [Experiment] and twice in cases in which you played a central role. If you think of this as some guardianship role, then the board of directors will immediately fire every one of us."

"...then what are you here for? You must be a mere messenger- which means after this, you’ll hand us to some unknown researcher?"

"Suspicious, eh? Well, it's to be expected, considering your past living environment, but let me point out two mistakes in your prediction. First, I intend to hand you over to someone you know, and second, that person is not from the research bureau."

"--------,"

Accelerator narrows his eyes as he carefully thinks over Yoshikawa's words.

I can't believe this.

He's not being tormented by the brat's presence sitting beside him, so even with this degree of a handicap, he could smash up an opponent. Since he's seen his opponent's face before, smashing him up right here is quicker and easier than being on the lookout for an unseen opponent.

...This is getting boring.

And.

Towards her, the totally innocent Last Order says,

"'The only known non-researcher is Yomikawa, maybe,' says Misaka as Misaka raises her hands in surrender and utters."

"Correct."

Yoshikawa answers bemusedly.

Yomikawa is one of Yoshikawa's few "public friends", a female member of Academy City's Anti-Skills. When Yoshikawa was downed by a bullet, she was the jersey girl watching over Accelerator and Last Order in the hospital room.

Accelerator, unable to think of that possibility until it was said, lets out a soft clicking sound.

Yoshikawa, on hearing that, inquires,

"Oh, dear, even when our exchange is over, we're still tense, are we?"

"...If you're like that, it's fine if I listen to your words more carefully."

"Well, I can understand that you are trying to decide whether or not it's a lie, since in your case, your habit of staying vigilant against someone's sweet words is probably as prudent an action as can be- especially if you know the value of the one you're protecting."

Yoshikawa could not stand it any longer. Accelerator, hoping to turn his gaze away from the assistant driver's seat, turns his eyes to the view outside the car window. Only Last Order, unable to notice the tension between them, continues saying, "'Eh? Isn't it Yomikawa?' as Misaka forcefully pulls your shoulders."

He hears the sound of the taxi engine driving away from him.

Accelerator doesn't even look in that direction.

He doesn't even shift his gaze towards Last Order beside him, who is talking about something.

Nevertheless, he is captivated by the mysterious spectacle before him.

To put it in more detail, he is near the gate of a certain high school. No matter how much he looks at it, it's exceedingly average; said place is a concrete-and-steel school building that feels like "nothing special", as he puts it.

But that is not the problem.

Accelerator isn't looking at the school building.

Standing before him are two women who were teaching at that school.

He knows the face of one person.

Her long hair bound in the back, a jersey-wearing woman. The name's Yomikawa Aiho, and she serves in Academy City's Anti-Skills. Not interested in using weapons against children, this amazing so-called gym teacher uses a shield to knock down Level 3 opponents.

But this woman is not the problem either.

Accelerator is gazing still at another person.

"W-what is it--....?”

That woman's name is Tsukuyomi Komoe... If she was unlucky, she'd be shorter than even Last Order, who's once again starting to squat awkwardly on top of his sports bag.

Accelerator thinks for a bit, as he throws another fleeting glance at the excessively short woman,

"What's this unidentified being? It was able to get in here from who-knows-where."

"What are you talking about? She graduated in proper time from a university and turned up here in Academy Ci-"

With a single line that increasingly made the situation confusing, Accelerator impulsively narrows his eyes.

After that,

"The research to slow down cell aging isn't completed yet, they say. Bullshit, so this is the true state of the [250-year method] that was rumored during the days of the [Experiment]. I was convinced that this was still unknown to the world, but for Academy City to be this far advanced in this technology...!" (!)

"Eh, well, that's not the case, you know--"

"'Or possibly because the research is incomplete, this person was a sample organism captured to confirm those rumors,' as Misaka, Misaka follows up with a slightly serious look... 'Too bad, at this rate, the experiment must be going wrong all the time, they must have no free time for quite a while,' as Misaka, Misaka is speaking with mouth stifled."

"Wait, why is it that even her self-introduction is talking about that so seriously!? Even Yomikawa-sensei isn't laughing, please say something--!!"

With the mini-teacher all shook up, the jersey girl is rolling with laughter. Even Yoshikawa Kikyou, who brought Accelerator and Last Order here, didn't think of bringing along such a colleague. She's also smiling with, if one had to put it into words, an expression full of feeling- one with little chance of sparking the fire in her researcher's soul. (!)

Yomikawa, still laughing, turns her gaze to Accelerator,

"--so this means that I, Yomikawa-sensei, will take care of you from now on. Well, there are free rooms here, so even if you want to stay as freeloaders, there will be no problems, you know."

"Always 'temporary' to the end for all that."

Yomikawa laughs at Accelerator's disinterested voice as she squashes Komoe-sensei's head down, Komoe-sensei saying something like "I-is the misunderstanding cleared up?"

"I see, are you okay with this?" Accelerator said in an extremely normal tone. "As if you have any idea of the situation I'm in. You're naive if you think Molotov cocktails won't fly towards you late at night. Better hide me well; it looks like we're up against all of Academy City's ugliest and shittiest side."

"This is the reason, then?"

Yomikawa answers to this as if it's expected.

"You forgot my occupation. As the Anti-Skills, that's where our specialty is. Even then, I think there are only a few naive guys who would dare attack the Anti-Skills' home turf. This town's chaos, it usually only operates at a level where we cannot see them, right? If they have the nerve to openly declare war, we're here to thwart them."

"........"

Accelerator deliberately kept his silence, carefully scrutinizing Yomikawa's words. Only Komoe-sensei was saying, "Eh? What kind of atmosphere is this and when did it change?" as she surveyed the scene.

"No complaints when you die!"

"Fine with me."

"It's likely that 'they' will record your name in their hit list."

"It's my job to reform those delinquent groups, you know. If we show fear to the kids that need saving, we won't even be able to do the first steps towards working with them."

Accelerator clicked his tongue.

Enough with Last Order and enough with this person; before he knew it, this kind of idiocy had begun to increase in his surroundings. If she were in this situation, she would feel as if she were sticking out like a very sore thumb.

Yomikawa smiles at Accelerator, who looks like he's chewing on something bitter, in a way uncharacteristic for a grown-up woman.

"Even then, it's alright. From what I've heard, it seems it's easy for you to help out, right?" (!)

"Are you serious?"

The way Yomikawa was conversing, she talks as though she can rehabilitate him.

She may not know the reason why, but Accelerator has already directly killed upwards of 10,000 people. When this fact is being considered, maybe Yomikawa will realize how many of her words don't apply to him.

But then.

As if she didn't notice that fact, Yomikawa Aiho continues firing off words.

"But that's fact, isn't it? While we were saying one thing or another, when you heard the fact that you'll be staying with me, you started marking your checklist one-by-one, thwarting all the dead spots. You'll even close down any small holes, hoping that we won't really be attacked, even if the chances are 1-in-10,000. That, in other words, means that you have the desire to protect us, right?"

"---"

Accelerator wrinkles his brow.

It's because of the immeasurable level of uncontrollable idiocy, he murmurs.

"It's soumen for today."

"Yadaa!!"

Zuban!!, the pure-white-habit-wearing, silver-haired girl vigorously gets up. As her sparkling emerald eyes give out her feelings of displeasure,

"Why would Touma only serve Japanese-made noodles in this place!? What kind of ritual is this!? Is this some kind of internal body regulation technique where this so-called cuisine is being applied!?"

Index may be complaining; in practice, this is not a big problem, for when the soumen has been placed on the table, it would be totally consumed as if it's really delicious. In short, it's soumen fatigue. Even if it's called fatigue, it's only temporary at most; basically, it is for this liking that it is the source of the mood.

As Kamijou tiredly nods,

"... ... Love is tough..."

"Touma?"

Index is examining him with a suspicious eye; Kamijou does not mind one bit.

By the way, his room has one more animal for a freeloader; that tortoise-shell cat is in the sunny veranda, basking in the sunlight. With the location with good ventilation chosen, the cat rolled up, but this is a place where the seasonal changes are not felt. This cat, with nothing related to soumen, is one carefree animal.

Lately, it's in the process of changing to its winter fur, so cat fur has been scattered just about everywhere. Furthermore, he has this hunch that the cat's body size has been slowly growing bigger.

As Kamijou reaches out for his clothes so he could change in the bathroom,

"In any case, we'll immediately execute Maika's secret instructions: Soumen that looks like harumaki!"

"As if harumaki is normally right for me!"

Just as Index let out her lamentations, the inter-phone abruptly rang.

"Who might that be?"

When Kamijou opens the door, it is Tsuchimikado Motoharu on the other side.

"Oh, there you are nya-. Kami-yan, sorry, but can you help me out, nya-"

Kamijou goes into alert mode at those words and,

"W-what kind of assistance? Don't tell me those guys again are coming in after taking down an international-scale magic armada."

"Kami-yan... you're already smoothly letting out such words... can't you do it for sympathy?” Tsuchimikado looks regretfully at him and then, "That's not it, Maika just finished cooking something too much, nya. It's something like a stew boiled for about 10 hours and it's brought in a pot, but I can't finish such a meal. But I can't just throw it out, so if you'd like, let's eat it together ---"

"---- I'm eating--!!"

It's Index, not Kamijou, who shouts as she quickly shoots past them from her landlord's back. The smell of Tsuchimikado's food must have stuck on his clothes; even the tortoise-shell cat approaches them in a trot.

Kamijou wants to say his complaints, but he is silenced by Index's unusual mood. The word "wisdom" floats in his mind.

All told, they go straight into Tsuchimikado's room.

The floor layout is just like that of Kamijou's. However, as only training equipment were in place just like in gyms, the impression was very much changed. At the walls are a pair of bookshelves, being converted to a collector's field (special space), their insides full of manga maids as their covers; Kamijou thought it's a friend's duty to not to touch there in advance.

"Here it is,"

Tsuchimikado says as he points at the top of the table. Maika must have brought it here, a silver cylindrical pot used by chefs and just placed there with a slam. Of course, there's no way a normal boarding student can possess a stand big enough for this gigantic pot, so old newspapers were spread out.

Tsuchimikado approaches the pot and opens the lid, and within it is an orange-colored stew.

"The base is probably carrots, but it's completely dissolved down, nya-. This heck of a stew has some of the vegetables used as ingredients thrown in."

"Won't carrots make it really appetizing?"

Such was his impression when he smelled it as much as he can. Apparently, sugar was not used, and probably only the flavor from the vegetables would remain.

For now, the stew is scooped up with a ladle into a large, shallow bowl. The pork and potatoes were cut into large pieces. The vegetables of the good variety were put in; it appeared so nutritious that it's approaching that of health drinks where even nutrients not found in an ordinary meal are present. Incidentally, the cat doesn't realize the reason why onions were used. Its eyes could not see it as some small animal and say, "What's that, I wanna eat, I wanna eat it, I wanna eat it --!!”

With those things happening, the meal starts.

With the meal unexpectedly splendid, they don't think on what to do with the soumen.

After Kamijou said "Itadakimasu", he has the spoon in one hand and is looking at Tsuchimikado,

"But then you're quite generous, you know. Somehow, even though she's only apprenticing, Maika is approaching the level of restaurants, right?"

"Nya. It's for that very reason. By not eating such food worth eating, it would end up spoiled for sure. If I had such a large quantity, it would be very difficult for me as expected, nya -"

"I see, then. Still, you must have considered about saving the stew."

Piku*, goes as Tsuchimikado's movement stopped for a bit.
This lad, since he basically eats outside or has his younger sister-in-law cook for him, is a student incapable of both solitary life and cooking for himself; it's for these very reasons he probably didn't think of doing it.

Kamijou Touma, as one of the cook-for-yourself types, furthermore points this one out.

"Moreover, the fact that Maika made such a large quantity of food means that after giving it, she wouldn't be coming back to your room for a while, right? Therefore, to avoid you dying from starvation, she prepared in advance a lot of stuff that would nourish you and is possible to preserve --."

The tortoise-shell cat is using its forepaws and is beating on something box-like.

Upon inspection, it is an airtight container for preservation- an extremely large one.

"... ..."

"... ..."

"... ..."

Kamijou Touma, Index, and Tsuchimikado Motoharu look at each other.

Tsuchimikado Maika's great affection is compared with Tsuchimikado Motoharu's hopeless manners, and yet it's anyone's guess how long the sunglasses lad's future would last if the stew for this drawn-out battle would be stolen.

They remain silent for about several seconds.

Then the cat meows.

At that signal, Kamijou and Index just about coincidentally start to vigorously *chomp* *chomp* *chomp* *chomp* *chow* *chow* down the stew.

Tsuchimikado's face turns blue.

"Hey!? Kami-yan, stop, stop!! You misunderstood me! I didn't mean to share this with you guys! Listen to me, that's my sister-in-law's cooking meant for me--!!"

"Yeah yeah, that's too bad, as if we would understand anything about keeping it!! Oh yeah, don't stop me, stop Index!! She's already into her second serving!!"

Nya-!? Tsuchimikado shouts, but Index is already unstoppable. Her spoon's vigorously moving in a way that she would possibly devour greedily every pot.

Whatever anyone says, today is a peaceful day.

What Accelerator is looking up at is an apartment block built for faculty.

Since Academy City's residences are basically only student dormitories, this sort of facility, whether it's called a mansion or an apartment, has not much relation to the students.

Looking only at its outside appearance, it has no big difference with either student dorms or mansions, but there are small differences when it comes to services; accumulating them is what makes their individuality. They can say one thing or another, but student dorms are "child control" buildings. Hostels under the influence of a just cause called security was characterized by stuff like surveillance cams installed without restraint; this mansion had consideration of some degree.

"What floor?"

As Accelerator asks, Yomikawa Aiho, their guide thus far, answers as she chuckles.

"13th floor. On brownouts, using the stairs is a pain, you know--"

Oooooh--, it's Last Order who's saying it as she looks up at the tall building. She probably tried to look at the 13th floor in question, but midway she looked directly at the sun and shook her head in dizziness.

Supporting those little shoulders from the rear is Yoshikawa Kikyou.

"Well, compared to the 1st or 2nd floors, the chances for an attack are low, no doubt."

"...However, in the case where the building is blown away, the upper floors would suffer massive damage."

In Accelerator's time as a dormer, of course they wouldn't go that far- just that it doesn't mean it's guaranteed, especially from here on.

Yomikawa must have used auto-locks on the doorways; as she brings out a laminated card, she says,

"Well, then. We're a bit late, so we'll have to eat lunch. Let's head quickly for the room, 'kay?"

The mansion's doorway at first glance looks like transparent glass on an automatic door; closer examination reveals it's bomb-proofed. Even the card-slotted lock mechanism basically looks like it takes data like bio-electric signals and fingerprint patterns from the fingers holding the card.

This might be a so-called high-class mansion, thought Accelerator as he looks at Yomikawa with a suspicious eye. "Aren't government employees heading toward wage cuts?"

"I may have a really low salary, but I can manage. Since this is also a [facility] that served a double purpose for practical tests in the construction field, some of the rent is paid for by the universities. In exchange, though, things like the security system can suddenly be changed."

"And besides," Yomikawa adds, "Anti-Skills are volunteers, so we're not paid for it, but we are sometimes given good service here and there, like getting the meat at the supermarket inexpensively, you know."

"...So the cheap rent and special sale days are the same service."

With these and those, Accelerator, Last Order, Yomikawa, and Yoshikawa enter the mansion. By the way, Komoe-sensei was not with them now, as she had some other things to do.

Perhaps this, too, is one of their trial models, as they get on the low-vibration elevator and finally arrive at the 13th floor with nary a floating feeling. The door right after the elevator was Yomikawa's room.

"Come in --"

Says Yomikawa as she opens the door to the entranceway; waiting for them inside was a 4LDK. (!) No matter what one thinks, this room's meant for a family, and yet it was a room being continually paid for with a lifetime's worth of loans. Even though much of the rent is shouldered by the university for the experiment cooperation, can a government worker's low salary really manage it?

The living room, with its sparklingly polished flooring, was neatly arranged, in contrast to the stereotypes of so-called solitary life. Alcohol in cans and bottles decorated the shelves, and newspapers and magazines were stowed in their exclusive racks; TV, AC, component, and VCR remote controls were lined up on the table. The sofa cushions were separately, carefully arranged. Last Order widens her eyes.

"'Awesome, awesome, there's almost no dust,' Misaka, Misaka praises as she dives on top of the sofa."

In contrast to the cheerful voice of Last Order sinking in the soft sofa, Yoshikawa exhales in amazement,

"...You, you were made to write a report at your workplace again, right?"

Yomikawa's jersey figure, with a start, shakes greatly.

"A, ahahaha. Of what sort?"

"'What do you mean?' says Misaka as Misaka inclines her head while rolling."

"Since the old days, she's one of the people that begins cleaning up the room whenever she has a problem. Moreover, since she, without even thinking of the consequences, recklessly cleans up, what happens next is that the key to the room she left somewhere would be lost; we should be careful in advance."

"Are those words for your patron who would be searching with you for your next job?"

While Yomikawa and Yoshikawa rarely talk to each other, they talk like brats when they do, thought Accelerator. That possibly came from their past relationships. If Yoshikawa plays the helpful committee chairman, Yomikawa probably plays the always-late problem child.

Yoshikawa then looks towards the adjoining kitchen,

"Speaking of habits that won't die, it looks like it's the same as ever for your kitchen habits."

"Hey, hee-y! I admit to my compulsive cleaning, but I take offense at you pointing it out there. Kikyou, even you wolfed down the cooking I served."

"*If only you know the recipe*, sure."

"..." Accelerator and Last Order are looking at each other. Since Yomikawa said, "My skills are improving everyday, so go ahead and see for yourself--!" as she led Yoshikawa into the kitchen, the two of them follow behind them.

In accordance with "experiment cooperation", Yomikawa's kitchen had various cookware lined up. With stuff like electric ranges that utilize steam and AI-equipped high-frequency fully-automatic dishwashing machines, it was somehow a gathering of only the fully mechanical.

But Yomikawa probably didn't use this stuff much.

Conspicuously standing out amongst the overwhelmingly unused cookware that were being declared "abandoned", as it were, are 4 or 5 hastily placed electric rice cookers. Looking at the spots where steam whistles out, it looks like that's all they do.

Accelerator, with a bored face,

"...One man, one machine. You've got to be kidding, rice nut."

"No, no, it's not what you think!" Yomikawa points at the rice cookers one at a time, "Rice cookers can cook, boil, steam, bake, anything, so this one is for baking bread, that one is for boiling stew, that over there is for steaming white-meat fish..."

"......"

For some reason, what Yoshikawa wanted to say becomes clear.

Yoshikawa, already aware of the status, is sighing at the sight of the usual scenery,

"Lazy one."

"I want you to quit those weird, animal-like, brief reviews. These items aren't that bad. This, even if I prepare in advance, cooks on its own with a single button, and this excellent item doesn't use an open flame, so you can go have a siesta with totally no problems at all."

"You, when you had white flour before, no matter the leftovers, you said you could make okonomiyaki and got a large hot place, and you even talked in your sleep that even when you only had a pressure cooker, you could create a lifetime's worth of menus that would make the rest unnecessary... Whatever you do, you always go over the top, just like an antimatter reaction when a pair is split."

"The taste, nutrition, and fullness are exactly obtained, so there's no problem, you know. Gathering stuff like cylindrical saucepans and frying pans are a pain. I want an all-purpose item that can do anything."

"Haah. You better remember that once you enjoy making things the hard way,"

Said Yoshikawa as she persuades, but the one speaking thus has genetics as her specialty; if one thought about the fact that she created over 20,000 human clones, it's not much of a funny comment.

Accelerator slightly opens his eyes as he lied on top of the sofa.

He softly clicks.

"...I fell asleep."

Looking at the watch, just for about 15 min.

Since the TV is left on, he was probably awakened by the noise coming from there. Recently, he's gotten this feeling that he gets into the habit of impulsively sleeping lightly and then easily waking up.

With no one in the wide living room, Accelerator swings his head horizontally for a bit.

You've let you guard down too much, you shitty idiot.

Running through his head was his own annoyed voice.

Accelerator was originally a person who set his own sleeping pace. An alarm clock placed by his ears may go off, little brats may shout, a bomb placed on top of his stomach may explode, and he'd still very much continue to sleep soundly.

Because his power is "vector manipulation", everything except the minimum necessities like oxygen and gravity are reflected back.

With this ability, even if Accelerator took a direct hit from a nuke, he would come out unharmed.

It's for this reason that Accelerator, with "extremely numerous enemies", has no hesitation in going to sleep mode, the so-called most defenseless mode.

But even that power- his power- was a story for the perfect past.

Accelerator touches the back of his neck.

There, he feels a black choker; inside it, an electrode was installed. It is a device that links with the brains of the weak 10,000 Sisters scattered about and grants him massively parallel processing functions.

Accelerator's brain was damaged on August 31st.

With the operation support device, he, as an ESPer, can live a normal life like others. Normal mode -- like walking, conversing, and counting numbers -- is guaranteed for about 48 hours. But in ESPer mode -- where vector manipulation functions are utilized to their fullest -- since handling massive calculations in an instant is necessary, the battery totally discharges after 15 minutes; it's quite considerably a severe limiting item.

In short, his safety time now is essentially only 15 minutes.

When the 15 minutes are up, until it recharges to 48 hours, he's a flat-out weakling that can't even walk.

With this condition, he can no longer have the luxury of indulging in inactivity within his ability- his shelter.

"..."

Accelerator turns a suspicious eye towards the flat-panel TV.

In the cable channel (boasting a ridiculously high pay-per-view fee), the first talk show in the afternoon is being streamed. Looking at the VCR placed below the TV in recording mode, Yomikawa the landlord must be a fan of today's guest performer.

"And so, how about Hitotsui Hajime also participating in this film as the leading role this time? I think a Japanese playing the lead role for an overseas-oriented work is considerably rare in itself, so for that aspect, do you have any special mental preparations?"

The host and guest are facing each other, a small table interposed between them.

As Accelerator looks at the display,

**he switches the horizontally oriented switch attached at the choker-shaped electrode off.**

**"No way. The most special designations for the plot's breadth are appropriately being followed for a Japanese. Don't they carry EVEN, and also, are other people very much aware that you're Japanese?"**

**The words turn out sloppy.**

In truth, the guest is saying, "That's so. The best unique instruction from the director was 'behave like a Japanese'. Nowadays, do we even understand how to act like a Japanese?" but Accelerator's brain cannot process the context of the conversation entering his ears.

His own body's balance aimlessly collapses.

Without even feeling that he's going down, his body sinks into the sofa. Even as he can see the numerical digits in the VCR, he cannot determine what are they indicating. The gears in his head pop up. He totally feels like looking at a board examination question for about 100 hours straight without rest.

Tch...

Accelerator tries to reach the back of his neck with his hand.

His body randomly shakes unsteadily; even flicking a tiny switch takes several seconds. After solidly failing so many times, the flat of his thumb finally touches the switch's bump.

*kachin* goes the tiny sound.

Switching to normal mode, Accelerator finally returns to the normal world.

"Though I'm using the native American English language itself out of necessity, I've been pointed out as 'he's Japanese' by other factors like acting, manners, and behavior; this time, I've been thinking about them again, I tell you." (!)

In his field of vision as he lay down sideways, the performer continues with his blatant bragging.

Once called Academy City's strongest ESPer, he's now in a pathetic state.

Aside from starting to use Last Order for borrowing the Sisters' auxiliary operations in order to perform ESPer actions, he can't do normal conversation, walk, or even count numbers. Since those proxy operations require the neck choker-like electrode, the battery can only last for 48 hours at most.

After all, batteries run out of power, so he can no longer utilize it to go underground or unleash EMP jamming.

That's how far normal mode goes.

If it goes to ESPer mode, since processing vast amounts of data is important, the time limit immediately goes down to 15 min. First and foremost a medical device, it's simply not created for use in an ESPer-level battle environment. Even the battery's a special creation of Doctor Frog-face, so replacement is impossible; none of the batteries sold on the market can substitute it. Preparing large quantities of battery sets and then exchanging them at every time limit... even that method is impossible.

In short, it's an authentic 15-minute time limit.

Nevertheless, if he goes to this mode, he doesn't have to prop himself onto a walking stick.

Even memorizing these shitty rules one by one is a pain. Good grief; I will not be a Cinderella, and this time limit isn't even funny!

"..."

Might as well take a shower, thought Accelerator as he stands up from the sofa.

He wants to change his mood.

The always-defenseless Last Order is to be expected; Accelerator thinks both Yomikawa and Yoshikawa are too naive. Every one of them relies too much on Academy City's strongest ESPer. Who said I will surely live up to their expectations? Both Yomikawa and Yoshikawa have no idea of that horror. Accelerator is no stranger to destroying something, but he has totally zero experience when it comes to protecting something. His original defensive attack, with its risk of engulfing the surroundings into a large disaster zone, is something to think about thoroughly.

Oh yeah, there's no one in this room. Are those idiots out shopping?

As Accelerator thinks halfheartedly, he opens the door to the dressing room.

There they are.

A nude Last Order using a bath towel to wipe her brunette hair into a mess,

and bare Yomikawa and Yoshikawa sloppily wiping themselves.

*snap!!* Last Order is the first one to react.

"'Wh, why did you enter suddenly without notice --!' says Misaka as Misaka tries to get her towel but can't reach it!!"

Ignoring a noisy Last Order, Accelerator turns his attention to blank-faced Yomikawa and Yoshikawa.

"...and why you didn't lock yourselves in?"

"Ah - my bad, my bad. I've been living alone until now, so I totally forgot about that feature. Sowee, sowee--"

"Aiho. Enough of that and wrap yourself up first."

Yoshikawa, already wrapped in a towel herself, sighs as she hands over a towel; Yomikawa tiredly wraps herself with it. For it to be hidden, it was hidden, but as the thighs were not exposed like those of mini-skirts, the moisture that wasn't wiped off randomly shows up in her body.

...just what the heck is going on with this?

This, this is now Accelerator's living pattern- rather, he should be laughing hard should he encounter women changing clothes and doing whatever else every time he opens a door.

Last Order, having noticed that her towel could not cover herself, secretly and hastily hides herself behind Yoshikawa and says with teary eyes,

"'...Why didn't either of you make an uproar and merely annoyingly hand me a towel?' says Misaka as Misaka asks naively."

Oh? Yomikawa turns a dubious eye towards Last Order and says,

"You like to hear why...? That boy there is still a child, and we're grown-ups, I tell you."

"'You totally ignoring him, maybe that's obasan-like rather than adult-like,' says Misaka as Misa- owowowowowowow!! 'Both of you, don't grind my head!' says Misaka as Misaka is making a firm protest!!"

As Yoshikawa strikes down Last Order's head from above,

"Not 'obasan', 'otona', got it?"

"'So, that way, the time when one treats children seriously is when one is an adult,' says Misaka as- oooooooooouuuch!! 'You there, help me and please hand over the towel!' says Misaka as Misaka implores for protection with an upward glance!!"

The shitty little brat screams something; Accelerator ignores her, closes the door to the dressing room,

And lets out a sigh.

"...So, maybe it's time to be alert for a bit..."