“Wa, Touma. I seem to be hungry…”
“…You’re saying this, but why do you smell of sauce and mayonnaise, Index?”
Kamijou brings Index to a small, neat coffee shop. Maybe it’s the preference of the shop manager, since it’s hard to tell which is which, from the menu to the opening/closing sign. Anyway, the atmosphere seems to be that no one wants to serve any customers.
However, this shop is full. The reason is simple—it’s not 2 PM, so it’s still rest time. However, the 2.3 million population of Academy City and the ‘outside’ tourists who exceed this amount are gunning for the food and drink stores, so just like this, there are a lot of people gathered at this kind of shop.
Kamijou walks into this shop that doesn’t have any waiters, shocked by the chaotic state of the shop—
“Oi, Touma! Over here! Here!”
“Ara ara, you don’t have to be so loud.”
There’re familiar faces at the four-seater table near the windows. They’re Kamijou’s parents, Touya and Shiina. Touya is wearing a shirt with its sleeves rolled up, and slacks, whereas Shiina is wearing a thin sweater and a western skirt that extends to the ankles. Instead of calling them husband and wife, one can call them a Missy and a chauffeur.
Once Kamijou and Index got to them, Touya speaks up,
“Every year, I’ve been thinking, Daihaseisai is really amazing. It’s already hard enough to get seats, it’s like we’re competing together with the children.”
Daihaseisai is different from ordinary sporting events in that they can’t just book a place. The arenas differ for each event, so the parents must follow the children and book their places.
It’s the same with lunch, as after the events are over, all the competitors and spectators would be out, so if they want to get lunch, they have to get their seats.
Kamijou absent-mindedly thinks about this.
“Ah, that’s it. It’s like the entire city is raiding the stores.”
“Un, as expected of Academy City. We can’t sit down without squeezing in.”
“Ara ara. Firing a ‘Fried waist and meat sandwich’ into the crowd is rather interesting as well. Let’s try that tomorrow. Ara ara, imouto-chan, come sit here.”
Touya and Shiina empty their seats. Kamijou sits next to Touya, and Index sits next to Shiina. Shiina smiles at Index, who’s so famished that she’s lying on the table, as she places the basket on her lap onto the table.
Though it’s a breach of customs to bring bentos into a restaurant, Daihaseisai isn’t about ensuring what kind of food people eat, but about people finding a place to eat. Maybe they actually know about this special condition, or maybe they’re just not interested in working, but the store manager at the counter doesn’t say anything. Basically, when Index brought in the calico cat just now, he didn’t seem to notice that someone brought an animal in.
(Strange, why would dad and mum accept Index without any awkwardness? Ah yes, they’ve met at the seaside resort.)
Kamijou tilts his neck; the other staff members don’t seem to mind as well. However, if it’s this group of people, anybody would accept them.
“Ah look. Today’s lunch is rice sandwich. Ara ara, the shape seems to be off, it’s a bit crushed.”
Shiina opens the basket as she says this.
On hearing the food’s name and smelling it, Index and the calico cat immediately give a quick response, as they forcefully raise their heads.
Kamijou gives a look that says: I can’t stand those two…
Suddenly, he feels that there’s something’s amiss in his vision.
He looks around the store.
The store’s interior has a slightly aged feeling, but it’s not like any ordinary chain stores, as the positions of all the wallpaper and chairs are fixed. However, it’s not like an old shop where the owner would add in his own personal tastes…so it’s somewhat of a suffocating feeling. It feels like a ‘café’ that ordinary people would expect. Basically, it’s just a counter that’s manned by one person, and the table that Kamijou and the rest are sitting at. The path besides the table is rather narrow, and the guests who are sitting in the adjacent table beside Kamijou are a female college student who’s wearing a light gray shirt and thin black pants, and opposite her, is a middle-school student who’s wearing a jogging shirt and shorts that a track and field competitor would be wearing. The girl, who’s raising her leg, is staring at him — a Level 5 esper, Misaka Mikoto.
Kamijou blinks his eyes, and says,
“Come to think of it though, wa, what’s with this menu! Would the coffee in this shop be that cheap!?”
“HOLD ON A MINUTE!! WHY DO YOU ALWAYS IGNORE ME? ALSO, DON’T THINK THAT IT AIN’T GOOD QUALITY JUST BECAUSE IT’S CHEAP, IDIOT!!”
Mikoto inadvertently suddenly stands up.
Kamijou looks irritated as he turns his eyes away from the menu,
“Ah…it’s not that, I just so happened not to see you.”
“It…it’s not that! Say…is there anything that’ll happen around you naturally? Who’s this girl, what kind of person is she, and where’s she from?”
Eh? Index, who has been mentioned, looks up.
“You’re asking who she is, she is—”
Kamijou carelessly blurts out, before stopping short. It’s somewhat dangerous to reveal in front of his parents that he has a girl living in his dorm.
Just as the pure and innocent Kamijou Touma doesn’t know what to do and is racking his brain,
“That’s right, Touma, who’s this girl? She came along during the few days we went to the beach. However, at the seaside resort, you craftily escaped dad’s question.”
“Eh!?”
Just as Kamijou is about to erupt, Mikoto interrupts,
“THE…THE SEASIDE! AND YOU STA…STASTASTASTASTAYED THERE FOR A FEW DAYS!?”
The piercing scream enters Kamijou’s ears. Seeing Mikoto act like this, the college student opposite of Mikoto sighs.
“No…no I don’t mean it like that, anyway, why must I explain it to you!?”
Just as Kamijou is about to say this—
“That short-hair, where’s she staying? What kind of person is she? Is she Touma’s girlfriend?”
The authentic Westerner Index looks dumbfounded as she says this. She should be referring to an ordinary friend, but the real Japanese Misaka Mikoto’s shoulders start to tremble significantly.
“NO WAY…PEH, JUST SHUT UP!!”
Mikoto starts to act violently. In contrast, Index just looks uninterested. She turns the calico cat around with both hands, and looks distracted as she stares at Shiina’s bento that’s on the table.
“Touma, Touma. I’m somewhat hungry. Did Touma make any bentos today?”
“Ara ara, today? Then what is it like normally, Touma?”
Seeing Shiina’s slanted smiling face, cold sweat breaks out from Kamijou’s back.
“No, no, it’s not that, mother! This girl just so happened to be living close to me, and she can’t cook, so for various reasons, I’m cooking her meals—”
“Eh, that’s not right, Touma. It’s shouldn’t be nearby…”
“Let me explain this, so shut up! As a girl, don’t you feel embarrassed over not being able to cook?”
“But then, I can’t do it means I can’t do it.”
“Damn it, you really intend on eating huh, Index!? Come to think of it, can Mikoto do housework!?”
“Eh? That…that…I’m still learning, so I can still do a bit. I know how to patch up a Persian carpet, and repair some gold plating, though I’m not really good at them.”
“Mikoto…there’s no Persian carpet or gold plating needed in an ordinary Japanese family. That’s not housework, that’s art and crafts, right?”
The female college student explains tactfully, and Mikoto exclaims, “Ugh!? That…that’s because the Home Economics module of Tokiwadai middle school is really…”
Seems like in the land of the ojous, reviving an antique is like a simple assignment of patching up a shirt.
Anyway, at least he skilfully changed the topic. Just as Kamijou is feeling relieved, his father Touya stares at the clock on the wall, and says,
“Okay, let’s eat. Touma, say thanks to those two ladies. They haven’t eaten because they were waiting for you.”
Oh really? Kamijou turns around. Mikoto gives a ‘ugh’ sound as she shyly sinks her body into the back of the chair. The college student sitting opposite Mikoto who Kamijou never met before smiles and says,
“Okay then, the people we’re waiting for have arrived, so let’s eat. Hm, your name is Kamijou Touma, right?”
“Eh? That’s right. Then you’re Misaka’s sister?”
“Nope. My name is Misaka Misuzu, Mikoto’s mum. A pleasure to meet you.”
…………………………………………………………………………Mother?
Everyone at Kamijou’s table stopped what they were doing.
“MUM?”
Everyone shouts out in unison, especially Touya, who’s extremely embarrassed.
“But…but didn’t you mention college just now?”
“That’s right, because I thought of studying again recently. It’s rather exciting when there’s so many things that I don’t know about even at this age.”
Really unbelievable. Now that she mentions it, it does make sense. Also, when both father and son turn around to look at the petite Missy Shiina—
“…Well, I guess it’s not strange for this kind of thing to happen in this world? How about you, Touma?”
“Well, now that you mention is, our family’s the same as well, so I guess there’s no need to be surprised about it…right?”
“It’s already strange! Touma is surrounded by adults like ‘Komoe’ and ‘Shiina’ who’re so young it’s too unnatural!! What’s with this youthful sense in this world? Don’t tell me it’s a theme park where Peter Pan is the tour guide?”
Index tries hard to retort back, but her body can be considered rather small. In this context, the words of this cheerleader girl in front of him aren’t really convincing.
However, this is nothing to the Misaka family, as Misuzu and Mikoto don’t mind at all. Mikoto reaches out to grab the menu on the table corner,
“Let’s see, it’s a bit late now—mom, what did you order?”
“Nothing. You see, I’ve prepared bentos as well. So, Mikoto, ain’t I acting more like a mother now?”
“…It’s not ‘more like a mother,’ it’s if you don’t play the role of a mother well, it’ll be nerve-wrecking for me! What’s inside that bag?”
“Hehehe, don’t be surprised when you see it.”
Misuzu rummages through the bag, and pulls out a large piece of cheese that’s as big as a Christmas Cake, some white wine, a silver brass circular pot, and a mini gas stove.
“Qiang qiang!! Today’s menu is cheese pot!!”
POW!! Mikoto smashes onto Misuzu’s head. Luckily, she’s not using electricity. In comparison, Misuzu is like a mature woman who can control her tears, as she purposely makes her eyes watery.
“Wa, to be hit by my own daughter. However, if a girl’s appetite is large enough to eat an entire pot full of food, it’ll be better for your development. Though exercising is important, you won’t grow much if you’re only eating such a small bento. Also, your nutrition won’t be enough to develop certain areas that you wish to develop. Really, why do you think that I prepared so many dairy products? Aren’t they for my daughter?”
“What, wait…what grow, develop? Why are you talking about this all of a sudden!?”
“Did I? What are you talking about? I’m talking about developing healthy bones, so you need to take in enough calcium…don’t tell me that Mikoto is thinking of growing a specific area? Why are you wishing for that part to grow?”
“Shu…shut up, stupid mom! Oi, stop staring at me like that!!”
After shouting like that at Misuzu, Mikoto, who’s flushed red now, glares at Kamijou for some reason, not turning away. Misuzu opens her mouth slightly, reveals a not so temperament smile, and says,
“No matter whether dairy products are important, it’s common knowledge in biology that you grow more when you eat more. Whether you’re growing vertically or horizontally is another matter. Some people get obese by eating because they’re too lazy to manage their own bodies. By controlling the calorie intake and amount of exercise, one can grow places that they want to grow. Isn’t the food culture of the Western world great? They can eat an entire vat of rice, and yet they’re able to develop their physique better than Japanese. Life would be rather beneficial if your breasts are large.”
Misuzu says this as she ‘ungh’ raises both hands and stretches herself lazily. She bends her back like a bow, purposely emphasising on her rather huge assets. Mikoto, whose breasts are still developing, cowardly retreats, and says,
“I…I don’t care about it. Saying what eating a lot means that the body will grow bigger, it’s just a superstition — Say, WHY ARE YOU STARING AT ANOTHER PERSON’S MOTHER!!?”
Kamijou, who was singled out by Mikoto, turns around at the speed of sound. But when he forcefully turns around, the cheerleader girl Index is in front of him, looking rather unhappy. Maybe it’s because of her empty stomach or the issue on breasts.
“…What now, Touma? Why are you staring at other people?”
“No reason.”
Kamijou bitterly smiles,
“Eating a lot can help a person grow, huh? It’ll be good if that’s true.”
“!!”
Hearing Kamijou’s words, Index instantly responds. She opens her mouth wide, ready to bite onto Kamijou’s head, but stops halfway through. Looks like she’s mindful of touching others with her mouth. Her face is flushed red as she slowly returns to her seat, and shrinks up.
(Hm. This is rather awkward…)
Kamijou thinks, though it hurts when he’s bitten, he doesn’t feel comfortable when he’s not bitten. What’s with this feeling?
At this moment, from his surroundings,
“To…Touma. Don’t tell me you did something to that girl? Just now, you talked about playing a penalty game and letting that girl obey your orders, and now this!?”
“Ara ara. A girl is angry now, and yet we’re able to change the topic like this, this mum seems to have seen that somewhere before.”
“…That’s…that’s right. There’s something suspicious about you two. Humph, I was right.”
“Wa! Our Mikoto is already so mindful about this, and yet she pretended to not be interested in this, so adorable. Truly an unfortunate girl who hasn’t realised her own feelings.”
“…Touma is…a big idiot.”
(Ugh! SUCH MISFORTUNE!)
Hearing the ruckus around him, Kamijou inadvertently wraps his hands around his head.