A Certain Magical Index: The Primal Spirit Descends to My Side

In the late July afternoon, the scorching sun beat down on the asphalt road, and the edges of the leaves of the roadside trees curled up, as if resisting the unbearable heat.

The streets of Academy City were sparsely populated, with most students hiding in air-conditioned rooms. Only a few people hurried by, holding parasols.

Misaka Mikoto walked alone on a shopping street in the 7th school district. Today, Shirai Kuroko had been called away for work as a disciplinary committee member, and Uiharu and Saten also had their own plans. She had a rare leisurely afternoon that was completely to herself.

"Hmm... what should I buy?"

She wandered aimlessly, her gaze drifting between the shop windows on both sides of the road. A claw machine stood outside an arcade, filled with frog plush toys. The green, round frog with its innocent-looking big eyes was giving her a charmingly adorable smile.

Mikoto stopped walking without realizing it.

She quickly glanced left and right to make sure there were no acquaintances around, especially no one who was a hater, and then moved closer to the claw machine in an extremely natural manner, as if she were just passing by and glancing at it casually.

She reached out her hand, her fingertips almost touching the transparent glass.

"Oh! Isn't this the young lady from Tokiwadai?"

A sleazy voice came from the side.

Mikoto's hand froze in mid-air. She slowly turned her head, a vein throbbing slightly on her forehead.

Five young men in flashy T-shirts were walking towards her. Their hair was dyed in various exaggerated colors, metal chains hung around their necks, and their smiles had a greasy quality that was instantly repulsive. The one in the lead, with blond hair, grinned and made no attempt to hide his gaze as he scanned Mikoto.

"Going shopping alone? Do you want your brothers to come with you?"

Mikoto sighed and withdrew her hand.

"No need, thank you." Her tone was as indifferent as if she were simply commenting on the nice weather. "I have something to do, I'll be going now."

She turned to leave, but the men quickly followed and blocked her way.

"Don't be so cold." A thug with dyed red hair blocked her way. "It's a rare treat to meet the young lady of Tokiwadai. It would be a shame not to make friends."

"Yeah, yeah, we had a party nearby, come join us!"

Mikoto stopped, her bangs swaying slightly. Her voice remained calm, but the temperature had dropped several degrees: "I said, I'm not interested. Please move aside."

"Oh dear, you've got quite a temper." The blond thug didn't back down; instead, he took another half step forward, reaching out to put his hand on Mikoto's shoulder. "Don't do that, we really just..."

"Sigh...why do I always encounter these kinds of things..."

In the sweltering afternoon air, Shirai Kuroko stood on the rooftop of an office building. The view below was distorted by the sunlight and heat waves, like an abstract painting.

She lifted one foot and plummeted from the sky. The whistling wind filled her ears, and she took out her phone, attached the earphone accessory, and put it in her ear.

"Shirai-kun, the target location is a convenience store in the 7th school district. The suspect has now moved... to the park behind the convenience store..."

"clear…"

Just as Shirai Kuroko was about to land, her figure suddenly vanished and reappeared in mid-air in another block of streets. Using this continuous spatial movement, she arrived at the scene of the crime very quickly.

"How is the situation?"

"There are currently six suspects, and nothing has happened yet. Please act quickly..."

She ran quickly to the park behind the convenience store and found that the sound was coming from under the shade of trees in the distance, mixed with the sound of electricity.

"Could it be...?"

She used spatial teleportation to unfold the disciplinary committee member's armband, and landed simultaneously.

"I'm a disciplinary committee member!"

Before he could finish speaking, he discovered that all the suspects in front of him had been struck down by a series of electric shocks, lying on the ground, emitting a strange burnt smell.

"Big sister..."

"Big sister...you've gone and fought those thugs all by yourself again?"

"They were the ones who harassed me first..." Mikoto retorted confidently. "I tried to ask them to leave politely, but they wouldn't listen and even pulled out weapons. I couldn't just stand there and let them hit me, could I?"

"Even so, we should contact the Disciplinary Committee or the Security Guard first." Shirai Kuroko sighed, her tone carrying a familiar helplessness. "Onee-sama, even though you're a Level 5 esper, what if the other person is seriously injured or disabled..."

"Okay, okay, I got it." Mikoto waved her hand, interrupting her lecture. "Next time I'll call you first, okay?"

"Well... Onee-sama..." Shirai Kuroko muttered, then tilted her head as if suddenly remembering something, "Speaking of which, why is Onee-sama shopping here alone today? Didn't we agree to go shopping together this afternoon..."

"Weren't you called away for disciplinary committee work?" Mikoto interrupted her. "I can't just stay in the dorm waiting for you forever, can I?"

"That's true..." Shirai Kuroko nodded, then suddenly leaned closer to Mikoto, a sly smile on her face. "However, since Onee-sama is free now, why don't we...!"

"Stop..." Mikoto reached out and stopped Shirai Kuroko's face from getting closer. "I know what you're thinking, but no."

"I haven't even said what it is yet!"

"I know without you having to tell me."

The two were bickering when Mikoto suddenly stopped; that feeling was back.

It wasn't pain, nor cold, but a strange, tactile sensation of an electric current flowing backwards throughout the body at the same instant, as if all the electrons in the body had been instantly reversed. Brief and intense, the entire nervous system sounded a silent alarm due to this reverse flow.

Mikoto's body stiffened slightly, and her pupils contracted in an instant.

"Onee-sama?" Shirai Kuroko noticed her unusual expression and immediately dropped her playful demeanor. "What's wrong?"

Mikoto didn't answer immediately. She slowly turned her head and looked at the empty street behind her.

nobody.

No one was watching her.

There were no suspicious figures, no shifty eyes, nothing noteworthy. The street remained the same, only the heat distorted and refracted the light on the asphalt.

"It's nothing..." Mikoto said softly, a hint of confusion in her voice, "It's probably just my imagination..."

Shirai Kuroko tilted her head, her gaze lingering on Mikoto's face for a moment. She didn't press for details, but simply squeezed Mikoto's hand gently.

"Shall we continue on?"

"Um……"

They walked out of the street side by side. At the last moment, Mikoto couldn't help but glance behind her again, but there was nothing there.

But she didn't notice that Shirai Kuroko, who was walking beside her, also glanced in the same direction as they turned the corner.

"An alleyway..."

As evening fell, Shirai Kuroko sat alone in front of the computer at the 177th branch of the Disciplinary Committee.

She had replayed the surveillance footage on the screen countless times, all the recordings from 2:13 PM to 2:20 PM on the eastern section of the commercial street in the Seventh School District. In the footage, Mikoto was surrounded by five thugs, who then used electric shocks to disperse them; the entire process was clearly visible.

These are not the things that Shirai Kuroko is interested in.

She froze the image at the moment Mikoto first showed an unusual reaction, at 2:18:37. Mikoto's body stiffened slightly, and she turned to look at the empty street behind her.

Shirai Kuroko zoomed in on the surveillance footage from that point in time and played it frame by frame.

No exception.

There were no suspicious persons, no unusual objects, and not even a cat passed by.

But she knew her older sister; Misaka Mikoto wouldn't react that way without a reason. As one of only seven Level 5 espers in Academy City, her sensory abilities far surpassed those of ordinary people. If she sensed something, then something must be present.

"Early spring..." Shirai Kuroko began, her voice a few decibels lower than usual, "Check for me whether there were any abnormal AIM diffusion field fluctuations recorded near the commercial street of the 7th School District between 2 and 3 p.m. today."

Sitting at another computer, Uiharu Kazari looked up, blinking in confusion. "Investigating the AIM diffusion field? Why?"

"Let's rule out some possibilities..." Shirai Kuroko's tone remained relaxed, but her fingers were already typing on the keyboard, bringing up another database interface. "My sister said she felt something today... Although she said it was just her imagination, I think it's better to check it out for peace of mind."

"Understood..." Shiori Uiharu nodded and began operating her computer. "I'll retrieve the ability user registration records for all public facilities in the vicinity during that time period."

The two worked in silence for a while, with data constantly refreshing on the screen.

"No abnormal AIM field fluctuations were detected..." Shiori Haru spoke first, "The activity records of registered ability users around that time period are also normal."

"Hmm..." Shirai Kuroko leaned back in her chair, her eyes still fixed on the surveillance footage on the screen. "That might just be an illusion."

She said that, but her fingers secretly copied the surveillance video to her private storage device.

As dusk fell, the setting sun painted the sky a warm orange-red. Misaka Mikoto walked alone back to her dorm. Shirai Kuroko told her she had work to do and asked her to go back first. She didn't think much of it; the dorm wasn't far, and walking back alone wouldn't be a problem.

As she passed a street corner, she saw a vending machine on the side of the road.

"Ah... I was actually a little thirsty..."

She felt in her pocket, took out a few coins, walked to the vending machine, and inserted them. She pressed the button, and a can of ice-cold coconut soda clattered out.

She bent down to take out the soda, pulled the tab, and tilted her head back to take a sip. The cool liquid slid down her throat, carrying the fragrance of coconut and the tingling sensation of carbonation, making her involuntarily let out a sigh of relief.

"call--"

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind her.

"Ah... Misaka?"

Mikoto froze, slowly turning her head. Touma Kamijou was standing less than five meters behind her, wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt and carrying a plastic bag from a convenience store, looking like he had just returned from shopping.

The two looked at each other and remained silent for two seconds.

"What are you doing here?" Mikoto asked first, her voice tinged with wariness.

"The supermarket here has special offers, and they even have a buy-two-get-one-free deal on eggs..." Touma Kamijou replied matter-of-factly. "But what about you? Why are you wandering around here all by yourself?"

"I was just passing by on my way back to the dorm..." Misaka Mikoto choked, her face turning bright red. Holding the coconut soda can in her hand, her gaze swept over Touma Kamijou. "But you...you weren't...you weren't following me, were you?"

"Huh?" Touma Kamijou was stunned for a moment, looking at Misaka Mikoto in disbelief: "Why is Mr. Kamijou following you?"

"Who knows..." Mikoto narrowed her eyes, tiny sparks flying from her bangs. "After all, you used to inexplicably appear near me all the time... whether I was reading or taking a walk..."

"That's all a coincidence! I swear, Mr. Kamijou really was just passing by. Look, I'm even carrying the dinner ingredients I just bought." Kamijou Touma quickly waved his hand, holding up the plastic bag in his hand, which indeed contained several bento boxes and vegetables.

Mikoto stared at him for a few seconds, the electric arcs of electricity in her bangs gradually subsiding. "Really... just passing by?"

"I was really just passing by!" Touma Kamijou nodded vigorously. "If I were following you, may I be struck by lightning!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a muffled clap of thunder suddenly echoed in the sky.

The two looked up at the sky at the same time. The sun was setting and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

"..."

"..."

"What did you just say?" Mikoto's lips twitched.

"What a misfortune..." Touma Kamijou scratched his head. "My phone clearly showed no thunder or rain, so why is this happening... Has Mr. Kamijou really been abandoned by the heavens?"

"Heh..." Mikoto scoffed, raising the soda can to her lips and taking another sip. "You're very suspicious..."

"Just how much do you distrust me...?" Touma Kamijou scratched his head, looking exasperated. "We've known each other for so long, when have I ever lied to you?"

"The time you pretended to be defeated by me..."

"That's a special case!"

The two were arguing when a stern voice suddenly came from the side.

"Hey! You two! What are you doing here?!"

The two men turned their heads at the same time. A middle-aged man in a security guard uniform was striding towards them. He was burly, had a serious expression, and a police baton hanging from his waist.

"Making a loud noise in public, and using your abilities?" The guard's gaze fell on the faint arc of electricity remaining on Mikoto's bangs, and he reached into his pocket to take out a notebook and pen.

"Which school are you from? Don't you know that using your power on the street is against the rules?"

"I...I wasn't using my ability!" Mikoto quickly explained, "It was just some residue from earlier...yes! Just some residue!"

"Even residue is unacceptable!" the guard interrupted her. "Controlling one's abilities is a basic skill for anyone with superpowers. Which school did you go to?!"

Mikoto was rendered speechless by the scolding, and could only lower her head and mutter softly, "I'm sorry..."

The security guard then turned to Touma Kamijou: "And you? What's your relationship to her? Boyfriend?"

"No, no, no! No!" Touma Kamijou quickly waved his hands, "We're just friends!"

"Just friends?" The security guard looked at the two suspiciously. "Then what are you doing here? On a date?"

"We already said no!" the two retorted in unison.

The security guard, observing the two's synchronized reactions, grew even more subtle in his expression. He sighed and shook his head: "Young people these days... if you're going to date, date. Don't use your abilities in the street; it sets a bad example. Got it?"

"We really aren't...!"

"Alright, alright, go back now." The guard waved his hand, turned and walked in another direction. "If I see you using your abilities on the street again, I'll give you a demerit."

Watching the security guard's departing figure, Mikoto and Touma both fell silent. After a long while, Touma cautiously spoke, "Um... he seems to have misunderstood something..."

"Shut up..." Mikoto's cold voice rang out, startling Touma. She tossed the half-empty soda can into the nearby trash can, turned, and headed towards the dormitory, her steps quick, as if she were fleeing something.

"Hey! Misaka!" Touma Kamijou called out from behind her, "Are you alright?"

"It's nothing!" Mikoto replied without turning her head. "Don't follow me!"

Her figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the street.

Kamijou Touma stood there, looking in the direction she disappeared, scratched his head, and sighed.

"Seriously...why am I having such bad luck today?"

He looked down at the plastic bag in his hand, then at the direction where Mikoto had disappeared, and finally turned and walked back towards his dormitory.

By the time she returned to the dormitory, it was completely dark. Mikoto pushed open the dormitory door; the room was pitch black, and Shirai Kuroko had not yet returned. Without turning on the light, she went straight to the bed and collapsed onto it.

The ceiling was blurry in the dim light. She stared at the blurry white area, her mind involuntarily replaying everything that had happened that afternoon.

That idiot...

"Really..." she muttered under her breath, turned over, and buried her face in the pillow.

Just then, the sound of a key turning came from the doorway.

"Big sister? I'm back."

Shirai Kuroko's voice came from the doorway, and then the lights were turned on, instantly filling the entire room with bright light.

Mikoto lifted her head from under the pillow, squinting at the doorway: "You're back?"

"Hmm, work's finally finished." Shirai Kuroko entered the room and placed the bag she was carrying on the table. "Has Onee-sama had dinner yet?"

"not yet……"

"That's perfect, I brought back some good food." Shirai Kuroko pulled a paper bag from her bag, containing several elegant bento boxes. "Takeout from that new Japanese restaurant that opened in the shopping district. I heard their steamed buns are especially delicious..."

Mikoto watched Shirai Kuroko enthusiastically fiddling with the packaging box, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly.

"Thanks…"

"Hmm?" Shirai Kuroko turned her head, looking at her with some confusion. "What did you just say, Onee-sama?"

"It's nothing!" Mikoto sat up in bed and walked to the table. "Eat quickly, it won't taste good if it gets hot..."

"That's true..."

The two sat down at the table, opened the packaging box, and cool air escaped from inside. The crystal-clear steamed buns looked like slime.

Mikoto cut a piece with a small wooden knife and took a bite. The soft, chewy outer layer and the sweet filling melted in her mouth, making her squint her eyes involuntarily.

"Is it good?" Shirai Kuroko looked at her expectantly.

"Hmm...not bad." Mikoto mumbled a reply and picked up another piece.

Shirai Kuroko watched her eat, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.

The night deepened outside the window, and the city lights flickered in the darkness. The day ended peacefully just like that.