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

In the early morning in Academy City, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating the desk piled high with documents. Tetsuya rubbed his sore eyes; he hadn't finished organizing last night's patrol records, and this morning he'd been called in to work on another report.

She stretched, looking at the document she had mostly finished writing. But when she glanced at the clock on the wall, her face turned deathly pale.

"Oh no! The morning rally!"

Tie Zhuang hurriedly shoved the documents into a folder, grabbed her coat, and rushed out. Despite her best efforts, time was of the essence, and the tram closed its doors just three steps away from her.

"The next bus isn't until 30 minutes away... I'm totally late now..."

About an hour later than scheduled, Tiezhuang finally finished submitting her documents, changed into her security guard uniform, and prepared to head to the assembly point. But as soon as she reached the door, she bumped into a sturdy body. It was Huangquanchuan Aihui in her security guard uniform, arms crossed, looking down at her.

"What's wrong? Ironclad, did you stay up all night again?"

"Huang, Huang, Teacher Huang Quanchuan! I'll be right there..."

"There's no time. We just received a report of an armed robbery in the commercial street of the Seventh School District. We're short-staffed. You're coming with me." Huang Quanchuan pulled Tie Zhuang and turned to leave. "Don't dawdle, we'll talk in the car."

Ironclad had no choice but to follow, secretly lamenting his predicament.

The scene was more chaotic than expected. A jewelry store's glass was shattered, and two masked men brandishing knives confronted police officers, one of them clutching a bulging backpack. The crowd had been dispersed to a safe distance.

Huang Quanchuan was communicating and making arrangements via walkie-talkie, while Tie Zhuang stood beside the police car, trying to appear calm. However, things changed in an instant.

The robber with the backpack suddenly rushed towards Tie Zhuang, grabbing her by the neck and pressing a cold blade against her chin. "Don't come any closer! Or I'll get rough!"

The robber's voice was hoarse and trembling. She froze, feeling the blade rise and fall with his rapid breathing. Her mind went blank, and her hands trembled slightly.

Huang Quanchuan remained completely calm. She slowly raised her right hand, signaling the others not to make any rash moves. "Sir, the person in your hand is one of our security guards. Taking her hostage is an even more serious offense."

"Stop talking nonsense! Get the car ready! Let me get out of here!"

"Okay..." Huang Quanchuan shrugged, and then, without warning, she raised her hand, snatched the riot shield from the police officer next to her, and threw it violently.

The riot shield traced a sharp arc through the air, striking the robber precisely on the head. A scream rang out as the dagger flew from his hand, and the robber staggered backward from the force of the impact. Iron Armor seized the opportunity to break free and collapsed to the ground.

The other guards rushed forward and firmly restrained the two robbers. Huang Quanchuan walked over and patted Tie Zhuang on the shoulder: "Are you alright?"

"N-nothing..." Tie Zhuang gasped for breath, his heart still pounding.

"Don't worry, don't worry..." Huang Quanchuan grinned, bent down to pick up the shield, "Let's go, we still have reports to write when we get back."

"Huh?! Senior Kofuku and Kurozuma Watanuru know each other?!"

Saten Ruiko slammed her hand on the table, leaning forward abruptly. Misaka Mikoto nodded, casually taking a sip of her iced grape sparkling water.

"Well, although it wasn't explicitly stated..."

"But, speaking of that Black Widow..." Shiori Uiharu poked at Baphi with suspicion, recalling the information she had found, "Isn't he the leader of the Giant Spider organization?"

"That's how it is..."

"Why is that black-haired woman with Kofuku-senpai?" Uiharu Kazari incredulously leaned back on the sofa, stuffing a parfait into her mouth, wincing from the cold. Saten Ruiko, meanwhile, lay on the table, staring at Misaka Mikoto, "Why would she be with a man who attacks people…?"

Misaka Mikoto realized that the two seemed to have misunderstood something, and quickly explained, "So... it's not that black wife... no, uh, how should I put it?"

Misaka Mikoto racked her brains for a long time but couldn't come up with an explanation, so she habitually looked at the seat next to her, only to find it empty. She sighed and continued drinking her grape sparkling water.

"How should I put it...?"

In the afternoon, Misaka Mikoto, Saten Ruiko, and Uiharu Kazari squeezed together at the entrance of Kofunami's student apartment. Misaka Mikoto took the lead and rang the doorbell.

Ding-dong-

"They're here—!"

Misaka Mikoto was taken aback. This voice didn't sound like Kofun-senpai's voice at all. Could it be that she had the wrong person?

The door opened, and inside stood a high school student I'd never seen before. She wore a green and white striped shirt with a red apron, and her long chestnut hair cascaded down her shoulders.

"May I ask who you are?" The man's smile looked somewhat wary, and his hand was still on the doorknob.

"Um... isn't this Kofumi Miwa's dorm room?"

"Ah, are you Meiwei's friend?" Upon hearing Meiwei's name, the person's expression changed from wary to a bright smile. "Ah, sorry, Meiwei went out and isn't in the dorm right now."

"I see..." Misaka Mikoto lowered her head in disappointment when she heard that Kofun Miwa was not there, then bowed to the girl in front of her, "I'm sorry to have bothered you."

"Really... I was even planning to ask about Kuro-chan..." Just as Misaka Mikoto turned around and muttered to herself, the girl gently placed her hand on her shoulder.

"Wait a moment……"

Misaka Mikoto sat on a chair at the dining table, while Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko beside her felt similarly uncomfortable.

The cup in front of her was filled with dark barley tea by Liu Po ​​Bi Mei, as if it had just been taken out of the refrigerator, with white steam rising from the cup.

"That Meiwei is really something, making her juniors worry about her so much..." Liu Po ​​Bimei sat opposite the three of them, resting her chin on the back of her hands on the table.

"So, Kurozuma is back, right?" Yanagi-sama sighed. "I didn't expect him to be alive..."

"Do you know Kurozuma?!" Misaka Mikoto slammed her hand on the table upon hearing this, and Saten Ruiko immediately stood up as well: "Um! What are Senpai and Kurozuma...?"

Liu Po ​​Bimei waved her hands repeatedly, smiling helplessly. "Wait a moment, please tell me your news first..."

"I see, no wonder..." After hearing the explanation, Yanagi-saku Hime leaned against the kitchen partition wall, resting her chin on her hand.

"Um! Why does Kofuku-senpai know Kurozuma? Could it be that she once captured Kurozuma?" Misaka Mikoto held the cup of barley tea in both hands and looked at Yanagisako Midori.

Liu Po ​​Bi Mei waved her hand with a smile: "No, no, Mei Wei, she used to be a member of Big Spider~"

"Huh?!" X3

"Absolutely impossible, this just can't be..." Saten Ruiko shook her head in disbelief, and Uiharu Kazari was equally incredulous: "But, senpai is a disciplinary committee member! How could she...?"

"Haha..." Yanagi-saku Himeko laughed awkwardly, glancing out the window. "Don't let her appearance fool you, she used to be a delinquent girl..."

"A delinquent girl?!" Saten Ruiko nearly dropped her cup. "That stern-faced, super-serious senior, Kofuku-senpai?"

"It's true~" Yanagi-saku Midori rested her chin on her hand, seemingly recalling something interesting. "When I first met her, she was even scarier than she is now. She'd get into fights all the time. Then, I don't know what happened, she suddenly left the organization and became a disciplinary committee member. She never told me the reason in detail, but I guess..." She blinked, looking at the three dumbfounded girls in front of her, "It's probably related to that Kuro-zuma."

Misaka Mikoto listened silently, her hand trembling as she gripped the barley tea cup. She remembered the red-haired man who had suddenly appeared in the abandoned warehouse and attacked people with a weapon. That man was Kurozuma Watari, and Kofuku-senpai had once stood by his side.

what about now?

A feeling she couldn't quite define—whether it was anger or resentment—stuck in her chest. She gulped down the rest of her barley tea, stood up, and said, "I'm going back now."

"Eh? Misaka-senpai?" Uiharu Shiori hurriedly got up, but Mikoto didn't answer. She quickly walked out of the dormitory building. She didn't know what she was angry about; she just wanted to find something to beat up.

The arcade was noisy and chaotic, with neon lights flashing red and blue. Misaka Mikoto walked at the front without saying a word, her expression tense.

She recalled how gentle and reliable Senior Sister Gu Fa was, the senior who was always at the forefront of the disciplinary committee's work, the person she had always respected, who had actually been a delinquent? Or a member of the Big Spider?

A feeling she couldn't quite define—whether it was anger or resentment—stuck in her chest. She walked straight to the boxing machine, took a deep breath, and slammed her fist into the sensor target.

"Explosive power, 78 points!" The machine emitted a synthesized electronic voice, complete with an explosive sound effect.

Not enough. Misaka Mikoto gritted her teeth and threw another punch.

"Explosiveness, 82 points!"

"Misaka-senpai is so focused today..." Saten Ruiko watched, somewhat stunned. Uiharu Kazari cautiously chimed in, "Y-yes, she's different from usual..."

Misaka Mikoto didn't answer, but simply flexed her wrist and unleashed her third punch, fully charged. The sensor target emitted a heavy thud.

"Explosiveness: 91 points! Amazing!"

Mikoto, panting, stared at the score for a few seconds before withdrawing her fist.

Although Saten Ruiko felt that Misaka-senpai's behavior was a bit strange, she still smiled and stepped forward to smooth things over, "Misaka-senpai is amazing! I'll give it a try too!" She rolled up her sleeves, shouted, and her fist landed on the target with a dull thud. "Impact power, 52 points!" She looked at the score and smiled awkwardly, "Uh..."

Haruhi chuckled to herself. Mikoto wiped the sweat from her brow, her expression softening, and offered her her seat: "Haruhi, have a go too."

"Eh? I... I can't do it..."

"Give it a try!"

In early spring, she closed her eyes and threw a random punch at the target. "3 out of 10 for power! Your heart is as soft as cotton candy!"

The three of them burst into laughter. Chu Chun blushed and muttered softly, "I told you it wouldn't work..."

Just as they were having a great time, a familiar voice rang out from behind them: "Hey you guys, what are you still doing wandering around outside? It's almost time for school to let out!"

Mikoto turned around and saw Teacher Tetsuya standing at the door, looking somewhat anxious. She was still wearing her security guard uniform, so it seemed she hadn't finished get off work yet.

"Huh? It's that security guard from the highway last time..."

"I was passing by after get off work and saw the arcade was still lit up, so I went in to check it out. You guys... Hey? Aren't you the student who was kidnapped by Kiyama Harumi last time...?"

Mikoto wanted to argue, but after checking the time, she realized it was getting late and reluctantly turned off the game console: "Okay, okay, we'll go back now."

Saten and Hatsuharu also said goodbye. Tesso watched them leave, breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to leave as well when he caught a glimpse of someone in a corner deep inside the arcade.

It was a boy in a Zhachuan Middle School uniform, intently staring at the racing game screen, his hands rapidly turning the steering wheel. Tie Zhuang walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Hey, it's almost time to go home, shouldn't you?"

The boy stood up and left the arcade without even looking back. Ironclad watched him disappear into the twilight, shaking his head helplessly.

The bathhouse was filled with steam, and the hot water enveloped the tired body, the warmth spreading to her limbs. Tsukuyomi Komoe, with a towel on her head, sat on the edge of the tub, her expression one of blissful contentment, like a kitten.

"Ugh... I stood all day at school, my back is killing me!"

Huang Quanchuan lay in the bathtub, only his head above the water, his high ponytail tied into a big bun. "With that little body of yours, you should exercise more. Iron Armor, don't you think?"

Ironclad leaned against the opposite pool wall, drowsy from soaking in the hot water. He only managed to open his eyes when he heard someone call his name: "Hmm? Ah, yes..."

"When you were being held hostage by the robbers today, were your legs weak with fear?"

"No, no, I didn't!"

Teacher Xiaomeng chuckled: "Teacher Tiezhuang, you're always so easily nervous. But it's great that you're safe and sound today."

The three of them soaked for a while longer, until they felt dizzy and lightheaded, before getting up. In the changing room, they each bought a bottle of coffee milk from the vending machine and gulped it down. The cool, slightly sweet liquid slid down their throats into their stomachs, mingling with the remaining warmth in their bodies, creating an indescribable feeling of comfort.

"She's alive again..." Xiao Meng sighed contentedly. Huang Quanchuan stood to the side, drying his hair with a hairdryer. Tie Zhuang sat in the massage chair, feeling the rhythm of the massage behind him, his coffee and milk almost slipping from his hands and spilling.

"Alright, let's go!" Huang Quanchuan waved his hand after drying his hair, and Yueyong Xiaomeng immediately raised her hand. Tiezhuang also stood up.

"oh!"

The barbecue restaurant wasn't big, but it had a lively, bustling atmosphere. The meat skewers sizzled on the charcoal fire, glistening with oil, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, their aroma filling the night air. Huang Quanchuan ordered two pitchers of draft beer in one go, and Teacher Xiaomeng, not to be outdone, raised her glass as well.

"Cheers to today's success!" Huang Quanchuan gulped down a large mouthful. Huang Quanchuan hugged Tie Zhuang tightly, and Tie Zhuang quickly drank the wine that was about to overflow.

"Cheers!" Xiao Meng's cheeks flushed as she began to tell funny stories about the class, including one about a student who drooled while sleeping in class, which made everyone laugh.

After an unknown amount of time, empty plates and bottles piled up on the table. Huang Quanchuan was slumped over the table, muttering incoherently. Teacher Xiaomeng's face was also flushed, but she was still relatively conscious. Tie Zhuang was a little dizzy, but he still helped pay the bill and helped Huang Quanchuan into a taxi.

She said goodbye to Tsukuyomi Komoe and walked alone back to her apartment. The streetlights cast long shadows, and the night breeze, carrying the coolness of early summer, brushed against her cheeks. She looked up and saw a crescent moon hanging high in the sky, its cool light bathing the street.

Iron Armor stopped and stared blankly at the moon for a while.

This morning, when the robber held a knife to her neck, she really thought she was going to die. But now she's standing here, feeling the night wind, alive, and can still look forward to tomorrow.

She let out a soft breath, then looked at the moon again: "Tomorrow, I must get up on time and not be late again."