One, late arrival to the dining room, later.
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As expected with the restrictions still in place, most of the girls were still at school in the afternoon. But instead of being scattered around the school in 'Cliques', they occupied the local cafeteria as if it were some kind of flea market or gathering place of adventures. At second glance, you could say that this was some kind of local festival like event as a continuation of the weekend. In this case, it could be compared to the presentations at the beginning of the school year, when the individual 'Cliques' or clubs, operating at the school, trying to rope in new students to expand their ranks. Or someone from a boredom came up with the idea for the girls, to try out what it would be like to be in a different club.
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As Mikoto was walking towards the kitchen to get something, one of the students suddenly rushed up to her from the side and grabbed her hand so hastily that Number-Three lost her rhythm. "Misaka-san, here you are! I've been looking for you! Its my turn now, just like you promised." The brunette was surprised by how openly and demandly she spoke to her. The school itself had around 200 students but to know everybody is a feat on its own. Jet the excitement from this girl radiated so much as if she win a lottery. Railgun didn't even have time to look around and there was already a crowd of girls around her and she was the center of attention, so she didn't even get anywhere. The excited girls practically crawled for her attention, like fans crowding around their celebrity, talking over each other until their idol fell silent, waiting for rescue.
As the circle of her personal space around her began to thin, a black-haired girl with a large forehead and air fan in hand called out to the crowd. "Girls!, please give her some breathing room before lightning strikes directly where she stand! Or are you really craving an electric shock? Just like her roommate from first year?" Kongo Mitsuko and her classy noblewoman persona stepped forward in front of the brunette as the crowd stop pushing toward center and parted a little. "Sorry Misaka san, but your younger sister is such a big hit, that everyone just wants a little bit of her attention. It's very contagious, but I think this fever will eventually subside."
The classmates had puzzled expressions for a moment, but eventually cheered up again when they realized that was Railgun, who was standing in front of them. They partially stepped back even more to give her some breathing room. Or that everybody can have a good look at her. Even the one who was holding her hand gave her freedom, stepped aside and immediately started discussing with her friend like fans that she was holding hands with Onee-sama.
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Mikoto sighed, as she turn her attention to her rescuer. "I'm surprised you actually recognize me just by looking at me."
"Oh common, it goes without saying that I can recognize between you and your sister." Thinking that was a praise Kongo get full of herself, yet she hold bragging about it and looked around the room, as if she was checking something or checking someone. "However, since I have you here, let me ask you something." A short (Hm) from the brunette was her permission. "Although, even though I didn't fully understand your 'Onee-sama swaga', one thing is still bothering me." She looked around again, lady like hiding her face behind her outstretched air fan. "Misaka-san, please tell me: How many-- sisters, do you have?"
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Mikoto threw in a (Oh no!) expression. Normally she would have started looking for a way to get out of this topic. But it dawned on her, that everything she needed to use was actually within reach, right on Tokiwadai. "Until Friday, almost no one had any idea that I had a sister. And suddenly an amount of a full bus of them will be there to see. Just to be clear, I've already scolded the person in charge for that web-page that overflowing with sensual stories about me. Please, no one should assume, that anything written in those stories will become reality." (("The latest one turned into nonsense very quickly. And it was just a concept.")) "Moreover, the person in your question is under the responsible supervision of the president." She suddenly imagined the two presidents standing with her sister in the 'conspiracy room' in front of the line of racks filled by costumes, all three of them staring at the vast selection. A bead/drop of sweat appeared on Railgun's' cheek. "At least that's how it should be." (("I'll scold them later."))
"Oka~ay..." Kongo said carefully before putting down her fan and used it to pointing it in a certain direction. "Then would you be so kind as to explain to me: How it is, that I see your little sister in the tea corner, tasting a samples of tea? She judges the drink as some kind of expert in field and amazes the girls with it."
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Mikoto barely glanced in that direction, immediately spotting a person who could truly become an expert on something in a single day if a thousand of them decided to read at least one article on the subject, each of them picking a different one.
The Aero-hand had already pointed in another direction. "At the same time, I can clearly see: That your Imoto, in the confectionery corner, is far too enthusiastic about the conversation about how the type of sugar itself and its handling will affect the resulting taste of the candy. I would almost dare to say that if they continue this, they will elevate the procurement of sugar bags to smuggling illegal contraband."
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The brunette followed the fan direction with her gaze. Seeing that scene over there, her imagination runs wild and she foresaw: Her clones, on a night mission, armed with assault rifles and with 'Electron (Night Vision) Googles' on their eyes. She imagined a scene like from a mafia movie, when her sisters, as illegal traffickers, have a secret meeting in warehouse or similar, with the confectioners in their white aprons and puffy head caps iconic for chefs or bakers. When they exchange a suspicious suitcases. One group will find in them bags of high-quality sugar. The other will receive a delicious desserts so good that they high level of quality was mark as illegal.
But Mitsuko wasn't finished with her question yet, as her fan moved to point at different direction. "Then, at the fashion accessories stand, your Imoto panics, not knowing what to choose from such a vast selection. At first glance, she would wear everything, but she is suddenly stopped by the idea of the final look. She is trapped in a fashion cycle of desire. At this rate, I'm afraid she'll cry there."
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However, Misaka over there, wasn't the only girl who was gnawed by a feeling of panic, and it wasn't just from the phrase: 'What am I going to wear?'
Kongo finally pointed to the door. "And to the four of them, the student council has just entered the hall, escorting your sister, as if she were some kind of offender going to serve her sentence. However, those big mirror-black glasses on her eyes, suggest the idea of some kind of security guard escorting some celebrity, whom everyone would recognize at first sight anyway. At the same time, both of presidents are trying too hard to maintain their neutral expressions, as if something happened that should remain secret."
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As Railgun glanced at the trio, her eyebrows twitched a little. "Hey, don't tell me, that the entire student council consists of just one couple, who were not so mysteriously out of town over the weekend? It should be pretty obvious that they are only two, when the entire school has just over two hundred students. But don't the elections lose all purpose in they case?" She suddenly realized something and stomped her feet angrily, shouting at them. "Hey! That was a really cheap way to get out of my hook. When you two, make me think that the student council was a whole group."
Except that the black-haired Asanuma was already prepared with her defense. "What are you talking about, Misaka-san? In today's modern era, we have to pay attention to flexibility. In addition: The procurement and management of resources, not only personnel, or material, but also the distribution of the budget is not only the responsibility of the student council, but also functions as an effective source of experience for the future manager. Most of our time will be spent going around and finding suitable 'collaborators' for individual tasks and the subsequent evaluation of the micro-relationship between employee and employer. However, even before you make that remark, everything was really ready for Saturday event. It was just that through the 'misunderstanding' I mentioned earlier, that it was completely overlooked that anything existed, as if it had been collectively forgotten. There was a chain of quite ironic happenstances. Although in case of the warehouse door, it was not possible to find out, why the lock that led to the warehouse, refused to be open, even when the expert took it apart to the last screw and put it back together. Although it looked like there was nothing wrong with it, it still refuse work, staying in lock position." She received a dry comment from Level-five about wasting her smooth-talk on wrong person.
Blond Hitomi, still smiling whit a businesslike smile, took the lead. "It's almost as if there's something magical behind it." She added before turning her attention to the entire dining hall, requesting that all the Misakas gather in one place. When the audience caught sight of the quintuplets standing near each other, it was like visiting a zoo for some of the girls. Figuring out which one was the Onee-sama was a piece of cake, given Mikoto's obvious displeasure. So Aika too, try smooth-talk the level-five. "Misaka-san, there's no need to get all worked up, we didn't come here to scold anyone. In fact, many people find the thought-idea behind that mysterious number quite endearing." She was trying to tamed the restless beast, which seemed to be waiting for the signal to leap/pounce on the nearest prey. "The school will also adhere to the principle of not meddling in the family affairs of its students. Especially since only one of you has reached Level Five."
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Mikoto became so nervous at this remark that she almost mentally backed away. To her growing displeasure, she folded her arms under her chest as she looked around at her sisters. Normally, it would be taken for granted that certain clones would stay as far away from the limelight/publicity as possible. So no one could blame her for be irritated, when four of her sisters decided to ignore the potential danger of the school's elite, by planning to visit Tokiwadai Middle School at the same time, as if there was some plan behind it. "You're not going to tell me?, that you're planning a similar volunteer activity, like the one you showed yesterday at the island table plaza? That you're simply here to calm the unrest of the local female students." Her gaze dropped to the ground for a moment. (("Or my unrest."))
The Vice President tightened her rhetoric, cutting the theatrics. "Enough of the trivia, let's get to the point! Since you was indisposed and under surveillance for a significant part of the day, you not only had no hand in a certain matter, but you probably didn't even have a clue about it. How they proved it is still under investigation, but during this day, your name was misused for spending all over the city and the like, up to and including the purchase of an outrageous amount of diverse, not just luxury goods." She carefully examined the group of five. "The more I know about this group before me, the more likely it seems that the merchants were a little too eager and got carried away by the presence of a celebrity. That is, unless your sisters are jokers who would have taken a brisk walk through the most luxurious stores in the city after a long moment. Since they weren't eloquent enough to say they weren't buying anything, the stores had everything they looked at sent to school." She sighed wearily. "Just that pile of goods that came in this morning is so absurdly large, that one would think that Tokiwadai is trying to stock up for several years ahead. Even Anti-Skill who is already on case, can't manage to cancel all the purchases going to the Garden of Education, not just from Gakuen-Toshi itself but from Tokyo."
As the Ice/Moon fox looked like she needed a break, knowing that a simple answer wouldn't come, the Sun fox supported her partner. "Misaka-san, we're not trying to keep you locked up, or put you onto observation, but please try to understand the situation our school is in. On top of that, the information system doesn't seem to be working properly yet, with reports of you being seen coming in from all over the world. That's what you call publicity fever."
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Mikoto glanced briefly at her sisters, (who make silent denial gesture with they heads), before scanning the crowd around her. "Hmm, I don't suppose, this is some kind of diversionary tactic to confuse a potential hidden attacker who hasn't accepted that the last week incident shall be over, given the multiple decoys you've thrown out when you've deigned to meet in the same room." Mikoto felt a drop of sweat trickle down her cheek and cautiously glanced at her sisters again. Well aware of the personalities they were projecting to her, this scenario wasn't all that unrealistic. On the other hand, she remembered that they were trying to warn her about someone. "In the opposite rhetoric, I can imagine that someone can really get carried away by a dessert. Especially when it's yellow and adorable."
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The Sisters gave her fixed EMO looks. They just stood there for a moment. Then, as if it was planed… There was loud signal, like when a starting pistol, starts a hundred meter dash on a track field. Yet sisters, they suddenly scattered to the sides. Without a single word or signal, but in union, each one flee in a different direction.
One, shot through the crowd, straight to the door to the hallway.
The second one, swung out through the open window, on the outside field.
The third, took it across the kitchen as if it was her home field.
The fourth one, expertly zigzagging, managed to get through the crowd, and also disappeared from the dinning room through another entrance.
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The eldest of the sisters widened her eyes in a startled realization. ("Are you trying to tell me?...") Mikoto tried to process whether her sisters were not blameless regarding this problem and were just pretending to be innocent. She suddenly remembered certain remarks about buying or owning certain bakery store. Then she remember about secret construction site on the grounds of their dormitory, and how someone very close to her, supposedly knew about construction plans, that even the dorm manager wasn't allowed to know about. Finally, she imagined a zero in her bank account, through stockpiling and margin. [payout/price for the given job] She had a very stupid idea, that there would soon be a secret colony of some kind of yellow under the Tokiwadai dormitory. Besides, their activity today could be compared to preparing to ensure the operation of this farm. (("How far do they want to take this adorable chickens nonsense?")) She seemed to be gasping for breath, trying to figure out what to do next. But it only took a few seconds for her to remember her red-haired roommate, making the (innocent smiling face), she used to put on when she wanted to talk her way out of something, moments before she took evasive action using her Teleport ability, or get betrayed by her lose tongue. Eyebrows of Mikoto immediately twitched, she turned her gaze to the ceiling and exclaimed/shout to the heavens. "Kuroko!! I want them in front of me!! And I want them now!!"
As expected, Shirai was indeed nearby, hiding out of sight. She obediently replied and soon one by one, the Imotos reappeared before their original. In no time, the four brown-haired little sisters were buts-down sitting (on the carpet) in front of their big-sister and Kuroko stood between the caught girls, like a policeman around arrested offenders. If she had a bushy dog like tail, she would have excitedly waggled it from side to side with pride, like a dog proudly awaiting a praise from its owner. "Sissy, as you commanded: Your runaway family has been reunited with the pack, without a single harm."
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The girls looked-up at the redhead in unison, with a kind of cold and mute gaze. A few seconds passed before they took another step in the unspoken plan.
The first one put her hands on her chest, as if someone dare to miss-use an opportunity to violate her there.
The second one put hands on her ass, as if someone dare to miss-use an opportunity to violate her there.
The third, with her hands folded, looked embarrassed or even abused.
And the fourth, in an obviously playful hint of teary eyes, covered her face in embarrassed girl fashion. [she had no tears]
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Either way, it looked like Shirai was taking advantage of the opportunity, and her hands slipped to private places. Of course, regardless of the obvious fact, that it was a staged accusation, a certain eyebrow twitched and a certain fang was bared. Mikoto growled, preparing to punish the offender. "Ku,-- ro,-- ko!"
Of course, the named one turned pale. "W- w- wait, Sissy! They obviously made it up, to get out of they sticky situation. I do not offended them at all!" However, her plea had no effect on her idol and it looked like Railgun would attack at any moment. Teleporter had fallen into an almost defeated mood. "Dang,-- note to me,-- little sisters of my Sissy,-- don't play fair in the slightest." She was already prepared for her fate, when she tried to make another plea with a hint of her be the one who was insulted. "Sissy, I can't believe that you have such low trust in me. Why would I reach for your sisters, when I have you as an extra deluxe version, all to myself?" This comment, no matter that it was out of line, made Mikoto to stand down and think about it.
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A moment later, the first Misaka [13,577] and the second [10,039] sister exchanged silent glances. Next, the two grabbed Shirai hands, each by one wrist, and pressed redhead hands (open palms) against the chest of the third Misaka [19,090], who, in contrast to the other sisters, panicked and tried to retreat a few steps. But the fourth brunette [10,032] leaned against the back of the offended sister and pushed her against the offender.
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All this at such an angle, that Railgun could clearly see how the redhead's palms were fully analyzing the subject's bust, even if they owner didn't want to.
Shirai was experiencing an internal conflict, trying to resist her instincts. But suddenly, she felt herself pushing aside her internal conflict and looked at the tentative Misaka with a very serious look, as if she had come to a great revelation. "Oh..." Then she quickly glanced to the left and right, focusing her gaze on their chests, until she returned her gaze to the one in front of her. She was making more that a visual comparison. "Hmm. Unbelievable. It looks like this rose has finally begun to bloom. That means..."
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But that was the proverbial landmine and her Idol with a dark shadow on her face, was not far from exploding. "Kuroko, can you explain to me; What exactly led to, you being able to determine it so precisely?!"
Shirai was speechless at the sight of her beloved roommate upset face. She with an embarrassed smile on her face, she realized, that she had been fooled again and this time she had no excuse.
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But Misaka [19,090] who was been a subject of this talk was horrified when she realized where these thoughts would lead. "That,-- that's not true! Misaka protests, insisting that she be released from both the grip and the topic of this conversation." She quickly tried in vain to free herself from the sisters grip, but it was too late.
The other three brunettes, staying there sturdily, repeated Shirai's comment as if it were some mantra or wisdom from an ancient teaching about life: ('This rose has finally begun to bloom.') ...and then something flipped inside them like an imaginary switch. With the gaze of ruthless beasts on the hunt, they stare at the prey between them. In complete unison, they pushed the (unimportant) redhead aside. Shirai immediately collapsed to the ground like an old doll that was thrown away the second a new doll to play was introduced. The trio pressed themselves onto the test sample of they group, moving on to a more detailed analysis of her body curves. (*Ehm* specifics)
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The one standing behind the sample took advantage of her unique position and from behind proceeded to inspect the subject's mentioned (advantage) with her own hands. Of course, the attacked Misaka gasped in embarrassment, which provoked the attacker even more. "It's true! I'm noticing a significant deviation in the increased volume compared to the standard shown by the rest of the sisters. Misaka 10,032 declares, shocked that instead of her personal name given by her big sister, she used her network designation."
The one with the black eye glasses pushed them up to her hairline to get a better look at the sample. While grabbing subject's left hand by the wrist, she spoke in a slightly deeper voice. "That's quite disturbing. Misaka 10,039 joins in, demanding to know the measurements of her waist and thighs, shocked by the peculiar discovery that despite her efforts for an alternative, she has no choice but to use her network designation."
The third of the inspectors, grabbed the sample by her right wrist and joined the discussion with a raised instructive finger. "It should be noted that the network is urging the discovery of how this contradictory increase in this important statistic could have occurred in the aforementioned volume and how to replicate the resulting effect. Misaka 13,577 adds, recalling that, like her, many other sisters do not have their own name designation that would specify them on a more personal level than the superior numerical designation in the network has so far been sufficient.
But the sample itself was not satisfied with her sisters' approach as she was unable to use her hands to protect herself. "Mi-- Misaka strongly protests and demands that her sisters follow the three-step distance rule. All your demands should be directed to the big sister, with the justification that she was the one who started this research well in advance of the other sisters. Misaka 19,090 emphasizes that violating her personal space through a slight and completely negligible advantage, just because her sisters are jealous that they have zero sense of building their own sex appeal, ultimately only lowers their current attractiveness rating." The trio paused for a moment and froze, at which point their fourth sister was about to exhale for relief. But as soon as they let it cross their minds, what she had actually said to them, their subsequent expressions changed beyond recognition as if a trio of demons were looking at her with bloodshot eyes. A moment later, she was startled and the trio pounced on her like a pack of wolves on flax. From their yawning and struggling, one could read anger and desperation as they were literally bulling their fourth sister. As their squabble moved into battle, the defender looked at Railgun. "O-- Onee-sama... help..."
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The oldest brunette shouted at them authoritatively. "That's enough!! Whatever the point of this is, stop it immediately!!" The three stopped bickering at the command, remaining in one place as if in some kind of group hug. They looked at Original skeptically [with a hint of Emo], as if waiting to see what would happen next, or if she would at least expand on the idea, as if the don't get the point as why to stop. Except Mikoto placed her palm on her tired forehead. [Face-Palm] "Is this theater that's supposed to serve as some kind of distraction over? Did someone panic because I got tired and had to go rest? Like,-- I can fully understand that someone would be worried about the consequences, that yesterday's incident would have on me, but this is already a serious exaggeration. Cut it out already!" While she was thinking about something out loud, she looked at her sisters. "The pile of purchased goods seems too much like a failed prank, or an attempt to divert attention. It can't even be called malicious, when it's already clear that I'm innocent. Or are you telling me that you came here to hide from something? If it's some way to ask for my help without (me overdoing it), as some would say..." She glanced at the president duo. "That's a really stupid approach. Just don't tell me, that it's some kind of innovative way to get my attention because, (there's something) I should know. But the messenger doesn't know how to share it with me, gently." She puffed out her red cheeks, glancing sideways at her red-haired roommate.
Shirai on the ground in a half-sitting - lying position, unlike her Idol, she was like in paradise. For her, this spectacle was like watching a bunch of kittens energetically playing with each other, waiting for their eldest sister to join them. Noticing the note from her chosen one/ destined partner directed at her, she immediately returned to reality. Getting up on her feet, standing up proudly. "No worries Sissy, whatever it is, you can count on me, to do everything in my power to protect them." Not even a moment later, her beloved, gifted her with a spinning kick directly to her torso, loudly exclaiming, that Shirai is the number one person on the list of things they need to be protected from.Either way, the redhead went to the ground with a painful groan, spreading at the floor that the attack was too much for her.
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While Railgun was venting her anger, Kongo approached the four sisters with unprecedented shyness/caution, hiding her face behind her outstretched air-fan. "Excuse me, ladies... Although watching this performance of yours is so thrilling, that I can't take my eyes off it,-- I just can't help it and I have to speak up my mind. Not sure if this can be mark as a healthy siblings rivalry, but... In the sense that bickering and bullying are not among the virtues that you, as ladies, should possess. Therefore, I ask you to refrain from inappropriate behavior and release your sister. Even though we can said, that it was probably a play, I still think that the plot in question will not appeal to the local audience. That's probably what your big sister wanted to remind you of." Although she seemed to be acting out her courage, she was surprised when the sisters complied with her request. As soon as the 19,090 was freed, she ran to Mitsuko and shyly hid/crouched behind her back. Airo-hand, encouraged by this gesture, continued in a bolder tone. "Ladies, please remember the saying: 'The tree flower that blooms later that other, often bloom into great beauty.' Therefore, you do not need to stress too much about appearance and learn the art of patience. However, when it comes to the question of toning and highlighting a current girl's beauty, I will be more than helpful in sharing a few women's secrets, to easy the desired heart." She puffed out her chest with pride, but in a second her forced smile could not hide her uncertainty when she felt the gaze of the hunter pack on her. Because the remaining trio of sisters surrounded her like some kind of group of delinquents. Despite their emotionless expressions, they were staring intently at figure of Kongou, who had a decidedly higher Level that them, when it came to female attractiveness.
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Mikoto give Mitsuko a side glance during that quote about flower, wondering if the quote wasn't originally: (The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.) Or if that quote was changed on purpose, to fit the narrative. But she dint spoke up.
But Kongo's statement sparked a heated debate among the sisters.
"Contradiction,-- a certain Misaka has disturbing, living evidence of a certain adult 'Woman A', who has been waiting in vain for several years for this fabled blossoming and still not arrived. Misaka 10,032 announces that she does not intend to wait a decade for the whims of nature and will take a different, more direct approach."
"In contrast, the same Misaka also procured the claim of another adult 'Woman B' who had blossomed profusely without any apparent intention, effort or plan to attain those proportions. Misaka 10,039 presents evidence of the futility of the attempt at consolation through a certain misleading statement."
"Misaka 13,577 wants to remind the difficulty of this task, when it inevitably has to be recalled that a certain allegedly illegal and dangerous device which the said 'Woman A' acquired to fuel this blooming of a woman beauty, spontaneously self combusted immediately after being seized by the said 'Woman B' in claim to prevent self-harm of 'Woman A'. It sounded as if the device self-destruct the moment when the goal bust size was detected, to prevent overusing, reusing by someone else, and keep (The know how) as secret."
Of course the shy one behind Airo-hand join too. "We- we must not forget that the same Misaka, who witnessed these points, shed a tear over a certain tinny 'Woman C', showing her sadness for the person in question. Who through strike of life's fate, would never even come close to the point of said blossoming, stuck in her not developing form. Misaka 19,090 joins in, speaking about a trio of certain teacher, while leaning against back of Kongo Mitsuko, which makes her feel good."
In response to that last piece of information, the trio shifted all their attention to the Black-haired body. The brown circular space around the black center narrowed/tighten as they make a step closer.
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At the thought that the previous bickering scene might be repeated, except that this time Mitsuko would be in the middle, a drop of sweat broke out on her cheek. But she tried to keep her cool. "E- either way, being bullied is not a pleasant experience. I'm sure if you knew how it feels, you would stop what you did."
However, the brunette behind her had a different opinion. "No, no! Misaka must disprove Kongo Mitsuko's misconception that Misaka sisters would stop bothering Misaka if they had such knowledge. Despite the fact that this Misaka shares her feelings and experiences through the 'MISAKA network', the collective will prevails and they individually refused to not react according they jealousy, due to the non-acceptance of emotionally colored data. Misaka 19,090 speaks up, revealing that just like her big sister, her sisters are characterized by a short temper, cruelty and a lack of honesty towards themselves. Exactly as a certain Misaka with five identical digits commented. It can be assumed that the aforementioned Misaka immediately complains that her sisters refuse to use one of the two assigned labels that specify her both outside the network and inside, and instead call her a Whiner." She paused for a moment. "Like she complained just now."
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The long-haired girl was clearly on the short end of the conversation, so she turned to Mikoto. "Eh, Misaka-san? The more I try to understand the complexity of this mosaic, the more strange the next pieces seem. It almost seems like it's expected that at any moment some obviously important character will step into the plot, moving the story to the next chapter. So let me ask a question that everyone in this room has probably pondered. I have a feeling that even though it started with twins, it won't end with quintuplets. Please tell me, how many younger sisters do you have?"
Mikoto folded her arms across her chest, trying to look as uninterested as possible. Not trying to come up with a new excuse, she simply used the one she had before. "How many of them, are you seeing right now?" But for a moment she didn't like the way it sounded, so she added. "Like I said before, don't expect anything that appears in those stories on that website to come true. It just might happen that the moment you take your eyes off from them, they won't be there anymore." She suddenly blushed when she realized that she had just describe what had happened this morning. At least, she thought it had been this morning. So she quickly shook the thought out of her head. It was probably not her intention to make a vague explanation that can lead to misinterpretation.
The four brunettes rearranged themselves a little to form a 'tight' quarter circle around Kongou so that she could have a conversation with the oldest of them. But practically they were already body close whit black-haired girl, they hands on her, with an unknown intention.
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"I think I understand now." Kongo thought so hard that even her forehead showed how much she was thinking about this mystery. "As for the big stuff-- I was warned not to take on anything that was beyond my capabilities. Because despite everything, 'Gakuen-Toshi' is still one big laboratory. And the most money revolves around the most lucrative topics, either currently or in the long term. And the line between what is reasonable and what is stupid, falls as quickly as the question, it the research will be possible to do. Or if its sound interested enough. When often the necessary or main component is a unique person who will not be here forever. So the obvious solution would be a clone."
Mikoto paled as her eyes widened.
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However, Black-haired didn't notice the reaction as she continue to though aloud. "Quite like the story about ninjas, who creating exact copies of themselves from their own life energy as decoys to confuse their opponents. But this is Academic City, it wouldn't seem unrealistic to anyone if they could make it a reality, even if it was from a scientific perspective."
The oldest brunette just widened her eyes, looking into infinity. Suddenly she had a strange Deja-vu, when she imagined herself as a ninja in that traditional ninja outfit, standing somewhere in the forest in a clearing or meadow. All it took was a few hand signs like gestures, to activate an arcane, unlock a seal, activate a technique, or a spell casting. And suddenly four 'poofs' were heard, leading to a sudden eruption of cloud of smoke around her. As soon as the smoke cleared, a view of her four sisters appeared. To make matters worse, suddenly in the background behind her, a huge silhouette of a Gekota-frog figure rose above the forest, like a giant companion she had just summoned. But in an instant, her real face became dewy.
Kuroko, shaking her head in a (No!) gesture, make a sassy comment about how unrealistic this book story sound. She claim that in reality, it was just a group effort to trick and confuse an opponent. Yet the red-head dint expect when Mikoto utter, that she meet a Ninja in Academy city and the confusion tricks are like they thing, to not get exposed as Ninja. So we cannot blame Shirai for her parent-child like panic when she demand from her Sissy to confirm, that: (She dint try use that splinting into clone ninja technique!) and it dint went somehow off from the intended pass time experience. Like they dint poofs off to disappear at the end of the day. But the second-year girl refused to respond.
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Kongo only now realized the unhealthy look her friend had on her face. She panicked a little, when she realized how that must have sounded. She hurriedly/urgently tried to explain her statement. "W- wait with your own judgment, Misaka san! No matter how much an only child in family can fantasize about creating a younger sibling for themselves, to spend some time with it; I didn't mean to imply, that they were some kind of illusion you created just to experienced it! Look! I've been thinking about it for a while and certain pieces of the mosaic spoke quite clearly before. Their comments... Coordination of actions... The fluctuating number of members... Your often speak about them as one sister even though there are more of them... The connection not only between them, but also their personalities... A mirror-like resemblance that you can't just find somewhere... On the other hand, the differences between them are so significant that it seems like a subconscious intention." She took a breath to raise her voice. "After all, it would be quite unnecessary if 'The Railgun' was here more than once!"
Mikoto was held back with a questioning expression on her face. She read a certain scientific report that had spoken of the intention to mass-produce the '#3Railgun'. But now the idea was thrown at her that it would be pointless if they were exact copies of her, witch contradicted with the cloning program goal.
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The Black-haired girl in the embrace of the four brunette was trying to prove something with a straight look in an attempt to calm her friend. "I mean, it's quite clear that the scientists wouldn't be working on two 'almost identical projects' in parallel. So they chose a different direction for your sister. It was certainly considered that if one of the sisters was able to reach Level-5 in focusing on direct power like some superhero. So the other sister could also reach this level, for example, in focusing on subtle functionality like some super computer."
Thinking about what came to her mind now, Kongou tension cooled. "However, we can assume that during the pursuit of this success, someone let their imagination run wild. That splitting of personality for the purpose of networking to increase computing capacity, or creating copies, would not make much sense, if during the self replicating phase she will spread herself to tin losing her personal individuality. Or, actually losing on the overall total strength of her ability. Because the cloning would be an illusion, or something that the original must maintain, in order to work. However, if the 'Mirrored After-Image' Optical Illusions, were developed to the point, where it would pulse back and forth, preserving not only themselves as object, its individuality, but also the integrity of the whole as the aforementioned connection... Perhaps it would be possible to raise the theory of 'Schrödinger's Cat' to the fifth level, if their elder sister was used as Princess, the physical representation of an anchor, on which her nation could lean on. However, apparently none of the scientists thought that it was a really stupid idea to use 'Shadow Clone Jutsu' [(Ninja) Shadow Clone Technique.], to the point where 'certain someone AIM field' filled the entire basketball court hall (by its copies) and their personality got spread too thin, too close to resembling a computer network like arrangement? Although in this case it was probably a 'Lighting Clone Jutsu'." ["Raiton, Bunshin no Jutsu!"]
She looked around at the faces that surrounded her so closely, checking something, before she freed her hand from the tangle and pointed her folded fan at Railgun. "So dear Misaka-san... Regardless of whether you are playing some kind of sibling game in which the condition for collective defeat is if someone from the outside of the inner circle, finds the conclusion of the detective story by their own strength and says the correct number... Or is it really your own 'After-Image', when you blasted yourself with actual lighting during a typhoon storm, and now you don't know what to deal with a photo copy… You can be sure that just any illusions don't work on Kongo Mitsuko and I say: That no matter what anyone says, your sisters are real! So stop worrying so much about losing them unexpectedly when you show them to the world. Finally calm down!"
Mitsuko sighed, as if there was too hot for her, she starting using that spread air-fan to cool herself down with a small breeze. "Misaka san, since Saturday, you haven't been in your own skin like some kind of ball lightning in broad daylight, waiting for the storm to return, so it can finally take to the sky. It's so obvious that I'm not the only one who's worried about you. Everyone here knows that some things just can't be talked about for a reasons. Like your Sunday great day, for example. But that doesn't mean you should push yourself to the point of exploding like a lightning bolt."
Mikoto let Kongo finish her theory. The entire hall was listening, almost with bated breath, waiting to see what 'Tokiwadai Ace' would say as response, especially when she look like she have something to say. However, despite this, the brunette seemed completely calm. "Amazing Kongo, I wouldn't say you have the talent to present such a complex theory so well, that I don't even have anything to criticize about the story. Especially when there wasn't much information to work with. On the other hand, you shall check if yours study materials are actually a part of regular school curriculum. So you will not regret to not having the proper knowledge to pass the writing tests."
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The black-haired with a large forehead, surrounded by four brunettes with the same face, puffed out her chest proudly. "But my dear, it goes without saying, that a lady of my caliber trains in all the aspects, that a person for the position I will have to apply for one day, simply must master. To get to the heart of the matter, to review the available 'Lore' [summaryknowledge of the subject], to compile a 'strategy formula' and ultimately to deliver a suitable 'story' that would fit into the 'environment', is in short something that every 'Guild-Master' should have. Meow!..."
"Hmmm." Mikoto began to wonder how much this rich girl knew. True... It could be her natural instinct, or she was simply deliberately mixing up some facts together, so that there was enough to satisfy attention. But not so much to arouse excessive interest that anyone would want to dig into it. Yet still, Mikoto's gaze tightened. It could be the advanced (gamer rhetorical expression) that this sheltered girl spoke up, when until recently she had a problem to understand and operate her own mobile phone. Its don't matter that this is Academy city, a center of science, most of Tokiwadai girls dint use a mobile phone. Yet that's an important detail about whats going on whit her, and Railgun knew it. "Okay, I understand that I'm exaggerating. But the status of a win-lose situation can change faster that sides on tossed coin that spin. Its reediness and rest that matter." She frowned for a second before exclaiming 'Aghr!' in protest, that even though she accepted the comment, she was dissatisfied with it. "That's enough for today! There should be a limit to catching someone up to your pace! Cut it out and release her from your influence." Then she make a strict expression, and make single step toward the group, she stop the floor. "Before anyone starts taking any of this nonsense seriously, I strongly recommend, that you give up on this form of entertainment. Because I think, there's been enough fun at someone else's expense. Certain stingy person, is quite intolerable every time someone touch her monopoly to brainwashing. So no more experiments!, like: (What will happen, if I try this and how will she react to it?) Release Kongo immediately! You've played with her enough! And don't try to assimilate her anymore! I don't need her to be escorted to the infirmary out of the blue, just because someone was curious, of how far it can push the idea. Also: Someone should keep an eye on her in this regard, so that she doesn't accidentally fall off somewhere. Or so that tomorrow it doesn't turn out that she needs a pacifier again. Because her overclocking brain, short-circuited!" She looked sternly at the two friends of the aforementioned brunette, and they understood and walked over to the named one.
The four of her sisters dissolved the circle they had maintained around the sheltered lady. They themselves took a few steps to the side, leaving behind them small static discharges in the ether, as if some electrical circuit had just been disconnected. They lined up with the black-haired girl in front of Mikoto. Of course, their stony expressions were unreadable for many.
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Kongo herself looked at them in confusion, glancing around at everybody, struggling to figure out what they meant. Finally, her jaw dropped at the terrifying realization that it seemed at that moment that the theory she had presented had been created with the unobservable (help) of these four, as if it were a mysterious, temporary increase in computing capacity.
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She looked at the supposedly oldest of the five with a horrified expression.
Before the first year could say anything, the sophomore/second-year stopped her with a raised warning finger. "You asked me last time, if I had a super computer at my disposal... I think this experience has given you a sufficient answer as to why you shouldn't bring it up anymore. Also you seriously need to work at your bad habit to trusting to much. Otherwise, in one day, you will be screwed seriously by someone." She paused, changing her stare from Kongo at her sisters' faces.
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The black-haired girl in surprise swallowed on empty. "So this is what it looks like when you have a super computer by your side. Such great talent can really stir up theorizing about what could happen if some tried to miss use that in an incorrect way. It would send chills down your spine. Especially just knowing about it, could encourage various dares that no one would normally engage in." Fortunately, she had enough self-control and hid her blushing/embarrassed expression behind her spread fan. Finally, her friends approached her to comfort her. "If you allow me, I have to ask you again: How many of sisters do you actually have? When I asked them, I got a number exceeding nine thousand. Or isn't their numbers some kind of cipher?"
Mikoto immediately reprimanded her and her sisters with her: "Hey!!"
One of the students gasped as she said it. "More than nine thousand?!"
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Kongo jumped up quickly, cooling herself with a fan because it was getting 'hot' here. "Indeed, that's quite a lot of sheep to guard against the red wolf. Shirai san would seriously, not know where to jump for snatch first. Enough to create their own secret village under Tokiwadai."
Mikoto suddenly went cold in a semi-offended embarrassed fashion. "That reference wasn't funny then and it's not funny now!"
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Kuroko made a remark about how it was impossible for their school to handle such a huge increase in student body numbers in a normal way, and that it would actually require building a whole new village, that will be comparing the Garden of education. But she suddenly remembered a comment from the dormitory manager about a secret construction project requiring mechanized workers, and she began to laugh ironically in disbelief. Without a realizing she too, made a reference to that ninja book story. "Ha, ha. A hidden village of Imoto. Ha, ha."
Her Idol came to the same conclusion and suggested she keep quiet.
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However, Kuroko was too enthusiastic to change gears and commented, that her Sissy would look amazing as a ninja and would certainly be among the top in this regard. She vividly imagined the scenes, complete with clear gestures and poses, how her Sissy trains day and night, with given ninja weapons and using given ninja techniques.
But just mentioning the word ninja, made the named one recall a certain memory of 'Indian Poker' and suddenly blared her herald. "No! I tried to wrap it up right in the first lesson." She snapped but suddenly remembered that it was a recorded dream, she re-experienced through those dream cards. But even so, she couldn't help but say something about it in an offended tone. "I mean, it wasn't what I imagined. Being a ninja is not cool at all! It all just hard work, sweat and pain. Besides, it has little to do with that book story or what you just did. Forget about creating clones of yourself and summoning giant frogs!"
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Kuroko repeated her idol's last words with a very detached expression. "Giant frogs..." It was clear for the detective the true intention, yet in reality it was an incorrect assumption. She then asked if she could take a walk around the dormitory grounds and see if she could find something like a frog pond or spring somewhere. A secret gateway to the mysterious world beneath the girls' dormitory, since someone had already brought up the subject of the dungeon there.
Her Roommate, glared at the redhead and openly warned her not to develop that stupid idea any further. And that glare says that she will not hesitate to use violence.
...
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[Notes]
-swag: Has no definitive meaning (just like 'cool'), but from a certain perspective it can be used in a (new generation) context to express something 'cool'/super: like the way you act or dress. A generation ago it was 'cool', now it's probably 'swag' and the next it'll be something else. ("Go away, you green guy! You're just jealous of my 'swag'!")
-Mantra: a sacred, magical word, the repetition of which in yoga or Hinduism achieves concentration
-Decade – 10 years span like between 1880 to 1890, or 10 years of experience.
-Misaka 11.111 can be found in the (En) Fan-Fic 'A Certain Droll Hivemind' by 'EarthScorpion' (FanFiction net)
-Ball lightning: is a natural atmospheric phenomenon that usually occurs in stormy weather. It manifests itself as a spherical formation, most often with a diameter of several centimeters to decimeters, of various colors from yellow to blue, moving usually for several seconds to minutes in different directions and disappearing either with an explosion or quite calmly. Science has long considered the existence of ball lightning to be indisputably proven by a number of credible observations. However, the theoretical explanation, as well as the experimental simulation of this phenomenon in the laboratory under defined and repeated conditions, are unclear. It can be a failed discharge between earth and clouds that stuck of be left behind. Unable to go up or down it levitate, and its move because planet rotate, magma flow, or what ever celestial bodies do. Or it can be an electric current that self cycling around a particle, failing to discharge, until the particle is dissolved by high temperature.
This noisy 'will-o'-the-wisp' from close up can resemble a fireball that can even pass through a wall and windows. There have also been reports that it was chasing someone, but it probably just follows some (permanent or temporary) signal, a conductor (Ley-Lines?), ignoring the others. If it goes in your direction, please avoid that plasma torch by a several meter. Also it shots an electric currents/charges at near object.
-After-Image: An illusion [on the part of the eyes of observer] that appears after prolonged exposure of the eyes to a stimulus. It seems to 'burn' its image into the eye, which remains there for some time. For example, if you stare at a word, suddenly look away (for example, at a white screen) and you will still see the word for a few seconds. In photography it means messing the photo with another image, that don't need to be from same observed-recorded spectrum as if in double expose.
In the context of our story, Mikoto emits a weak AIM field (unconscious, but stronger that lover levels) as a kind of additional aura. A certain study says that the human bio-electric-field can be seen and described as an aura, which changes its shape and color based on the emotions and health of the source. Thirdly, a soul that grow 'bigger' than its container can be described as an aura. In this regard, since Mikoto is a powerful being at Level-5, while 'Level-6' is described as a divine level, it is possible that the combination of the previous names gave rise to an undescribed 'field' of enormous size, and Kongo put forward the idea that certain sisters are actually After-Images left behind by their originals, as proof of her own existence.
Or as in the case of an infinitely flat mirror surface of a pond, a falling drop will form a perfect circle. And that circle travels across the infinite surface as proof of that drop.
Or the 'Teleporter' was unable to fully displace/teleport (pick up from game board, move, place back on game board) something as large as a '#3 Railgun' and that 'something small left behind as residuum' gave rise to 'Imoto' as it eventually re-materialize. This was repeated x times.
-Schrodinger's Theory: A somewhat far-fetched (especially for the cat) hypothetical polemic about something (that is and is not) at the same time. As the angle of view/observation on a given 'question' changes, the answer to that question also changes.
-Lore-Historically: 1-A body of knowledge, such as traditional knowledge and stories about a given subject or subject. 2-A file of traditions and knowledge about a subject, preserved by a particular group, usually passed down from person to person by word of mouth.
Modern: The collective history and summation of all available knowledge about a particular fantasy or science fiction universe. Nowadays, the word is used mainly in connection with role-playing games, as additional narrative background that can be skipped.