Entry 23
I am back. I am still Misaka-10901. Misaka-11111 is still alive. Coconut and lime is not as sweet, but I think I still like it.
Narration will therefore resume, after the three asterisks.
***
I heard the supersonic crack of a railgun while Abe Eiko and I were making our way back to where we left the others. The original appears to be enjoying herself. On the other hand, she must be facing quite tough opponents if she is using her railgun power. She does not like to use it against soft targets, because they die if hit by hypervelocity projectiles. The original does not want to kill people, which is one of the many ways that she is better than the Accelerator.
Ways that she is worse than the Accelerator include the fact that she has not killed us once. We consider that a positive trait, although we suspect that Academy City authorities disagree and are of the opinion that it is a negative personality trait. We consider that to be a negative personality trait of theirs. We do not know if they know that we hold that opinion of them, but we have not been formally reprimanded for it as of the date that I had Misaka-10901 transcribe this.
"I don't like this," Abe Eiko says quietly. "We need to get the fuck out of here, Misa-Misa."
We are not sure how one is supposed to get the 'fuck' out of anything. And Abe Eiko is too young to be legally engaging in sexual intercourse. However, given her attitude towards vending machines, it is possible she is not following the law. Regardless, the Network is almost certain that she is not 'the fuck' in anywhere at the present time. We are sure we would notice.
"'Perhaps,' Misaka says," I say, because I am not sure how to respond. Network polling is inconclusive.
"You still haven't put your gun away," she reminds me.
"'I am aware of that,' Misaka says," I say. I do not wish to be disarmed until necessary.
"Well, I think," she begins, and then her face turns pale. "Oh crap," she says, pulling me once again into an alcove. I wish to poke my head out, but she is holding me tight. Abe Eiko is prone to profanity and use of irregular expressions. We were not loaded with profanity, but we have examined its existence since we have heard more informal dialogue. We do not really comprehend the purpose of it. It seems to be used mostly to express fear, anger, worry, or other such emotions. This could be expressed in a superior way if people were to adopt our manner of speech. I decide to demonstrate this to Abe Eiko.
"'What is the matter?' Misaka asks, fear in her voice," I said.
"Around the corner," she whispers. "The boy standing over the two unconscious Russians?"
"'What boy?' Misaka whispers," I whisper back, because she was still holding me tight. That was enough to get her to release her grip. The Network observed that she is physically stronger than I am. We will remember this.
Poking my head around the corner, I see Kamijou Touma standing over a Russian. He is massaging his hand. From the available evidence, it would appear that he has charged two adult men armed with guns and punched them repeatedly. Such actions are not in line with advisable infantry combat doctrine, but he appears to make it work for him.
"'I see the boy,' Misaka says," I say, leaning back in. I am trying to ignore Misaka-10032's repeated requests that I approach him. She is nagging.
***
I would like to add that Misaka-10032 is being very vocal across Network communications and that Misaka-11111 is not exaggerating or complaining, unlike when she whines about being hungry because she forgot her lunch. She was very loud when she whined about that.
It was all her fault for forgetting her lunch. Broadcasting her hunger was simply antisocial.
***
"Yeah, well, I know him," Abe Eiko says. "And I really don't want to see him again, capiche?"
The Network is unsure what 'capiche' means. We are also unclear why someone would not wish to see Kamijou Touma again. He is quite heroic and saved our lives by punching the Accelerator. We liked that bit. We think he should have done it more times, and in various areas of the body. Indeed, the Network has come to the general consensus that the main personality flaw that Kamijou Touma possesses is his continued failure to give the Accelerator fatal internal bleeding.
It is a painful way to die. We know that empirically.
"'Please,' Misaka says innocently," I say innocently so that she would not suspect that I already knew him, "'why do you not want this boy who you already know to see you?'"
Abe Eiko purses her lips. "Look, okay, I met him a few times before. First time, he broke my arm and then gave me a concussion. Stupid cheating bullshit hand blocking my knife. So unfair. I wasn't going to kill him! Well, I mean, it wasn't my orders to kill him. Okay, apart from the bit where I was going to take out the witnesses, but it wasn't anything personal. Anyway, it was all his fault for protecting her and getting in the way of a perfectly normal assassination. He could have walked on!"
I do not say anything. Much of the reason for that was that I am trying to stop Misaka-10032 from overloading my input channels with her ceaseless requests. The Network has decided to downgrade Abe Eiko's threat rating somewhat, however. Kamijou Touma's power is to cancel ESPer powers which come into contact with his right hand. The fact that she stabbed him in the hand rather than anywhere else on his body indicates inferior tactical acumen.
She shrugs. "Well, anyway, second time he gave me a black eye." She rubs her chest. "And punched me in the boobs, which really hurt! And… uh, also broke the Dark Matter plate I had under my top because I thought that maybe if I put cloth in the way he couldn't cancel it. And… look, it's embarrassing to talk about it, okay? He kicked my ass several times. And I really don't want to see him, now that they retired me. I've got enough bruises from that guy."
I consider the situation. "'I will distract him,' Misaka says," I say, putting away my F2000-R. This will serve two goals. It will firstly and most importantly mean that Misaka-10032 will stop pestering me-
***
I am also in favour of Misaka-10032 not pestering Misaka-11111. Misaka-10032 wants to add a note to the diary saying that she is not pestering Misaka-11111, but I am refusing to do that because she is pestering Misaka-11111 and also me.
Back to writing.
***
-and it will also let me speak to him in person. It also means that he will keep me safe from Abe Eiko in case she thinks I have let down my guard. It is a good plan.
I walk out and approach him. Kamijou Touma looks me up and down.
"Oh, hey, Biri-Biri," he says. "Do you know who these guys are?" There is an explosion somewhere above us. "Oh, damn. This way!" He grabs my wrist with his right hand. It feels quite warm. It is a not-unpleasant sensation.
I find myself being dragged away.
