"Thanks for the food!"

"No problem, Sylvia, my dear!"

"Uh, isn't this a little bit too much?"

"Don't worry, Touma-kun! Just eat and eat until you are full!"

Kamijou Touma sighed as he looks at his plate filled with varieties of viands while his rice was ready to overspill. In other words, it was like a mountain decorated to please the eyes of the eater although eating it is slightly an entirely different matter, especially to someone who doesn't eat that much.

Unless that person is a certain silver-haired English nun.

As the fireworks and the firecrackers outside of the building are slated to explode as the sign of the New Year's Eve, the whole company is celebrating their own welcoming of the New Year as they have held a grandiose party for their young assets and to cut it short, everyone attended, with a few surprises.

Since he was living with Index, Kamijou had no choice but to attend the party just to satisfy the hunger of the nun. She somehow deserved it, I think. He reasoned out to himself as he watched his partner already racing towards where the food is being served. At the moment, he was seated in a long table together with Sylvia, Svento, Aihara, and, to the shock of the spiky haired boy, the mother of the singer he had come to idolize.

"By the way, you look like your daughter, Riess-san," Kamijou can't help but make the comparison as he watches the elder Riess serve her daughter some of the food that is being displayed in the buffet table, "I mean, with that long brown hair and that fair complexion of yours, you can actually pass off as her older sister."

"Fufufufu, Sylvia-chan seemed to have made some good choices for her friends," Sakura Riess was having a good time as she faces the boy that her own daughter has been mentioning to her several times already, "By any chance, have you two already made some sneaky moves?"

The boy nearly spitted his food towards the face of Svento while Sylvia merely laughed at her mother's question, "W-W-W-What do you mean, Riess-san?!"

"Your expression tells all, young man," Sakura teased the spiky haired boy as she was clearly enjoying what she is witnessing right now, "Let's be clear. Did you…"

"I didn't do anything!" Kamijou vehemently denied it, his face flustered in both shame and shock at the subtle accusation, "I mean, the videos…they weren't intentional…it's just that the director made us do it," She must have watched one of Kamijou's earlier singles featuring Sylvia and right now, she can't help but have fun in pressuring the issue into the boy, "There's no malicious intent nor did I even intend to…"

"Hai, hai, no need to get too flustered for such an innocent mindset," Sakura rolled her eyes sarcastically as she settles down on the table.

As their table was very much peaceful amidst the growing number of firecrackers now exploding outside of the building, Kamijou can't help but observe how awfully close Sylvia and Sakura are as they seemed to enjoy each other's company without any signs of embarrassment. Must be because this is the only time that they would be able to spend time as a mother and daughter. The boy thought as he then realized that this is just the first time he had met and even heard from the elder Riess. Whether the latter herself is a veteran singer or simply a plain housewife, Kamijou doesn't know nor does he intended to but watching them from his seat, he can feel a hint of warmth touching his heart. It's as if they are like two pea pods split apart.

Diverting his eyes away from the reunion of the two, he then spots the other tables surrounding them and they were all very noisy, except for the table of the Navialand girls where everyone, particularly their team captain, looked all gloomy. Near them was the band of nuns that surprisingly brought along the championship with them. Not surprising that they are so noisy right now. The sisters, particularly Agnese Sanctis, were all slurping their food rather loudly and it was grating into the nerves of some few other guests in the hall although most didn't take notice of it or rather, they simply ignored it.

He then refocused his thoughts on the food in front of him and began to nibble his own piece of barbeque chicken again. Although he wouldn't want to admit it loudly, having free food to consume this time is more than a welcome for the young man and he already decided on getting second servings later on after he finished his first batch. But as he was eating his food, his train of thoughts was suddenly interrupted by Aihara, who was calling his name at least five times already.

"Young man! Young man!"

"Huh? Whaat?" Kamijou snapped out of his daydream just in time to see everyone from his table smiling amusingly at him, "I'm sorry. I was thinking a lot of things."

"That better be your future plans with us," Aihara said with a hint of excitement as he brings out a small letter from his suit and he pushed it forward towards the hands of the boy, "In relation to that, I'd like to present to you an offer to have a longer stay here with us. In other words, your story here in Rotkiv…it isn't yet over. In fact, it's just starting to bloom just as a butterfly is just starting to break out from its cocoon."

"I get what you're saying, Aihara-san but…" Kamijou was speechless for the moment before he continued, "You didn't have to go as far as to use some deep figure of speech. I mean is, if you're saying something like that, it might only backfire in my case."

"Ara, what do you mean?"

"Well…my rotten luck…you see, I just don't have the best of times, if you don't know," The boy explained, "Maybe if…"

"What are you talking about young man? This is opportunity already knocking once in your door," Aihara insisted, "You did well for your first year here in our company. I believe you'll be a great asset for us in a longer run. Besides, you have done well for us. It's time for you to think not only to extend working for us but to have your career flourish."

"Well…I…"

"Ah, President-san, don't worry. Touma-kun here will be more than happy to accept your offer!" All of the sudden, Sylvia stood up from her seat, twirled before hugging the boy to death from his back, "Besides, even if he doesn't accept at first, I'll simply have to entice him to accept the offer in exchange of being with you for the rest of my life…"

There was a sudden drop of temperature as silence immediately prevailed following Sylvia's last sentence.

"Excuse me?" Kamijou's eyes were wide with shock as the girl clutching him from behind merely smiled rather mischievously as she gazes towards a certain table where its occupants were also frozen by what she just said. But before a certain Railgun actually explodes, Sylvia laughed and caressed the hair of the boy before she replies, "I'm just joking, Touma-kun. But seriously, it would be for your own good if you stay here long term."

The boy merely sighed as he gave his own reply, "I was already thinking about doing that especially since my high school grades aren't that nice at all. In fact, college might actually be a bit difficult for me. So I might actually stay here, long term…"

"You hear that!" Sylvia squealed like a child getting her new toy, "You hear that?!"

"Ah…yes…yes…" Aihara sqeatdropped but was nevertheless happy to hear to get a positive response from his boy.

Even if it sounded like he was seduced just to give in to his request.

At the same time, Misaka Mikoto wasn't having a good time.

In fact, she didn't like what is happening right now.

"I didn't expect them to have such fine taste," The voice of Mugino Shizuri can be heard babbling from the other table while she was too busy eating her own food to mind the business coming from the other side.

"For once, I had to agree with you," Surprisingly, the first-ranked Esper and the current Academy City superintendent in Accelerator is also busy nibbling his own serving of drumstick and fried java rice, apparently caring little for his surroundings, "And for once, I was able to take a break from all the shit that's happening as well as Last Order herself. Oi, third rate, pass me that bowl of fried rice. I'm hungry."

Seriously, why did I even agree to that bitch Sylvia's order to bring them here? Misaka thought in a flabbergasted manner as she hesitatingly and grudgingly passed the said rice bowl to the albino, who took it rather rudely from her. This was supposed to be OUR victory party so who's really getting special treatment right now? She bitterly thought that her luck might have ran out already.

"Misaka-san…" Shokuhou suddenly called her out in a sickly sweet tone, "You're probably thinking about how you got yourself to agree with Sylvia-san's order that you bring them here and that it was our victory party. Have you heard of the term "Marketing Strategy?"

The truth is, Misaka had already figured out why Svento and Aihara had done this, "I get it that they want to put their company on further fame but the two of us are already here! Why the hell do they have to be here?!" She slammed her hands and pointed at Accelerator, Mugino, and, to her disgust, Sogiita Gunha, who was slurping his soup rather noisily.

"It's not our fault we're invited, third rate," Accelerator mockingly spat at the Railgun, "Besides, free food is free food. It's not every day that I can have a free supply of cuisine, much less an extravagant one."

Suddenly, Sogiita's phone rang into life, indicating that he had an incoming message in the inbox. But the moment Misaka heard the Gemstone's ringtone, she was flustered as she nearly choked in her food, "I-I'm surprised that you made our song as a ringtone." She was a bit shell shocked to hear Tear our Hearts as the main ringtone of the boy.

"You sure have guts singing in a broken tune so it was funny," Sogiita grinned as he held out his phone. When the rest of the Level One Espers saw the wallpaper of the Number Seven, there was a mixed reactions although one can passed it as snickering. "I actually have that as my wallpaper as well," Mugino smirked evilly.

"Oh that? Same case here. Makes my day complete whenever Last Order is stressing me out…"

"Oh my! I have that as well in my wallpaper!"

These guys really hate me. Misaka sulked in her table as she found herself staring into her own face that was plastered into the cellphone wallpaper of Sogiita. From the looks of it, it must be from the same song that the latter had made into a ringtone. First, we landed at eleventh place and now this?

The rest of the night had gone pretty well, except for some few hitches, notably Index, whom the cooks had to satisfy every thirty minutes as they are forced to bring in fresh and newly-cooked dishes since the silver-haired nun was basically depleting rapidly what is presented in their service table. The night also included a speech from Aihara, a couple of intermissions by Kamijou and Sylvia, and a distribution of small tokens for those present.

After the party has been concluded with another performance from Kamijou Touma due to the fact that his thousand or so fans has been awaiting for him at the gates, everyone had finally went home, pretty exhausted but had fun and contentment with their stomachs pretty filled up for the night. With the thought that they have their own battles to face for another new year, they all separated quickly but not without giving each other good a good bye since they knew that they will see each other again in several days at the company's building.

Man, I just wanted to sleep! Kamijou yawned as he, Index, Sphynx, and Othinus, who is riding in the pockets of the boy like always, all rode a cab so they can finally rest their fatigued bodies. Another year means another school year and some doses of misfortune to face off. At least, let this night be favorable to me.

He didn't know that some hours from now, he was about to get more than just that.

Epilogue

Fukiyose Seiri felt weird that she was standing in front of the mirror for almost more than thirty minutes.

The Iron Wall Girl herself has been tired from the party which she had attended together with Himegami, who was apparently sleeping already in her own dormitory as of the moment, but she can't help but stare at herself at the mirror while mumbling words which she herself can barely even hear. But obviously, she can hear what she has been whispering to herself.

"Is Sylvia…really aiming for that idiot?"

Ever since hearing the outburst of the idol, which even the latter dismissed it as a joke, she can't help but recall the events the lead all of them into this. "Would things be the same if I hadn't chased him almost to his death back at the park?" She can't help but reflect upon what she just did at the same day that Sylvia Riess had first taken interest at the boy and eventually roped him into becoming an idol singer like herself, "Wait, why the hell am I overthinking things?!"

She sat in her bed in an attempt to cool down her frustrated mind and so far, every effort to settle down and relax has been anything but successful.

She then stood up again and faced the mirror. Slowly, she began to caress her own hair as she felt her own doubts about the present relationship between her and her classmate began to arise rapidly. She's kidding, right? She won't do something like that and blatantly just announce it carelessly to the public due to her idol status? She didn't know why she was asking herself this but for some reason, it was beginning to snap her out of her own personality.

Sighing, she then went to her own closet and she quickly changed from her usual getup to a freer and, in her own words, unrestricted choice of clothing. While this was actually her first time using it despite the fact that she became part of the Navialand girl group, she didn't hesitate wearing a black miniskirt and her white tank top which she covered with her own athletic jacket.

To think that Kamijou Touma didn't even protested further other than a shocked reaction when Sylvia hugged him from behind made something inside Fukiyose's stomach churn horribly.

In other words, she was very much upset about it.

Upset not because he was being a pervert which was her usual reason why she would always pummel the boy with her fists but because Kamijou Touma has been enjoying all of the excitement of being a singer alone with just one girl he even barely knew personally. Even before this New Year's Eve dinner, the music video of the spiky haired boy before seemed to have provided a hint of what's going on between him and the hafu but there's nothing more beyond that. A part of Fukiyose did hope that it was nothing more than a job but the fact that Sylvia's joke had reached everyone's ears could indicate otherwise. Without someone to even clarify it, the usual steely and smart Fukiyose Seiri was all left hanging in the air, with nothing to do but to speculate.

Maybe she could understand if that nun partner of his or that brunette Level Five Railgun could be his lover but someone whom he just met because he was singing out in the park? It deeply hurt her, if she was being honest to herself and not being completely Tsundere or openly expressing 'hate' towards the boy. But then again, she remembered that all she did during their years as classmates in middle school and in their first year of high school was to beat him and punch him until he and his two friends would be sent to the infirmary.

These thoughts had built up within Fukiyose, leaving her to mull over her thoughts until the wee hours of the morning, wondering if Kamijou Touma had already possibly opened up on being with that brunette idol.

In situations like this, like many others before her, there comes a time where a cracking point had been finally reached and that individual finally snaps out of their usual behavior and does something extremely foolish and even opposite their character.

And what Iron Wall Girl was about to do would be certainly foolish.

With someone like that nun, that Level Five Esper and most especially Sylvia, I have no choice. They gave me no choice. Kamijou would surely see the real person behind my tough façade. She was felt that she needed to take action immediately. That idiot saved my life twice. He at least deserves better.

Fukiyose didn't stop to think about the consequences of her actions.

Fukiyose didn't even stop to think rationally.

Fukiyose didn't even stop to think about what Kamijou Touma would say to her when he meets her true self.

Her mind being disarrayed by sleep deprivation, Fukiyose had set out during the wee hours of that morning to put into motion the very foolish plan her upsetting thoughts had led her to.

It wasn't even thirty minutes when she was already standing in front of the dormitory of the boy. It wasn't hard for her to find it; she merely used the student information card that she has as the acting class representative to find her way into his dormitory.

"I won't lose to anyone, not even to Index-san or Misaka-san and most especially not to Sylvia."

She then had an ecstatic smile as she knocks thrice on the door and immediately, she heard the voice of the boy she had sought for.

Don't worry, Kamijou. We still had Winter Vacation. We'll have a very long night and trust me, you'll like it better than drugs or alcohol.

"Achoo!"

Misaka found herself sneezing as she just got out of the washroom after answering the call of nature.

"Is someone talking about me or it's just the dust?"

Pretty shitty ending but I just wanted to finish it and right now, I can say I'm finished with it. That was…a long ride and yeah, sooner, I might be publishing a new story. But for now, thanks readers and have a year full of prosperity.

SONGS USED FROM THE LAST TWO CHAPTERS (BY ORDER)

Oogoe Diamond – AKB48

Pre-Parade – Tora Dora

Sayonara Moon Town – Scenarioart

Problem Child – Simple Plan

Happy – Michael Jackson