Well… this is new. Guess this proves I'm definitely not EMIYA anymore. Never within the vast memories of my past self do I ever recall a welcoming party for me. People never threw parties for terrorists, altruistic or not. And Magi usually tend to go out of the way to avoid inviting a counter guardian into their timeline. Those that did tended to discover I made a poor guest.

Sayume awkwardly walked forward towards the building, flanked by an unusually bashful Misaki. As they entered the dorms, she noticed welcoming balloons and countless decorations. But what stood out to her the most was the overall welcoming atmosphere from the students. It was by no means perfect, with several of them glancing at each other, whispering their thoughts. But it was a far better sight than what she expected of sheltered middle school girls.

"Misaki, did you…"

"Nope, well maybe one or two early on, but only to post certain things online. When it comes to social media, taking charge of the initial rumors and claims can easily shape the debate. Once a perspective gains momentum early on, it's hard to overcome its power, truth or not."

"Is that so? Well that explains the relatively warm welcome compared to the hushed whispers and stares I was expecting."

"Hey, just because I had high misfortune ability when it came to getting you enrolled doesn't mean I'd just throw you to the wolves. You're Dolly's family and therefore my family. It's only by chance and misfortune that you share blood with a certain annoying Biri Biri"

"Haa? What was that?"

The pair stopped walking and shifted their gaze to the new voice, revealing a young girl with short tea colored hair, electricity sparking from her hair.

"Oh? Ah, Misaka-san, how good to see you. Are you here to escort your sister and show her around the school?"

"Don't 'oh' me. My name isn't Biri-biri! Don't go teaching my little sister weird things!"

"Misaka-san, this is a welcoming event for your sister. Is yelling at a fellow student for escorting a new arrival lady like behavior?"

"Why you…"

Sayume instinctively took a step back, memories of two bickering women resurfacing. That of a blond dressed in blue against a black haired one dressed in red.

Rin… Luvia…

She smiled wistfully, as the memories, the images of her past life interposed themselves into the bickering pair before her. The scene lasted for a few moments longer before they realized they were in public, before a crowd of gossiping school girls.

Sighing in annoyance, Misaki reached into her purse and pulled out a remote control.

"You will not remember any of this, and delete any possible posts you may have made online. You will then leave this area to help the others prepare our new classmate for her new home."

Their eyes glazed over, the witnesses nodded and walked away. Mikoto could only cluck her tongue in annoyance, unwilling to admit the other level 5 esper just performed her a favor as well.

"Right then… Misaka-san, I trust you can take your younger sibling on tour of the campus? I need to finish negotiations with the administration for Sayume's acceptance into the school."

"Fine, but answer me this… Why are you doing this? Why get involved with a girl you don't know?"

"Why Misaka-san, why would I not help a child I found in dire distress? Isn't it the right thing to do?"

"But for you to go this far… I didn't expect that of you."

"Heh, it would seem your character judgement ability is far too low Misaka-san."

Frowning in annoyance, Misaka grabbed the hand of her newest sister and dragged her away, doing her best to ignore the elegant laughter of her level 5 peer. Sayume could only smile wryly as she was being led away.

Just like Rin when she lost an argument with Luvia… Will this be the Clock Tower all over again?

As they walked away, they could hear Luv- Misaki call out once more.

"Oh, and Misaka-san, do try to reign in your powers today! The Dorm Manager isn't pleased with an exception being made to the rules. I personally do not care if you are foolish and get yourself on her bad side, but do try to keep your innocent little sister out of trouble!"

Misaka stopped in her tracks, a shiver of fear running down her back as she glanced back at her most disliked classmate. Without speaking a word, she nodded and proceeded onward, with a much confused Sayume raising a brow at the interaction.

Who IS this woman? Who can inspire such fear between a mind controller and my sister, who is apparently even MORE powerful than said mind controller?

She could only frown in concern as she saw a cold sweat appear on her sister's face.

Misaka's supposed tour of the campus consisted of her holding her youngest clone's hands while trying to find a nice quiet spot away from the prying eyes of her gossiping classmates. Neither said a word, Mikoto was far too busy searching for a private area and trying to suppress her glowing blush at the mutterings of her peers, while Sayume merely looked around in awe, silently wondering just how MUCH money was sunk into her new home.

It wasn't until they reached the roof of their school did Mikoto feel as if they had enough privacy. Finally, after looking around to ensure they were truly alone, did she let go of Sayume's hand. Frowning, she looked into her sister's eyes, betraying a hint of guilt and regret.

"So, how much of the News is actually true?"

"I wouldn't know Nee-san. Ever since I was found, I was kept in a hospital room. I didn't have access to a TV or the internet while I was there. What are they saying about me?"

"Hah… the news claims that you are a clone of me that was genetically modified using samples I provided Academy City for research years ago. Genes of an unknown donor and an egg stolen from my mother years ago when she admitted to the hospital for alcohol poisoning shortly after I was admitted to the city were spliced into my sequence to create you years ago, with experimental drugs to accelerate your growth. Then for years you were experimented on constantly to see if it was possible to change an esper ability without risking the original."

"Huh, sounds plausible, if mostly untrue."

"Meaning?"

Mikoto's eyes narrowed, her expression brooking no lies or opposition.

Tsk, if Misaki didn't inform me that Mikoto knew about my sisters, I probably would have made an easily discerned lie. But talking about EMIYA will be too much for her, it's not like the Network that can connect directly to my mind or Misaki who actually interacted with him. Best to pull of a Kirei and speak misleading truths…

"I was created a few days ago using the parts of 9 of our live siblings and a sample from a previous project to create something new. Shortly after my creation, I was able to glean information from that sample as well as interact with the Network for the first time. Realizing the peril I was in, I escaped from the facility while it was being attacked by unknown forces. I was wounded in the escape and was discovered by Misaki-san while I was bleeding out in the street."

"Wait, you were the person Misaki found on the street? Why would she ask me to wipe out the surveillance footage of the area without explaining why? She even gave me a favor to call in the future as long as I didn't ask any more questions!"

"I wouldn't know Nee-san. Maybe she was afraid you'd be a liability if you knew. This is only my first impression, but it didn't look like the two of you get along."

Scowling, Mikoto averted her gaze.

"Of course we don't! She always gets on my nerves! Especially her condescending look she has when speaking to others..."

Shaking her head, Sayume merely shrugged at her sister.

"I've only been alive for a few days Nee-san, not enough time to really know anyone or their motives you know?"

"Wait, earlier you said you were made out of 9 of our live sisters, what do you mean?!"

"Exactly that. They made 9 more sisters, then while they were alive, broke them down to make me. From what the Network has said, they were in excruciating pain for the few moments the process took."

"Are… are you serious?!"

"I'm not lying."

"I see…"

At her words, Mikoto's gaze drifted downwards, her eyes watering in grief at the thought of more fallen sisters.

I feel bad about telling her that, but it least it was the truth, correct sisters?

Correct. Do you have any other queries, youngest sister?

Yeah, can you share memories that you have of Mikoto here? I'd like to get to know her better.

Of course, sister.

In the span of a single moment, a deluge of memories flooded Sayume's mind. A visit with their older sister in which they were "gifted" a gekota badge in which the sister cherished until her dying breath. The misunderstandings from subsequent meetings in which the sisters believed they were unwanted, and finally a desperate last stand alongside a black haired youth against a white haired monster.

That boy… he's the one that pursued me after I escaped…

You too suffered at his hands?

Yes, although he was practicing restraint. Only received a dagger in the gut, which I threw at him.

Can you share this memory?

I'll try next time I'm with LAST ORDER. I don't want to accidently dump the wrong memories onto the network.

Understood. Do enjoy your time with older sister.

Is that jealousy I detect?

…

Your lack of response speaks volumes. I'll try to get her to visit you soon.

...Much appreciated.

Shifting her focus away from the network, Sayume felt a hand upon her head, and Mikoto looking at her in concern.

"Um… what are you doing sister?"

"What am I doing? What happened to you?! You just went into a daze all of a sudden and had a bunch of weird expressions on your face! You wouldn't respond to anything I said! Are you ok!?"

"Uh, sorry about that Nee-san. I was talking to the Network and asking the others to share their memories of you."

"I see, so those faces were what the sisters were feeling at the time…"

Mikoto's eyes narrowed as she looked to the side, sighing wistfully before shaking her head.

"So as I was saying, is there anything else you can tell me about the lab you are from? Anything to track down the bastards that hurt you?"

"No, there were only 4 people present at my creation. The one that started the process that created me died during the experiment, don't know how. Then the surviving members started fighting over me, with the last one standing choosing to stay behind to hold off outside parties who wanted to capture me while I escaped."

"And you were injured during the escape, which was when Misaki found you…"

"Correct."

"Hah… what a mess. We'll need to come up with a cover story to tell mom later when she arrives. If we tell her too much, she might do something to annoy the darkside of the city."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want that. What is she like by the way? I've never had a mother before."

"She's well... good but annoying at times. She likes to embarrass me alot, but I wouldn't trade her for the world."

"Do.. do you think she'll accept me? It's not everyday you find out your child was cloned, and from the news said I'm an abomination, an amalgamation of so many people."

"I don't think she'll mind. Maybe a bit awkward around you at first but I doubt she'd just reject you. Besides, even if she did, you're my sister no matter what!"

Placing her hand on Sayume's shoulder, Mikoto gave her a quick squeeze of support and a smile. Sayume could only close her eyes and smile wryly, shaking her head.

"Hah… what an accepting sister I have. Now if only she didn't have such childish tastes she'd be the perfect cool older sister."

The words struck Mikoto like a lighting bolt, her body tensing and her mouth opening in shock.

"Eh, what?"

"Oh sorry about that, 9982's thoughts kinda bled through there for a second."

"Isn't she the one that…"

"Received that Gekota badge from you? Yes. A real piece of work that one, don't you agree Nee-san?"

"I… Did she?"

Mikoto could only look longingly at her younger sister, her eyes pleading for an answer that constantly dies in her throat, unable to be spoken in fear of a possible answer.

Shit… I handled that poorly. I have to remember that she's only a kid, not the second life of an ancient fool. This kind of trauma isn't one that can be overcome in a few short days. It takes years to fully move on.

"She didn't blame you for anything Nee-san. She enjoyed her time with you. I have her memories now from the Network. Even the memories of her stealing your ice cream. She wouldn't want you to be sad about this anymore."

"I… thank you Sayume."

"Of course."

"Hah... here I am trying to reassure you but now I'm the one that needs assurance."

"Heh, what a bothersome older sister that I have."

Warmly smirking, Sayume walked forward arms wide open. With a wistful smile, Mikoto dashed forward to embrace her sister, trying all the while to suppress her sobs. At the urging of her sisters in the Network, Sayume rubbed Mikoto's back, passing on messages of support from the others, reminding their guilt-ridden sister that it wasn't her fault.

After a few minutes, Mikoto's breathing became normal, but neither broke off the embrace, taking a moment enjoy the peace and serenity of the moment. Until a certain girl with pigtails suddenly appeared next to them.

"Onee-sama, I heard… WHAT ARE YOU DOING ONEE-SAMA?!"

The pair immediately separated, with Sayume looking at the sudden interloper warily while her sister blushed in embarrassment. All the while, Kuroko trembled in shock, pointing at the two girls before her.

"I… I heard you were meeting with your new discovered clone-sister on the roof, not having a rendevouz with a tanned delinquent! If you wanted an embrace I am more than willing to provide Onee-sama! Why wouldn't you come to me for comfort first Onee-sama!"

"Uh… Nee-san, who is this?"

"Hah… this idiot is my roommate and best friend, Shirai Kuroko. And this IS my sister, look!"

"Eh?!"

Walking forward, Kuroko began walking around the tanned girl, studying her head to toe, with a lecherous gaze ever strengthening.

What… what is this! Unblemished tanned skin, snow white hair flowing past her knees, cool steel gray eyes… Did the researchers go beyond what I dreamed possible…

A chocolate Onee-sama!?

A perverted grin adorned Kuroko's face as her hands reached out, her fingers wiggling in a most lecherous manner. Sayume's danger sense flared as the girl inched closer, instinctively taking a step back. Her eye twitched, as blueprints to various low cost noble phantasms were brought to the fore, ready to be traced at a moments notice, only for an enraged voice to interrupt.

"Ku-Ro-Ko! What are you doing to my little sister?"

Kuroko instinctively teleported back a few feet, avoiding the mass amount of electricity surging towards her former location. Taking a sigh of relief, Sayume took a step back, and merely watched on as the pair faced each other.

"Nothing Onee-sama! I was merely examining her to make sure she was authentic!"

"Then why would she feel so threatened by you that she'd cringe and take a step back! It's one thing to pester me with your tendencies, but I'm sure as hell not letting you bother her with it too!"

Infuriated, Mikoto fired electricity again and again at the teleporter, who evaded each one with ease. Burn marks began adorning the roof, with a blow occasionally striking hard enough the cause the entire building to tremble. Each lightning strike coming down with ever greater force in response to Kuroko's ever so smug smirk.

"Onee-sama, have you forgotten? You can't hit me like this! Now let's calm down and-"

Once more she teleported away, once more she evaded Mikoto's blow. Sayume watched the display in silence, noting the abilities of her sister and her friend, eventually seeing a shadow appear at the edge of her vision. Turning her head, she saw a professionally dressed woman with glasses, looking most displeased, walk to where Kuroko teleported next, unnoticed by the smug esper. Glancing to her side Sayume noticed her sister tense up in fear, barely able to breathe upon seeing the woman.

"Honestly Onee-sama, sometimes you are too stubborn for your own good! Oh? You've stopped? Have you come to your senses?"

"Indeed, have you and Misaka come to your senses, Shirai?"

A cold sweat drenched the espers, as Kuroko turned to greet the woman.

"Ah, dorm mistress nice day to-"

She never finished her words, as the dorm manager swiftly grabbed her head and twisted, the cracking of her neck silencing any words she or Mikoto may have had before tossing her aside. Sayume could only stare in awe at the scene.

How… how did she do that?! She snapped her neck, but she still lives! No sign of lasting damage either! How the hell do you do a non-lethal neck snap?! Is this an esper ability? No, there was no appearance of the supernatural during that interaction. Is it raw skill? Wouldn't that mean it could be taught? I wonder if I can learn that… it would have been incredibly useful when I was first alive as EMIYA. I could have resolved so many situations nonlethally if I knew how to do that!

"Honestly, causing mischief in the dorms was not enough? Now you must cause trouble in the REST of the campus during the day? Rules are meant to be upheld. Isn't that right, Misaka?"

"I… yes… I mean, of course, dorm manager!"

"So, what should we do with the two of you?"

"Um, excuse me ma'am."

A cold sweat formed on Sayume once the Dorm Manager's gaze shifted upon her.

Such… such an intimidating aura! This is equal to the pressure of an assassin class servant. How… how is this possible for a normal person!?

"Yes child? Do you have something to add?"

Swallowing, Sayume nodded as she tried to meet the woman's stare.

"Yes, if my sister has to be punished, so should I. My sister lashed out at Kuroko when she scared me and did not apologize. It doesn't feel right for my sister to be punished for protecting me. If I had kept calm this wouldn't have happened."

"Hoh? You aren't trying to weasel your sister out of her punishment?"

"No, she broke the rules, so there should be consequences. But it doesn't feel right for me not to be punished when my sister did it for my sake. So please…"

The manager silently stared at the child, lost in her thoughts until turned to face Mikoto.

"Is this true Misaka?"

"Y-yes Dorm manager! But my sister did nothing wrong, she broke no rules, so she shouldn't be punished."

"So you consider her your sister, despite everything on the news?"

"Huh? What kind of question is that? Even if she was born differently, she's still family! Why would that even matter here?"

At Mikoto's answer, the Dorm manager narrowed her eyes and adjusted her glasses.

"I see. Request denied Sayume-san. As for you Misaka, your punishment is to escort a new student around the campus for the rest of the day. Following which, you will explain to this new transfer student all the rules, regulations and procedures of Tokiwadai Middle School. After which, for the next month you will be expected to escort the student around the city to help familiarize her with her surroundings. This will continue everyday with no breaks and I expect her to become a model student afterwards, is this clear Misaka?"

"Yes Ma'am!"

"Good. As for you Sayume, due to a miscommunication, you were not assigned a proper guide to help you acclimate to your new environment. I have assigned a gifted if troublesome student to become your new guide to assist you. Should you find anything amiss with the quality of your transition assistance be sure to report it to me, is that clear Sayume-san?"

"Yes Ma'am!"

"Excellent. Misaka, guide our new student to the main office, I assume they'll need her for testing soon. I'll deal with Shirai and assign her punishment once she recovers."

"Understood, thank you Dorm Manager!"

Bowing in unison, the sisters made a respectfully hasty retreat, with Sayume briefly pausing to look back, only to see the older woman pick up Kuroko by the scruff of her neck and drag her away, sighing in annoyance.

The pair sat alone in the main office of the campus, with the secretary out on errands for the principle while the rest of the administration prepare for the battery of tests required to measure their newest student. A giddy air filled the room, as the two chatted away about the doom they so narrowly avoided.

"That was terrifying. Still, why did you get involved like that Sayume?"

"It didn't feel right to me to watch you get punished for trying to help me out."

This feeling… I wonder, is it the EMIYA within me still craving to help others, the desires of the sisters to be with family, or is it my own unique desires finally starting to form? Oh well, either way it feels right.

"Still, this has got to be the closest anyone has gotten to getting out of a punishment from the Dorm Manager!"

"Is she really that strict?"

"Didn't you see what she did to Kuroko with no esper abilities?"

"Good point."

Smiling warmly, Mikoto pulled out her phone and began messaging others.

"Hey Sayume, this weekend we should have some free time, let me introduce you to my friends!"

"Sure, I'd love to meet them, Nee-san."

"Hmm… what should we do this weekend? How about-"

Before should could voice her thoughts, there was a brief knock at the door before it opened, an elderly woman alongside several of her aids walked into the room.

"Ah, Misaka-san, thank you for waiting with your sister. You can go back now. The tests for your sister needs to be performed in privacy. Don't worry, we will message you when they are complete for you to come and escort her back to her new room."

"Ah, understood. I'll see you later Sayume."

Bowing, Mikoto walked out of the room, pausing only to wave goodbye to her new sister.

"As for you Sayume-san, please come with us, the testing should only take a few hours."

"Of course."

As Sayume followed the staff down the hall, she saw Misaki standing before the door to the testing area. Nodding, the adults halted in their steps and spread out, keeping an eye out for any possible interlopers.

"Well then Sayume, I don't have much time before someone notices I took control of the staff again, so I'll be brief. Be truthful for the most part during the examination. You need to show yourself as a powerful esper, at least a level 3 to stay in the school. But for the school to save face for bending its own rules to admit you so suddenly, you need to be rated at least as a level 4. Show them the flexibility of your skills, primarily tracing. Just don't show them your more… exotic artifacts at your disposal."

"Oh, you can't just instruct them to fudge the test for my with your own powers?"

"There needs to be recordings and outside observers watching it live for it to count. Even I cannot manipulate that many people and I doubt Mikoto will fill comfortable hacking multiple institutions when the legal way is far easier and safer to go."

"So pretty much go crazy with the tracing, don't mention that I have noble phantasms or mystic codes, okay."

"Ugh, what high weird naming power your 'occultist' organizations have."

"I'm not the one who came up with the terms."

"I know. Regardless, go ahead and wow the researchers. I'll handle the rest."

As Misaki walked away, the staff once more gathered around Sayume and escorted her into the testing facility, as if nothing happened. Sighing, she shook her head and followed along.

If she wasn't on my side, I swear I'd be terrified of Misaki…

"So Itou-san, what are your findings about our newest student?"

"There is much to cover Director Unabara. Where would you like to start?"

"Start with her esper ability. What is it and want rank is it? I assume it is elektromeister like the original."

"Not quite Director… She is... well, unique I suppose is the best way to put it. We don't have an official term for what she is yet, but the other researchers are calling her a composite level 5 esper."

Intrigued, the Director raised brow at her haggard assistant, her relief at the apparent success of their gamble barely contained.

"Explain."

"She has a new, never before seen ability, which according her, was called Tracing by the original researchers who studied her. She can make near perfect replicas of simple weaponry such as swords from a glance and perfect replicas of almost anything she has had time to study provided she can understand the process behind it."

"Oh?"

"I will forward the video of the experiment later, but from what we have found, she can make perfect replicas of just about anything she can understand the concept behind. At one point we brought in a broken cleaning robot for her to study. She lacked the ability to 'trace' it all in one go, but she was able to expertly disassemble it, trace every individual part she found, and then repair the machine with what limited tools on hand. Her creations from 'tracing' are indistinguishable from the originals. None of the tools and instruments on hand were able to detect anything abnormal about her traced objects, and they only disintegrated when she willed it."

"Fascinating… how much studying did she need to 'trace' the objects?"

"From what we could determine, she relies on sight and touch to investigate whatever material she is working with, and after a few moments she can create a perfect replica, barring of course complex machinery. As for the swords and other simple weaponry, she claimed she could make near perfect replicas based on sight that would eventually disintegrate. To test this, we showed her a surgeon's knife of which at our request she traced 5 copies of. Afterwards, we let her hold the knife to study, then trace 5 times again. The result was the sight only knives disintegrated over the course of a few hours before suffering a sudden catastrophic collapse. The knives created after studying the original are still under observation. No noticeable changes thus far."

"Interesting… But she can only create sight based imperfect copies of basic weaponry correct? Any indication as to why she could not create sight based imperfect copies of other items, such as jewelry?"

"No definite reasons yet, however we do have a hypothesis."

"And that being?"

"Based on the interview answers she gave before the practical evaluations, she indicated that most of her time under the… less scrupulous researchers was most spent trying to survive. She was attacked, electrocuted, etc., in order to observe her reactions. With her life under constant threat, and being attacked on a regular basis her brain could have developed in a manner to better address her means of survival. This kind of phenomena has been observed in school children in other regions in the world in which children are raised in hostile environments. We won't know for certain until she undergoes Neuroimaging."

"So chances are she will not be able to perform this outside of weaponry?"

"It is possible, but we simply do not know enough. Regardless, I can't believe them…"

The researcher's face scrunched up in fury as his mind recounted the ordeals the young girl relayed to him and the others.

"Such lack of morals, such callousness. They weren't even Kiharas!"

"One does not need to bear the Kihara name to be a monster Itou-san."

"As this case so obviously shows. I truly hope those bastards died in that fire in District 19."

"Perhaps, but now is not the time for this. What level is she expected to have?"

"For Tracing? She'll be a high end level 4, by the time of the next semester assessment, she might even break the barrier into level 5."

"I see, so why did your compatriots call her a composite 5 then?"

"Well… whatever those bastards did to her, they achieved what was formerly believed to be impossible."

"And? I don't care for dramatic pauses."

"She's also a level 1 elektromeister. Her former handlers were too interested in her tracing, so that aspect of her was neglected."

A pregnant silence filled the room as the Director Unabara stood stunned, her mouth wide open in shock. Minutes passed until finally she spoke in a sorrowful tone.

"So the specter of the Special Ability Institute shall rise again…"

"Indeed, only this time they'll add cloning and genetic modifications this time on top of slaughtering child errors."

Snarling, the Director banged a fist upon her desk, the entire room trembling from the force as a bruise slowly formed on her hand.

"And the Board of Directors already knows because of the observers they sent. We are going to need to increase our security budget. Sayume was created using Mikoto's DNA as one of the foundations. One of those Kihara bastards will probably try to abduct one of our students under the assumption that the process will only work if a high level esper is used."

"And now we have to fear the specter of illegal cloning as well. We will need to update our policies to prevent our students' DNA from being obtained illegally in a moment of carelessness."

Collapsing back onto her chair, the Director started massaging her temples, uncaring of what image she must now be projecting to her subordinate.

"This will be a nightmare to bring up with the rest of the staff. But the die has been cast. One last thing however Itou-san, what are your thoughts about the girl? What is your first impression?"

At the sight of his exhausted superior, he wore a wry smile before speaking.

"A mature child desperately trying to understand the world around her. At first glance, she appears patient and kind, but underneath she is cynical, and self reflective if her dry wit is any indication."

"So she will not become a problem student?"

"No Director, in my opinion she will probably become one of your model students, aside from all the trouble her mere existence will draw to her and the school."

"I see… thank you for your efforts Itou-san. I will review your report in depth when you send it to me."

"Of course Director. Message me if you need more information."

Nodding in acknowledgement, she silently dismissed her subordinate before resting her chin on her hands, closing her eyes to contemplate the situation.

What a mess. I wasn't expecting to have the very first duel esper in existence to be admitted to my school. Truly a dangerous opportunity. This needs to be handled delicately, but if we pull this off, the prestige and influence of Tokiwadai will skyrocket. All that is left now is for Misaka Misuzu to arrive. If all goes well, she'll accept Sayume and she'll legally become Misaka Sayume. If not, that means I will have to find a different family to adopt her immediately. I am not going to risk Sayume's status to fall into a Child Error. The school has already invested too much to have that status, that legal vulnerability foisted upon her as a method for us to lose her.

Sighing, she pushed herself up off her desk only to wince from the sudden pain in her hand. Looking down, she saw an ever expanding bruise on her hand.

Great… now I need to have this checked out to make sure I didn't fracture a bone or something.

Frowning, she glanced out the window to see the sun slowly making its way down into the horizon.

If I leave now, I should be able to get it checked this evening. And maybe get a second opinion on my situation.

A relieved smile slowly formed on her face as she walked towards her car.

Heaven's Canceller would forgive me if I vented loudly as he checked my injuries, right? Perhaps even give me his insight?

As the sun rose over the English Channel, a tea colored haired man stood near the docks, talking on his cellphone while watching ferries load and unload their cargo continuously, his chilling voice in stark opposition to the warmth of the morning sun.

"So Aleister, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"What has happened over the past few days, is beyond what I have anticipated."

"So I am to believe that you had nothing to do with this tanned clone of my daughter?"

"I had no knowledge of her existence until a few moments before she was announced in the news."

"But you do not deny that your efforts are related to her creation."

"At no point did I order her creation or imply that I wished to see it done."

"And yet you do not refute my claims."

"..."

"Despite your tendency to lie, I do believe what you have told me so far. It does not fit your cultivated image of an all knowing shadowy chessmaster. But this is quite an unexpected show of weakness for your numerous enemies, is it not?"

"..."

"Regardless Aleister, I will not tolerate any further manipulation of my daughters. Continue to do so at your own peril."

"You have accepted the clone as your own already?"

"I left the decision to my wife, but knowing her, she will take her in."

"I see. But what can a single man do to threaten me? Do you truly believe a single free agent can do anything against Academy City?"

"Nothing, at least not directly, Aleister. But it is my job to point things out, to find paths for others to take, to fulfil their dreams and goals. I cannot stop you, but the multitude of your enemies hiding the shadows and basking in the light of the world? Who knows what will happen should the world stand against you. Do not test me Aleister."

"Your words have been noted, Misaka Tabigake."

On those words, the line cut off. Sighing the tea hair colored man turned around and walked into a nearby pub to wait for his next client.

So I'm about to have another daughter, pre-aged to boot. Heh, saves us the trouble of going through diapers and potty training at least. Still, I wish I could have gotten out of this contract, I'd love nothing more than to meet her. Oh well, I might be able to visit during the Daihasei Festival if this contract goes well.

Picking up a menu, he briefly scanned the alcoholic drinks before reaching into his wallet to find nothing inside.

"Tsk, I could use a drink, damn it."

Author's Notes

Heya Peeps,

I'm almost done with school this semester, just one final stretch of a crap ton of assignments and finals and I'm good. After this, I'll start posting often again assuming my crap luck improves. Like Jesus this has got to be one of the unluckiest semesters I've ever had. School websites crash and deleted my assignments so I had to redo them constantly, my laptop got damaged during a class's made rush to leave, leaving me with a massive repair bill. Then on one of the nights when I was sleep deprived, I backed into my editor's car by accident.

That one still pisses me off. I wasn't even going 5 miles per hour or 8 kilometers per hour for the rest of the world. I just took my foot off the brakes to back up, and 2 seconds later tapped his bumper. His damage? A tiny ding and one hand pound later good as new. Me? Almost $2k worth of damage to reflectors, bumper cover, and actual bumper. What the hell! Is my car made of paper mache?

I suppose there is a good reason why a Toyota Rav4 isn't part of Gilgamesh's treasury.

My venting aside, for those who read Shackles, I did complete the next chapter, but I wasn't satisfied with it, so instead of posting something I'm not happy with, I'm trying to decide how to rewrite it. I'll post it when I think it's finally acceptable.

Lastly a word about the polls: I wasn't expecting 1st and 2nd place to be In the Wake of the Golden Ending and The Knight of the Bow and the Lord of the Bow.

Do you guys want me to write a story out of order like the anime Baccano! or something? lol.

Editor's Notes

So, uh, yeah. That little accident did happen. The description was accurate. Anyways, with the semester finally going into Finals Mode, my editing (if I decide to do anymore before the semester ends) may not be up to my usual standards, but hey. It'll be readable if anything.

In other news, once the semester ends, I think I'll start doing my own writing alongside editing Kovaras' work. How it'll turn out, we'll never know. I'll decide whether or not to reveal the concept in a later EN (because I'm sure if I start writing, Kovaras will strongarm me into advertising his stories within my own and vice versa). Just know it has something to do with our favorite purple-haired kouhai.