Dance Class

«This day is finally over! I think I'll spend my deserved weekend with Haruee-san. What about you, Shirai san? Wanna Join?» Uiharu asked while fixing some last documents on the desk.

«I'm not sure about it… let's wait Onee-sama and see if she had plans for us, maybe me and her alone... ihihihih! She's late!» Kuroko answered impatiently.

Uiharu made a smile of convenience and went turning off computers and devices in order to leave the office, but Kuroko touched her shoulders and asked her to wait a moment.

«Before turning that pc off, check that presumptuous guy's database… the one we met some days ago during the reunion.» Kuroko urged and pushed her friend on the seat.

«You mean Fran-san?» Uiharu asked hesitant.

«Oh yea, that was his name… more or less. Whatever, I was not able to remember it and either find him in the Judgment online archives. Please, do that for me now… you're the expert one when it comes down to this, I should have asked to the best from the start!»

«All those fake compliments are only preventing me to do it… but I'm sure I would not be allowed to leave if I don't obey. Ok, I'm on it. Here it is: Francesco… Ruggiero? Yes, this is the ID: what do you want to kn-» Kuroko pushed her friend off the seat and started scrolling the datas wheezing.

«I knew it!» she superbly claimed, laughing for minutes. «That arrogant guy was obviously all hat and no cattle! He is just a level two! His abilities are not even accurately described on the database but he keeps having that annoying attitude nonetheless!»

«Shirai-san… It could also be they are not shown because he's new in Judgment… And by the way, why do you care so much?» Asked Uiharu while touching her hurted back caused by the unpredictable jump of Kuroko.

«Next time I meet him I know what to say to beat him down! He will pay for what he said about me… I'm not a perv who can only think about Onee-sama's light and soft skin! And her consistent breast and… UH!» Misaka Mikoto just arrived and unfortunately listened to the last part of her roommate's speech.

«Very bold compliments… for someone who will end up roasted! KUROKO!» a flashed follow not only by a thunder, but also by a scream of pain, concluded the girls day in the Judgment office.

Meanwhile, Saten Ruiko was on her daily researches about urban legends but this time she decided to play safer.

«Even if I spare lots of time by going alleys, I think I'll go through the park this time. After all, mysteries exist also during daylight!» the girl thought, but watching up she realized the sun was setting soon; after finishing her bonus lessons she decided to go for a walk before backing home and then call Uiharu and the others to ask them how was their day and what they were planning for the weekend.

As she was crossing the park center, she noticed a familiar looking guy and hid behind a pole trying to focus her sight.

«I can't be mistaken, it's really him! He's the boy who saved me last time, and he's an high schooler! Lucky me! Today I wanted to search for the woman who claims to have an invisible partner but I'm also satisfied with him instead! I can finally thank him properly and then ask his name!» Saten made her victory sign and went directly to him. «Hi! Remember me?» She asked after knocking on his back, so he turned to her. This time he was in his school uniform's black jacket and trousers, he had a shoulder bag and his mobile phone in hand; he took off one of his earphones and answered Saten.

«I see you're doing fine. As my Judgment's duty, I'm glad I helped. I notice you also started avoiding insidious roads from today. Nice, in this park there are so many cute little creatures to admire. Gakuen Toshi has everything, huh…» Fran said with an unexpected talkativeness.

«Yep! I should definitely visit this more! By the way, I'm Saten Ruiko! And you?»

«He is someone you don't want to hang out with, I can swear!» Kuroko grabbed Saten's shoulder and pulled her towards herself and the other girls; they randomly went across that park too and when they noticed Saten from afar, they reached her but without expecting to meet that one guy next to her.

«Shirai-san! Guys! What a coincidence to find you around here!» Saten said surprised but Kuroko ignored her enthusiasm and stood still between Fran and her friend.

«Saten-san… do you actually know this man? Answer honestly please!» She asked threatening and determined.

«Well… yes. I mean, not really. We met once and… all right, I'll talk! I didn't want you to know this to prevent useless tearjerker moments but to be honest this boy saved me from a group of thugs some days ago. He's from Judgment, I thought you knew him already!» Saten answered embarrassed.

«We know him, indeed… but we are not proud of it, so listen here you little sh-» Kuroko had this speech prepared for days looking forward to this chance but she wasn't fast enough to speak because someone else started talking first.

«As Saten's friend and as someone who could have not helped her in time, I want to thank you for that. I can't imagine how I would feel now knowing Saten could have been hurt. Really, Thanks!» Mikoto claimed smiling, then she went for an handshake.

«Onee-sama! No! Don't try him… he is…» Kuroko knew what was going to happen, but it was too late now.

«Misaka Mikoto, Tokiwadai's Ace also known as Railgun and none other than the third ranker of the Academy City's level fives. I think I'm beginning to understand more now.» Fran said returning the smile only, then he sent a look of compassion to the Judgment girls. «Now it's pretty clear how your office is able to do something harder than saving a cat from a tree. You make Railgun taking care of all of your problems.»

«That's absolutely not true!» Misaka quickly Interfered. «Kuroko and Uiharu-san try everything to keep me out of Judgment stuff. It's more like my fault because I always put them in bigger troubles with my rash actions.»

«Onee-sama…» Kuroko was crying her gratitude out because of those words in her defence but it wasn't over yet.

«I see. This actually made it worse. Judgment members who let an outsider snoop around police business. And above all, you think you can afford to pry into anything just because you're a level five. You really are just a gang of losers surviving by helping each other. Umpf.» Fran stated shrugging in disgust.

«How dare you… talk like this.» Mikoto started sparkling and her gaze turned angry. «You can trash talk me all you want, it's pretty normal most people can't stand us level fives… but if you are talking about my friends… I won't forgive you!» and then her electric shocks vanished underground.

«You all look the same, you "strong ones". You're not able to protect anything if not by threatening people… so pathetic.» Fran answered, not even moved by Mikoto's words.

«It was you starting this and you need to be taught some! I'm here thanking you and even Saten is, but you just keep insulting our friends?! What kind of Judgment guy would ever-»

«No, Onee-sama!» Kuroko patted on Mikoto's back and went frontline. «Keep talking like this and you will make him feel good about it. Now that he dared to call you "a pathetic strong one like the others" this turned to be only me and him. Ehi you, Fran or whatever your name is! I'm challenging you!»

«What? A challenge?» the boy asked curious.

«You sure are not able to speak only, aren't you? Prove me you know your stuff!»

«I guess I could.»

«Then I challenge you to a duel, here and now!» those present all turned to Kuroko, surprised and incredulous by hearing that unusual and bold request.

«You two want to fight?!» Saten asked in agitation.

«Exactly, I'm asking him to battle me. I will only use martial arts and no weapons! I don't want you to get hurt but to shut your annoying face! The first one who falls on the ground loses and the winner gets to ask everything to the loser. So, would you like to show me how strong you are my dear "I defeated fifty Skill Outs by myself and I'll be priding on this for the rest of my days"-san? Or maybe you're afraid of a female middle schooler?» Kuroko taunted him with boldness and mock.

«You really are incredible. A Judgment girl who offers me to participate to a premeditated assault due to trivial reason. I would like to decline just to preserve some actual valid member's reputation like the one cringing right there… but ok. Come at me.» Fran said, standing still while watching his phone and now using both earphones again.

«Ehi, what are you doing…? At least stay on guard!» asked Kuroko, but her request got ignored.

«I'm not willing to use my ability to attack you, I'll just use it on defence. Unlike you, I'm not going to break the rules.» Fran answered.

«But then… how are you going to defeat me?»

«Don't worry about this… you will give up as soon as you'll realize your power is no match to mine, my dear level four pervert Teleporter.» Fran returned the joke to Kuroko to annoy her but she didn't react.

«I don't know if this is a good idea, Shirai-san… He knows your power well, you instead… come on, just drop this! This is so childish, it's not something you would ever do! Just listen to me once!» Uiharu said, but she knew she was just wasting her breath.

«Uiharu, don't panic. It's clearly a bluff… we already checked he is a level two. His power could be the most peculiar ever but it would never be as much as reliable as mine.» Kuroko answered determined.

«Haven't you just said he defeated fifty people alone? How can a level two be able to it?» Mikoto questioned finally talking again after quietly observing the situation.

«How can you not realize it… Onee-sama… I know you're a stubborn one but this is too much! That's what his power does! He sets up deceits in our mind! Just think about it! First the fifty terrorists' story, then he assaulted Saten today and made her think she actually got saved by him and eventually he's now trying to make us think he is the strongest! Come on, this is ridiculous! The match starts now!»

Her friends weren't able to stop her as Kuroko was already running toward her opponent who, meanwhile, was laughing because of the unique assumption the girl made on his ability; Kuroko pretended to hit him with a punch coming from the right, but she immediately teleported on the left, now hitting for below. Fran parried that without any problems and without moving; Kuroko was shocked and then backed off teleporting. It was a random shot, pure luck and intuition, she thought. It was probably all thanks to the Judgment training if her rival knew some defence stances.

Kuroko tried attacking once again, this time with a frontal kick that changed into an hit from behind due to her teleportation. He is mine, she thought; but even if it was a back attack, Fran's right arm stopped it, then he grabbed the girl's leg and threw her away. She stabilized the fall with the help of her power and she landed safely but scrambling in fatigue, maybe because she was clueless about what were her mistakes and why she couldn't afford to hit him.

«How is it possible…? None of my attacks were remotely useful and I almost failed into the ground… I have to change my strategy! With this one hit it will be over: I will touch him and teleport him with his head upside down! Victory will be mine!» Kuroko thought, and went back on offence.

She teleported recklessly a few centimetres from Fran and tried to grab him but the boy bounced backwords and dodged her grasp; Kuroko tried countless times but her opponent kept dancing away from her, always watching on his phone and never talking.

Kuroko teleported as far as she could from Fran. «I get it now… I was completely wrong… and misunderstood his power! It's obviously something connected to telepathy and because of him being low level it should be something really limited! Sure! He should not be able to read my mind but probably he is able to predict my next move… that's how he defeated all those people alone, they were all ability-less after all… then there's only one thing I have to do!» Kuroko thought as she was going to use her underskirt hidden needles; she was not going to use them for real, but if Fran was able to predict her moves, that would've surely triggered something on him like "you're cheating" or "you said weapons were not allowed". But nothing actually happened. Several minutes passed and Kuroko still had the intention to throw the needles while Fran wasn't even looking toward her, smiling no stop.

«Just give up and begone, third string.» Fran said coldly, turning back in order to leave.

That was the straw that broke the camel's back; Kuroko stopped caring about discovering what his power was. She was too furious to calm down and she was really going to throw him the needles just to see if and how he could have defended himself from that attack but a mighty roar released the freezing tension of the fight.

«Ehi, you! What the hell is happening here? Fighting around a park? Luckily people leave on this hour, but… you sure are going to stop right now! Huh, but it's you Fran!» it was Yomikawa, who just finished her patrolling duty and was going to restore her energies eating at her favourite food stand.

«Nothing to see here, Yomikawa-sama. It was only some goo'old sparring between Judgment members. I was a bit disappointed, for sure, but at least they should have learnt something.» Fran said, cramming his earphones away.

«Yo… you guys can't just use your power just because you can! You are still students here and students have strict rules to follow like the curfew! Come on girls, go home!» Yomikawa ordered while telling them to leave also with hand signs; evening had arrived.

«Just tell me…» Kuroko shouted destroying the momentary quiet. «Just tell me what the f*ck your ability does! You prick!»

«Ehi! Moderation in words!» the Anti Skill woman said, upset.

«Let's just leave, Kuroko… I apologize in her name, Yomikawa-san, she is really stressed because of arguing with this boy.» Misaka grabbed her friend's hand and helped her moving away; Yomikawa, satisfied, made an ok sign and let them go.

«I can't believe I got mocked this way… I was really going to hurt him there with my needles… and I'm from Judgment… I should have not even think about doing so!»

«That guy is such unbearable and it was not your fault! We'll talk better about this after a nice shower! Come on, cheer up!»

«A shower… together?! One-sama!!! I would be lost without you!»

«Ok, maybe you don't really need tha- EHI! Don't touch me there, Kuroko!» and by the loud enthusiasm of Kuroko, the girls vanished on the horizon.

-

«I'm so glad you actually accepted my invite, Fran! This stand has lots of delicious food and today that Tessou wasn't able to join, I had the chance to bring you here instead!» Yomikawa claimed as she chomped her steak drinking some red wine.

«Well, cant decline on my teacher… especially if I have the honor to dine with Komoe-sensei too.» Fran said while gazing towards the pink little woman who returned him with unintelligible words due to the enormous quantity of food she was chewing.

«I like the fact you love staying around us but you are living in Academy City for over a month now and still you haven't made any friends yet, am I right?» Yomikawa asked him.

Fran ignored the question and kept eating, while Komoe and Yomikawa looked with distress at each other.

«Damn, Yomikawa-chan. Our students are always problematic kind of guys! Eh-eh» Komoe said as she was turning completely drunk , then she resumed after a hiccup. «Even if you're in my class, you are always by yourself both during lessons and breaks with classmates. Just try harder to interact with somebody!»

«If I decided to attend an high school is just because is an essential requirement to be part of Judgment. I can't care less about AIM waves and personal reality's teachings. I have not came here to play the happy and carefree student game.» Fran said, then he sipped some water while Komoe was literally crying because of his painful straightforwardness.

«Then why are you here, Fran? Now that I think about it, I never asked you.» Yomikawa questioned after turning serious and composed again.

«Well… the official reason is because they don't need me in Italy. Honestly, in a country where people with esp power are almost none, the normal police agents are more than enough to fight crimes. Here instead, I can really make a difference by fighting other espers. Then… there is my actual reason: there is something I have to make sure and there's someone whom I respect and I have to help at all costs. That's all.» Fran answered, as he stood up in order to leave the meeting.

«So you're actually a friend of this person you want to protect? You see, you have a friend after all! Eh-eh!» Komoe stated gibbering while going for more alcohol.

«Humpf… well, I don't think she liked the first impression I gave her… but things have to go this way for now. Maybe one day we…» Fran said blushing on the sidelines so that nobody would hear, then he started walking away but before letting him go, Yomikawa pulled him from his coat's sleeve and stopped him.

«Meeting people, uh… You like it or not, I have this signed ordinance that requests your specific collaboration. Maybe you'll make your first friend tomorrow, who knows!» Yomikawa threw him a letter and Fran was barely able to catch it before it flew away.

«An essential-classified order directed to a nominative Judgment member? It is really difficult to obtain the permission to get this through, it will surely be something really import-» Fran stopped talking after he read what the letter was saying, he disposed of the paper and left.

«What were you saying? Ah, he left already… whatever, Chef! Make it double!» Yomikawa happily ordered as she toasted with the cheerful Komoe.

«"I kindly request thy help in order to buy a piece of cake for my grandma from a famous confectionery in a dangerous street of Gakuen Toshi"… applicant: Misaki Shokuhou. It is completely normal that an essential signed order was granted to fulfil this one peculiar request. Yeah, this is fine, such a classic situation. That's it, Mental Out… Judgment Fran-san is going to teach you an important lesson.»