Spiky Hair Part 1

After dealing with the bizarre adventures of Elena, Fran went back to the Judgment office to report he completed his mission; he went upstairs, opened the door and saw the three girls were really focused on watching the pc monitor.

«Konori-Senpai… I didn't expect people to be so demanding about such weird requests.» Fran said visibly tired, more mentally than physically.

«That one girl you dealt with is an exception, indeed… you'll get used to her sooner or later.» Mii replied, looking funereal.

«Get used to…? Huh, are you saying tha-»

«Fran-san! You are back! What a pity, Saten-san and Misaka-san just left!» Uiharu exclaimed, interrupting Fran's complain once he heard the name of Misaka.

«Oh… it's ok, I will talk to them next time. Did they eat some of my sweets?» the boy asked. «So unlucky! I lost a good chance to chat with Misaka-san! Elena, curse you!» then he thought by himself.

«Sure! They liked them a lot! They were so happy you decided to apologize and make up for your past attitude! Next time they'll thank you by themselves!» Uiharu answered with a dazzling smile.

«Uiharu! Are you done happily talking to that prick? Just ignore him and make a search about this one building.» Kuroko said, grabbing Uiharu's face and forcibly turning it towards the monitor.

Fran wanted to talk more about Mikoto's earlier reaction about him but he needed to be careful on what he was saying, Onee-sama's herald was right there listening; the boy approached the monitor with ease and noticed Uiharu was now completely focused on the search.

«Are you working on a new case, Shirai-san?» Fran asked Kuroko quietly, he did not want to distract Uiharu.

«Yes, but It's none of your business. Go back ripping off maps from passerby and stop talking to us.» Kuroko replied.

«Shirai-san! I told you to keep it for yourself! I'm so sorry, Fran-san! She forced me to tell her… she wanted to know all the mess you did this afternoon, she threatened me! She can be terrifying sometimes!» poor Uiharu said jumping up from her chair.

«Come on guys… stop arguing so easily. We are here at Judgment to do some work, it's not kids playtime. Uiharu, can you briefly explain to Fran-san what are we working on?» Mii said, the voice of reason of that chaotic group.

«Of course! So… since three days ago, there were reporting of attacks aiming various buildings with different structures inside. For example, the bomber went from attacking an ice cream factory to a med lab! The only thing all the events have in common is that nothing was stolen or damaged and that all the attacks have happened within the second district. All of the buildings' security cameras are being always disabled and both the entrance and the exit are forced and destroyed.» Uiharu explained, as she was quickly typing on her keyboard.

«Even if there is no damage whatsoever… we still have to identify this punk, arrest and interview them to ask their reasons. They could have an agenda or simply be a vandal but we can't let them do what he wants! The problem is… we have no actual clues and their attacks seem not to have a logical link. We don't even know if it really is only one person doing this.» Mii added, sighing tired.

«I see… you need something to narrow the pool of suspects in order to find a trail to follow.» Fran exclaimed, looking brooding.

«Impressive deduction, Sherlock! We needed you to tell us the obvious!» Kuroko said, applauding sarcastically.

«Uiharu-Senpai, can you please provide me a graph showing all the schedule of when the attacks were committed?» Fran asked, softly leaning on the chair were the girl was sitting.

«Uhiaru-Senpai?!» all of them shouted in choir.

«Yes sir, doing it now!» Uiharu immediately answered, much enthusiastic for how she had been called.

«Nice, Uiharu! You don't need to listen to this pri-UIHARU!? We don't have time to fulfil his stupid requests, let's stick to my plan!» Kuroko yelled, disappointed for the betrayal of her friend.

«Come on, Shirai-san! Just give him a chance and listen what he have to say!» Mii intervened once again, trying to calm Kuroko down.

«Here's the data you asked me!» Uhiaru said, pointing to one of her five monitors.

«Well well, this is kinda interesting. The attacks were six in total, two for each day and especially they all happened between 7 A.M. and P.M.. This means the culprit is probably someone who could act freely only on those hours… and therefore a student!» Fran exclaimed, reading through the information.

«That's a great observation, Fran-san!» Uiharu said with admiration.

«And this is what a rookie would say.» Fran added and the light on Uiharu's face turned off, embarrassed by the lame impression she just made. «Thinking this straight it's never the right choice. Sticking to the first and most plausible scenario always leads to mistakes, we need to consider every option. The culprit could have taken some permissions from work in these hours to pretend to be a student, or a real student could have acted this obvious to make us think like that. The thing that bothers me is, in fact, his method: too schematic and no random at all, if we don't consider the variety of places he attacked. It seems like he wants to be predictable.» Fran said, as he approached the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

«Predictable and obvious are indeed the words that better describe this novice of vandalism!» Kuroko intervened, violently closing the fridge door. «Ask for permission before taking from OUR fridge! However… before you came here with your brilliant deduction, I already noticed something much better. Just watch!» Kuroko dragged Fran near to the monitors again and asked Uiharu to open the city map. «As you can see from those lines connecting all the places the suspect invaded… they are all specular to each other and they alternate from up and down the district everytime! If we follow this easy pattern we can intercept them at this little candy factory on 7 P.M. today, it's only thirty minutes from now!»

«As I said… this is way too obvious from them. Only an imbecile would go intercept them like that. There is no point in fighting them where they want to be already.» Fran said, sitting next to Uiharu.

«What have you said, you prick?! This is the only thing we know for sure and you don't want to use it to defeat them?!» Kuroko yelled, turning the chair where Fran was sitting towards herself.

«First, in investigations sure things don't exist, but only probable ones. It's right because we don't know anything besides this it's really reckless going against someone we know nothing of. We don't know if they are an esper or not, or what they want to achieve from these attacks. It's already three days they are doing this, they surely are prepared to meet someone interfering with them and therefore have some countermeasures ready. We will assure their obvious pattern by waiting the attacks they will make this evening and tomorrow morning. For now, I have a better proposal.» Fran said, taking his mobile phone from his pocket.

Kuroko made an hysteric grimace and let go the grab on the chair while the other two girls were curious to listen Fran's alternative plan.

«The times of the attacks aren't a decisive hint if taken alone, but it's the only thing we can start building our theories from. Let's start with the most likely one, since the city is 80% teenagers, and hypothesize the suspect is a student. Uiharu-san, are you down doing some overtime today?» Fran asked.

«Sure! I don't mind doing some computer stuff, it's a joke for me!» The girl answered with decision.

«Perfect. Then collect all the footage of the working security cameras settled nearby the place of the attacks of the first two days and compare them. If you see the same person appearing in the two different places and they seem to be around twelve and eighteen, then provide their ID and add them to the list of suspects. Tomorrow we'll call them all and make sure they have a decent alibi for that hour. There won't be many people wandering around factories so it won't be long. If you have any questions or problems, add my number to your contacts and call me. Don't worry, I stay up until late night every day, you won't disturb me.» Fran said, giving his phone number to Uiharu.

«That's a great idea, Fran-san! This way, if we manage to contact the suspect for real, he could change his attitude or modus operandi by feeling in danger! This would be a further confirmation the trail we are following is the correct one! Can you do this, Uiharu?» Mii asked excited.

«Nothing easier! I'm already downloading all the footage!» Uiharu affirmed, after adding Fran's contact and giving him back his phone.

«Ehy, wait a minute! What about my plan of intercepting the enemy this evening?» Kuroko asked worried.

«Shirai-san… even if I accepted to help you first, now I think Fran's plan is smarter and less dangerous. We need more information before diving into action.» Uiharu said, sorry to disagree with her friend.

«But we are not even close to danger! I'm an expert level four teleporter and, even if I'm cringing saying it… Fran-san is kinda strong too! If we collaborate, we would be able to defeat anyone!» Kuroko exclaimed, trying to seem the most bold and confident as possible.

«I'm sorry, Shirai-san… it's not as convenient, trust me. Just think about it, we don't know our opponent and they could even be a level five for such few we know… and even if Fran-san is a reliable person, he is still injured, not to mention his power would be quite ineffective in a closed space at 7 P.M..» Uiharu replied, as she turned off the pc and put the USB containing the footage in the pocket.

«I really can't understand you guys!» Kuroko shouted furiously, slamming her fists on the desk to silence everyone. «You work at Judgment by my side since a lot of time but here's the first arrogant blond prick knowing one or two tricks about investigation and this is enough for you to turn your back on me and ignore my opinion? Enough, I'm going to my Onee-sama! She would be totally by my side if she was here! I'm really disappointed in you, Uiharu!» Kuroko left the office slamming the door too.

«Shira-san! Behave, please! Oh… too late.» Uiharu tried to stop her but Kuroko had already disappeared, probably teleporting away.

«Understandable reaction… she can't accept my help, especially if it offers better solutions than hers. I'm sorry I put you in troubles, girls… but I can't stay quiet when it's about crimes, we need to act smart.» Fran said, sincerely regretted, but for him the success of the operation was far more important than consolidating the relationship with Kuroko.

«No, it's not your fault! In general, Shirai-san has difficulties when it's down to men… also you are a really particular case, as you might imagine… but don't worry! We will convince her to collaborate tomorrow and we'll all get along soon! Your Senpai got this!» Uhiaru exclaimed proudly, building up her bold voice till the final part of her sentence.

«Uiharu-san… we are getting a little bit braver, aren't we? I want you to remember I'm the elder one here…» Mii said, dragging the flower crowned girl back from dreaming land to earth.

«Y-yeah, of course! Now let's leave, everybody home!» Uiharu replied embarrassed and babbling, fleeing away from her real Senpai.

Evening drew near and Judgment work day was already over but somebody was still wandering around, disappointed and upset by the affronts she received today; Kuroko never went back to her dorm, she was too much nervous and pissed but especially she didn't want to give up on the operation she proudly made up by her genius deduction. The girl decided to go where, according to her calculations, the next crime was about to be committed by the mysterious suspect; Kuroko walked in circle around the whole area and noticed the only possible place to attack was the candy factory she already identified while she was at the office.

«If the schedule that prick made is correct, the suspect will show up soon! I'll teleport into the building and I'll wait in the inside. In the moment they will force the entrance, I'll knock them out with a blow to the back of the head! I'll capture them alone and I'll show everyone that prevaricating prick just wanted to make us lose a lot of time!» Kuroko thought and, by the time of a blink, she was already teleported inside the factory; the lights were all turned off and the only glimpse of illumination was coming from the windows on the celling and some little sparkle from the electric cables.

Kuroko turned on her mobile phone's flashlight and started scouting around in order to realize if the light were off because of a malfunctioning or if it was meant to be like that but, once she reached the control panels and aimed the flashlight on it, she saw someone was already on it.

As the light touched the intruder's figure, the electricity went back on and the factory was enlightened again. Now the person on the panel was clearly visible: she was a girl wearing the Tokiwadai uniform, her eyes were green but her hair were collected into a cap so their colour was not discernible.

Kuroko felt intimidated and surprised, she was probably facing the criminal they were searching for since days but she never expected to find her already inside of the building.

«I'm from Judgment.» Kuroko said immediately, with her usual pose and accent as she showed her armband. «It's not allowed to sneak around private proprieties but I think I'm not talking to someone doing it for the first time! Why are you periodically breaking into those buildings?» Kuroko asked but the intruder did not answer.; she kept looking the Judgment girl straight into the eyes, in a creepy way.

«Come on, open your mouth! Or, if you don't want to, come with me for an interview in a cell! You're under arrest!» Kuroko exclaimed, taking out of her winter uniform's pocket a pair of handcuffs.

«Eheheheh…» the girl started laughing with a low but annoying voice.

«I see you are enjoying being arrested! Nice! Let me be quicker, then.» Kuroko started walking towards the intruder, but she answered this time.

«Fight me, Shirai Kuroko… if you win, I'll tell you what I was planning to do here.» She said calmly.

«Fighting? You're from Tokiwadai and you know my name… so I assume you're a decent esper, but since I have no idea who you are, you are probably not that good. This won't be a fight, I'll finish you off in one hit!» Kuroko suddenly teleported to the back of her opponent and went for a kick on her neck but, as her feet touched the girl's body, a very powerful electric shock went through Kuroko, knocking her out; the shock was so violent even the intruder's cap flew away, showing off she had light green hair, almost yellow, collected in two medium length lightning-shaped braids.

«T-that's not possible… I can bear countless shocks from my Onee-sama and still this one is going to make me lose consciousness so easily… that's pretty bad, isn't it?» Kuroko said her last words before fainting.

«You'll all know my name soon… my dear Shirai-san… and it's all thanks to you.»

The day after, Fran went to the office earlier; even if he wasn't as expert as Uhiaru, he got to the pc searching for additional information and hints. His colleague had already sent him all the names of the suspected people and he started doing some calls asking them if they had a plausible reason for their alibi during the time the crimes were committed.

«Hello, Fran-san!» Uiharu came from the entrance door and immediately went to her pc.

«Hi, Uiharu-san. You alone today?» Fran asked, while sipping some fresh tea.

«It seems so. Saten-san has extra lessons, Konori-senpai got suddenly busy and couldn't come here today, she apologises though… and, well, Shirai-san doesn't answer my calls since yesterday… she's still probably mad at me. Once she comes here, I'll do anything to make you two get along! It's a promise!» Uiharu exclaimed with her hand on the heart.

«I appreciate it… by the way, can you provide me with further information about the attacks of yesterday and this morning?» Fran asked as he pointed to the monitor.

«Sure! About the yesterday one, Shirai-san was eventually right about the crime scene. They broke into the candy factory and both entrances were destroyed. As always, nothing got stolen or ruined. Instead… this morning nothing happened, ever.» Uiharu said hesitant.

«What? Are you telling me there was no intrusion this morning on 7 A.M.?» Fran asked dismayed.

«Exactly… I tried to search if something similar happened into adjacent districts but no. Following the path Shirai found, the next attack should have been consummated in this place but nothing has been reported. The morning crime never happened today…»

«Have you called someone from the list of suspects by yourself, Uiharu-san? I mean yesterday, while you were at home working.»

«No, absolutely! I really can't understand why they suddenly stopped after four days of doing the same thing and without achieving anything… maybe they understood we have more information about them and they're acting safer?»

«Can't exclude it, for sure… but it would be very weird. We actually still know nothing about them so neither they should about us and the fact we are searching them between the students. The only thing left for us to do now is to examine meticulously the last attack of yesterday evening!» Fran exclaimed, took a chair and sat next to Uiharu.

«About this, as always the security cameras were turned off and we have no footage but! This time Anti Skill sent us a very interesting shot! What do you think?» Uiharu opened a file and showed it to Fran; it was a photo of the area nearby the electric panel of the factory.

«As you can see, even if the culprit tried to hide it, there are slightly noticeable burnings on the ground and on the column!» Uiharu said, zooming the part of the image she was talking about.

«These seem to be… traces of a tiny explosion or short-circuit. This means someone made a mistake playing with the panel or there was an unexpected loss of electricity… I have an idea!» Fran said but, in the moment he was going to explain himself, someone knocked at the office door.

The boy stood up unwillingly and went opening the door, becoming petrified at the sight of who was in visit.

«Fran-san… I'm a death sentenced criminal, please hear my confession!» it was Elena, crying loudly and ready to get handcuffed.

«Oh… not again! Are you homeless?!» Fran asked pissed.

«I beg you, hear the last words of someone with her life hanging by a thread… this is probably the last time we see each other in this dimension!» the girl said, crying even louder.

«Fran-san… don't worry, talk to her. Just tell me what to do so you can have her interviewed in the other room meanwhile!» Uiharu suggested.

«Yeah, you're right… the faster I deal with her, the sooner we can think about the important things. Move, come with me…» Fran handcuffed Elena to one hand and dragged her in. «Uiharu, check if during all the previous attacks there was a power outage or something electricity related. Maybe this time we really are on the right trail!»

«I'll do it as fast as I can! Later!» Uiharu replied, and Fran retired in another room.

«Well… let's hear what you have to say this time.» Fran said with his hands in his hair as both sat down.

«C-can I have a donut first? Chocolate one, please.» Elena replied while wiping her tears.

«WHAT?! Do you think we are a café or something?! Just talk, fast!» he yelled infuriated and outraged, but this led to nothing besides the fact Elena started crying like a waterfall again for about five minutes of incomprehensible moaning; Fran, completely unaware of what to do to fix this, took a chocolate bar out of his pocket and gave it to her who devoured it in a blink and calmed down. He had sweets in his coat to calm down scared kids when he saves them from trouble, but he never thought the first kid he would have given it would have been a sixteen years old.

«Now… can you please, calmly and without crying, tell me what happened today?» Fran asked again as he tried to calm down himself too.

«Yes… so… well… I mean… I invited my friend Index to a sleepover and we spent a very nice night watching anime and stuff, this far everything was perfect. However… this morning I made the worst mistake of my entire life… life that will end soon if you don't arrest me immediately and bring me to a safe cell!» Elena said, on the edge of crying again.

«Come on, don't worry about anything. I'm here to listen and help.» Fran exclaimed, trying to seem worried and reliable for real.

«I was making cereals and milk for breakfast for me and Index… I filled both ours cups and started enjoying them but while I was scrolling on social medias, I read something that made me spit them all… you put the milk first and then the cereals but I did the opposite! I'M DONE! MY LIFE IS OVER! WAAAAA!» Elena was crying again but now she was repeatedly slamming her head on the table too.

«To be honest, I'm scared to ask but… what does this have to do with your life being in danger?» Fran asked exhausted.

«You don't know what happened next! After doing that idiocy, I searched on the net what happens to who puts the cereals first and I read a comment of a man called coolguy123 who said that not only is an illegal action but that, if he knew someone did it for real, he would have personally drowned them in milk with the help of his friends called TeamMilk! This is the end for me. Coolguy123 could be patrolling right now, he's probably out of this door waiting for me riding a tank cow or something! Not even Cut Meme could be able to defeat his army! I'm in danger! Please put me under arrest for pouring cereals first! If is Judgment who will make me pay, coolguy123 will not achieve justice by himself killing me!» Elena was going up and down from the chair as she talked frightened while poor Fran was getting pulled in every direction because of the handcuffs linking them.

«I should have died that day on the ring by Tanaka's fist… Sogiita Gunha, did you really save me to witness this? Are you teaming with this fool girl?» Fran had his brain burning out, but he once again had to find a way to contain the wildness of this peculiar girl.

Meanwhile, someone else knocked at the Judgment door; Uiharu stood up and went opening: it was Misaka.

«Misaka-san! Wasn't really expecting you…» Uiharu exclaimed surprised.

«I could say the same. Usually Kuroko jumps at me at the door. By the way, where is she?» Misaka asked, clearly worried.

«Shirai-san? This was exactly what I was going to ask you…» a thrill of agitation was felt by both girls who looked each other straight in the eyes.

«Yesterday she did not come back at the dorm and didn't answer the phone… I did this stuff plenty of times too, so I wasn't so hypocrite to be worried… but now that you tell me you have no idea where she could be, this makes everything worst!» Mikoto said, going up and down in the room.

«That's bad… also, you're the only one able to go search for her! I'm really busy dealing with the case Shirai-san was working on too! Wait a minute… OH NO! Maybe I know what could have happened!» Uiharu said confident, so her friend told her to continue. «Yesterday, Shirai-san had a plan about intercepting a criminal at the next place she thought they could have struck, but Fran-san had a safer and better idea so everyone here, except Shirai-san, decided to accept his proposal. Shirai-san could have gone fighting alone and I have the bad feeling it didn't end with a positive result for her…»

«Uiharu-san, you're scaring me! Do you know who is this criminal?!»

«No, I'm sorry… Fran-san gave me some directions and I just managed to collect more clues but I think we should wait for his opinion about them…»

«We have no time! Kuroko has probably been kidnapped! Show me what you discovered!»

«O-ok…» Uiharu showed Mikoto everything she had on her monitors but Misaka was reading them silently, without any comments; after a couple of minutes, the electromaster clenched her fists and opened the exit door.

«Uiharu, I don't know about you, but everything seems pretty clear to me instead! I'm going to save Kuroko!» Mikoto said, running off the room leaving the poor Judgment girl clueless alone with her anxiety.

«Let me repeat it another time. You're not running any risk.» Fran said for the tenth time, with his mouth dry. «As TeamMilk exists, there is also TeamCereals whose leader is known as coolestguy456. As you can tell by his name only, he's much more powerful than coolguy123 and if you really get attacked, you can be sure your team will come here to defend you and save you. They never abandon a mate.»

«W-what team are you on, then?» Elena asked, as she blew her nose.

«I'm on your team, I will protect you too. Now go home, please.» Fran took off her handcuffs and they went together to the exit door.

«Thank you, Fran-san… I'm really happy to know you guys are here for me. Before I leave though, I wanted to ask you… have you lost an arm?» Elena asked but, before receiving any answer, she tightly grabbed her hair and kept talking terrified. «D-d-d-d-don't tell it was coolguy123?! OH NO! SOMEBODY HELP M-» Fran slammed the door in her face and made a sigh of relief.

«Bye bye.» he said satisfied and freed, then he went back next to Uiharu.

«Well… have you finished?» he asked while reading the data on the monitors; the girl answered with a cold yes. Fran noticed her change of mood.

«You look really tired, Uiharu-Senpai… but you did a really good job, I think I know the esper ability of our suspect now.» Fran affirmed proudly, but he saw the "Senpai" word had no effect this time.

«I'm tired, sure… but that's not the reason I feel like this… Misaka-san left a while ago.» hearing those words, Fran turned his back and bit his lips.

«Damn you, Elena! This time you've really done it! It's the second time It's your fault I missed Misaka's visit again!» Fran thought disappointed, then he turned back to her colleague. «Oh, really? What did she want? She came with Shirai-san?»

«No… and this is why I'm so worried. Misaka-san told me Shirai-san never backed home yesterday and she came here in search of her but instead she found the information we had about the case and now she claims she knows who is the culprit and went to face them.» Uiharu said upset and suddenly Fran jumped off his chair, scaring the girl next to him.

«This means careless Shirai-san faced the criminal alone in the factory yesterday… the suspect's esper power, Shirai disappearing, the missing attack of today morning and now Misaka-san's behaviour… Now everything is clear to me! I have to go!» Fran dashed out of the door and left the office.

«Damn! Everyone leaves me on hang today?! Everybody knows everything but nobody tells me! You all are cruel! You'll pay for this, you know?!» Uiharu yelled with tears in her eyes, surrounded by an empty office.