Chapter 16
She didn't spend much time picking out her clothes. She wore light and warm clothes, as the weather in Musutafu during fall was hot enough that jackets were unneeded yet cold enough that you wouldn't wear traditional summer clothes.
They would probably go have lunch together and then buy some clothes, so she had decided to skip lunch, that she normally ate relatively early, instead eating a relatively generous breakfast. It was a drawback she had noticed with her method of body enhancement. Her body consumed more calories than it normally should. To compensate for that, she had to eat more than what she normally would.
They were to meet up at a mall at the centre of the city. While Misaka could take mass transit to get there, she had an A.A.A, turned motorcycle, that she still hadn't picked up. She wanted to do so the night before, but their night out had tired Misaka more than expected -not that she was complaining of course-, and she hadn't gone to pick it up. She was now on her way back to U.A. She had parked it in a parking area that was some distance away from the school. After all, she was almost certain that a motorcycle with the A.A.A's output was illegal and furthermore, only people 18 and up were allowed to drive such heavy bikes. Considering that there was heavy police presence during the festival, she was willing to bet that she'd have it taken from her.
Still, she had managed to pick it up without a hitch and had driven it back to her apartment. She hadn't had the time to test it out, and find out its maximum speed on land, but she was sure that if she were to go in a straight line, she'd reach speed upwards of Mach 1. This was because she had managed to fit an improvement on the motorcycle configuration brought about by her increased strength. By using the concept of electromagnetic suspension, the bike could float, thus reducing friction, similar to a maglev train. Then by using the rocket engines on the back she could reach speeds that were impossible for a normal land vehicle to reach. Of course, she was giving up on manoeuvrability when going at these speeds, but at highways and the like, it would be very useful.
She briefly wondered about whether she should just take public transport, but quickly dismissed that idea. She had gone many nights staying up trying to find a way to make the bike work to just not use it. Of course, using the maglev inside the city would be idiotic. The narrow streets and car-filled roads didn't lend themselves to being navigable for that particular vehicle. Thankfully, she had anticipated this issue and had also incorporated a normal motorbike in her plans, which was what made this endeavour be time consuming.
She saw the nightstand clock in the corner of her eye. With her back-and-forth trip it was almost 2'o clock. Almost time for her to leave to go pick up Uraraka.
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Misaka was unsure of how to approach Uraraka. She was at the front of her house to pick her up for their excursion today, but she remembered some of Uraraka's apprehension to coming with her. Uraraka had confessed yesterday, when she had invited her, that she felt out of place with the rest of the girls in the class, mainly due to her economic status.
Misaka had tried to ease her worries, but she had been unable to do so before they had finished dining. She hoped that Uraraka had thought it over, but she wasn't betting on that. She just wanted to make sure that she came as well, and just decided to take Uraraka with her.She rang the bell of the apartment, and not a moment later an unusually sad Uraraka opened the door.
"Misaka-san. Hello. How are you?"
"Hello as well Uraraka-san. I'm fine, but you sound a little sad."
"Ah, you could tell? I'm sorry that you have to see me like that. It's just that I… I well, I'm afraid that I'm going to be ostracized, you know what I mean?" Uraraka really did sound apologetic, something that baffled Misaka. Still, she had to support her. After all, it wouldn't do if one of her classmates was depressed.
"Don't worry. You're not gonna be ostracized. Do you think the others care about how rich you are? Well, let me tell you. There is no way we will discriminate you just because you aren't rich. You needlessly worry."
"I know that, but it's tearing me apart. You know, in my old school I was largely friendless. Everybody left me alone. So, when I came to U.A, I had those same fears of being left alone."
"Look, just come with, and you'll see that everybody accepts you. Anyways, are you ready?"
"Mhh. Give me a minute and I'll be ready." Ochako seemed to be reassured, and quickly scurried off to get ready.
Ochako was thankful for the words of Misaka. She had stayed up all night yesterday, the fear of being rejected keeping her up at night. Yet, the words of Misaka reassured her. She realized how lucky she was. Quite easily, Misaka could just leave her alone to wallow in sadness, but she encouraged her. She really admired her. Misaka carried herself like a proper lady, yet she was also really strong and also a good friend, as she realized now. She didn't know why she wanted to be a Hero, but she was sure that she had a noble goal. Comparing that to her own made it feel pitiful.
She quickly dressed herself, grabbing the first thing she found, and quickly left the house, carefully locking the door behind her, making sure to keep the empty house safe.
"Uraraka-san, come down here." To her surprise Misaka was already downstairs, standing in front of something that resembled a motorcycle.
"Coming!!!" She hurried down the stairs of the 3-floor apartment building and when she finally reached the road she asked. "Misaka-san, what is that?" The thing that Misaka was standing in front of had piqued her interest.
"That, dear Uraraka-san, is our ride for today."
"Eh?! What do you mean? This super-modern, ultra-expensive motorcycle? Are you kidding me right now Misaka-san?"
"I know, right? Isn't this bike amazing? I'll have you know I build it all alone. Of course I'm not kidding you. If you don't want us to ride together we can just take the metro, but I brought it here in hopes of us going together."
"But… isn't this like, super-illegal? We're not even 16!"
"You're not 16." As she said that she took out an I.D and showed it to Uraraka.
"18 years old … Misaka Ayaka… Misaka-san, do you have a sister?" Uraraka hoped she said yes, because already her image of Misaka had crumbled.
"Of course not!" That was the last straw. The image of the refined ojou-sama had been replaced with the image of a bike-riding delinquent.
'How can the Misaka-san of school and this Misaka-san be so different? Is this really the Misaka-san I know?'
"What are you waiting for, hop on!" Misaka's shout broke Uraraka's stupor.
"How do I get on this thing? Ah, I got it!" She quickly got on the bike, and Misaka followed suit.
"Here, take this." Misaka produced a helmet and gave it to Uraraka.
"Won't you wear one?"
"No, I don't need to. Anyway, this is gonna go fast. Are you latching on well?"
"I am, but how fast is this thing going to be going? Can we please go slower than you normally would?"
"Of course. It's not like we are in a rush or something."
The bike immediately started revving up, at first going slowly, but starting to gather more speed. Quickly it surpassed the 100-kilometre barrier, and Misaka began slowing down her acceleration to accommodate her passenger.
As for said passenger, she was not having a good time. Sure, she had been warned that it was going to go fast, but the unfamiliar feeling of being exposed to the elements at such speed, and the speed itself, didn't help the situation. But still, as she got used to the feeling she started feeling something wet hit her palm.
"Misaka-san is something wrong? Why are you crying?" She realized that what she felt were tears, that were streaming down Misaka's face.
"Ah… it's nothing. I was just remembering one of my old friends." Uraraka wondered about that friend. Who was it that could elicit such a response from the normally cold and aloof Misaka?
"Where are they now?"
"I'd prefer to not talk about this right now Uraraka-san. But still, thank you for caring about me. You know, she and I, we never really did see eye to eye, but lately, I've begun realizing that well… perhaps we had more in common, and that realization made me remember all those that I've left behind. What are they thinking now? Are they worried about me?"
The rest of the ride was silent. Uraraka mulled over what she had heard and hearing the sadness in Misaka's voice when talking about her old friends, she made a resolution to become a true friend to Misaka, someone who Misaka would lean on.
Misaka herself was amazed at having revealed so much. It was true that lately she had begun thinking about what had happened after her <
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Ten minutes later they had arrived at the meeting place. It was one of the biggest shopping malls in the city, and from what she had understood, they'd first go to shop some clothes, and then they'd go eat and watch a movie.
"Uraraka-san, we've arrived."
"Already? It takes over 20 minutes normally!"
"See, I told you we'd be fast. Anyway, the others must already be here."
At that moment her phone rang. The caller was Momo and she answered.
"Hey, Yaoyorozu-san, where are you? I just arrived with Uraraka."
"Ah, I called you to ask where you were, but well, speak of the devil. So, you managed to bring Uraraka-san as well? That's great. Me and the others are waiting for you in front of the cinema. We decided to first watch the movie, because most rooms for the later hours were full."
"Ok! We are on our way."
She hung up the call, and immediately grabbed Uraraka by the hand.
"Come on, we have to go."
"Eh… what do you mean… wait stop dragging me!!!" Uraraka was not expecting to be dragged by the hand, yet by the time she had responded they were already in the elevator, going up to the cinema.
"I'm sorry for dragging you like that Uraraka-san. It's just that the movie was going to start and I didn't want us to be late." Misaka seemed very apologetic, and there was no harm done, so Uraraka forgave her.
"There is no need to apologise Misaka-san. Just… next time, please warn me."
"Of course."
The ding of the elevator signalled their arrival to the floor where the cinema was, and they quickly got out, hurrying to reach the cinema.
In no time they had arrived, and saw the girls together, bar Yaoyorozu who, from what they could see, had gone to the ticket room.
"Hey!!!"
"Ah, Misaka-san, Uraraka-san, how are you."
"Fine, how about you Ashido-san?"
"Of course I'm fine! And so are all the others. Anyway, are you excited about the movie? That new actor plays in it, and he's such a cutie! You must see him."
"Calm down Ashido-san. Just because you've seen him do well in that dance contest doesn't mean that he's a good actor."
"Don't be such a spoilsport Jiro-san."
"Well, I can't say I've seen him, but the previous movies were great, so I expect this one to be great as well. Anyway, is Yaoyorozu-san inside?"
"Yeah, she went to grab the tickets. Apparently, we were pretty lucky. There are only about 20 seats left. Also, before you say anything about paying for your ticket, Yaoyorozu-san will refuse. We tried to do so as well, but she refused. She says that this is on her."
"Okay… well, if she's adamant about this, we can't do much." Misaka was dejected. She didn't want to be owed to someone, but she couldn't force money on someone.
"Misaka-san, you're finally here! Come, the movie is starting in a bit. We need to go in."
"There is no need to rush Yaoyorozu-san, we'll be fine."
With that they went into the cinema and entered the room. The movie they were about to see was the latest film in a cinematic universe that had produced over 20 films, and each one of them was critically acclaimed.
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Two hours later, and a group of 7 girls left the cinema, most of them crying.
"Why did they have to do his girlfriend like that? So cruel…"
"And what about his enemy? I mean, who can fault him? Life was against him…"
"Oh my god can you stop? I get it, it was a great movie, but the others were so much better."
"How can you be so heartless Misaka-san? Were you not moved by his speech? Or how he saved all those people in the building? I want to be just like him."
"I was moved of course… but still, my idol is far more heroic than him."
"Who is your idol Misaka-san? All Might perhaps?"
"No, no. He's… an acquaintance."
"Hoooo… an acquaintance you say…"
"I wonder… could he be something more than an acquaintance?"
"Right!? Misaka-san talked with such a fondness for him. Now I want to meet him too."
Misaka could not withstand the relentless teasing from the others, who had all but forgotten about the tragic protagonist of the movie and had focused on her mention of Touma.
"Can you please stop teasing me? I haven't been able to meet said person for like 2 years. Putting that aside, where are we going to go? I saw some clothes on a certain shop that looked really nice."
"Of course Misaka-san, of course. Anyways, we were thinking about going to Xara. Their new Fall Collection looks great. We can also go to that shop you want to go to."
"That's great!"
Misaka had also seen the new Xara collection, but none of the clothes really interested her, or rather, the women's section clothes didn't resonate with her. The men's section had some that she'd considered, but she didn't feel the need to buy those, as they were far too large for her, a teenager of average stature. Still, as she browsed through the clothing collection she found some really intriguing and interesting clothes she picked up. Those consisted of a skirt and some suits. The other clothes she had eyed were some t-shirts.
All in all, everyone bar Uraraka had bought something. As they were approaching the checkout desk though, Misaka felt something amiss. It had become second nature by now to always have her <
In the corner of her eye, she saw something green tinkle, and she shouted.
"Get down!"
Almost immediately after that a storm of jade-like rocks rained down like a storm. Thankfully Misaka had put up a shield and managed to block all the projectiles before they reached her. All around her the area was destroyed, only those behind her being left unharmed. The scene reminded her of another one, and she silently laughed at the irony.
'Just for once, can't I go on a peaceful shopping trip?'