"This is absolutely unacceptable! They're practically treating us like some convenient clean-up crew!" Said a fuming Kuroko as she leans back on her chair, arms crossed.
'I understand why she's so angry.' I thought. 'The others couldn't have seen it as clearly as her because she teleported them, but the state of some of the victims was really bad. If I wasn't there, or if the ambulances didn't come in time, the casualties would have been near the three digits.'
Just remembering the state of the injured started to make mad. Nebi, who felt my anger, leapt toward Uiharu in fear.
Uiharu kept quiet but glanced at me from the corner of her eye as she stroked Nebi's back, the swirl of emotions in her made me think that she remembered our talk earlier in the family restaurant.
Konori-senpai, who calmed down a bit after drinking her favourite Musashino Milk, walked to Kuroko and patted her on the head with a towel. "I know it's frustrating, but remember, Anti-skill was just following orders."
Kuroko took the towel off her head and proceeded to wipe off the dust and dirt covering her uniform. As she can only teleport other people via touch, she needed to pass through tight and narrow space to reach the unfortunate victims.
"And what sort of order could possibly be more important than the lives of civilians? Th-"
"I understand how you feel, but let's leave it that." Said Konori as her glasses shined and hid her eyes. She too, was frustrated, but the matter is already out of our hands. "It's getting late so we should finish the report and head home."
The four of filed in our individual reports for the day. Kuroko was still grumbling under her breath as she worked while Konori-senpai was tapping her keyboard harder than usual.
Seeing that the two of them seemed distracted, Uiharu went a bit closer to me and whispered, "Do you think-"
"Maybe." Somewhat guessing what she wanted to say, I her off before she finished. "But there isn't much info to go by so who knows." I shrug. Although unsatisfied by my answer, she nodded and went back to her report.
'So much for the supposed smartest people. Can't they have figured out a way to make it less obvious?' I sigh. 'But how did it all happen, anyway?'
Academy City has made plenty of high-tech modifications in almost everything, public transport included. Even if it was a villain attack --Much less an accidental quirk awakening-- the modifications or system in place would have had at least two contingencies in set up and running.
The only way such an accident can happen is if it was on purpose.
'But why?'
A sudden thought went into my head.
"Uiharu..." I said aloud which caught everyone's attention with how quiet the office was. "There are systems on that bus, right? You think you can find a trail from there?"
Her eyes lit up and a small smile made its way on her lips. She nodded and turned to the laptop connected to the servers. An action that didn't go unnoticed.
"You two..." Konori-senpai tried to start.
"You're also curious, right? Konori-senpai?" I said.
The frown on her face turned to a grin as she gave me a mischievous look. "...Who do you take me for?" She said as she come closer to look at the Uiharu's work.
"All of you better not even think of leaving me out of this." Said Kuroko as she, too, comes closer.
All three of us crowded behind Uiharu as she rapidly typed on her keyboard. Line after line of code was inputted as various programs ran different windows.
This intricate display of her overwhelming skill has always left me in awe. It made think of how truly lucky we are to have her as an ally. After all, Uiharu has already created a security system that is one of the 10 strongest systems of Academy City, which earned her a great reputation --and many challenges that led to the arrests of many skilled hackers-- in the hacker's community under the alias of Goalkeeper.
However, for some reason, even after numerous displays of her capabilities in the short span of her career, the Academy City Board of Directors did not trust in her abilities and didn't put her in charge of the public system, which created an odd situation that the Judgment's Office where she works has had stronger defenses than the databanks that holds all of Academy City's data.
"...This is what they were trying to hide?" Said a dumbfounded Uiharu.
"It's a kid." Said Konori-senpai. "I know that there was a possibility if it being a quirk awakening but..."
"He's too young." Said Kuroko as she crosses her arms. "Hardly even two years old. Too early for a non-mutation quirk to even manifest, let alone awaken."
"Not only that, look at this." I said, pointing to a different monitor. "Parents, Grandparents, even Great-Grandparents. At least three generations of either quirklessness or weak quirks created today's mess?" I felt a trace of nostalgia wafting in the air, but I couldn't quite put my tongue on it.
"The only suspicious activity that the family has done is that they were frequently visiting a certain place." Said Uiharu as she pulled out more related information. "They visit almost everyday, before the sun even rises."
"Where exactly?" Asked Kuroko.
"It some kind of shell company so it might take some time to track it down, but the location is somewhere between the 10th and 11th district."
"All right, we now have a lead so we can investigate that tomorrow." Declared Konori-senpai.
"Huh? Why? Can't we just go now?" I asked, perplexed.
"First of all, not all of us can go." She said. "Uiharu is an obvious case, as she'd be able to give us some technical support without putting herself in harms way. Secondly, as much as I hate to admit it, I have a feeling I'd be more of a burden going inside whatever place that is. You and Kuroko would be more than enough to infiltrate that place and third, We still need to prepare and plan a bit more. Last but not the least, we still have school tomorrow." Said Konori-senpai. "Now that everything was said, let's go back home and get some rest. Today's been a long one and I can't have any of you sleeping in on a school day." She picked up Nebi from the desk and gathered her things.
''That place?' You sound like you already know, or at least have a clue, to what's in there.' I thought while seeing that she ended the topic and refused to elaborate further, I also prepared my things to leave.
"See you all tomorrow then." I waved at them and left without waiting for a reply.
A walked quietly for a distance, blending into the darkness. My red eyes inspecting the shadows behind me while I scan out for any emotion; none.
When I was sure that there was no one else around, I ran to the park. Staying away from the light of lampposts and vending machines, I made my way to the public bathroom and scanned the interior.
Not only was there a lack of any other human here, It was clean thanks to the cleaner bots that roam the park. I entered the closest stall, locked the door behind me and waited. To pass the time, I took out a blank piece of paper and wrote down the rumors and urban legends that needed some attention.
Ten minutes pass and I rattled the empty toilet paper compartment. There was a knock on the door and --despite being locked-- it opened just slightly, to reveal a tall man draped in a red cloak. The only visible part of his body was his wrinkled hands, lifeless eyes and decomposing gray skin.
"Red paper... Or blue paper?" He asked with a horrid voice as held up both hands to unravel a red and blue toilet paper.
My head floated to match his height as I stared at his covered face. My body placed a single packet of homemade catalyst on one of his hands. "Passage to the other side."
He glanced at what I gave him before silently disappearing.
Behind me the toilet faded away to reveal the hole in the ground. The passage to the other side.
Reattaching my head, I mutter. "...I hate this." sighing, I jump in.
There are a few other ways to go from one side to another, but each one has it's one procedures and conditions to be fulfilled. The toilet hole, as it was called, is the one with the loosest condition.
However, you can ignore the condition itself and just buy your way inside with the help of the Aka Manto --an urban legend from the 1930's-- to use the closest toilets of empty, abandoned bathrooms in elementary schools as a passage. With them akin to guards, they are willing grant access so long as you bargain with them.
And obviously this service is only limited to the supernaturals. If it we're a human without an escort, they would have been killed in a way just as described in their legend.
Though, because of the 'Downfall' their legend was obscured slightly. Making them wanderers who hunt in an bathrooms even outside of schools.
As I finally found my way on the other side, what welcomes me is the familiar sight of this place. This place I rarely visit. A distorted, mirrored reflection of Academy City.
Ignoring the blotches of missing space and the various ever-shifting silhouettes of what used to be other supernaturals and humans, I made my way to an office located on the third floor of what was originally a start-up company's headquarters.
Opening the door inside, I see broken desks moved to the walls and the ones still standing have been used by Hii-chan's group. There are items on the used desk, signifying the individuality of their owners. And yet, the bleak colours of the office highlight the only person within.
Long flowing black hair, golden almond-shaped eyes and a bright red trench coat. She is a beautiful, tall and mature woman with a very distinct feature; A wide smile adorning her face.
An oddity who's both a Youkai and an Urban Legend.
The Kuchisake-onna, Kashima Reiko.
"Hm? Kizuki-kun, what bring you here?" She inquired.
"I found some rumors that I thought would need some looking into, but it seems that you guys have something else going on?" Smiling, I greeted her while noticing the overpacked travelling bags set on the floor.
"Let me see those." She said as I gave her the paper that I've been holding. "And yes, we received an important mission that required us to leave for Russia."
"That's cool." I deadpan at her. "Where is everyone else, anyway?"
"I'll remember to bring you back a souvenir." She said, ignoring the pun. "The others are currently preparing supplies... Somewhere. I honestly can't keep up with their hyperactivity at times. And as for these-" She waves the paper. "-They'll be dealt with when we come back, or when you come across them. Either way works."
"Alright." I nod. "Oh, Also do you know anything about illegal experiments on children somewhere between district 10 and 11?" I asked her casually.
"None that I am aware of. Even If I do, there are already too many of that happening for a group as small as ours to keep tabs on. Why'd you ask?"
I proceed to tell her of what transpired earlier today. About the suspect family, the trail that leads to a shell company, and about the two-person infiltration tomorrow.
"Good luck, then." She pat me on the shoulder. "Break a leg and try not to lose a head."
"Thanks." I said before remembering a certain gossip going around. "I heard you comforted a heartbroken woman a few days ago? That girl posted the story online, saying she wanted to thank you in person. As expected of everyone's big sister." I grin at her.
A tick mark appeared on her head. "Go back and sleep, it's still a school day tomorrow." She lightly scolded me and ended the topic.
"Have a goodnight, then." I said as I give her a box of the catalyst. "Tell the others I said 'Hi', Reiko-nee."
"Don't call me that." She slightly narrowed her eyes in my direction. "Ah, one last thing."
"Yea? What is it?" I asked turning back.
"I recall you have a coworker in that prestigious school. Tokiwadai, was it? We don't have anyone inside so there's more than likely a miasma catalyst already there."
"You guys won't deal with it? Tokiwadai is an All-girls school, you know? I can't sneak in." I said raising an eyebrow.
"Originally, Mugi-chan was supposed to deal with it, but this mission came suddenly and we had to leave immediately. If you had visited in the morning, there wouldn't have been anyone here." She said sighing. "Besides, you look cute enough as is. I'm sure you'll blend in just fine."
"..." I can feel the corners of my mouth twitching.
"Now off you go. Tomorrow's a busy day for the both of us."
I just sighed one last time before bidding goodbye and leaving.