Okinawa, on a private stretch of coastline, four girls stood together. One had long hair, and their appearances were so similar that anyone unaware might think they were quadruplets.
The long-haired girl wore a very modest swimsuit, showing very little skin. Misaka No. 1 wore the school swimsuit, and Misaka 8790 followed the same style.
Misaka Mikoto, however, wore a regular swimsuit, radiating youthful energy.
"So, Misaka, why did you come here?" Shokuhou Misaki asked, wearing the school's standard swimsuit.
"Hmph, it's my own business where I go," Mikoto replied, recalling the time at the dessert shop.
Misaka 8790 began to explain. Since the cancellation of the Level 6 Shift project, ten thousand Misakas had been sent across the world to build an artificial heaven.
The goal was to make the world more like Academy City. Mikoto had many questions: What exactly was the Level 6 Shift project? Why was one of them called "Dolly"? And what was the purpose of building this artificial heaven?
There were countless questions, but Misaka 8790 didn't fully explain. She mainly recounted the events that led Mikoto to appear by Ren's side.
She spoke fluently. Hearing that they were now living happily, Mikoto couldn't help but feel relieved.
"Does sister Mikoto dislike us?" Misaka 8790 nervously fiddled with the hem of her skirt, unsure of herself.
"Dislike? Why would I? Seeing you all doing well actually makes me feel relieved," Mikoto said sincerely.
"Misaka, you're really amazing," Shokuhou Misaki interjected. She could never do what Mikoto did. Seeing the clones of someone else, she would never allow her genes to fall into the wrong hands.
"What are you talking about? By the way, Misaki, why are you spending time with them?"
"Misaki is my friend," Dolly said, hugging Shokuhou Misaki.
"Ren is Misaka's guardian, Lady Misaki is our friend," Misaka No. 1 and 8790 said in unison, introducing the relationships.
"Friend, huh?" Mikoto looked at her.
"Is… that a problem?" Shokuhou Misaki blushed slightly. At school, they constantly clashed, but in private, she had become friends with Mikoto's clone. And the most embarrassing part was that Mikoto had witnessed it.
"No problem. But then, Misaki, why do you fight me at school?" Mikoto asked, still confused. Though her powers never harmed anyone, the constant conflict felt suffocating.
"It's just… you didn't follow our previous ranking order, isn't that enough?" Shokuhou Misaki offered an excuse for herself.
"It's not like I decided this. Why are you taking it so seriously?" Mikoto Misaka sighed, clearly unconcerned.
"Hmph." Shokuhou Misaki let out a breath of relief. She had barely managed to bluff her way through. Her reason for arguing was simple: Misaka's electromaster abilities could interfere with hers, rendering her powers useless.
Soon, Mikoto forcibly joined Ren's group. With several clones around, she couldn't just stay out of it. When she learned they were heading to the beach, she decided to go along.
That was why Mikoto became part of their little group. Ren, wearing shorts, showed off his muscular build.
"Ren's body is amazing," Dolly couldn't resist reaching out, discovering how firm he was.
"Want to try sitting on it?" Ren said with a mischievous grin.
Dolly was about to sit when Mikoto and Misaki stopped her.
"Ren, you're really perverted," Misaki exclaimed sharply.
"Ren-sensei, did you come to Tokiwadai for…" Mikoto looked at him suspiciously.
"Who wouldn't like energetic young girls? I just prefer younger ones," Ren declared like it was a crime.
"Misaka feels that she has a chance and couldn't help but feel happy." Misaka-1 took the lead in initiating the dispute.
Misaki, unusually, didn't argue. Misaka 8790 stayed silent. Dolly watched everything with curiosity.
"Hey, why aren't you responding, Misaki?" Mikoto directly called her out.
"Oh, right," Misaki replied automatically.
"Misaki, you wouldn't…"
"Of course not. Misaka, I'll sue you for slander," Misaki said, glancing at Mikoto, her face turning red.
"That's not convincing at all," Mikoto said, watching Ren warily. She had once thought he was okay—what a mistake.
"Haha, Misaka, see? They're all mine. Want to join?" Ren joked.
"Shut up."
"Ren." Misaki's expression darkened. He was joking, but she took it seriously.
"Just kidding. My heart belongs to you, Misaki," Ren shamelessly added.
Mikoto stepped back a few paces, looking disgusted, and tried to pull a few clones over, but Misaka Number One dodged her.
"…Ugh." Mikoto pinched her forehead, feeling uneasy at the thought that her clones might have feelings for him.
After some commotion, the group started playing. Misaka Number One was much weaker compared to Misaka 8790.
Misaki lay under the sunshade. She hated exercise, so she contented herself with observing their lives. She thought days like this weren't so bad.
"Misaki, why are you lying there?" Ren asked, bringing a watermelon over.
"I can just lie here." Misaki Sakaki replied.
"Get up, or I'll carry you." Ren reached out, ready to grab her.
Seeing his move, Misaki quickly stood up. "Ren, you're so annoying."
Soon, Misaki was blindfolded and joined in the watermelon-smashing game. Dolly started giving random directions, and when Misaki struck, her swing went off target.
"Hehe." Dolly laughed happily.
"Hmph, it's all your terrible directions. Let's try again." Misaki, unwilling to lose, put the blindfold back on and swung again.
"Thank you, Teacher Ren." Misaka Mikoto approached him.
"Thank me for what?" Ren grinned. He was enjoying himself. Bringing them out to play wasn't just to fulfill Dolly's dream—it was also to help Misaki loosen up and have fun.
"About the sisters' situation… I don't know much about the Level 6 Shift project, but it's definitely not something good. Thank you for stopping it in advance. But don't get me wrong, I won't act like Misaki." Mikoto said, then joined the girls' playful chaos.
"Am I really that gross?" Ren muttered, lying back where Misaki had been before. He wasn't really into this kind of play.
After a while, Misaki sat beside him. "If you wanted to play, why are you just sitting here?"
"I joined so you couldn't accuse me of taking advantage of things." Ren replied.
"Have you taken advantage that little?" Misaki looked at him with obvious disdain.
"Hehe, want to lie down? I don't get many chances to show off my body." Ren stretched out a hand toward his chest.
"Who cares?" Misaki slapped his abs hard, then stood up and walked away, not giving him a chance.
Ren stayed lying there, unconcerned. The point of coming to the beach was for them to have fun. At night, he could show off a little.
**********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 20 early chapters.
patreon.com/PirateKing24