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Mikoto Misaka and Kuroko Shirai had just finished their showers and changed into fresh pajamas when a sudden knock knock sounded from the window. Both girls froze.
Mikoto frowned, walked over, pulled the curtain aside—
—and nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw a man's face pressed right up against the glass.
"Wha—!? You pervert! Go to hell!"
It was late at night. They'd just showered. If any girl saw some random guy sticking his face to her window at that hour, of course she'd scream. But in Mikoto's case, her reaction was... a little more electrifying.
A flash of blue light crackled through the air as her body surged with electricity. In the next instant, a massive bolt blasted straight toward the window—
"Gyaaah!! What's wrong, Onee-sama?!"
Kuroko burst into the room, panicked by the explosion. The entire window frame was gone, smoke curling from the edges. She froze, then blinked when she caught sight of the charred figure outside. Her face twisted into a very complicated expression.
"That pervert! The guy from earlier today! Damn it!" Mikoto gasped for breath, not from exhaustion, but from sheer fury and embarrassment.
BANG!
Before either of them could say another word, the dorm door slammed open. A woman in glasses strode in—sharp suit, severe expression, every inch of her screaming strict dorm matron from hell.
Mikoto and Kuroko instantly stiffened, their faces draining of color.
"Dorm rule number nine," the woman said coolly, pushing her glasses up with one finger. "The use of powers inside the dormitory is strictly forbidden. You haven't forgotten that, have you, Misaka-san? Shirai-san?"
Her voice was calm, but her eyes—cold and razor-sharp—cut like blades.
In that moment, both girls could feel their souls leave their bodies.
After a round of "discipline" and the punishment of cleaning the entire dorm building the next morning, the terrifying matron finally turned and left, heels clicking with chilling authority.
"Phew… I thought I was gonna die," Mikoto groaned.
"She's terrifying…"
"Right? Way scarier than any weirdo we've met."
"Exactly! That aura alone could paralyze a Level 5!"
"Hey, you pervert! I'm gonna—"
"Shh! The dorm matron's still around," the guy at the window—Ethan—whispered, putting a finger to his lips.
Immediately, both Mikoto and Kuroko clamped their hands over their mouths. Not a peep.
"You bastard!" Mikoto hissed, lowering her voice. "Do you have any idea what you've done? We got punished because of you!"
"Yeah! You absolute creep! How dare you barge into the girls' dorms!" Kuroko's eyes narrowed dangerously, sharp as knives.
"Whoa, whoa, chill! I only came to ask for help," Ethan said, raising his hands defensively. "I didn't expect that kind of reaction. If you hadn't freaked out like that, none of this would've happened!"
"Excuse me?!" Mikoto seethed. "It's the middle of the night! A random guy suddenly sticks his face to our window! You really think we're the problem here?! What kind of man does that!?"
"I didn't have a choice, okay? Besides, are you sure this is even the girls' dorm? No way. You two totally look like a couple of crossdressing guys. This must be the boys' dorm! Yeah, that's gotta be it. You're just two trap roommates who got paired up 'cause you're the same type!"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?" Kuroko shrieked. "Onee-sama and I are real women! Gorgeous, dazzling, irresistibly feminine women!"
"Tch."
"What's with that click?! You don't believe me?!"
"Tch."
"Ah! You infuriating jerk! You're driving me insane! My onee-sama is obviously a girl! A real girl! She's cute, she's beautiful—sure, she's a little flat, but how could she possibly be a cross-dresser?! No way! Absolutely not!"
"Tch."
"Damn it, onee-sama! Quick, take off your clothes and show him—"
Before Shirai Kuroko could finish, Misaka Mikoto's fist came down hard on her head with a loud thud.
"Shut up, Kuroko! Do you even know what you're saying?!" Misaka's face darkened, a vein twitching on her forehead as she glared at her roommate. She was so angry she almost laughed.
"Ugh…" Kuroko finally came to her senses, forcing an awkward laugh before turning her fury back toward Ethan. "You! You did that on purpose, didn't you? Trying to provoke me into doing something stupid? I knew it! You're nothing but trouble!"
"Hey, hey, don't pin this on me!" Ethan shot back, rolling his eyes. "That was all you. And seriously, you think I want to see a guy in drag? Gross. I'd rather gouge my eyes out."
"Onee-sama…""Onee-sama isn't a cross-dresser…"
"Both of you, shut it!" Misaka snapped, electricity practically crackling in the air. "Ethan, what the hell are you doing sneaking in here in the middle of the night? You'd better have a good reason—or don't blame me if I zap you into next week! Perverts like you don't get second chances."
"Tch, says the girl who still thinks I'm the pervert here." Ethan smirked, tossing a scornful look at Kuroko, who visibly twitched.
"I came here because I need help! I'm a ghost on the system, okay? No ID, no records, nothing! Sure, some kind people gave me a bit of money, but without legal status, I've got nowhere to live. So yeah—you need to take responsibility for this!"
Misaka stared at him, completely speechless.No identification? That's impossible—unless… he's not from this world.
Of course, that was exactly the case. Misaka just didn't know it yet.
"Why should I be responsible for you?! I told you, I have nothing to do with you!" Misaka snapped, her cheeks puffed in frustration. "Go to the police if you're so desperate! Let them check your identity. And if you really don't have one, then just leave Academy City already!"
"..."
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