The sun had already started rising when the two reached the roof, painting splashes of pink and golden light across the sky.
"Sunrise gives me a feeling of déjà vu," Haruka commented, still sipping the coffee.
"How come?" Accelerator was lying on the roof, hands folded behind his head.
"Remember when you visited me in the hospital? It was sunrise when you left."
"Huh, true. I never noticed."
"Doesn't seem like you really notice your surroundings."
"Not all the time."
"I know. Oh, I still have one thing I want to ask you."
"What?"
"Do you think the Science side will win the war?"
There was silence for at least 5 minutes. Accelerator did not say a word, nor did he give any indication that he heard the question. After a while, he spoke.
"We have to win. There's no opinion about that. If we don't win, the world will be destroyed. You know I'm a host for the archangel Michael, right?" Haruka nodded silently. "He's there to fight the fallen archangel Lucifer, who's the one behind the entire war in the first place."
"How?"
"Lucifer possessed the strongest magician in the Roman Catholic Church. Acting under the hatred that was already there for the Science side, he declared war, but in reality, he plans on destroying the entire world."
Haruka gasped in horror. "So you're telling me you're going to be fighting a super powerful magician under the possession of a super powerful fallen archangel?"
"In simple terms, yes. I already know there's a chance I won't live. Still, I won't go down without a fight."
"You'd better not die. You know how Last Order will react."
"I know, I know. Surprisingly, you aren't overreacting like I thought you would."
"You do not know how hard it is to contain my feelings right now."
"True."
They sat in silence after that, watching the sun emerge fully from the horizon, shining warm and bright light on everything its rays touched.
Accelerator got up abruptly, stretching. "Want to walk around Academy City? This could help with your sense of direction later."
"Sure, thanks." In response, Accelerator casually walked to the edge of the roof and jumped down, causing Haruka to shriek in surprise. "What are you doing?!" She yelled, running to the edge.
Accelerator calmly floated up to her, 2 funnels of wind behind him acting as wings. "I'm not going to bother going down the regular way. Come on, just use your powers."
"Give me a warning first," grumbled Haruka as she created a pocket of air pressure under her, flying down to the ground effortlessly. She landed with perfect balance. "It's getting easier to control air," she commented, tossing the coffee can into a nearby garbage bin.
Accelerator landed neatly beside her, the wind funnels disappearing. "Probably due to the majority of your magic coming back. Now, what do you know about Academy City's layout?"
"Not much. I don't remember visiting a lot of places from my childhood memories, and I didn't see much when I escaped from the lab."
"I'll admit I don't really explore the city. However, I do know where most of the important places are." He set off walking, Haruka beside him. In the early morning, not a lot of people were out, so no one gave them second glances.
Heading towards the centre of the city, Accelerator pointed out some schools and some areas where they had seen a week ago. They stopped at the bottom of the Windowless Building.
"Huh, I didn't know I'd end up here," Accelerator mused.
"What is this place?" Haruka asked.
"The Windowless Building. Aleister Crowley is up there. We should continue walking. Not a good place."
Judging by the tone of his voice, Haruka decided not to say anything and quickly followed him. Continuing along the public areas, they aimlessly explored the place. Finally, after half an hour, they decided to head back. Accelerator led her into an alleyway, where he signaled for her to be quiet.
She sent a telepathic message. Where are we?
A shortcut, he sent back. It's shorter than the actual route back to the apartment, but gang groups always hang around this place.
Shouldn't they be scared of you?
I did get shot, remember that.
True.
After a few minutes of walking, they heard multiple voices and footsteps heading their way. Haruka gave Accelerator a matter-of-fact look. He scowled back at her and swore under his breath. Haruka sent a telepathic message.
Now what?
Fight, obviously. Haven't had a good one against pathetic gang groups in a while. He had his trademark maniacal smirk on his face.
Haruka groaned, but readied herself just in case. Half a minute later, they came across a large group of extremely shifty looking men, looking prepared for a fight.
"So you're the intruders that decided to come here." One man, looking like the leader, stepped forward, growling.
Accelerator smiled, his smile growing crazier by the second. "I just wonder how you guys knew we were coming. Didn't know a Skill-Out group would come greet us, though."
The man snarled. "You're always confusing us with Skill-Out. We're not them."
"Oh? Then who are you guys? More pathetic level 0s? And do you guys know who I am?"
"You're Accelerator, obviously. And no, we're level 4s. How do you think we sensed your presence? We have a clairvoyant esper here."
"And you guys know what happens when you mess with the strongest level 5?"
The man snorted. "Please. Considering you got shot in the head and lost most of your ability, multiple abilities and numbers will eventually beat you. And your little redhead girlfriend as well."
"She's not my girlfriend. And seriously, you don't even know her ability. And I'll tell you just what's going to happen: you guys are going to get your asses handed to you guys." As he spoke, he lunged forward at nearly the speed of sound, grabbing the man by the collar and throwing him with inhuman strength at the group. They toppled over like bowling pins. Some that had avoided the collision started to use their powers against Accelerator and Haruka, which ranged from fireballs to earthquakes to superspeed.
Needless to say, the fireballs were immediately extinguished by Haruka with a wave of her hand, while she also stopped the earthquake. Meanwhile, Accelerator was fighting multiple level 4s, using the combat skills Ayato had taught him go physically beat up the level 4s. He laughed.
"You guys are seriously pathetic. I don't even need my powers and you guys are getting beat up." He deflected punches and kicks while delivering his own with devastating power.
On the other hand, the level 4s attacking Haruka couldn't even get close to her. Some she sent flying with blasts of fire and ice, while others she knocked unconscious with mental force.
After around five minutes of fighting, Accelerator noted that the numbers weren't really decreasing. Controlling the wind vectors to blast all the attackers away from him, he took a quick breather and glanced at Haruka, surprised when her telepathic voice reached his head.
I thought you said you enjoyed beating up gang groups. Is this what you had in mind? Even with a mental voice, the sarcasm was so thick it could be cut with a knife.
It's getting boring.
Thought so. I have an idea to stop them all at once.
What?
You'll see. When you see me snap my fingers, fly as high up as you can. I'll rejoin you later.
Fine.
Their telepathic conversation was interrupted when the gang group recovered, one half attacking Haruka and the other half attacking Accelerator again.
Keeping an eye out for Haruka's signal, Accelerator finally decided to use his power to fight and concentrate on watching for the right time. A couple seconds later, Accelerator saw Haruka tap one foot on the ground and send a strong shockwave through the ground, causing many to lose their balance, but he kept his footing. She then brought her fingers together to snap, and Accelerator shot high up in the air.
To his surprise, all the men collapsed, clutching at their throats. He felt her presence beside him as she floated up to rejoin him. Without turning his head, he asked a question.
"What did you do?"
"When you apply the ability of controlling air to science, you can control the different elements in the air. I just took away the oxygen in the air, knocking them unconscious."
"Remind me to not piss you off ever."
"You already did, but I'm giving you a free pass for now. Oh look, I think we have a guest."
Turning his head to one side, Accelerator saw one man floating up to him, a look of rage on his face. Ignoring Accelerator, he lunged at Haruka, hands outstretched.
"What the hell did you do to them, you bitch?!"
Flying to one side easily, Haruka replied with no emotion in her voice. "Cut off the oxygen supply. They're still alive. I'm surprised that you were able to still use your ability though. What is it? Levitation?"
"Forget my ability; you're going to pay—ACK!" The man was abruptly cut off as Accelerator sent a powerful kick to the man's midsection, sending him plummeting down to the ground.
"Pathetic," Accelerator snorted. "I'm surprised you didn't attack him immediately, Haruka."
"I was going to, and then you just came in out of nowhere."
"Tch, whatever. Let's head back."
"Are you planning on flying back?"
"Yup." Accelerator flew at a slow pace back to the apartment in a reclining position, hands behind his head. "Huh, never knew this way of transportation would be that relaxing. I should do this more often."
Haruka floated beside him in a sitting position, her arms crossed. "Next time, don't stick to the alleyways. Fighting gang groups isn't worth it."
"You still have no idea what I've been doing these years, haven't you?"
"Nope, but I have an idea. I'm guessing after you got shot, you were busy beating up gang groups and fighting people."
"Partially true."
"Knew it."
"Not like it matters. Oh finally, we're here."
They landed on the roof, walking back down to the apartment.