"You actually came by today at just the right time," Rei Ao said to Shokuhou. "I've decided you're going to demonstrate a little 'lesson' for the Misaka Sister here."

"Huh?"

Shokuhou's legs almost gave out on the spot.

She had pictured countless possible ways in which she might have to pay her debt, but never imagined this.

"I…I didn't know a Misaka Sister was… I thought…"

She was flustered, stumbling over her words.

"You thought we'd be alone, just the two of us?"

Rei Ao smiled, a grin that reminded Shokuhou of a predator ready to strike.

"Too bad. Not today."

"Miss #00001 is already here. No point kicking her out, and I doubt she'd agree anyway."

"Mm-hmm!"

Misaka #00001 responded vaguely, seriously attempting that "tongue-tip rotation" technique Rei Ao had just shown her.

"…"

Shokuhou felt exhausted just watching, yet found she couldn't tear her eyes away. She saw Rei Ao beckon to her with one finger—like summoning a disobedient pet.

"Come here, Little Honeybee."

"You were so stubborn about wanting to 'thank me,' even though I said there was no need. Now that we have a deal, you ought to fulfill your side, right?"

Shokuhou wanted to run. But her pride wouldn't let her go back on the promise she'd made. Her body, stiff as a board, shuffled forward. At this intimate distance, she could smell his distinct scent—like the ozone after lightning, laced with a hint of old-book ink.

Lifting her chin with his fingertips, Rei Ao murmured, "Shall we start here? Let me get a taste of Tokiwadai's Queen."

His dominating gaze made Shokuhou shut her eyes in dread. What followed was a kiss belonging to Rei Ao—her first kiss. Her mind went blank. A moment later:

"Open your eyes, Little Honeybee."

Eyes half-dazed, Shokuhou opened them, instinctively licking her lips. She still felt the lingering warmth. But the scene in front of her stunned her. Because Misaka #00001 was already…

"Misaka #00001 reports that her first time, which she had been anticipating, is complete, do—Misaka is attempting to move her body…"

Rei Ao rewarded #00001 with a gentle kiss on the forehead, then turned to Shokuhou.

"Sorry, but looks like #00001 couldn't wait for your lesson."

"But you shouldn't be idle either."

Shokuhou looked down and saw her own uniform buttons opening on their own, as though invisible fingers were undoing them. Rei Ao's iridescent eyes drew near, filling her vision entirely.

…

Mikoto Misaka opened her eyes abruptly. Immediately, a wave of agony seized her entire body.

"Ugh…"

She let out a slight groan, as if she'd been run over by a truck. Sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, sketching fine golden lines across the floor. Mikoto squinted, trying to adapt to the brightness.

"What…happened?" she mumbled. Her throat felt parched, her voice hoarse enough to startle even herself. Even raising her arm felt like a monumental task. Then she noticed the condition she was in—her body was covered in telling "battle scars."

"Ugh…"

She clamped a hand over her face as memories surged, leaving her cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg. She remembered Kuroko and Awaki…

At that thought, Mikoto jerked her gaze to the other side of the bed. Sure enough:

Shirai Kuroko was there, curled up fast asleep. The hair she normally wore in twintails lay scattered on the pillow, and her bare shoulders were equally covered in marks. Meanwhile, Awaki Musujime lay on her back, one hand across her forehead, breathing steadily.

"Jeez…"

Mikoto muttered under her breath, carefully trying to get up without waking the other two. Every movement brought fierce protests from her muscles. She inched to the edge of the bed, toes shrinking from the cold floor.

"I'd…better get a shower…" she muttered, scanning the room for the bathroom door.

But before she could move, a stabbing pain detonated in her temple.

"Argh!!!"

She cried out, clutching her head and collapsing to her knees, as if a white-hot iron rod were being driven into her brain. Simultaneously, she heard a bizarre "noise."

No—it wasn't noise. It was…voices?

Countless faint voices overlapped in her mind, forming a strange resonance.

"What is…ahh!!!"

Mikoto curled up in agony, only to hear a familiar yet unfamiliar voice ring loud and clear inside her head:

[Sensing that Onee-sama has joined the network, Misaka #10032 is overjoyed and attempts to greet Onee-sama.]

Mikoto's eyes flew open, the pain briefly forgotten.

"W-what? Who's talking?!"

She scanned the room, but there was no one else around.

"It is Misaka, Misaka #10032."

[Misaka is truly happy that Onee-sama can hear her. Misaka would like to add.]

Another wave of similar "voices" washed over her mind:

[Misaka #19090 also greets Onee-sama.]

[Misaka #13577 reports that today's physical condition is good.]

[Misaka #00025 notes that Onee-sama's mental fluctuation seems unstable and expresses concern.]

Mikoto finally understood. She knelt on the floor, clutching her head in both hands.

"Wait…Misaka? The Sisters? A network? What's going on? Am I going crazy? Or did that bastard Rei Ao mess up my brain?"

[Onee-sama is not insane—this is the Misaka Network, Misaka #20001, also known as Last Order, explains.]

A slightly different voice chimed in, sounding younger and playful.

[Lord Rei Ao awakened all the sleeping Misaka Sisters and fixed their physical defects, linking them in the Misaka Network.]

[Now, Onee-sama can also access the network, Misaka says excitedly.]

~~~

For Every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter! Please Vote for more Chapters!

Patreon(.)com/Bleam

— Currently You can Read 220+ Chapters Ahead of Others!

Thank you!