illustrations (1/2)

Story[edit]

Prologue[edit]

A certain pirated broadcast A

On a certain day in July

Do you know about the Level 5 espers? My, ; they're the people who stand at the top of the six-tier hierarchy ast our 23 million residents! The pyramid in the vast desert of Level 0s!

So, are the Level 5s standing at the pinnacle of the pyra conclusion that you made Those who stand at the pinnacle of the pyrah the sky are Level 4s, and though they fly through the air freely most of the time, there are situations where they fall into a sandstorm ind blows Far above this chaotic situation that can't be seen, located high up in the sky, are the Level 5s

”Accelerator”, ”Dark Matter”, ”Railgun”, ”Meltdowner”, ”Mental Out”, ”Eh, who's that Nuet about it”, ”Hm, that Nuroup of people are like the stars in the Big Dipper: so high above that we can't reach them

Auys who've worked their way up the pyramid and to the stars, but they started off as Level 1s and not 0s That's right, a sandstorm can't become a bird even if it can clip one

What's there to talk about regarding a bunch of pitiful people who've had drugs and electric signals injected into their bodies and still can't even bend a spoon? They're just defeated rels

But even athered today Today, let's talk about the legendary s pulled out, Kurozuma Wataru

Hearing such a network broadcast, the youth with a nose ring on hiue and said,

”What 'Kurozue now”

That pirated broadcast was directly aired through all sorts of channels in all sorts of places like a cat-and-ame, and even in Academy City, it could be considered a form of entertainment

Meh Haroup, he didn't even have a bit of power Though he had the indecent talent of stealing cars, in Academy City, he—rather, they—were just treated completely as Level 0s

Hamazura cut off the broadcast link as he praised his leader's na Level 0s all nodded their heads and laughed as they agreed with Hamazura

The bits of sand who'll knock the stars down kept being fearful of the existence of these beings that were treated as heroes as they continued to think that they were unable to be heroes, giving up on themselves

Rewind to ten seconds back In a certain dor to that saust

What's there to talk about a bunch of pitiful people who've had drugs and electric signals injected into their bodies and still can't even bend a spoon? They're just—

The girl cut the broadcast here, and inside the dark dormitory roo used

”da people as stars?”

Sighing at the ”star” comparison the broadcast raised, one of the seven Level 5 espers that Acade softly about that stupid behavior

Behind her, another girl was growling angrily

”That's really unbelievable, Onee-sama! Onee-sama's not just a star! Onee-sas forth the seeds of hope for the life of tomorrow! And I'ht now, this is a ether like an eclipse- GUAH HAHAHA!?”

”INSTEAD OF CALLING YOURSELF A CELESTIAL BODY, YOU MIGHT AS WELL CALL YOURSELF A PERVERT!”

Speaking h, Mikoto tucked the opponent's head underneath her aras she showed a happy expression while continuing to scream

”AHH, AHHH! I CAN FEEL ONEE-SAMA'S TENDER ARMS, WAHH!”

Now increasing the force in her arht

”Speaking of which, even espers will feel uncomfortable about the last part of the broadcast”

Saying up until here, she suddenly remembered a boy who called himself a Level 0

”But maybe I can use that as a taunt”

While thinking of that as she continued to use the wrestling technique, while Kuroko's head started to turn purple,

A certain srabbed on to Mikoto's head

”Huh?”

Though she thought that Kuroko had used teleport, she still remained in that position as she fearfully turned around to look

Over there was a person who had walked in, looking over without any expression A sophisticated lady with a round face was standing there

”Lights-out enty-five seconds ago, yet you're still here practicing your wrestling techniques How passionate, Misaka”

”Dorm supervisor”

The needles of ice that had pierced through Mikoto's backcold sweat to come out

”H, let me re techniques are like”

”No, but this”

And several seconds later,

In the girls' doric cries of despair replaced the broadcast as it aired throughout

Main Story: Toaru Jihanki no Sonzai Shouo[edit]

On a certain day in July, in a certain hospital in Academy City

”I can make it”

”Unconscious state”

”Black 's eyes”

”Unbelievable wound”

”AIM?”

”Brain”

”Sensei's co?”

”That Child Error?”

”Kiyama was too early”

”Tokiwadai's Railgun”

The noises could be heard echoing through a certain large hospital's research facility

Normally, that was an area that could only be accessed by those involved, and right now, there was a girl who looked like an ele intently to the ”crowds of voices”

The girl got the necessary information fro Facing the probleirl raised, the doctor could only shake his head in apology

Thus, the girl showed a glimpse of a dark smile, and then said with a calm expression,

”Well, I'll settle it, so don't worry, doctor”

”Child Errors are flawed items; it's impossible for them to wake up with their oer”

At the end of the conversation, the doctor could only sigh heavily at the sirl

During su

”THE LEVEL 5S ARE FIGHTING!?”

Theoff the equipment with the trident-shaped coat of arms on it when he stopped He widened his eyes and stood up

That report caused a ruckus ast the extremely tired Anti-Skill s daily

”Where?”

”The park in District 7”

”THE PARK!? WHAT'S THE SITUATION OVER THERE!?”

”Why did that happen?”

”What's the status of those injured!?”

”Are there any injuries other than the espers?”

”No such reports up until now?”

”WHO ARE THE LEVEL 5S!?”

”Seems like the Third and the Seventh”

”MISAKA AND SOGIITA!?”

”Why?”

”WAS THAT THE REASON TOKIWADAI REPORTED A POWER SHORTAGE!?”

”WHERE DID YOMIKAWA GO!?”

”See remedials!”

”GET HER OVER HERE NOW!!”

”Yes!”

Though the chaos remained, they weren't in a state of panic The Anti-Skill ot ready to sortie—

”No, wait, there's no need to call Yomikawa It seems like it ended!”

The man who had reported the situation in the first place frowned as he used his hand to stop the Anti-Skill members beside him

”It seement members there, but one of them seems to be related to 'Kihara'”

”!?”

Kihara After hearing that naain The felasses tilted her head

”Eh? Kihara? Is that the one involved in the Level Upper?”

”That's Kiyama Not 'hara', 'yama' Ah, well, it's not like they don't have any relationshi+p”

”Basically, the entire family is composed of researchers It's a rather famous name in Academy City Well, that entire event was basically also because of that Kihara's research Since everything ended, the higher ups gave an order to Anti-Skill to not sortie It seee”

Hearing the man's explanation, everyone started to look at each other's faces,as they looked lost

”Two Level 5s and one really i?”

”Why happened in Tokiwadai's park!?”

It was an abnormal situation that the Anti-Skill members were all jumpy about

The reason behind it was

Just a loss of 120 yen at a certain vending machine

One hour ago, in the District 7 park

”Uu My neck's still aching Those injuries from the 'Level Upper' incident, and the pain when the dorm supervisor twisted my neck still remain”

Twisting her neck lightly, Mikoto grumbled to herself

”Looks like I have to exercise periodically”

The girl as sighing as she twisted her upper body like she was ready to exercise stopped after seeing a vending machine in front of her

It was the vendinga little faulty

If one used a battering raood cases of having cans of juice drop out without the use of electronic cards or cash, but since the legend originated from Tokiwadai Middle School, the school of ojous, it was basically impossible to see anyone do it

Let alone

”HAAA!!”

Misaka Mikoto was definitely the only person ould kick it with electricity around the leg

CRACK CLACK With the sound of so fractured, a can of juice appeared in the exit

”Mm, my body's okay now”

While gru as she cracked her shoulders and neck, she wondered,

Well, as Judgher than rumble like this

But at that moment, she didn't realize that what she had just done was basically interfering with Judgment's work

She opened the seal of the canned juice, and drank half of it down in one gulp

At that ure that appeared beside the vending machine

Hm? Kuroko?

She saw the obvious twin ponytails that appeared beside the vending machine, and remembered that Kuroko could teleport With that inforathered her concentration to defend herself

And then, before she could react and fight back—

A strange sensation struck her

The surrounding air was distorted There seele strand of ans seeh That hat Mikoto felt

?

Feeling insecure, Mikoto hurriedly turned around—

”Judgment desu wa, Tokiwadai onee-san”

”EH?”

A twin-ponytailed girl as slightly shorter than Mikoto appeared in front of her

For a ht that it was shi+rai Kuroko, but the way she had said that ”Judgment desu no” was completely different, and the voice was co the arht difference in the shape of the ponytail To add to that, the girl had shi+ny blond hair

Andthat was different from Kuroko was that

The girl who said ”Judg

”Ah, about that”

Not knowing how to respond, Mikoto tilted her head and gave an earnest smile

In Academent” was for Uiharu and Kuroko Though there were ether, it was basically a system where each school worked independently Over here, there were also element officers, and Mikoto knew that, because Kuroko and Uiharu had started training in grade school

Her hair didn't look dyed, and Mikoto didn't even know if she was japanese Reirl had used japanese when shethat orth taking note of

At first, Mikoto didn't understand why this grade-school Judgment officer that she didn't knoould approach her with such a ter at the can in her ar

The girl in front of her slowly let out a shtful tone,

”I didn't think that 'the chance' would be here so easily”

”'Chance'?”

At thatwas out of place

It was not just a bad pre her

”!? Wait, what are you doing?”

”You're under arrest for vandalism and theft, you know? Onee-san”

The direct eirl's expression and voice

Overwhelonistic intent

”!”

Though she didn't knoas going on, Mikoto could feel a terrifying force creating a signal within her

The kid in front of her was dangerous

Having been shown an ”antagonistic intent” that would let her let out electricity in reflex, Mikoto tried her best to hold back her pohile backing away fronal within her

Then, seely in the next moment, 05 seconds fro towards her There should have been a distance of several ically, she should fall here However, the twin-ponytailed girl kicked the gravel surface and immediately rushed at Mikoto

This isn't any ordinary girl!

”It's time to rest, Level 5 onee-san!”

The girl's right hand itching strangely as she rushed in like a bullet, trying to grab Mikoto's neck

!

Mikoto's entire body was now stinal—

She let out her ability on reflex

And then, bluish-white sparks spread through the park

Near the park

Haratani Yabumi was depressed

It was supposed to be a rare suh-security Tokiwadai district while getting uninvolved with delinquents

”AMAZING PUNCH!!”

It should amount to such an unordinary scene

As the weird technique name could be heard, that e

Even if it was a Level 5 walking about in Academy City, that could be considered an ”abnormal” situation

The big guy who had been sent flying stood up with light feet and smirked

”Ku, to be able to send this visceral grinder Yokosuka flying away in this 30th revenge er than before”

In contrast to the man who looked like so Sun flag T-shi+rt and white unifor, it looked somewhat old-fashi+oned ”The seventh Level 5 of Acade tone,

”Oi, hot pot guy, you actually ot guts As a token of respect, let me show you my more powerful technique”

Haratani knew the uy”, but it was too troublesoht

”Wh-what!? So it's co!? I'M SO HAPPY, SOGIITA!! GO TO hellLLLL!!!”

Standing up with a delighted expression, Yokosuka juiita

Facing hith, he shouted,

”SUPER AMAZING PUNCH!!!”

”IT DIDN'T GET ANY STRONNNNNGERRRRRRRRRR!!!”

Flying out and crashi+ng into the railings on both sides of the road, Yokosuka lost consciousness just like that Seeing hiot reduced to scrap —

But before that could happen, a girl who suddenly appeared said to Sogiita,

”Judgment desu no”

The twin-ponytail girl's hair aying about as she showed her arh she seemed to be a middle schooler froiven that she was a ment

”I caht That person over there fell asleep because of your attack, aht?”

Facing the girl who had definitely used teleport to get there, Sogiita nodded his head calmly

”Ohhh, I see! A girl like you can becouts! Do your best!”

””

”On a side note, the answer to your question is 'yes'—but then again, it'sthat he fell asleep Even though he fainted, that guy got guts Got to remember that!”

Seeing Sogiita give her a thus froment officer should say

”It seems like you don't understand your situation now Anyway, based on the situation I've seen froe Please explain further after you're arrested”

Though she was right, Haratani said,

”Ahh, no, Miss Judgment officer, that was”

He just fought back in response to an opponent's taunt Though it was an overkill act of self-defense, they wouldn't know if that guy was a leader of so members with ariita, but before that could happen, the suspect responded with a gutsy tone,

”Fighting? That's not right, missy”

”Huh?”

”All I did was get guts into him!”

YOU BASICALLY SAID THAT YOU ABUSED HIM!!!

Haratani wanted to shout out frouy, he realized that it was already troublesoment officer, and thus shook his head to say that it didn't matter if she arrested him

”I' to arrest you”

It was useless to say anything for hi like this, shi+rai Kuroko reached her hand out at the opponent's stomach—

And used her teleport ability to tilt the opponent upside down

She would then teleport his body onto the ground and use theto the floor like usual It was just that simple—

But that would norainst Skill-Out members

What was troubling was that this guy was completely different from a Level 0 in all aspects

”HAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

With a roar of hot-bloodedness, the surroundings started to be affected by the wave

The vibration of the athout, and everyone hurriedly covered their ears even though they knew that it was too late

He didn't even need to use his hands He just used a shout to prevent hi down

If it just involved an ability, anyone would feel that it was simply stupid But no ht in front of everyone

”That sudden turnabout really shocked me Was that teleport?”

”!! An esper, huh? So it doesn't ht?”

The words came out later than the action, as Kuroko let out a fearless sravity take her as she attacked down at the enemy

Any ordinary man who saw that completely unexpected attack from above would easily collapse to the floor, but the uy's head, a heavy impact could be felt from there

It felt like a huot kicked as Kuroko ju manner She stared at him with a puzzled look

It didn't look like a couy put his hand on his head and turned around

”O What was that? Super speed or tiht? That's souts you have there! But I won't accept aht in front of hiuess”

The esper started to answer his own question, and behind hie This seems to be different froht

”You seem like you have some mysterious power I can't think of a clear way to beat you if I don't knohat your power is”

”Oi oi, are you treating anization members? Listen closely; my ability is”

Theto answer that question without hiding or running away, but

Uuu, the boy who looked familiar from the side frowned and answered,

”How should I describe my ability?”

””

”Well, utsy!!”

Seeing this exchange, Kuroko ondering about how to deal with this guy in front of her

She couldn't understand the nature of the ability, but at least it was not to the extent of a Level 1 or less

But she didn't feel any antagonistic intent That guy didn't look like some delinquent aside from his outfit In this situation, Kuroko could just talk to hiht now, she ondering how to solve this

But at that moment—

An intense explosion could be heard fronificance to Kuroko

Thinking about what happened, she turned around Wasn't that bluish-white electricity that was shot from between the trees in the park?

”ONEE-SAMA!?!?”

Seeing the flash she recognized, Kuroko frantically thought of rushi+ng over, but she couldn't just leave this mysterious esper behind She was torn by her duties as a ment

But at that

”Oi, what are you standing around for? Souts here, you know?”

Theto the park

”I'll act first!!”

”Eh, how Why? Any ordinary person should back down and talk! You're under arrest, you know!?!?”

”Relax! I'uts are more than an ordinary person's!!”

”THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER!!”

As she shouted, the guy in the white unifor An ier than the shout fros, and that air pressure was so strong that nobody could breathe

Squinting, what she could see beyond the gaps in the hand she raised was an explosion of red-, blue-, and yellow-colored suy who ”jumped” up and rushed to the park like a human bullet

The guy in the white unifored to advance by several meters with just a kick, and Kuroko watched hi the other boy as left behind,

”Who was that guy?”

Haratani pulled a face with regards to the girl's question

”That's created from a Level 5 esper What you saas all just an illusion It would be better for your mental health if you think of it like that Maybe”

The park

Standing on the top of the streetlights, Mikoto fired nuuns

She was using the iron sand to create conductivearound her Looking down at the park froher position, she was like a conductor of an orchestra as she swung her electricity covered right hand The surrounding spears fell doards at a certain area of the park like a thunderstorm

But just as that exhibition of a thunder God's rage was going on—

A girl was aps of the electric strikes and towards the streetla on

This girl ”dodged the electric strikes” That was the fact that Mikoto was seeing

Fast

If there was a need to describe it sih

Forget about the fact that she was an eleirl basically had speed and power that far exceeded what a huically have

It see an illusion of instant burst and force The girl's body was creating a ”speed” that was faster than a beast

The girl wason the streetla speed that was just like reround and jumped up before Mikoto could even prepare her next shot Several parts of the stone floor in the park were blown off, and the girl's body wastowards the streetlamp that was far taller than her

Trying to avoid the opponent, Mikoto suddenly juirl expected that, as she was targeting sohtly lower than the top of the streetlamp

If this kept up, they would definitely meet in the end

Mikoto let out bluish-white sparks from both hands, and she started to fall very slowly

”!”

Having lost the opportunity, the girl wanted to kick the streetlamp to redirect herself, but at that ht hand

However, this attack wasn't aiirl

The streetla on was different from the rest It was composed of a white thermal filament, and once this sort of filament took in too low

But right now, this was enough to take away the girl's sight while she was right beside the lightbulb

”Ku!”

As the girl h electricity to rob the opponent of her movement

However, the girl whose eyes were shut seeht hand to knock the streetlaet away from the line of attack

Despite having squashed a part of the irl's hand did not appear injured

Several seconds later, both girls landed in front of the vending an

”Who exactly are you?”

Biri biri The electricity surrounded Mikoto like snakes as she asked the girl in front of her

The ht, Mikoto instinctively activated her ability This young girl dodged, with superhuman reflexes, the electric strike that Mikoto had released, and Mikoto was slightly shocked at this young girl as she started to show somegirl swung a fist with evento convince the other party, both sides gradually went into combat mode

In this situation when they could finally talk again, Mikoto tried to talk to the girl, but—

”Judgment desu wa, Level 5 onee-san”

”I don't want to listen to this—or rather, is a grade-schooler like you unable to understand my question?”

”Uh huh”

Both of theirl and the irl

”Kihara Nayuta”

After a while, the girl calmly stated her name

”Special school prefect of the Advanced Education Department”

”Eh?”

The girl's words caused Mikoto to waver slightly

That name that sounded like that of a school had never reached her eardrum before, and never had she seen it before

However, Mikoto recognized that name

Once, she read a fenal flow The name of that primary school and the name Kihara had appeared in there

However, that ”irl