"Phew. Today was completely ridiculous. Not only did I successfully drop into the bottom ranks of summer school, but I also helped blow up the largest stadium in District 7. Good thing that gutsy idiot took the blame."
Arata opened the refrigerator, took out a chilled drink, switched on the air conditioner, and handed a bottle to Index, who was lying there watching TV and humming to herself.
"Arata, Arata, Arata~" Index sang softly, calling his name in a light, cheerful tone.
"Hmm? What is it? Too cold?" Arata asked.
Although Index already understood her origins and the reason behind her memory loss, the person she relied on most now was Arata. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had become her family.
And now, with an innocent, lively, and slightly troublesome girl like her around, life had become… unexpectedly full.
"Arata~ Arata~" Index lay sprawled on the tatami, looking at him with a lazy, satisfied smile, like a spoiled kitten.
"What? Want to change the channel? I can teach you how to use the remote." Arata opened his drink, took a long gulp, and wiped the condensation from his forehead.
"It's fun calling your name, Arata," Index said happily, swinging her legs beneath her nun's habit.
"Is that so? Then go ahead and say it a few more times. Your voice is nice to listen to." Arata sat down on the floor and laughed.
"Hey, Arata, I have a question." Index blinked her clear blue eyes, like polished glass beads. "What are 'computer accessories'?"
"Computer accessories? Uh… where did you even hear that?" Arata paused, then frowned slightly as he looked at her innocent expression. Something about this felt very wrong.
"Yeah. That girl with twin ponytails asked me. She asked if I live with Arata, and if Arata ever kindly gave me drinks with 'computer accessories' in them. She said after drinking it, I'd stop acting strange, and then Arata would do bad things to me."
Index blinked as she spoke, completely unaware of how absurd that sounded.
"Hey, what are 'computer accessories'? Did Arata put them in my drink? Why do I feel weird after drinking it? Is it some kind of magic potion? What bad things will Arata do to me?"
Index pushed herself up on the tatami, placing both hands on the floor as she leaned closer, curiosity written all over her face.
"..."
Arata's eye twitched.
Shirai Kuroko. What exactly did that girl tell her? Only someone with her particular brand of perversion would phrase things like that.
The term "computer accessories" was just slang used on Academy City forums to disguise certain prohibited topics. People who didn't frequent those forums would have no idea what it actually meant. Misaka Mikoto, for example, would be completely clueless.
"That twin-tailed girl is not a good influence. Don't believe anything she says," Arata said helplessly, flicking Index lightly on the forehead.
"Ow~" Index covered her forehead, cheeks puffing out. "But you did give me drinks, Arata. You didn't even explain what 'computer accessories' are. Why do I feel strange after drinking them? What bad things are you planning to do to me?"
"Index, are you trying to become a walking encyclopedia of impossible questions? This is one of those things you really shouldn't ask about. You'll just get angry," Arata said, a drop of cold sweat forming on his temple.
"Why can't I ask? Why would I get angry?" Index puffed her cheeks again and crawled closer on her hands and knees, staring straight at him.
"Are you really sure you can handle the answer?" Arata said, already sensing the faint stir of magical power around her. A dark line appeared at the corner of his eye.
"No way. Arata, you're definitely hiding something." Index bared her small canine teeth and glared at him.
"You really want me to say it?" Arata covered his cheek with one hand.
"Yes."
"Come here," Arata said, leaning in to whisper in her ear.
Index's face gradually turned red. Arata could even feel the heat rising from her body.
"Arata, you're the worst!" Index suddenly bit down on his shoulder, then turned her head away with a huff.
"You're the one who insisted on asking." Arata rubbed his shoulder and sighed. "People have said this for generations. When someone is determined to dig into something like that, telling the truth just makes things worse."
Index turned her head slightly and noticed Arata looking at her. Her face flushed again as she quickly looked away.
So that's what it means…
After doing those kinds of things… she would become a mother?
Her hands instinctively moved to her lower abdomen.
Then she bared her teeth at Arata again.
"Arata, don't even think about things like that, or I'll bite you."
"I received your threat, but don't you already bite me every day?" Arata shrugged. People tend to mean what they say. If you don't respond properly, it just makes things more troublesome.
Who knows how to deal with something like this.
However…
Arata's gaze flickered slightly.
How could he remove the "Automatic Writing System" from Index?
"Words of Infinite Deception" had no effect on something that operated on a near-absolute, rule-like level. It wasn't some ownerless phenomenon either. It originated from the will of a Magic God, Coronzon.
The fact that Index could not use magic was fundamentally contradictory. As long as one was human, they possessed magical potential. Magic power stemmed from life force and vitality, refined through the brain's pathways like crude oil being processed into usable fuel.
If the "Automatic Writing System" were removed, Index would naturally reach the peak of human capability. With the knowledge of 103,000 grimoires stored within her, she would complete her transformation. Even if she could not ascend to the level of a Magic God, she would still stand at the absolute pinnacle of humanity.
For now, it was better to wait.
Perhaps once "Words of Infinite Deception" evolved further through the "Void Star: Tai suu", there might be a way.
After its complete sublimation, he had already begun to brush against the boundary of that realm.
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.