02x17 - Study Group

[bunniefuu]

You're requesting an after-hours excursion permit?

Y-Yes.

So is this the thanks I get for listening to all those fake excuses for breaking curfew?

You've got guts, Misaka.

It looks like you've got all the required paperwork done.

Oddly enough,

Shirai handed me a request very similar to yours.

It's for tomorrow,

and the reason is the very same.

"Studying with friends."

Well, you see, Kuroko and I are—

What are you plotting?

N-Nothing!

It's just a study group, I promise!

Can't you study in the dorm?

You don't need to leave just to study.

Well, sometimes a change of scenery is nice...

I mean, we have friends in other schools too.

They need some help with their summer homework!

And...

Very well.

I'll approve this.

Always keep your friends close.

But I'm sure you know what'll happen

(douiu)if you arrive a minute past the time you specified,(This might be too long. Re-edit in QC if it turns out to be.)

(wakaru)right?

Y-Yes, ma'am!

Hello? Uiharu?

What's up?

Misaka-san and Shirai-san got permission to come over.

Really? Thank goodness.

They were saying how hard it is to get all the paperwork done,

so I'm glad they got it sorted it out.

Now we'll be able study together like we planned.

It's been a while since we've all hung out together.

Yeah!

I'm definitely going to ask Misaka-san

who she made those cookies for.

Come on, Saten-san.

We don't even know if it was for a guy...

It obviously was!

I've never seen her act so girly before.

All right, all done.

Now we just put it in the oven...

And we wait for it to bake.

Thanks a bunch Saten-san.

I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't let me use your kitchen.

Oh, don't mention it.

But I'm pretty sure your dorm's kitchen is far better for making cookies than mine.

Oh, yeah.

Well, you know, some people might see if I did it in my dorm's kitchen...

(missing)Like Kuroko, or Kuroko, or Kuroko.

Oh?

So you don't want anyone to find out who this is for?

Th-That's not it!

I-It's just that I'm in debt and it's, like, not my style to be indebted to anyone.

I thought store-bought cookies would be enough,

but no, it wasn't. They have to be homemade.

(ano baka)That idiot...

B-But it's not like I'm doing it for someone specifically!

It's just, like, you know... "see how much I did for you?" kinda thing.

Anyway, I'm glad.

Huh?

Shirai-san was pretty obvious about it, but Uiharu and I were worried about you too.

I might not be the most reliable person,

but I'm glad I could at least help you out with this.

I'm sorry.

This was something I started, so I didn't want to get anyone else involved.

Looking back on it, I did a lot of dumb stuff.

I'll try to be more considerate from now on.(I'll try not to make you worry again.)

I'm sorry!

Don't worry.

I guess the reason why you're so cheerful now

is because of your new boyfriend?

Boyfr—?!

H-He's not my boyfr—!

Oh crap! The flour! The eggs!

She's so cute!

Even though she's making a mess...

It's rude to force it out of her, Saten-san.

Yeah, yeah. I know.

Shirai-san and I will pick up some stuff and head over

(kaimono)as soon as we're done with work.

And Haruue-san...

said she'd be late because she has to run an errand first.

All right.

I'll see you later.

See you later.

Good morning, Shirai-san.

Good morning.

Are you slacking off again, Misaka?

Why do you have to make it sound like I'm always slacking off?

I have nothing to do until later, so I'm just k*lling time.

You haven't eaten in the dorm lately.

What were you up to?

I was busy with a few things.

Shirai was eating all alone here.

Yeah.

I know.

It's so peaceful.

Since the cash card case has d*ed down,

the alleyways have gone back to their old empty selves.

Hey, where'd you get that?

Wanna go now? I'll show you.

Really? Thanks a bunch!

Alternative ,Wow!

Another already?

Yeah! This place is great!

You're so lucky...

I can only find three-leaf clovers.

Oh, it's the girl from Judgement.

Hello.

It's been a while.

Look!

When I told my friends I found these,

they all wanted their own, so I brought them here!

I see.

Remember not to stay out too late, though.

Yeah!

Found another one!

I found one too!

And it's got five leaves!

Lemme see!

Look!

Whoa!

Alternative ,It's so peaceful.

So cool!

Doing homework?

Yeah.

I have to write a book report, but...

I don't know what I should write about.

Oh, yeah. Summer break's almost over.

Yeah, and there's still so much I have to do...

Again?

What's that?

I've been asked to monitor Sakugawa Middle School's school newspaper server.

Someone's been trying to break into it.

Hack it, anyway.

There's been so many of them lately.

Why would anyone hack a school newspaper's server?

Well, if the other team has a star goalkeeper,

everyone'll want to take a sh*t.

Sorry, did you say something?

Oh hey, they broke through another layer of security.

They're pretty good.

You can do it. Keep at it!

Wait, you're letting them hack it?

Oh, it's fine.

This server's just a decoy, anyway.

I'll report their IP address to Anti-Skill.

Maybe I should read another book instead...

But I've got no idea what to read...

So I suppose our legendary goalkeeper's one weakness is writing book reports...

Huh? What goalkeeper?

Never mind.

Is there any way I can help?

Thank you so much!

It's not about my homework,

but do you know any supermarkets nearby with a good selection?

A supermarket?

Why do you ask?

We're having a study group later today.

We're all going to pick up what we want to eat

and then meet up at Saten-san's place.

All done.

My, my, my!

If it isn't it Shirai-san.

Kongou Mitsuko.

Are you shopping?

Somewhat, yes.

What are you shopping for?

A few ingredients.

What a coincidence!

So am I!

If you'd like, I might be so kind as to accompany you.

That won't be necessary, and you don't need to speak down to me like that.

If we're shopping for the same thing, then we'll naturally end up in the same store.

You just seemed quite lonesome.

Shopping all by yourself, without a friend in sight. You seem to be shopping by yourself as well.

O-Of course not!

I'm just waiting for Wannai-san and Awatsuki-san.

We may not have any particular appointment,

but I intended to shop unaccompanied until their swimming practice is over.

Isn't that the definition of "alone"?

Follow me.

I know of a very wonderful shop right this way.

Wai— What?!

A pet store?

This selection is absolutely perfect!

Um, Kongou...

These rounder ones are nice too.

Um...

Would you mind holding these for me?

I thought you were shopping for human food!

Ekaterina-chan and I share the same high-class taste.

E-Ekaterina?

You mean that giant rock snake?

A turtle?

Hello.

Are you here to see how they're doing?

Yes.

They're all doing just fine.

As for the one who was injured,

she's well on the road to recovery.

As far as her wounds go, anyway.

Is there something else?

We've discovered several things from our examinations.

While they're all somatic-cell clones, created from cells derived from you(—the original—),

they were also exposed to various dr*gs throughout their time in the culture fluid

in order to stimulate rapid biological development.

From a zygote to a teenager in just fourteen days.

Somatic-cell clones don't have a very long lifespan, and this just makes it shorter.

Shorter?

How long do they have?

It varies,

but one or two years, at most.

No way...

That's why they need adjustments.

Adjustments?

By eliminating the hormone imbalances resulting from the stimulation for rapid development

and adjusting the rate at which their cells divide,

we should be able to recover a good chunk of their lifespan.

There are just so many of them.

We're distributing them among various institutions outside Academy City.

We'll exchange information with each other while working out how best to do it.

Institutions outside...

I see.

They've got a long fight ahead of them.

But this time, they're not fighting to die. They're fighting to live.

I can't decide.

What's everyone else buying?

I've gotten some fine ingredients.

Perfect!

Oh no, I'm late!

I hope I'm not keeping Kuroko waiting...

Welcome.

Oh, I'm meeting someone here.

I'll be back with the menu and some water.

No, I'm not meeting them...

That's why I hate family restaurants.

You get these spoiled, naive rich girls wandering around in them.

I seriously hope you don't think you won.

Huh?

The only reason it went that way was because I didn't have any intel in advance.

If I'd known you were the Railgun, I would've set up my dolls a lot more care—

Frenda!

I hope you haven't forgotten that the only reason she got away

was that you forgot to put away your dolls.

O-Oh, did I?

Alternative ,Ow!

Take it seriously, ret*rd!

What's going on?

Quarreling is tantamount to disturbing the peace.

As a member of Judgement, I cannot ignore th—

Wait, it's you, Onee-sama?

How could you start a fight in public like this?

I-I didn't start anything!

I was just—

You should be more careful about what you're doing.

Getting into fights with feeble civilians isn't—

Who are you calling a "feeble civilian," you grade schooler?

Huh?

As you can clearly see, I'm in middle school.

Furthermore, I was simply concerned about your well-being.

You could very well lose your lives if Onee-sama were to be seriously upset.

And I'm telling scrubs like you to back off.

You're the only one who'll get hurt if a fight breaks out.

Now that's inexcusable!

You talk a big game knowing full well that Onee-sama's Tokiwadai's Railgun.

That little girl's got nowhere near enough fighting experience to cope!

There's no way she could b*at Mugino!

No, Onee-sama will win!

Mugino will!

Onee-sama will!

No, Mugino!

No, Onee-sama!

Alternative ,Hey, Kuroko...

Like an old hag like her could ever win!

Alternative ,Hey, Frenda...

Maybe your stupid little girl should stick to kids her own size!

It's true that Onee-sama wears children's panties,

and all her belongings look like they came from toy stores,

but she possesses a power to be proud of as the Ace of Tokiwadai!

Mugino's even better!

She has this nasty habit of buying and hiding lingerie so erotic you'd wonder if they're for a special somebody,

but in terms of power, she's unmatched! Invincible!

And besides!

That flat-as-a-board chest just doesn't pack any punch! (mb ironing board)

How vulgar of you to resort to speaking of breast size!

If future potential is considered, Onee-sama's are far more—

What the hell do you think you're touching?!

Damn it!

Now I can never set foot in that restaurant again!

Wait up, Mugino!

Hello!

Come in!

What happened, Shirai-san?

Oh, nothing.

Tada!

Ooh, a clay hot pot!

I borrowed it from a friend.

I got everything we need for the perfect stock too!

We've got to be the only one's who'd have a hot pot party in the middle of summer!

Onee-sama, this isn't a hot pot party.

It's a study group gathering.

Oh, that's right.

Having hot food on a hot day is good for you, you know.(really?)(yeah apparently)

What did you all bring?

Uh, I wasn't very sure, but...

The people in the meat section recommended this,

so I just bought it.

Boxes?

All these boxes have beef?!

They're marbled too!

Was it a bad choice?

No, it's just that we've never seen these before...

What'd you get, Uiharu?

I bought a bunch of vegetables.

The theme tonight is summer vegetables.

We've got okra, corn, Jew's mallow,

tofu, and mushrooms!

They sure look healthy and full of vitamins.

Wonderful!(One away!)

Young ladies like us strive for beauty even during meals.

And so it seems my ingredients will steal the spotlight.

What'd you get, Shirai-san?

I was at a loss, at first.

I didn't know what to think when I was holding those fat, round mice at the pet store.

M-Mice?

Pet store?

But then...

I had an epiphany!

An ingredient worthy of gracing Onee-sama's tongue!

What the heck did you buy?

This isn't a mystery hot pot, Shirai-san.

The ingredient is...

Soft-shelled turtle?

Overflowing with collagen, it's sure to make Onee-sama's fair skin even silkier and more beautiful!

And then there's this!

Wh-What's that?

Fresh turtle blood.

It's been mixed with apple juice to help it go down easier.

Go ahead and chug it down!

This'll charge you with libido—

I mean, it'll really perk you up!

Of course, there's the possibility that your body will feel so hot that you won't be able to sleep,

but should that happen, I'll be right there to sleep with you—

All right, let's put the ingredients in!

It's delicious!

The broth's full of flavor!(i.e. the soup's full of the flavors of the ingredients)

I've never had a soft-shelled turtle before, but it's pretty good!

The turtle's not bad, but this beef is to die for!

The vegetables are delicious too!

Everything turned out great, then.

Looks like it!

I wish Haruue-san could've come earlier.

She should be coming soon.

Should we have waited for her?

We still have a lot of food left.

Yeah, we do! Let's just keep eating.

Isn't it strange, though?

What is?

Food always tastes better when you're with others.

I guess a lot of that has to do with us cooking the food here and eating it right after.

I suppose meals and cookies taste much better if they're homemade,

wouldn't you agree, Misaka-san?

Onee-sama, what's the matter?

Are you okay?

I-I'm fine.

But your face is all red, and you're sweating!

I'm fine, I'm fine!

This mushroom looks deli— Ow!

Alternative ,She's so cute.(all of my agree)

Alternative ,Sheesh, Saten-san...

Sorry I'm so late!

Come on in!

We've been waiting for you!

It's you, Haruue-san!

It looks delicious!

Have you finished with your errand?

Yeah.

I had something to discuss with my teacher.

The hot pot's going well.

I'll fill up your bowl.

Did you bring anything for the hot pot, Haruue-san?

Yeah, I brought some udon.

Ooh! What a perfect way to end the meal.

All right, let's eat!

Come on, Onee-sama. Just a sip!

Why?

I'm so full!

We might need to go on a diet now.

It was a blast, though.

We should have another one of these study group things sometime.

Yes.

Going through the paperwork was quite the chore, though.

Wait, extended curfew! We're not past it yet, right?

We should be fine, but we should probably hurry.

We'll be ruthlessly punished if we're even one minute late.

Crap. Let's go!

Kuroko?

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Let's go.

Okay, Onee-sama!

There we go.(All good.)

That didn't take very long, huh, Haruue-san?

(Yeah.)

Uiharu-san...

Hm?

I'm really grateful for what you did.