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Fortunately for you, some jerk had decided to pull out on a red light, so your stumble became a rather dramatic STOMP on the hood of his car.
Unfortunately for the jerk, you wear some VERY sturdy boots (and also you're super-strong and stuff, you guess), and there is now a prominent boot-shaped divot in his vehicle's hood.

The guy in the car balks as you fix him with a glare and indicate the Judgment arm-band pinned to the sleeve of your longcoat.
You scold him thoroughly, pointing out that anyone other than you could have been seriously injured in that situation. You also don't make much of an effort to disguise the fact that he's making you late for an appointment with the hottest girl you know (heh).

After dummy-can't-read-traffic-lights-guy has gone, sufficiently scolded and threatened with a ticket next time he does something stupid, you check your phone.
It's a message from the Twins, who are also part of your... Judgment... thing.

It reads: 'The word is “branch,” Mato-chan.'

Oh! Right!

They're part of your branch! They're also psychic- in the weird, twins-y, Level 0 because-nobody-knows-what-the-heck-is-up-with-them kinda way.

You shrug as you resume running, undaunted by the fact that you just hit a car. After all, it /was/ his fault.

You stifle a yawn as you jump over a cluster of pedestrians; you don't have time to be sleepy! You've gotta go claim your woman! Er, that is, you've got an important delivery to make!

You nervously adjust the straps on your bikini as you run.

You haven't really had much chance to see Akari this past year, what with her being all 'you gotta study, Mato-chan!' and being in different classes and whatnot.

Who splits up a couple between classes, anyways?
Uh-! A-a couple of friends, that is!

…

Akari has a cute butt.

THERE. YOU THOUGHT IT.
HAPPY?

Wait, that's not what you meant to think at all!
You can't believe you just had a thought like that- about your precious childhood friend, no less!

File: Mato- where am I.gif (876 KB, 500x230)

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…

Okay, it's not that hard to believe.

Mostly because she really does have a cute bu-ARGH!

You've known Akari since the both of you were little. Up until this last year, you were always in the same class, usually sitting relatively close to one another.

You remember the first day you met her- you were abusing your power and being the biggest, strongest kid on the playground, wandering around and wreaking havoc and just generally being mean- as children are wont to do- when she, on her first day, decided you were out of line, marched right on up to you, and slapped you across the face.

You've had a huge crush on her ever since.

Is that weird?

Well, probably, but, hey, this is Academy City! Weird stuff is normal here.
Except maybe the Twins.

They're weird even here.

Before you know it, you're at the door to Akari-chan's- no, Akari's sister's apartment.

And nervous. You're also nervous.
It's like there's a gazillion butterflies in your stomach.

You stand in front of the door for several minutes before it swings inwards, revealing Akari's big sister-

Come to think of it, you never caught Akari's sister's name. Akari just calls her 'Nee-chan', and everyone else calls her 'Takamichi-san'.
Maybe it's because she's kinda scary?

“Ma-to-chan~” she sings, “it's nice to see you again~!”
You don't entirely like the way she says your name, all... cutesy and what-not.

“Y-you too, Takamichi-san,” you manage to stammer, “Is- Is Akari-chan here?”

She nods and gestures for you to come inside, taking your coat and hanging it on the rack by the door in the process. The whole place is spotless; you've never seen it so clean before. There's not so much as a single awkwardly-smutty incest doujin on the coffee table.

“She is, but she's still in bed. Go on in and see if you can't wake her up, Mato-chan! I'm afraid I just don't have the heart to do so myself.” She smiles warmly. “Well, I'm off~! See you later, Mato-chan!”

With that, she turns leaves.

File: Nee-chan is a master of f(...).png (1.24 MB, 1137x719)

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You blink.

That was... odd, you think.

Oh well!

What'd she mean, anyways, with all that 'I don't have the heart' stuff?

You grip the handle and stand there for a few seconds.

What if Akari sleeps in the nude?

What if she's awake?

What if she's awake and in the nude?

What if Akari wakes up in the nude?

“Ma-to-chan~” Takamichi-san sings, peeking her head in through the front door, “Akari-chan doesn't think wasting time is cute, so get on with it already~!”

Okay, two things.
One, why is she being so pushy?
And two, that was really pretty creepy.

Either way, it was a good point.

… It was, wasn't it?

What do you do?
>Open the door.
>Knock on the door.
>Other (write-in)

>[NOTE: Mato is many things, but she is not a chef, and she knows it. She won't try to cook breakfast, for she knows it is a fool's errand.]

Also!
What number was your branch, again?
>Give me three rolls of 3d10 apiece, if you'd be so kind.

Rolled 8, 6, 10 = 24

>>33495491
>>Open the door.
Seeing your gay crush for the first time in a while is just like ripping off a bandaid, you want to do it as fast as possible, right?

Rolled 6, 10, 6 = 22

>>33495491
>Open the door.

Rolled 10, 9, 10 = 29

>>33495491
>>Open the door.

>>33495621

Goddamn that roll

Rolled 4, 10, 6 = 20

>>33495491
>Other (write-in)
Sneak in and kissu

Fuckin' misarchivist forgot "Raildex a shit" in the tags!

>>33495764
Just "Raildex" by itself finds it.

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>>33495621
>That roll though
Judgment Branch 90 sounds good to me, and also avoids the question of 'just how many branches are there, anyways?'

>>33495764
As long as you search 'raildex' you'll get all tags including that word, too!

I scienced that, so you can trust me!

Now, how 'bout that DNA map...?

>>33495561
>>33495581
>>33495621
>Open the door

>>33495686
>Ninja kissu

Consider that door opened!

Huh. So I take it that this is going to be like MGNQ with expies from tons of different series?

File: Akasleep.jpg (7 KB, 299x168)

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When you open the door, you find yourself understanding what that 'I don't have the heart' stuff was all about.

Akari-chan's even cuter when she's asleep. She's all sprawled out on her bed, laying on top of the covers in adorable pajamas with cute little cartoony flames on them.

Why are your cheeks so warm?

“Akari-chan,” you say- softly, as if some part of you wants her to remain asleep more than you want to give her her arm-band.

She mumbles something, shifts about a bit, and eventually regards you with one half-lidded eye.

“Mato-chaaaaaaaaaaan,” she moans, a cute little yawn extending the honorific, “come... come closer.”


Well, Mato-chan? What do you do?
>Obey
>Something else? (Write-in)

>>33496005
>Obey

>>33496005
>>Obey
Investigate whether it is actually possible to be too close to Akari-chan.

>>33496005
>Obey

File: Akari- what am I reading.png (161 KB, 340x580)

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>>33495893
Pretty much, yeah.

Saves me the trouble of trying to do art or trying to get someone to art for me.

Their personalities and such are mostly different, though.

Took me forever to find pictures of twins-

>I just now remembered that Chitose is a twin.
FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF-


>>33496038
>>33496061
>>33496078
>Yeeeesssss maaaasssteeeerrrr

File: chizuru_chitose.jpg (385 KB, 1200x841)

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>>33496167
They're not creepy tho

File: Mato smile.png (100 KB, 434x244)

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Transfixed, you obey, making your way across the carpeted floor near-silently. When you reach her bedside, she speaks again.

“Closer, Mato-chan... closer.”

You could swear your face is on fire, but it isn't.

Weird.

You bend over to bring your face closer to her. “Akari-chan?”

And, like an alligator murder-grabbing a gazelle (or something like that- you know the bio-mechanics, not the names of things), Akari shoots upright and grabs you in a vicious and pitiless hug.

Your instincts cry out in fear for the split-second it takes your brain to register that you're now pressed up against something very soft, very warm, and very cute.

As you succumb to the soft, warm embrace of your precious Akari-chan, you have time for one last thought before your mind embraces oblivion (this phenomenon is also known as falling asleep).

What is your final thought, Mato-chan?
>HNNNNNNG-
>I'll take responsibility!
>Other (Write-in)

>>33496240
>Other (Write-in)
N-n-no that's forbidden love!

>>33496240
>Other (Write-in)
no homo

>>33496240
>>Other (Write-in)
Which one of us is the husband, and which is the wife?

>>33496240
>HNNNNNNG-

>>33496240
>>I'll take responsibility!

>>33496240
>HNNNNNNG-
>I want the booty.

>>33496240
>>I'll take responsibility!

File: l-lewd.gif (1.55 MB, 480x270)

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>>33496280
Mato would probably the husband, given she's bigger and heavier, strong, and something of a tomboy.

>>33496268
Token resistance before s/u/ccumbing?

>>33496275
b-b-but anon
this whole quest is homo

>>33496346
cuteness overload

>>33496436
Mato be responsible, son

>>33496473
lewdness overload?
I'll give it a few more minutes to see if we can't reach something more closely resembling consensus.

>>33496240
>Other (Write-in)
"HELL YEAH!"

>>33496240
>HNNNNNNG-
>I'll take responsibility!

Why not both?

>>33496589
>>33496531
>>33496436
>>33496280
RESPONSIBRU (getting married seems pretty responsible, right?)

>>33496346
>>33496473
>>33496589
2cute


WRITING IS GO

>>33496679
What does >>33496586 count as?

>>33496712
>naughty language
I'd chalk it up to HNNNG, given that one of the other HNNNG's included 'I want the booty'

Combining the two seems like the most reasonable option to me, if that's what you were worried about.

>>33496240
>Other (Write-in)
Try to fondle her a little.

File: Akari- RED WIRE OR BLUE WIRE.jpg (59 KB, 642x574)

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You are Akari Takamichi.

You're in bed because you stayed up late last night getting your summer homework assignments out of the way.

There's a pair of strong arms wrapped around your waist, and a flat chest smooshed up against your not-much-bigger-than-that bosom.

You make a 'nguh' sound as you blink the sleep away and inspect the sleeping face of your good friend, Mato.

When did that-

OH, right. Mato came in, got too close, and was snatched up into your sleepy embrace.

You'd think something like 'poor girl' or 'sorry, Mato-chan,' but Mato could probably lift you over her head and throw you across the room, if she wanted to.

Her face is flushed, and you wouldn't be surprised if yours was, too- it's hard for you to tell, given 'hot' and 'cold' aren't terms that apply to you overmuch.

You try to wiggle out of her grasp, but she only squeezes you tighter.

“Mato-chan,” you complain, “lemme go!”

She buries her face in your neck. “Don't worry, Aka- [mumble mumble]. I'll take responsibility.”

T-t-take responsibility...?!

If you weren't blushing before, you certainly are now.

Your stomach, clearly reading the awkward situation, growls.

Mato's stomach, as if responding to yours, growls back.

You need food, and Mato's always hungry on account of her ability.

But you're being cuddled too ferociously.

How do you deal with this situation?
>Struggle more
>Wake Mato
>Daring approach: Deliver surprise kiss! (How forward!)
>Burninate her? What possible downside could there be?!
>Other (Write-in)

>>33497075
>>Other (Write-in)
Wake her by lightly blowing into her ear.

>>33497075
>>33497134
Support

>>33497075
>Struggle
>Struggle more
>Struggle in such a way that people might construe your actions as 'lewd'

>>33497075
>Struggle more
>Daring approach: Deliver surprise kiss! (How forward!)

>>33497075

>>33497134
Cute.

>>33497134
In casing blowing in her ear wins out, I must know something:
do you intend to whisper something to her as you do so?

If I'm correct, it's customary to do so.

>>33497292
Nibble the earlobe instead.

>>33497292
I hadn't intended anything beyond a gentle wake-up call, but >>33497334
works too.

>>33497334

Well, that isn't lewd at all.

Let's do it

>>33497292
Is she actually Akari's girlfriend or is this a Kuroko-Misaka type situation?

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>>33497134
>>33497140
>>33497229
>>33497334
>>33497443
Blow 'n' nibble

>>33497165
>>33497206
Struggle (lewdly) and/or with kissu

>>33497465
Nothing official, no, but she's not running around molesting Red, either
This seems like a 'we're cuddling and I like it' type of thing. For both of them.

>>33497443
I'm not sure if you're serious or not, because it sounds *really* lewd to me.
In a cute/intimate sort of way, mind, but still lewd


Welp, looks like Mato's getting blown to me.

Writing!

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>>33497571
There better be nibbling.

>>33497571
>Timeskip to Judgemento so we can get some action going
>Spend the thread flirting/lewding with our partner

Everything went better than expected.

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>>33497597
Oh, there's nibbling.

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>>33497597

>5 years later

File: Akari- just according to (...).jpg (30 KB, 696x720)

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You know Mato well enough to know that just calling her name isn't going to rouse her... but she does have sensitive ears.

An idea forms in your mind.

A cheeky idea.

A (maybe) lewd idea.

You bring your lips to Mato's ear and, pursing them gently, slowly exhale.

You've no doubt your breath is warm- it may even be warmer than your touch, given that your lungs are surrounded by the veritable heating elements that are your organs- and Mato reddens even further in response.

She mutters something too quietly for you to hear, and you lean in and gently nibble on her earlobe.

“A-Akari,” she gasps, her eyes snapping open and fixing themselves on you.

The resultant streams of gibberish emanating from both parties are absolutely unintelligible, and could be compared to spaghetti cascading out of, say, pockets.

Speaking of spaghetti, you're interrupted when your stomach growls.

You seize the opportunity. “I'll make breakfast,” you declare, and Mato nods, just as eager to stop spouting gibberish as you are. She quickly passes you a green Judgment arm-band. “We'reinthesamebranch.”

...

She's cute when she's flusthered.

Do you prepare anything in particular? You're not late yet, but you can't go TOO over-the-top, and it never hurts to be early...

Well, Akari-chan?
>What do you do?

>>33497966
>flusthered
Geez, Akari, cain't ya speak English none?

>>33497966
Make some... I don't know. How about kind of noodle thing? They eat noodle things for breakfast in sunland, right?

>>33497966
Toast, scrambled eggs and bacon.
Fuck whatever they eat otherwise.

>>33497966
Prepare an omelet with a heart drawn in ketchup.

>>33498070
I'm not entirely certain.

Hence the plain old ">wat do"

The only thing I could think of to suggest was red bean jelly

>>33497966

Toast and Jam

Miso soup and rice

>>33498108
Too early for that joke.

>>33498093
But with a smiley face arranged.

>>33497966
seconding >>33498128

>>33498070
>>33498128
>>33498156
>Japanese food/Miso soup/rice

>>33498093
>>33498138
Toast/eggs/bacon

>>33498115
Toast

>>33498094
absurdly cute egg-things

>All of the above?
Sounds like a plan to me!

Writing!

>>33498285
>>All of the above?
>Sounds like a plan to me!
Oh dear god... I guess today's breakfast is Monstrous Food Abortion.

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You make your way to the kitchen, ignoring the funny feeling between your legs and the near-certainty that Mato was watching your bum very intently as you shuffled out of your room.

Several possibilities come to mind. Bacon and eggs with toast, jam on toast, something with noodles, an omelet with a ketchup heart drawn on it, miso soup and rice...

Decisions, decisions-

“Akari-chan, I'm hungry.”

You blink once, then twice.
You almost forgot who you were cooking for, there.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE EVERYTHING.

Fortunately, one of the many upsides of pyrokinesis is the way that it makes cooking super-easy.

You turn on all four of the stove's burners, fire up the rice maker (metaphorically, of course!), and give the toaster a run for its money.

…

By the time it's all said and done, there are no leftovers.

Mato, for her part, is peering at you from over her monumental stack of plates.

No, peering isn't quite the right word.

She's giving you the same look she was when you did the ear thing, only she's not quite as red in the face.

“You're the best, Akari-chan.”

…

Aaaaand now your heart's going THUMP-THUMP, THUMP-THUMP.

Also, you're still in your pajamas.

What should you wear when you're doing your Judgment stuff, anyways?
You'd ask Mato, but she's wearing a bikini top and super-short shorts with those kinda-scary boots and socks that cover most of her legs.

Mato's got... interesting fashion sense, is what you mean to say.

What do you wear?
>Sailor suit! Your dedication to academics is just like your dedication to JUSTICE. Or, yanno, something like that.
>Dress like a normal person! Balance out the Mato!
>Other! (Write-in your outfit ideas! There are very few wrong answers!

>>33498586
>>Dress like a normal person! Balance out the Mato!

>>33498586
>Dress like a normal person! Balance out the Mato!

Or... wait...
>Other!
SUPAH COP! One of those tan trenchcoats with a suit on under it. Because 12 year old girls totally have those in their closets.

>>33498586
>>Dress like a normal person! Balance out the Mato!

>>33498640
>One of those tan trenchcoats
If the bottom is burned in such a way that makes it raggedy and badass, then ok. It'll look silly as fuck, and I'm sure there will be at least one comical scene where we trip on it, but I can deal.

>>33498586
>Dress like a normal person! Balance out the Mato!

>>33498586
So what does Mato actually do power-wise? It almost sounds like she's a heavily powered-down Alex Mercer?

>>33498586
>Dress like a normal person! Balance out the Mato!

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>>33498586
>Other!
Pic related
I want to look sharp!

>>33498586
Whatever clothes we wear we need to wear sunglasses with them. It'll make us look professional, and fire reflecting off of sunglasses is pretty damn cool looking.

>>33498802
Agreed.

>>33498687
Hmm. Actually, that sounds moderately accurate.

But, basically, yeah. She's very dense and carries around a lot of extra biomass in her body- she's around the same height as Akari, but probably weighs anywhere from a buck fifty to two-hundred pounds.

She can't do any blades or anything like that, but she's absurdly sturdy and strong and has a bit of a healing factor (so long as she has enough biomass to cover the difference, and the wound isn't anything super-severe).

Going into more detail with my plans would be spoiler territory, though.

Also, Mato can't eat people.

That's probably important to say.

>>33498802

Yeah.

>>33498811
Can she do any kind of shapeshifty things? It doesn't sound like she can pull off the fine-control to pass as another person, but it sounds like she might be able to make her arm bigger to hit better or something.
>Also, Mato can't eat people.
That seems odd to me. Normal people can eat people.

>>33498750
>>33498802
lolipyros in black, go!

>>33498811
Sounds like she's way better suited to Judgement work than Akari is.

Seriously. What's Akari gonna do? I guess she could try to intimidate badguys all the time, but it's not like she's really gonna burn people.

>>33498634
>>33498662
>>33498684
>>33498725
Act natural, dress natural

>>33498640
>>33498664
Longcoat, just like mato, but more fiery, and with or without a suit

>>33498802
>>33498810
>>33498838
>>33498916
Cool shades

>>33498750
>>33498916
Suit

>>33498855
>the sass is so real right now
She can't glorp/absorb people.
She can't mess with other people- that just doesn't make any sense to her.

>>33498937
Burning non-lethally isn't too big a deal, and shooting jets of flame and throwing explodey balls of fire is a pretty good intimidation method.
But, yes, Mato's powers are more suited to being a cop than yours.


I really expected the school uniform to win.

Huh.

Looks like you're dressing normal, but also wearing some sweet shades?

Unless a suit or a longcoat is considered normal?

I mean, it's not like this is a super-important decision, but /tg/ tends to take the longest to decide on clothes and haircuts, in my experience.

>>33499014
Muh suit...

>>33499014

>>33498662

I'll change this to a suit since suits are totally normal for Akarin.

Need suits for shades

>>33499014
Just do whatever with the clothing, yeah. /tg/ will sperg about that 'til the end of time.

>>33499014
Esper Quest -Suits & Shades

>>33499098
Hell yeah!

>>33499051
>>33499073
>>33499098
>>33499104


>>33499077

Alrighty then, I don't know what qualifies as normal for a Japanese girl anyways, and playing the straight-laced, suit 'n' shades cop to Mato's... whatever Mato is... sounds hilarious.


NOTHIN DRIVES THE GIRLS CRAZY LIKE A SHARP-DRESSED AKARIIN

>>33499098
C'mon now, that might be the case for the past hour but it's hardly fair for the quest as a whole.
>Esper Quest - massive dikes

>>33499014
Burnt longcoat might be cool.

Akari trying to look intimidating, but the sleeves are too long.

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You realize that there is only one way to do this.

You set Mato to work on the dishes and step into your closet, which, thanks to Nee-chan's... eccentricities... is filled with all sorts of interesting things.

But there's one that stands out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wRHBLwpASw

It isn't long before you're stepping out of your room, one polished black shoe in front of the other.

You can't see it, but your mirrored shades flash in the light when you turn your gaze to Mato, who has done some rather impressive work with the leaning tower of dishes, mostly eliminating it.

You adjust your tie and attach your new Judgment arm-band to:
>Your arm, of course.
>Your tie, obviously!

With that done, you gesture to the still-gawking Mato.

It would seem she thinks you dress up nicely.

Probably because you do.

You finish up your business, tidying up after yourselves, then make for the door.

“Akari-chan... c-can we hold hands?”

Well? Can you?
>You're a bad enough dudette to hold Mato's hand.
>You're too cool to hold hands, now.
>Other?

>>33499359
>>Your arm, of course.

>You're a bad enough dudette to hold Mato's hand.

>>33499359
>>You're a bad enough dudette to hold Mato's hand.

A cute girl on your arm is the best accesoire to suite&shades.

>>33499359
>Your tie, obviously!
Cute.
>You're a bad enough dudette to hold Mato's hand.
We're gonna look badass as fuck.

>>33499359
>You're a bad enough dudette to hold Mato's hand.

God damn this is going to look goofy.

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>>33499255
not
>Esper Quest: Undying /u/-boats
or
>Esper Quest: Limitless Lesbians

Alliteration is key.

>>33499255
Dikes are things that hold back water. The word you want is 'dykes'.

>>33499359
>Your arm, of course.

>You're a bad enough dudette to hold Mato's hand.

>>33499444
It was a poor attempt at making a joke wert water/fire...
>>33499359
>You're a bad enough dudette to hold Mato's hand.

>>33499418
>limitless
>undying
Those are a little scary when you think about it. Will we meet undead rug-munchers too?

>>33499393
>>33499394
>>33499395
>>33499407
>>33499444
>>33499512
Honestly, did she even need to ask?

>>33499393
>>33499444
Arm-bands go on arms, DUH

>>33499395
It was cute, but now it lives on only in our imaginations, anon


Please note:
Whether you look awesome or like a dork is entirely up to you.
The answer lies within your soul.

>>33499565
I lol'd.
But, not anytime soon, no.
I don't want to say "NO", because that seems like a temptation of fate to me, but, it's, ah, it's unlikely.

>>33499565
should find a less lewd way to reference cute girls doing cute girls

>>33499608
Definitely looks like a cute dork.

I'm surprised pervy-sis let Mato access Akari so easily really. Seemed like a more possessive type.

>>33499982
Maybe she ships them.

She's probably watching through a camera and trying not to bleed to death through her nose.

Wordlessly, you offer her your hand. She makes a small, happy-sounding sound as she grasps it, interlacing her fingers with yours.

You, uh, you make quite the pair, you in your formal business attire and Mato in her incredibly informal bikini 'n' longcoat combo.

Not that you mind the fact that she's only wearing a bikini under the coat or anything, that is.

For her part, Mato seems to be trying her hardest to not outpace you, and her concentration is such that she doesn't notice the raised eyebrows and second glances you two seem to be getting.

Fortunately, you can glare at people a lot better with your COOL SUNGLASSES™, so the two of you make it to the headquarters of Judgment Branch 90 without trouble.

You suddenly realize that you're very nervous as you reach the door, and you look to Mato for reassurance.

Naturally, she takes a moment to understand the meaning of your look- your shades do their job and they do it well, no ifs, ands, or butts.

You totally meant to say 'buts' there.

Promise.

“Don't worry about it, Akari-chan,” Mato says buoyantly, “Mami-sempai's super-nice, and the Twins...” She trails off.

Good sign, that.

“The Twins are really weird, I'll be honest,” she finally says, “and I'm sure they'll have something spooky or ominous-sounding to say about you when you walk in, but they're not mean or anything.”

You raise an eyebrow. “Something 'spooky or ominous-sounding'?”

She nods eagerly. “Yeah! Like, 'This one is a danger to all those around her' or 'Beware the fiery depths of eternity, flame-spreader' or 'When the sun reaches its apex, the dead will walk the earth'.”

You blink at her.

Is she serious right now?

[1/2]

>>33500009
As if we meant to say 'buts'.

File: Accelerator- shocked.png (265 KB, 431x519)

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>>33500039
Anon, are you insinuating that I might be... facetious?!

I AM SHOCKED! SHOCKED AND APPALLED.

>>33500073
Write the rest of the update, nerd!

I gotta say, I didn't really know what to expect coming into this or whether I'd like it at all.

But this? This is fucking ridiculous and I love it.

>>33500009
Yeah... that stuff sure is spooky and ominous.

>>33500116
I warned you about the undead lesbians anon!

>>33500108
Fun things are fun.

>>33500108
Yeah. I thought the QM was obnoxious at first, but they're really starting to grow on me.

>>33500246
They're still kinda obnoxious and should stop replying to everything. I ended up dropping Cosgrove's quests because he did too much doompauling and annoying shit.

>>33500246
He's like a puppy or something, it's strangely endearing.

File: Hi Mami.gif (499 KB, 500x262)

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Well, at least this 'Mami-sempai' is 'nice', right?

You open the door.

…

It's an office.

For some reason, this surprises you a little.

The three girls sitting around a coffee table don't surprise you at all, though.

They appear to be drinking tea and having a nice chat.

The ones who look exactly alike one another, you guess, are 'the Twins'. Thus, the lady with the drills and the-

Holy crap, are those breasts? Or melons?

She smiles at the two of you. “You must be Akari-san. Mato-san has had some very interesting things to say about you.” She laughs.

It's a weird laugh, an OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-HO HO HOOOOOO kind of laugh.

The Twins, for their part, stare blankly at you.

They're pretty cute, you guess.

They look at one another.

“Sister, I forgot to say something ominous.” “I noticed, sister.” “Then why didn't you say anything?”
“It was your turn!” “We have an image to keep, you know.” “Perhaps if we pointed out that those two are still holding hands, we could act as if that was ominous, instead?” “Hmm. Perhaps, sister, but do you know how we might procure a second chance at a first impression?” “I'm afraid not, sister; such is the way with first impressions, you know.” “You sounded as if you were about to say something wise, there, sister.” “I know, sister. I'm becoming quite the thespian, you know.”

You watch them talk back and forth like that for awhile before it occurs to you that their conversation is going somewhere else.

You raise an eyebrow at Mato.

Spooky and ominous-sounding, huh?

Mami gestures you over, producing an additional pair of tea cups and setting them on little plates and otherwise preparing tea.

The Twins go silent as she does so.

You probably have time to ask a question or two, if you'd like.

This is weirder than you'd anticipated.
>Any questions?

>>33500374

Is there an orientation or something?

What's everyone's powers?

What's our first assignment?

>>33500374
When's our first patrol? SERIOUS BUSINESS MODE ACTIVATE

>>33500374
>"So, uh...you ever considered saying nice things when you meet people instead?"

>>33500374
Not an in-quest question, but what do the twins look like?

File: Twins.png (657 KB, 1262x710)

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>>33500438
Something like this.

>>33500374
>"Are those real?"
Who said we needed self-preservation-instincts? Overrated shit.

>>33500374
Who the hell are you people

Well, maybe slightly more polite, but that's the general gist of things.

>>33500456

>Not the twins from Black Lagoon

>>33500374
>Nice to meet you all! I hope we can get along! Um, how long have you been working here exactly?

>>33500491
I was gonna say the same thing.

>>33500374
Ask their ages!

>>33500491
Nobody wants those memories.

>>33500624
Oh, and also what they think of our bitchin' outfit.

>>33500410
>>33500421
Channel your inner businessman

>>33500434
>>33500624
Rude!

>>33500467
Ask the semi-ambiguous question that's on everyone's mind

>>33500505
Politeness!

>>33500650
Fashion questions.

I think I can work with this.
Writing!

>>33500715
Not a lot of consensus this time, oh well.

>>33500715
Maybe ask what we're supposed to do first? We really got nothing here.

>>33500797
Consume someone's memories to discover what happened to Merce-

Oh, wrong game.

>>33500833
That's also our partner's gimmick, not ours. Mercer in Academy City would be pretty cool though. Do you think he would get people's powers if he ate them?

>>33500797
I figure Mato can just show us the ropes. As in the saying, not whatever bondage equipment she's got stashed.

>>33500871
Nah, Espers work on the denial of reality. Unless Mercer also gains their perspective, and not just their memory, he probably wouldn't be able to use other powers.

>>33500871
>>33500957
Also he's not human, which may be an issue. Fraulein is sort of similar to him, being not quite human, and she doesn't have a Personal Reality at all.

>>33500957
Couldn't he do that though? For all intents and purposes, he IS that person he just ate, so he would understand how their personal reality works if it's just a matter of perspective/willpower.

>Pyrololi and Alex Mercer-lite
Couple of the year

>>33501043
>couple
Don't let pedo-nee-san hear that, anon.

File: Mami wink.png (281 KB, 602x332)

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Suddenly, you realize that you're supposed to have manners. You bend at the waist, introduce yourself, and take a seat beside the table.

Mami smiles at your introduction. “I apologize for my rudeness, but I've never seen Mato-san look anything like 'meek' before. I just couldn't pass up the chance to poke fun, you understand.”

You exchange the various polite words and phrases, the majority of which are largely meaningless, while Mato plays with your hand.

The Twins look up from one another rather abruptly. “You have questions, Takamichi Akari.” “Anyone would, sister, it's not impressive if you state the obvious.” “I'm getting to that, sister.” “Fine, fine, just get on with it already.” “I, for one, think your suit is a nice... change of pace.” “Sister, that's not impressive at all.”
The Twins glare at one another for a few moments.
“Very well, then. The question on her mind when she first entered the room was, 'Are those real?'” “I assure you, Akari-san, we are very real.” “There are two wondrous pairs in this room, sister, and we are the second most interesting, I'm afraid.” “Oh-ho, how very crass of you, sister.”

Mami, for her part, doesn't so much as redden as she turns to you and winks. “Of course they're real.”

“The other question Akari-san has is-”

Mato seems to have tired of the conversation, because she interrupts the inter-Twin banter with a very prudent question: “What's on the agenda today, anyways?”

The Twins both stare at her for a few moments. “Always so rude, Mato-chan.” “Don't be so eager to impress your girlfriend, it's unseemly, you know.”

Mato's eyes narrow. “I'll tell her your names.”

“Well!” The Twins seem to panic for a moment or two before a folder floats over to the table from a nearby desk. “I say!” “Indeed, sister. Mato-chan has plenty of backbone.” “And moxie.” “Oh, yes, a whole lot of moxie.”

>>33501029
It's not exactly that. Espers are all technically brain-damaged and insane. They see reality in a fundamentally different way than anyone else. That's why their powers work, the reality around them becomes a "microworld" that warps to accommodate their power.

Hell, their powers are partially based on how they think they should work. Umidori for example can shoot nitrogen spears from her hands. She had a bunch of cyborg hands installed and could shoot hands from them, since she saw them as part of her body.

Later she decides that there's no reason a cliff can't be part of her body as well, and uses that as an output point of her power. She believes the cliff is a part of her if she decides it is, and so it is.

He'd have to see reality through conflicting, irreconcilable points of view. If it works it'd still probably drive him crazy(ier).

>>33501177
I suppose that makes sense, he was (eventually) able to absorb Greene's ability to control the infection so I assumed it was like that.

>>33501143
Gota ask their names now.

Mami takes over the relevant conversation without missing a beat. “Today, we need to patrol, of course, but we also need to check up on the roads leading to District 10- more casually known as 'The Strange'. We can't have Skill-Out gangs spreading outwards and expanding their territories, after all.”

You nod. Skill-Outs, as you know, are groups of generally-disgruntled Level 0s who like to target higher-level espers, usually with beatings or vandalism, in order to spit in the face of those they believe to be 'high and mighty', as they say. The majority of them are high-school aged young men who want to fulfill the 'bad boy' role.

You relay what you know for confirmation, and she stifles a rather more normal-sounding laugh.

“Akari-san, you seem to be very professional.” She grins. “Perhaps you and Mato-san should patrol together- you might just rub off on her a little.”

Somehow, you feel like you were just the butt of a dirty joke.

The giggles from the Twins seem to support that theory.

Mato doesn't seem to get it, either, though. “Which patrol should we take, then?”

The Twins begin discussing something irrelevant and Mami simply shrugs. “Perhaps we should allow Akari-san to choose, considering this will be her first patrol.”

>Patrol the borders of The Strange (beat up punks!)
>Patrol the less-dangerous nearby area (less violent, help kids find lost teddy bears, stop purse-snatchers, etc.)

>>33501281
>The Strange

>>33501281
>Patrol the borders of The Strange (beat up punks!)

The strongest!

>>33501281
>Patrol the less-dangerous nearby areas
Maybe some bank will get robbed.

>>33501281
>Patrol the borders of The Strange (beat up punks!)
No better way to make a good first impression!

>>33501336
It's Academy City, if they lose money they deserve it.

>>33501281
>Patrol the borders of The Strange (beat up punks!)

>>33501281
>Patrol the borders of The Strange (beat up punks!)
We gotta show what we're made of here!

>>33501281
>Patrol the less-dangerous nearby area (less violent, help kids find lost teddy bears, stop purse-snatchers, etc.)
Big sis Akari will keep the streets clean! Literally. No littering!

>>33501307
>>33501324
>>33501357
>>33501427
>>33501437
Fight crime

>>33501336
rescue kittens and stuff

Seems pretty consensus-y to me!
Writing.

>>33501513
Fight'n crime! Danananana!
We can be the dark, brooding trench-coated protagonist.

>>33501617
>Not the good cop to Mato's bad cop.
To Reformatory with you.

>>33501707
Fine, fine. Adorable cop.

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There's only one logical answer, really.

“We'll take The Strange,” you say. You can't really imagine the Twins fighting much of anything (apart from each other, of course), and Mami's nice, if a bit weird, so sending her to potentially fight a bunch of thugs just doesn't sit well with you.

The Twins stop their conversation and stare at you. “If this one gets her way, the sun will never die.” “And the cat-man shall receive his just dues.” “Indeed, but what is the price?” “Money? Knowledge? Power or glory, fame or fortune?” “Who can say?” “Only those with a pulse, sister.” “Oh my.”

Mami, for her part, smiles. “Good luck, Akari-san, Mato-san. Watch out for a strange man with a mop, by the way. Rumor has it he's quite deranged.”

… A man with a mop.

You don't know what to say to that.

...

Mato is bunny-hopping in reverse- it seems to be keeping her pace and yours relatively equal- whilst talking to you. “The Twins like you, I think, Akari-chan.”

“They do?” You'd hate to see how they treat those they dislike, then.

She nods, her fluffy pig-tails bouncing up and down almost as energetically as the girl herself is. “They're... they're kinda like fish, yanno?”

… You don't follow.

“They're in their own little bowl, right? Mami-sempai is a fish that they're well-acquainted with, and they've had a few months to get used to me, now- you're a brand new fish with brand new water-smells or whatever, and you make them nervous.” She giggles. “You should've seen them when we ordered take-out that one time.”

Huh. “Why are they like fish, exactly?”

>>33501988
Wait, they have problems with take-out?
Weirdoes.

File: The_Strange.png (1.89 MB, 1920x1080)

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“Nobody's really sure. They're Level 0 because nobody can tell and their abilities aren't potent enough for anyone important to care. Me, I think they've got some sort of telepathic link thing going on at a subconscious level, so their Personal Realities are kinda... smooshed together. Maybe they share an AIM field, too? They're weird, their powers are weird, and that's that.”

“And Mami-san? What's her power?”

“She's a Level 4. She's got light powers or something.”

“Light powers?”

“Yeah, light powers! You know, shooting lasers, flashing lights, photon stuff, plunging an area into darkness so black that when you look into it it stares back into your very soul, and making these cool illusion things!”

One of those things was not like the others, but you get the gist of it. Probably.

After a few more minutes of backwards-bunny-hopping and idle chatter, you start running into graffiti-tagged street signs and buildings.

Mato slows down and stops hopping. “Looks like we're here.” She looks around. “We need to look out for signs of vandalism out past the signs designating the places where District 10 ends and the other neighboring districts begin.”

Seems simple enough. You look around, and see...

[roll 2d10, please]

Rolled 16, 3 = 19

>>33502116
Oh boy.

Rolled 8, 5 = 13

>>33502116
>>33502141
Sorry, can't read apparently (or was distracted).

Rolled 5, 9 = 14

>>33502116

Rolled 8, 8 = 16

>>33502116
Let's see...

Rolled 8, 6 = 14

>>33502116
Booyeah!

>>33501988
Okay, the Twins have exceeded their creepy quota for the day.

>>33502275
Might be setting that quota a little low then.

>>33502161
>13

As you look around, you spot several shady-looking fellows carting numerous cans of spray paint around in a little red wagon.

You point them out to Mato, and she nods, slipping into an alleyway without a word. You follow, and watch as the thugs begin poorly spray-painting what looks to be either a mentally-deficient octopus or a very fat spider on a building on the other side of the street.

They're about thirty meters out at the moment.

You probably shouldn't just spontaneously attack them, given that they're only vandals, but you should obviously do something.

What do you do?
>March right up to them, tell them you're Judgment, and subdue them for Anti-Skill.
>Watch them for awhile longer.
>Report the activity to Anti-Skill and move on.
>Other (Write-in)

>>33502341
>JAJUMENTO-DES!

>>33502341
>March right up to them, tell them you're Judgment, and subdue them for Anti-Skill.
Time to get to work! STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM!

>>33502341
>March right up to them, tell them you're Judgment, and subdue them for Anti-Skill.
"You can't do that! Stop being bad!"
Puff those cheeks!

>>33502341
>>March right up to them, tell them you're Judgment, and subdue them for Anti-Skill.
I assume this means we order them to surrender, then kick their asses when they don't. Can't skip that first step, it's very important for being the good cop.

>>33502341
Ignite the spraypaint as it leaves the can. This should cause a flamethrower effect against the side of the building.

>>33502341
>March right up to them, tell them you're Judgment, and subdue them for Anti-Skill.
Make sure to look cool.

>>33502399
What distance can we control fire anyway?

>>33502417
Accurate fireballs within 25m. Max range ~30m but shakier accuracy.

Continuous jets of flame up to 15m.

Can spontaneously ignite anything within site, but how well it actually burns depends on what the material is.

>>33502470
sight*

>>33502341
>March right up to them, tell them you're Judgment, and subdue them for Anti-Skill.

>>33502341
>Ask Mato what she thinks the proper approach would be
Might as well get some tips!

>>33502362
>>33502369
>>33502385
>>33502390
>>33502417
>>33502565
Justice!

>>33502399
Clever, but potentially really dangerous!

>>33502639
Ask the companion for advice

I think we may have a general consensus here.
Maybe.

Writing!

>>33502679
Time to judge!

>>33502679
I'm assuming they'll stay put and wait for anti-skill like good citizens, refusing to harm a hair on such an adorable girl's head.

File: DO THEY KNOW OF AKARIN'S RAGE.gif (351 KB, 480x270)

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You look at Mato.

Mato looks at you.

Then, she grins. “I'll follow your lead, Akari-chan.”

You're not sure why, but you're not going to complain.

So, you do what comes naturally.

You walk up to them.

They don't notice you until you're standing in the middle of the road, facing their backs- not a single one of them has noticed you.

Which is kinda irritating, really. You puff out your cheeks a little.

They continue on for several moments, so you clear your throat.

One of them, the guy working on the spider's web, glances over his shoulder. Then he looks back to his work.

…

Okay, now you're mad.

“HEY!”

They stop and slowly turn around.

They exchange glances with one another.

“WHAT?!”

You look at Mato.

Mato tries not to laugh.

“DON'T YOU 'WHAT' ME, MISTER! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!”

The guy who shouted 'what' crosses his arms and grimaces at you. “PAINTING!”

…

Does this count as resisting arrest or something?
What do you do?
>Set yourself on fire, ask them again.
>Point out that you're Judgment and they're breaking a law, here.
>Other? (Write-in)

>>33502925
>Tell them wall-kun doesn't want to be painted on, and they should get their own walls!

>>33502925
Is our stylin' suit fireproof?

>>33502925
The wall isn't wood, right? Ignite the fresh paint for flaming spider.

>>33502925
>>33502974
Good question. If it's fireproof, light up, if it's not, just put a ball of flame in our hand or something.

>>33502974
The only things you've worn thus far in this quest that haven't been fireproof are your arm-band and Mato-chan

If you get it from your closet, it's assumed to be fireproof.

We've got moral standards and stuff to uphold, and naked lolis are shady stuff.

>>33502925
>Ask them nicely to stop painting on this property.

>>33502925
>Point out that you're Judgment and they're breaking a law, here.

IF YOU REALLY NEED TO FLEX YOUR CREATIVE MUSCLES I'M SURE WE CAN FIND YOU AN ART SUPPLIES STORE SOMEWHERE AROUND HERE!

>>33503037
Indeed. Tell them to take an arts and crafts class.

>>33502925
>>>Point out that you're Judgment and they're breaking a law, here.
Not quite time to flame on yet.

>>33502925
>Point out that you're Judgment and they're breaking a law, here.
Yep!

>>33502925
>Point out that you're Judgment and they're breaking a law, here.
>If they don't respond as we want, then ignite the paint and brandish fireball.

Looks like the general consensus is being reasonable and nice.

Writing!

>>33503165
Of course.
It's Akari~n.

>>33503025
We should probably invest in a fireproof armband ASAP then.

>>33503165
If they don't respond well, we ask again but with more fire.

File: Akari approves.jpg (5 KB, 205x246)

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“WELL, THAT BUILDING IS PUBLIC PROPERTY! PAINTING ON IT IS BAD!”

They exchange glances again.

“HOW DO YOU FIGURE?”

“IT'S ILLEGAL! THAT'S CALLED VANDALISM! ALSO, WHAT IF YOUR BIG SPIDER SCARES SOME OLD LADY AND GIVES HER A HEART ATTACK? HOW WOULD YOUR LITTLE BROTHERS AND SISTERS FEEL ABOUT THAT? WHAT WOULD YOUR MOM THINK?”

“Uh-”

“THERE ARE LITERALLY ART SCHOOLS YOU CAN GET SCHOLARSHIPS TO BY THROWING PAINT AT A CANVAS! THERE'S ONE NOT THREE BLOCKS THATAWAY!” You point in the direction of that one art school that's like three blocks from here.

They mutter amongst themselves for a few moments, as if deliberating.

“REALLY?”

Mato pipes up. “YEAH!”

“WHAT'RE THEIR HOURS?”

“EIGHT A.M. TO FOUR P.M. ON WEEKDAYS!”

“OKAY, THANKS!”

They pack up their things and leave for school and a higher education!

Good thing today's a weekday and it's only half past noon!

As soon as they're out of earshot, Mato shrugs and pats you on the head.

“That was... interesting?” She's trying not to laugh at you, you can tell.

What do you do?
>Get close to her, tell her that that was your first time, have your revenge, etc.
>Burn the grafitti off of the wall to practice finer control of temperature
OR
>Scour the graffiti on the wall, practice covering a larger area in hotness
>Continue patrolling [roll another 2d10]
>Something else (Write-in)

>>33503434
>the 'OR' is meant to indicate that you can either burn or scour, in case that's unclear

>>33503434
>>Burn the grafitti off of the wall to practice finer control of temperature
That went better than expected.

>>33503434
>Scour the graffiti on the wall, practice covering a larger area in hotness
DESTRUCTION

>>33503472
If that's the case, it would have been better to do the choices like this:

>Get close to her, tell her that that was your first time, have your revenge, etc.
>Remove graffiti (choose one)
>>Burn the graffiti off of the wall to practice finer control of temperature
>>Scour the graffiti on the wall, practice covering a larger area in hotness
>>Other (suggest area of power it could improve)
>Continue patrolling [roll another 2d10]

Rolled 4, 3 = 7

>>33503434
>Burn the grafitti off of the wall to practice finer control of temperature
Fine control strikes me as more important. Once that's done,
>Continue patrolling
Let's see what else we get!

Rolled 8, 6 = 14

>>33503434
>Scour the graffiti on the wall, practice covering a larger area in hotness
>Continue patrolling [roll another 2d10]

>>33503514
Indeed.

I'll keep that in mind next time.

Rolled 3, 2 = 5

>>33503434
>Get close to her, tell her that that was your first time, have your revenge, etc.
>Burn the grafitti off of the wall to practice finer control of temperature
>Continue patrolling [roll another 2d10]
Amazing.

>>33503434
>Vocally search for praise over how well you handled your first time. You're a grown girl now!
>Scour the graffiti on the wall, practice covering a larger area in hotness
>Continue patrolling

>>33503434
>Scour the graffiti on the wall, practice covering a larger area in hotness

>>33503434
>Get close to her, tell her that that was your first time, have your revenge, etc.
>Scour the graffiti on the wall, practice covering a larger area in hotness

>>33503491
There's schools everywhere- it's Academy City, after all. Additionally, knowing the locations of schools is vital for Judgment because Anti-Skill is composed of teachers!

>>33503491
>>33503525
>>33503544
BURN!

>>33503514
>>33503531
>>33503585
>>33503591
>>33503614
SCOUR!

>>33503525
>>33503531
>>33503544
>>33503585
Carry on on your patrol! (7)

>>33503544
>>33503614
Tease your comrade

>>33503585
fish for compliments


Looks like you're going to be reasonably well-behaved and learn how to burninate more stuff instead of learning how to burninate less stuff!
And then you'll move on!

Writing!

File: akari waaaaaaat.png (337 KB, 823x720)

337 KB PNG

Briefly, you consider teasing Mato-chan in retaliation for her almost-laughing at you, but you decide that would be unprofessional.

Instead, you take this opportunity to practice with your powers, because you still need to reach Level 5 and get ICE CREAM.

You focus on a spot in the center of the wall and watch as the paint dries up, gets all flaky and gross, and falls off. You can do a pretty big circle, but it needs to be BIGGER!

Mato watches with interest, and, as you try to warp your warped perceptions of reality to your will in pursuit of ultimate power and chilled confections, she puts a hand on your shoulder. “If you're trying to make that circle bigger, Akari-chan, it's working. It's not much, but there's maybe a half-inch difference between the beginning of and the end.”

Part of you deflates at the small increase, but another part of you inflates at the fact that you actually can improve your powers.

“It takes something traumatic or shocking to make a real difference, yanno? Something to jar your personal reality and shake up the foundations a bit.”

You nod. “Right.” You finish the wall quickly and move on.

…

Not five minutes later, you round a corner and run into... a weird-looking old guy with a mop over his shoulder, a scraggly gray beard, and a shopping cart full of rubber ducks.

He stares at you.
You stare right back at him.
Mato scratches her head.

The man raises his mop into the air, brandishing it like a wizard in some fantasy game might brandish a magic staff or something.

And nothing happens.

At least, not until he screams, “MOOOOOOOOOLES!” and begins throwing rubber ducks at you and Mato.

WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?
What do you do?
>Stare.
>Set yourself on fire! Melt some ducks! (Which power do you use?)
>>FIREBALL!
>>SHOOT FIRE FROM YOUR HANDS!
>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION!
>Run. You really don't know what to think, but Mami mentioned a crazy guy with a mop, he sounded pretty bad.
>Other (Write-in)

>>33504019
>Set yourself on fire! Melt some ducks! (Which power do you use?)
>>FIREBALL!
Time for Stoner Sunshine? I think it is!

>>33504019
>Stare.

>>33504019
>>Stare.

>>33504019
>>Set yourself on fire! Melt some ducks! (Which power do you use?)
>>FIREBALL!

>>33504019
>Set yourself on fire! Melt some ducks! (Which power do you use?)
>>FIREBALL!
He started this, but we're gonna finish it!

>>33504019
>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION!
It's the most badass of the powers.

>>33504019
>Stare.

>>33504019
>>Set yourself on fire! Melt some ducks! (Which power do you use?)

Yell your fiercest warcry

>>33504019
>Stare.
Just give him the most deadpan stare you can muster.

>>33504019
>>Set yourself on fire! Melt some ducks! (Which power do you use?)
>>>FIREBALL!

>>33504019
>>Stare.
We pobably shouldn't üut random old guys on fire on our first patrol.

>>33504077
>>33504149
>>33504152
>>33504244
Get fired up and blow those ducks to hell

>>33504078
>>33504097
>>33504181
>>33504207
>>33504301
Today has been a strange day
You are very much fazed

>>33504164
Spontaneous ignition!

>>33504198
SET YOURSELF ON FIRE AND ROAR A CHALLENGE


I really didn't expect this encounter to show up so soon.

>>33504301
Not really a random old guy, this is the guy Mami told us to look out for.

>>33504358
Well that's not a good sign.

>>33504358
So are we staring or melting ducks?

There were 6 for melting ducks in some way, but 5 for staring. But if you count each separate melt method as a distinct vote type, then stare won because fireball only got 4.

>>33504515
In this instance, the choices were distinct.

You're staring.

I'm almost finished with the next post.

>>33504589
I don't really think that's a good way to do votes since it means that the majority doesn't get their way because they disagree on specifics.

Had you put 3 different choices for how exactly to stare at the dude, that vote would have been split as well and that would have influenced things.

Anyway, not saying that you need to redo this update you've already mostly written, but keep it in mind.

>>33504589
Dammit, I wanted to go Shin Getter on his ass! Still, there's always next time, I suppose.

>>33504676
There is a big difference between self-ignition and fireball, so it seems fair in this way.
If the three different types of staring would have made as much of a difference in how it plays out, it would be the same. But here it wasn't really three different ways of doing the same thing, it was three different things to do.

>>33504705
We should probably save it for when it's not just an old man throwing rubber duckies at us.

>>33504740
Self-ignition wasn't one of the options. It was either fireball, flamethrower, or spontaneously ignite the ducks.

All three of those were fire->duck directly.

>>33504755
If Mami specifically warned us about him, he's probably a big deal and worth lighting up, though I guess you have a point about saving the big guns for worthier adversaries.

File: anime-running-black-rock-(...).gif (403 KB, 500x232)

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…

What.

You stare at the crazy old man as he hurls handfuls of rubber ducks at you.

And, in the span of several moments, several things occur to you.

The first is that his mop has an antenna sticking out of it.

The second is that the ducks aren't squeaking when they hit things.

The third is that eighty percent of the population of Academy City is its student body, and the rest are all workers or researchers in some capacity.
This old guy is definitely not in the kind of shape that a working person should probably be in.

Something's going on here.

Mato, for her part, sniffs at the air.

“Hey, do you smell...” She frowns and tilts her head. “That can't be right... rocket fuel?”

You look at Mato.

Mato looks at you.

The old man cackles maniacally.

Really, the only way a person who fills rubber ducks with rocket fuel /can/ cackle is maniacally, but that's hardly the point, here.

“I'LL RELEASE MY DUCKIES INTO THE SEWERS AND FLUSH THE MOLES OUT! AND THEN THEY'LL SEE! THEN THEY'LL ALL SEE!”

Mato seems to have made her decision.

You can tell because, by the time you've started to turn to run, she's already scooping you up and beating feet.

And she's taller than before.

A LOT taller.

And her hair is longer?

… You always thought she had a hot older sister, but... she /is/ her hot older sister?

This is weird.

The way she's carrying you, you can still see over her shoulder.
You've got a clear shot.
>Ignore him, Mato's going to have you out of range of whatever it is he's doing soon enough.
>Take the shot!
>>FIREBALL
>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION (on what?)
>>Shoot fire from your hands? You're too far away for that to be effective, given that you're travelling away from him.
>Other? (Write-in)

>>33504769
Throwing fireball culd have hit the guy too though, or at least had more chance of that than igniting the ducks directly.
And if the "ignite the ducks guy", would have voted that to not risk putting the old guy on fire, counting his vote to fireball would also not have reflected his choice properly.

>>33504790
>>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION (on what?)
The mop!!

>>33504790
>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION (on what?)
The mop! Destroy his detonator!

>>33504790
See, we made the right choice in not setting fire to the ducks.
Now that we're a sufficient distance away
>FIREBALL.

>>33504790
>>>FIREBALL

>>33504790
>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION (on what?)
The mop

>>33504790
>Take the shot!
Light up the mop, who knows what that antenna could be for!

>>33504790
>>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION (on what?)
the mop, we don't want to cause a huge explosion by igniting the rocket fuel.

>>33504790
>>SPONTANEOUS IGNITION (on what?)
BURN THE MOP!

>>33504790
Wait... did Mato just spontaneously turn into BRS so we could run away faster?

>>33504828
>>33504842
>>33504869
>>33504878
>>33504885
>>33504888
YOU'VE GOTTA BURN THE MOP!

>>33504860
>>33504864
FIREBALL TO BLOW DUCKIES AWAY AND PURGE CRAZY OLD MEN

and here I was hoping Mato would be able to hide her hot older-ness for awhile.

This is why we have random encounters, though!

>>33504970
YEP (it was more a gradual thing as she was running, but you're kinda confused from all the crazy that's happening)

Writing!

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It takes only a moment for you to turn that stupid mop into a short stick and a pile of cinders. The antenna and electrical equipment hidden within turn cherry red and drip down onto the old man's hand, causing him to yelp in surprise and drop its charred remains.

“NOOOOOOOOOOO!”

He seems pretty upset.

“YOU FOOLS! YOU MOLE-LOVERS! YOU'VE DOOMED US ALL, YOU HAVE! DOOMED, I SAY, DOOMED!”

More importantly, though, he can't detonate those duckies.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, Mato told you she had an older sister! She lied to you!

Well, probably. You kinda doubt she's her own older sister.

The old man disappears into a manhole in the street, and Mato, rather than turning upon reaching the dead end she was apparently running towards (you're still looking back over her shoulder, after all), takes a running jump at the side of a building. When she makes contact, she drives her fist into the thick, stone wall and holds the two of you in place.

Maybe she wants to talk?

She's breathing heavily.

Probably from running for your lives and jumping onto a building.

After a few moments of panting, it becomes clear that she expects you to be the one talking.
What do you say?
>What the hell just happened?
>Was it really necessary to lie to me about this?
>Should we call Anti-Skill?
>Why do your clothes still fit?
>Other (Write-in)

>>33505336
>>Why do your clothes still fit?

>>33505336
>>Why do your clothes still fit?

>>33505336
>Why do your clothes still fit?

>>33505336
>Why do your clothes still fit?
Priorities!

>>33505336
>Why do your clothes still fit?
Clearly the most important matter to discuss

>>33505336
>What the hell just happened?
>Should we call Anti-Skill?

But then with the flustered suddenly-realizing-what's-really-important voice
>Why do your clothes still fit?

>>33505364
>>33505380
>>33505386
>>33505390
>>33505394
>>33505409
No, seriously, why?
I love you guys

>>33505336
All those ducks are all still firebombs. The detonator may be toast, but yeah... We should probably do something about those...

>>33505477
fireball?

>>33505336
>Other (Write-in)
Wait a second. I'm fireproof. Why'd you grab me before you ran?

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She sits you on her knee and looks you in the eyes.

You take the opportunity to inspect her assets... for, uh, damage.

Obviously.

Then, a question hits you.

“Why do your clothes still fit?”

She blinks, once, twice, then rolls her eyes and pantomimes a sigh.

She puts a finger from her free hand on your belly-button and draws a line upwards, then circles it. She moves her finger back to your belly-button and draws a horizontal line, then crosses it out.

“You got taller, but not wider?” On closer inspection, that seems true enough.

She's still flat as a board, too.

She seems to be aware of your scrutinizing of her chest, however, as she rolls her eyes and begins making hand signals.

You get the feeling you're being told off.

Wait, why's she making hand signals?

“Can't you talk?”
She taps her throat with a finger and shakes her head.
“No... vocal chords?”

She nods.

“Why?”

She shrugs, then flexes her muscles.
There's a lot of those, and they're pretty big.

…

You could get used to this.

What do you do? Mato can clearly tell what you're thinking every time you have a lewd or semi-lewd thought, so that might be something to avoid... on the other hand...
No, you really need to get some things sorted out first! You've got plenty of time, as far as you can tell!
>Call Anti-Skill, report that thing that just happened
>Ask Mato more questions? (Write-in)
>Admire muscles
>Realize you have a fear of heights.
>Other? (Write-in)

>>33505695
>>Admire muscles
>>Realize you have a fear of heights.

>>33505695
>Call Anti-Skill, report that thing that just happened
Duty calls, plus I want to see just how exactly we try to explain that.

>>33505695
>Call Anti-Skill, report that thing that just happened
>Admire muscles

>>33505695
>Admire muscles
>>Realize you have a fear of heights

>>33505695
>>Admire muscles
>>Realize you have a fear of heights.
We need to cling tight to Mato to not fall

>>33505695
>Call Anti-Skill, report that thing that just happened
>Admire muscles
>Realize you have a fear of heights.
>Admire muscles
In that order

>>33505797
+1

>>33505559
That's something Akari would know- rubber duckies have little holes in them that let them make the squeaky sound

The rocket fuel would have, upon ignition, sent those duckies flying at ridiculous speeds, bouncing all over the place and generally being bad news.

Also, it's not like Mato would just abandon her waifu.

>>33505695
>>Call Anti-Skill, report that thing that just happened
We can totally
>Admire muscles
at the same time.

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>>33505720
>>33505770
>>33505758
>Live life fully

>>33505797
>>33505811
Business before pleasure before terror before more glorious muscles

>>33505900
>>33505743
>>33505731
Do your job; admire muscles


>Dat Mato

>>33505981
Don't be an attention whore outside of your threads, please

>>33506017
Huh?

Have I been?

Carefully, slowly, you reach into your pocket and retrieve your phone. Mato smiles a little as you call up Anti-Skill's nearest bomb squad and report a crazy dude with a mop and a bunch of rocket-propellant-filled-rubber-ducks.

The operator, to his credit, didn't even stutter as he relayed the bizarre and unusual information back to you for confirmation.

A gust of wind sweeps the building- and you- and you find yourself realizing for the first time that you're several stories up and suspended solely by Mato's left fist and right leg.

On instinct, you reach out a hand to steady yourself.

Your hand finds Mato's abdomen.

…

Mato gives you a strange look as you fondle her abs.

You tell her you have a fear of heights in such a way that it would indicate a belief that the provided explanation would cover any relevant questions.

She rolls her eyes as you put your phone away in order to free up both hands for proper admiration of her musculature.

After a few more seconds, she holds up three fingers.

A second later, she drops one.

A second finger after that, she's only holding up one finger.

Wait, she couldn't possibly mean-

A second later, she yanks her fist out of the wall and drops to the ground. She barely bends her knees when she lands.

Apparently big Mato has more shock absorption than normal Mato.

She sets you down, then looks around, shrugs, and makes a few hand gestures.

It takes you a minute, but you manage to decipher that she intends to finish patrolling.

The thought that your first day isn't even over yet is both exhausting and invigorating.

Mostly exhausting, though.

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I think this is a pretty good stopping point for today.

I'll stick around for awhile to answer questions you might have, explain things, etc., etc..

>>33506404

Thanks for running, when's the next one?

>>33506404
Very nice today. When are you planning to run the next thread? I don't want to miss it.

>>33506404
I was skeptical during the first thread, but this is looking like it's going to be one of my favorite quests if you don't drop it soon.

>>33506404
When do you plan to run next? Also, what upper limits do we have in terms of maximum temperature, assuming we're only heating a small area?

>>33506420
I'm not sure. The dice gods kinda threw wrenches in two of my plans at once there with the MOP-MAN encounter and Mato feeling like she had to go full BRS to compensate.

Maybe monday. I'll do the tweeting and whatnot to let you guys know what's up.
Planning is not my strong suit.

>>33506449
I don't intend to drop it.
We have ice cream to get.

>>33506460
In my experience, actually providing numbers like that to players tends to involve science! happening.
So let's just say 'really freakin' hot'

You can melt just about any 'conventional' material if you really want to, but you're not about to go melting through eighteen-foot thick tungsten walls or anything.

>>33506531
>In my experience, actually providing numbers like that to players tends to involve science! happening.
Yeah, like the players in ACACQ figuring out that they should technically be able to accelerate an arcade token to something like mach 30 or some similarly retardedly high speed.

>>33506531
>>33506590
Well, thats some of the fun on the Science part of Raildex

>>33506590
Exactly. I can't give you things I won't confirm and test myself
And I'm not gonna be needing any extra math.

Also, with regards to the FIREBALL/IGNITION/SHOOT FIRE choice with the ducks, 'fireball' was the choice I'd call 'correct', because you'd be able to knock the cart over/away and possibly disable MOP MAN.
Ignition was the choice that would have legitimately required BRS modo to avoid injury of some sort

Stare was the second safest option, because it allowed you to notice things and it meant you weren't doing anything that would endanger Mato while she grabbed you

>>33506656
I still think the fun is in the crazy psychic powers and the bizarre usages they come up with

>>33506696
If Akari is able to remove heat from things to put out fires, does that mean she can remove heat from things to chill them out?