Shokuhou x Mikoto might not work, but Mikoto x Shokuhou works √.
Although Misaki had her eye on the Misaka Sisters and the Misaka Network, her interest was more about Mikoto herself.
When she first met Mikoto at the start of the school year, Misaki saw traces of Dolly in her.
That made sense, as Dolly was the first clone created before the Mass-Produced Esper Plan, a somatic cell clone of Mikoto, designated Number 0.
Superficially, Dolly was an experiment to help future mass-produced clones live longer.
But her creation wasn't just about establishing cloning technology; it was also about creating a network for sharing information between clones.
In other words, the two were very similar, no, identical.
Having formed a friendship, a bond, in the lab, she later received a report that Dolly had died.
So...
Since meeting Mikoto at the start of the school year, she had been deliberately seeking contact with her.
At first, Mikoto was really well-behaved, simple, obedient, and modest towards her, though a bit mischievous and fond of challenges.
Later, she naturally became more irritable. Especially after learning about the Misaka Sisters, their relationship suddenly seemed to sour.
She didn't have the chance, like in the original work, to angrily ask why Mikoto provided her DNA, leading to Dolly's creation, because Mikoto had already gotten angry first.
Similarly, before the plot of A Certain Scientific Railgun could develop further, Misaki had become more interested in Kaito.
"Um... Kaito-nii, why are you buying so much?"
"Hehe, you know about the Misaka Sisters, right? I'm planning for them all to live together when they return. So we need a lot of things."
"I see... Hehehe, is that so~"
"Alright, enough about that. Tell me why you're approaching me."
"Oh my... you noticed, Kaito-nii?"
Misaki paused, then playfully covered her mouth with a laugh.
She showed no sign of remorse.
"Then I'd like to ask, was it you, Kaito-nii, who handled the Misaka Sisters situation?"
"Yes, that was me."
"I see. Looks like Mikoto can return to school next week."
It was the weekend; classes wouldn't resume until Monday.
"Do you care about Mikoto?"
"Yes, I do."
"Because of your friend from back then, right?"
Step...
Shokuhou Misaki stopped walking, but quickly resumed, staying close to Kaito.
She was surprised, but considering Kaito had destroyed the labs, he must have seen various reports before doing so.
Then...
He likely knew about Dolly and her story.
"Kaito-nii, what else do you know?"
"Mm, I know everything about you."
According to the original plot, calculations by the Tree Diagram indicated Academy City's resources could only support one Level 5 mental Esper. Between the equally talented Shokuhou Misaki and Mitsuari Ayu, the latter was eliminated.
Chosen, Misaki entered the "Ability Body Research Institute" and was heavily invested in by the Academy City's Board of Directors to develop her abilities.
Before entering Tokiwadai Middle School, Misaki participated in the "Exterior" project led by the research institute, successfully developing her abilities.
Because of this, she gradually built her own power base, established her faction, and no one interfered.
However...
The "Exterior", a massive computer grown from a part of Misaki's cerebral cortex, would eventually lead to her being discarded.
A very cruel fate.
Thinking about this, Kaito decided to say it. He also planned to tell her about Dolly's revival.
But...
"If you want to know, can you promise me one thing?"
"What is it?"
"I don't ask for much. I just want you to become good friends, good sisters, with Misaka Mikoto."
Just like the first line of this chapter.
Kaito would be happy to see that. In the end, he would be the one benefiting.
He wouldn't lose out, right?
Wouldn't it be great if they got along?
"That... I agree! But Mikoto seems..."
"I'll talk to her about it. But she's a Tsundere. Sometimes you need to take what she says the opposite way."
"Ahaha, I understand!"
Misaki laughed happily.
"Alright, be good friends. One day, I'll give you a gift."
"Regarding the 'Exterior' project, you don't need to worry. Even if I don't intervene, I believe once you and Mikoto become friends, she'll help you."
Patting Misaki's shoulder, Kaito indicated she should hurry up to the next location.
They spent the whole morning shopping, having all the purchased items delivered to the complex before leaving.
"Kaito-nii... what else don't you know? Do you even know the future...?"
"I don't know everything. I just happen to know what I need to know."
Through their morning conversation, Kaito had intentionally let Misaki gather a lot of information.
Including things about Aleister.
But that was harmless.
Now, Misaki was increasingly curious about Kaito. Yet no matter how curious, she wouldn't dare use her abilities on him.
"Alright, we'll stop here. I hope you and Mikoto become good friends."
Seeing a familiar figure, Kaito stopped to say goodbye to Misaki.
She was great, but the downside was the "three years minimum" factor.
So, he would just have to build her affection for now.
"Ah... Kaito-nii has other things to do, right?"
"Hehe, yes. What, do you want to keep following me? Or have you fallen for me?"
"Hehehe, if you say that, maybe I have? Who could resist you, Kaito-nii~"
Not only was he handsome enough, but he was also strong enough.
More than that, it was Kaito's mystery that made her more and more intrigued after spending the morning with him.
If possible, she wouldn't refuse either.