7. Chapter 7 (1/2)

a/n: sorry for the slow update. there's no reason, i'm just lazy xd it is twice longer and in my opinion, better than the other chapters so i hope it makes up for it! this is the end chapter of the first arc, and so i'll need some time to sort out the next arc, which will be more exciting (i hope). and of course, please leave some reviews for improvement and motivation!

shirai kuroko is not the kind of girl that makes a fuss over what to wear on field trip day or stays awake the whole night before because of excitement.

but that doesn't mean she hates field trip days. no, she actually looks forward to it. after all, there is only one each year and tokiwadai always chooses famous and educational places to go. the only problem is the girls. last year, two girls of the same group had an argument, leading to them throwing food in each other's faces and later having a full blown fight. all the girls trying to stop them got covered in food and the teachers in charge were so mad they made all the girls go to the principal's office (which is scarce). there is no assurance that the same thing won't happen.

checking her bag to make sure everything she needs is there, she goes to bed and in the back of her mind, wondering how tomorrow is going to be.

multiple blue, big buses line up perfectly at the school's gate. the girls are standing in small circles, talking excitedly about the trip. the teacher then yells out, making the girls stand in a line, ready to go to their designed bus. kuroko is the student council president, so it's no surprise that she has to make sure that everybody is on the bus before getting on herself. when it is finally her turn, there is only one seat left.

next to misaka mikoto.

kuroko can understand why none of the other girls seat next to her.

normally mikoto is not a super energetic and smiley person, but she doesn't look cold or angry. most of the time she just looks bored. sometimes, if kuroko doesn't know better, she will even say that mikoto is friendly. however, today she looks unemotional and cold at the same time, as if trying to chase people away. like that time when she met konori-senpai.

kuroko sighs and sits down.

"you look like you just come back from a funeral. do you hate school trip that much?"

mikoto turns, looks at kuroko then, as if just realizes who kuroko is,

eaks into a grin.

"oh, hey kuroko."

she honestly can't understand this person.

after thirty minutes of silence, she decides to speak up.

"you know, for such an annoying person, you are awfully quiet today."

"are you trying to talk to me or make me mad?" answers mikoto, still facing the window.

kuroko doesn't answer the question, instead she asks.

"what makes you so quiet?"

mikoto turns to look at kuroko for a while before speaking.

"well, i guess i'm just worried."

"worried? about what?" kuroko slightly frowns in confusion. she has no idea what mikoto can be worried about. as the student council president, it is common of her to worry about the arguing that may happen, but mikoto always seems quite apathetic about it all. if she remembers correctly, mikoto didn't even bother to go on the school trip last year. plus, even if she feels uneasy about it, there's no need to be cold and distance like this, right?

"…it's nothing. nevermind."

mikoto turns to the window again and despite kuroko's curiosity, they don't speak for the rest of the ride.

their destination today is the national science museum, which is famous for exhibiting most advanced technology. the museum consists of many huge buildings, all connected to each other by a short tunnel. each building exhibits different technology. there's one for robot, one for everyday electrical innovations, one for space, etc. not only are there exhibitions, the museum is also connected to the biggest research constitution of japan. she doubts that they get to see the research constitution though.

right now, the teachers are leading each group to their guides. since the buildings are huge and the exhibitions involve a lot of scientific knowledge, a guide is essential. still, this tour must have been important if each group gets their own guide.

the teachers lead them to a woman with long

own hair and bags under eyes like she hasn't slept for a whole week. she wears what seems to be a lab coat, blue shirt with black tie and pencil skirt.

"i'm kiyama harumi. today i'm your guide. nice to meet you all." introduces the woman as she slowly turns her head to look at everybody in the group. her eyes stop at a certain girl.

"misaka-san?"

"kiyama-sensei?"

they say in unison, then both

eaks into a smile.

"i heard that tokiwadai is coming but i didn't think that you would come too. aren't you too familiar with this place already?" the woman chuckles.

"yeah, but it feels different to go with your um…your schoolmates, you know?"

schoolmates? don't they normally say 'friends'?

"you guys know each other?" asks kuroko.

"yeah, when i first came here for research, kiyama-sensei was the one to guide me through everything. i won't be able to achieve anything without her."

"you flatter me, misaka-san. it is purely your genius."

to be honest, kuroko is a little shock. she always thinks of mikoto as the delinquent student who doesn't give a care about studying, especially after starting talking to her, so much that kuroko has actually forgotten that misaka mikoto is a famous scientist. 'prodigy girl of the twenty first century', they call her.

kiyama-sensei leads them through the buildings and explains each invention carefully, making sure that they understand everything. tokiwadai is a prestigious school, so the students don't find it too difficult to understand.

reaching the sonic flying car, the woman smiles and turns to mikoto.

"i guess i'll have to give this honor to you, misaka-san. after all, this is your invention."

mikoto blushes, trying to decline but the older scientist insists. so that delinquent goes and stands next to kiyama-sensei, then starts talking about it in fast speed. she explains everything from how it works, how it is different from a normal car, what material they used to build it and why.

kuroko knows that she is a prodigy, but the actual meaning of the word doesn't hit her until now. standing here and actually hearing about it, the thought suddenly hits her. to be able to achieve such a thing, just how smart is she?

they finish going through two buildings like a flash and soon, it is time for lunch.

near the museum is a beautiful lawn, perfect for a picnic. some groups have already been there, taking out their towels and bentos. taking out their bento, they sit down on the towel and talk.

"misaka-san, that flying car is so impressive!" says wannai.

"yeah, even for me, kongou mitsuko, this is my first time seeing it!" says the annoying one.

mikoto just blushes and scratches her head.

"well, it's not that special." says kuroko, rolling her eyes even if she is just the same as them a few moments ago.

"you can't even do something half good as that, shirai-san." kongou retorts.

their soon-to-be argument then gets interrupted by a sudden shout.

"why do you keep acting like you are the leader of our group? it's annoying!"

turning around, kuroko sees a girl who seems to be a third year standing up with an annoyed expression.