"Relax. I know my limitsshe won't die. You didn't die, right?"
He sounded almost offended she'd question his "expertise."
"A-hem"
Fubuki choked at his blunt remark.
"But but"
She still had more to say, though her eyes kept darting away.
Rei Ao eyed her suspiciously.
"Why the face? If you've got something to say, spit it out."
"Heh heh Master," Psykos suddenly chimed in, breath ragged, "I think the President here isjealous~"
"Oh?"
Rei Ao narrowed his eyes. He pulled Psykos along by her silky hair, approaching Fubuki.
"D-don't come any closer!"
She tried to protest, but her words made no difference.
"Fubuki, what do you think of what Psykos just said?"
"Uh"
Fubuki wanted to deny it, but her body's reaction betrayed her.
"I"
Before she could speak, Psykos grabbed her shoulders and pressed her down so that her face was inches away from the point of contact.
"See, President? The Master prefers me. I win!"
""
Fubuki got the picture. Rei Ao hadn't expected newly minted Psykos to be so daring, either. But her words, more than her actions, really pushed Fubuki's buttons.
"You said you won against me?"
A vein popped on her forehead. Having spent her life chasing after strength, Fubuki was especially sensitive to any suggestion she was second place in anything.
"Don't joke with me. Obviously Rei Ao prefers someone with my kind of classic beautywhy would he possibly choose a promiscuous skank like you?"
"Ah, but the proof is right here, and you're still refusing to face reality?"
Psykos flaunted her connection with Rei Ao.
"See this? This is how the Master shows his feelings for me!"
""
Fubuki's face darkened as she wiped some damp spots from her cheeks. She glared at Rei Ao, eyes burning.
"Rei Ao, who's betterher or me?"
Rei Ao curved his lips into a mysterious smile.
"Sorry, right now I'm feeling Psykos more. After all, I can barely recall your taste."
""
Fubuki stood there for a few seconds, silent, before abruptly shoving Psykos aside on the couch and grabbing Rei Ao by the collar.
"Right nowthis instantI'm going to settle the score with her!"
"Hey, you said so yourself. Don't blame me if I go all out."
Faced with such an open invitation, Rei Ao was more than ready to oblige. As for Tatsumaki, she was still like a wooden puppet, unmoving.
Late Night
Tokiwadai Middle School's girls' dormitory.
Click.
Wearing a coat, Mikoto Misaka carefully opened the door and stepped out quietly. After locking up, she tiptoed away into the night.
In the darkness, Kuroko Shirai opened her eyes.
"That's the fourth time."
She'd long noticed Mikoto's unusual behavior. This was the fourth time she'd seen her dear "Onee-sama" sneaking out.
Combined with Mikoto's constant distraction throughout the day, Kuroko surmised her sister must be facing some big trouble. And she wasn't about to sit idly by any longer.
Kuroko got up at once; it turned out she hadn't changed for bed at all, waiting precisely for this moment.
She grabbed the small steel arrowheads she habitually carried and teleported to the rooftop.
Moonless night, gusty wind.
From up high, she spotted Mikoto sprinting through the streets below. She'd never seen her sister figure so desperate.
"Onee-sama, what on earth is going on?"
Deep worry clouded her eyes. Even Uiharu and Saten had sensed something off about Mikoto, yet Mikoto herself thought she'd hidden it well. The more she tried to conceal it, the more Kuroko fretted.
"Onee-sama, this time I'm going to find out whatever it is you're doing. And I will help you!"
With that resolve, she used her teleportation power to hop between rooftops, following Mikoto from on high, determined not to lose sight of her in the night.
~~~
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Chapter 601: Confession and Dark Corner of Academy City...
"Where is this place?"
Kuroko Shirai had been tailing Mikoto Misaka for quite some time, watching as Mikoto disabled security cameras with electricity and then broke into an unfamiliar building.
What is Onee-sama doing?
However one looked at it, destroying cameras and trespassing on private property was illegal. But Kuroko trusted her "Onee-sama"there had to be a good reason.
Wasting no time, she followed Mikoto through the same damaged entrance.
"!!!"
What Kuroko saw floored her: mechanical equipment lay in ruins, and people in white lab coats lay scattered across the floor, unconscious.
"Aaargh! Damn it, open fireopen fire!!!"
From somewhere nearby, frantic shouts erupted, followed bygunshots!
Guns?! This is serious!
Alarmed, Kuroko rushed toward the sound.
Bzzt! Bzzt!
Blue electric arcs crackled over an area facing Mikoto Misaka. Opposite her, a group of armed men were opening fire. Bullets bounced harmlessly off her lightning.
A wave of current destroyed their guns and delivered a perfectly measured shock, knocking out the gunmen without killing them.
"Damn another decoy!"
Mikoto muttered through clenched teeth. She had already wrecked four different labs that she'd discovered were involved in the Misaka Sister projectonly to find them all emptied out, with no sign of the Sisters.
Every time, it was the same: leftover researchers, armed guards, and bits of destroyed machinery. She was certain the place hadn't been like this before. But now that she'd arrived, it was like someone had cleared out everything important in advance.
Her fear deepened. It's like an invisible hand is watching my every move, she thought.
Aleisterthe chairman of Academy City
This seemed the most likely explanation and was exactly what Rei Ao had warned her about: the greatest threat. She felt a sense of profound powerlessness.
"Onee-sama!!!"
A familiar voice made Mikoto whirl around.
"Kuroko?!"
She stared at her roommate, dumbfounded.
"Wh-what is going on here?"
When Kuroko arrived, all she could see were unconscious people scattered around and Mikoto still standing.
"Bee-bee-beep!!"
A siren blared from outside. Mikoto's face paled.
"Not goodit's the security forces!"
"Kuroko, you need to go first. I'll explain later!"
She tried to shoo Kuroko away, but Kuroko seized her by the hand.
"No, Onee-samaI'll take you with me!"
Activating her Teleport ability, she whisked them both away. By the time the security detail stormed in, the two girls were long gone.
A Dark Alley
Kuroko and Mikoto reappeared in a dimly lit side street.
"Onee-sama, are you alright?"
Kuroko asked in concern.
"I'm fine."
Mikoto shook her head. Feeling relatively safe, she then asked:
"Why were you there, Kuroko?"
Kuroko pursed her lips.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that, Onee-sama? You've been sneaking out of the dorm at night lately, day after day you're so preoccupied Even Uiharu and Saten can see something's off about you. I was worriedso I followed you to find out what's happening."
"And then"
It led to the scene Kuroko had just witnessed.
"Onee-sama, why did you attack that facility?"
"I"
Mikoto's expression twisted with guilt and pain.
"I'm sorry, Kuroko. I look like a criminal, don't I? But"
"Onee-sama is no criminal!"
Kuroko clasped Mikoto's hand, speaking sincerely:
"I know you must have a reason. Pleasetell me, won't you?"
""
After a moment's hesitation, Mikoto decided not to hide it anymore.
"Alright, I'll tell you. Let's go back first."
"Mm!"
With Kuroko's Teleportation, they quickly returned to their dorm room. Finally, Mikoto revealed all her burdens.
"G-god!!!"
Hearing such a dark story for the first time overwhelmed Kuroko. In that moment, she realized how sinister Academy City could bebehind its sparkling facade lurked twisted, fanatical scientists who were in control.
"I'm sorry, Kuroko"
Mikoto's voice trembled with pain.
"I have to destroy all these research labs to prevent any more Misaka Sisters from being born!"
She clenched her fist, feeling utterly helpless. Up to now, she hadn't been able to stop anything. She also dreaded dragging others into ither friends, or even Rei Ao. Aleister was someone even Rei Ao had been wary of.
"Onee-sama"
Kuroko gazed at her best friend with sorrow. She could imagine the torment Mikoto was going through. Each Sistertreated as a mere toolwas a knife slicing into Mikoto's gentle heart. But how could they oppose the city's deep shadow? Kuroko was just a Judgment officer. Beyond them lay a chasm of darkness.
Yet
"Onee-sama, I'll help you!"
Kuroko's eyes gleamed with determination. She couldn't let her beloved friend and sister figure go into the abyss alone.
"Kuroko"
Mikoto wanted to refuse. It was too dangerous; even she, a Level 5 Esper, could be in peril, let alone Kuroko.
"I'm not afraid, Onee-sama,"
Kuroko insisted.
"We're best friends, right? I can't just watch you suffer alone!"
"Kuroko"
Tears nearly filled Mikoto's eyes.
After they calmed down a bit
"Onee-sama, let's think about what to do next. If there's really an eye in the sky anticipating your every move, we're at a huge disadvantage."
From hearing Mikoto's stories of repeatedly finding labs emptied out, Kuroko quickly grasped the gravity of it.
"We're missing a more efficient, more accurate source of intelligence," she concluded.
"Information?"
Mikoto mulled it over, recalling a certain individual.
"If it's her, then maybe"
~~~
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Chapter 602: Shokuhou Misaki's Involvement! (Bonus Chapter)
"Where is this place?"
Noon.
Mikoto Misaka walked into Tokiwadai Middle School's cafeteria. She didn't grab any lunch; instead, she headed straight for Shokuhou Misaki, who was surroundedas usualby a group of other high-society girls.
"Hmm?"
Seeing Mikoto approach, Misaki's starry-eyed entourage assumed trouble was brewing.
Misaki gently pressed the remote in her handbag. Instantly, the surrounding students stepped between Mikoto and Misaki, blocking her path.
Mikoto stopped and spoke up:
"Shokuhou Misaki."
Misaki studied her, curious about what this tomboy might say next. But she never expected Mikoto to bow her head.
"Pleasehelp me!"
"???!"
Misaki blinked, stunned. It was the first time she'd ever seen this tomboysomeone who'd always butted heads with herspeak so humbly, sodesperately. It left Misaki speechless.
""
Moments passed with no reaction from Misaki. Mikoto's gaze darkened, taking her silence as refusal.
"I'm sorry for bothering you."
She turned to leave. That was when Misaki finally snapped back to her senses.
"Wait!"
She called out, hesitating a second before saying,
"Alright, let's talk."
Misaki led Mikoto to her private "territory," telling everyone else to leave. The two of them sat face-to-face. Misaki rested her chin on her clasped hands, peering at Mikoto.
"So, what do you need from me?"
""
Mikoto exhaled slowly and said,
"I want to tell youa story."
"A story?"
Misaki raised an eyebrow, sounding impatient.
"I hope it's not some clich or bore, or I'll be very annoyed."
"Mm"
Mikoto began with how she'd provided her DNA to researchers as a child. The instant she mentioned that, Misaki's face flickered imperceptibly. Mikoto didn't notice.
As Mikoto went on to talk about the clones, Misaki's expression grew dark, her fists clenching as though suppressing something.
Finally, after Mikoto explained everything, she lifted her head:
"Shokuhou Misaki If I said all of this is true, and it's what happened to mewould you believe it?"
""
Misaki kept her head bowed, silent. Mikoto couldn't see her face. Her only response came in a subdued voice:
"If it's true what do you plan to do about it?"
"I'm going to put an end to this experiment!"
Mikoto answered without hesitation.
"Ahaha"
Misaki gave a chilling laugh, shoulders trembling. Then she raised her head, glaring at Mikoto with rage in her eyes:
"That's it? Thenwhat about those with defects, or those who got disposed of, or flat-out killed? All those Misaka Sistersdon't you owe them remorse? An apology?!"
No longer able to restrain her fury, she shot to her feet, shouting at Mikoto.
"You"
Mikoto stood there, dumbfounded, watching Misaki's features distort with angerand spotting the gleam of tears at her eyes. She didn't understand why Misaki was so furious, nor how she immediately knew about the "Misaka Sisters" when Mikoto's story hadn't spelled out everything. Then it dawned on her.
"You know about the Misaka Sisters?!"
""
At this point, Misaki saw no need to pretend. She took a breath, forcing her anger under control, and sat back down.
"Yes, I know more than you think. I also know about the Level 6 Shift Project."
"What?!"
Mikoto's eyes widened. Her first suspicion
Does that mean you're involved in it, too?
"Ah."
In response, she only got a mocking laugh from Misaki.
"Follow me. I'll show you something."
Without further explanation, she got up and headed for the door.
""
Mikoto didn't hesitate to follow. Clearly, Misaki knew something.
Walking behind Misaki, Mikoto wanted to ask her questions multiple times but held back. Misaki said nothing. They arrived at a seemingly quiet building. Moving through a series of inspection corridors, they stopped in front of a sealed door.
"What is this?"
Mikoto couldn't contain her curiosity.
Misaki cast her a quick glance.
"You'll see soon enough."
After inputting a passcode plus fingerprint and iris scans, the door slowly slid open. An icy gust rushed out. Inside, Mikoto saw all sorts of strange mechanical equipment attached to glass containers. But then she glimpsed the contents of those containers
She froze.
"That'sme?!"
Row upon row of liquid-filled glass tubes, each holding a figure identical to hera girl clad in a white hospital gown.
No, wait
They weren't her. They were the Misaka Sistersher cloned "sisters."
"Why do you have Misaka Sisters here?!"
Seeing so many of them, Mikoto felt her fury spike, electricity crackling around her. She turned a suspicious glare on Misaki.
