"We can't be completely sure about that. What if Academy City really has developed something like that..."
Uiharu Kazari was overwhelmed by the recent surge of cases and didn't notice the subtle change in her friend's expression.
"Let's drop it for now, haha, let's eat." Saten Ruiko forced a light laugh as she continued eating her sushi. At the same time, she lowered her gaze to her phone. The screen was filled with posts about the so-called Level Upper, making it hard to dismiss them as simple fabrications.
Are all of these actually real?
Thinking back over the past two weeks only made her feel more conflicted.
She had met a Level 5 senior, then encountered Misaka Mikoto, and even experienced flying through the sky using that incredible device Arata had shown her.
For a moment, it truly felt like she had powers.
All her friends had abilities. Even someone like Level 1 felt enviable to her. Uiharu possessed not only abilities but also exceptional hacking skills. Shirai's teleportation was dazzling.
Everyone shined so brightly.
Meanwhile, she was just a Level 0, with no remarkable talent. They all lived in Academy City, attended the same schools, and were roughly the same age.
Yet there was an invisible barrier separating those with powers from those without.
If only she could become an esper.
Even Level 1 would be enough.
Beep. A message notification appeared on her phone.
"A message from Arata-senpai?" Saten Ruiko's eyes widened slightly. This was the first time she had received a message from him.
"What's wrong?" Uiharu asked curiously.
"It's nothing. It's just the first time I've gotten a message from Arata-senpai." Saten Ruiko replied cheerfully, instantly pushing aside her earlier negative thoughts.
As she spoke, she opened the message. The contents made her blink in surprise.
"Hey, junior. Do you remember the Kongming Lock I gave you last time? Did you solve it? If not, bring it to the entrance of the Seventh Pharmaceutical Research Center tomorrow. I've prepared a big surprise for you. Make sure you come. You can bring Uiharu too."
"Huh? What does this mean?" Saten Ruiko murmured to herself.
Of course she remembered the gift. She had carefully stored the Kongming Lock in a box. Every time she saw it, she would recall that moment of flying through the sky with Arata.
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
"Uiharu, look at this." Saten Ruiko excitedly handed over her phone.
Uiharu Kazari blinked as she read the message. "Arata-senpai wants us to bring that Kongming Lock to the Seventh Pharmaceutical Research Center?"
"Maybe he just wants to hang out. It's the first time a guy has ever invited me out." Saten Ruiko scratched her cheek, sticking out her tongue in embarrassment.
"It feels more like he needs our help. But what kind of surprise could it be?"
"Arata-senpai has already helped us so much. Let's go." Saten Ruiko said brightly.
"I've been really busy lately, but if it's him..." Uiharu sighed softly, recalling the scene from yesterday where Arata sparred with Misaka Mikoto and Sogiita Gunha.
As their meal came to an end, night gradually fell.
Around 8 PM, in one of the alley-dense areas of District 7, delinquents usually gathered during the day. But at night, the place was almost completely deserted.
A figure wearing a gray and white striped shirt and jeans casually walked into the alley, holding a half-finished can of coffee.
She was very familiar with these alleys. To avoid unnecessary encounters, she usually took these side routes. After beating down a few idiots who didn't know their place, almost no one dared to linger here anymore.
"What's been going on lately? Did those white-coated researchers finally stop their experiment?"
Accelerator glanced at the empty surroundings. She was used to seeing the same faces multiple times a day, so the absence of them over the past two days felt strange.
To be honest, she didn't even understand her own thoughts right now.
Deep down, she still felt a sense of despair toward the world, with no real reason to resist anything.
From the moment that person introduced the plan to the moment she realized it was all a deception, everything seemed to have returned to how it was before.
And yet, something felt different.
When did it start to change?
Was it when she first realized those clones weren't just dolls?
Or when that person forced her to wake up?
"Tch. A worthless person like me actually getting tangled up in this kind of thing... how pathetic. No, the old me wouldn't have even thought about something like this. I really have changed. But how exactly?"
Accelerator looked up at the cold, pale moon. A faint, self-mocking smile appeared on her face. She finished the coffee in one gulp, crushed the can in her hand, and tossed it aside. The metallic sound echoed through the alley.
"Looks like that ridiculous experiment is finally over." she muttered, slipping her hands into her pockets as she prepared to leave.
Still, ending like this wasn't so bad.
From now on, no one would interfere with her life again. She could quietly protect those people from the shadows.
Given the nature of those white-coated researchers, it was hard to believe they wouldn't try something again.
And if they did...
A twisted smile spread across Accelerator's face, and a suffocating killing intent filled the alley.
"...you'll all end up as nothing more than a mixture of blood and concrete."
She slowly walked toward the exit of the alley, heading back to her residence.
After passing through several narrow paths, she arrived at her dormitory. It was an old five-story building, noticeably worn and damp compared to the surrounding high-rises. She stopped by the convenience store downstairs, bought a pack of canned coffee, and headed upstairs.
Reaching room 307, she paused.
Something was off.
The door was closed, just as usual, but the light inside was on.
She clearly remembered turning it off before leaving.
If the room had been trashed, she would have assumed those delinquents had come back for revenge. That was within expectations.
But this situation...
There was even the smell of food coming from inside.
"What is this? Some ridiculous fairy tale scenario where someone just borrows my kitchen?" Accelerator muttered with a cold laugh as she opened the door.
The scene inside made her expression stiffen.
"You bastard."
"Hey. I've been waiting for you."
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.