"Hey. I've been waiting for you for ages."
Arata waved and smiled at Accelerator, who was staring at him with crimson eyes.
"I came to visit, but you weren't home, so I used your kitchen without permission. Hope you don't mind."
Originally, he had planned to find her directly, but after thinking it over, coming to her residence felt more appropriate. It wasn't the first time he had entered someone else's home uninvited, so he felt no particular guilt.
Accelerator's room was extremely plain. It didn't resemble a girl's room at all, and there were barely any personal items.
The kitchen equipment was complete, but it had clearly not been used in a long time. Some of the metal utensils even showed signs of rust.
"You just walk into my house like this? What exactly are you planning now?" Accelerator stepped inside with an irritated expression, tossing a bag of canned coffee onto the table.
No matter the situation, she was never pleased about someone invading her personal space.
"Don't be so hostile. I even prepared a full meal to celebrate the end of the experiment." Arata said with a smile, gesturing toward the table filled with dishes.
"The experiment ending is something I already know. So leave my house." Accelerator glanced at the table and spoke through clenched teeth. Despite herself, something stirred faintly within her chest.
She had once longed for something like this.
A normal scene. Sitting with others.
But that kind of thing no longer belonged to her.
"That's cold. We're friends, aren't we? Where I come from, people settle things over a meal. Shouldn't we celebrate today?" Arata said, casually picking up a piece of braised pork.
"Friends? Don't joke. I don't need friends, and I've never acknowledged having any. Don't flatter yourself." Accelerator snapped, her irritation flaring instantly.
What is wrong with this guy?
They were clearly enemies who couldn't stand each other before. That wouldn't suddenly change just because the experiment ended. Yet now he was acting as if they were close.
Thinking about how he had repeatedly reached out to her before, she unconsciously clicked her tongue.
"Whether you accept it or not doesn't change how I see it. And are those really your true thoughts?" Arata said calmly.
Dealing with her was difficult. She refused to confront her own emotions, burying everything beneath coldness and violence.
"...Suit yourself." Accelerator's red eyes narrowed slightly as she sank into thought. She then sat down on the sofa, opened a can of coffee, and drank quietly.
"Snap."
With a flick of his fingers, the dishes on the dining table floated through the air under telekinetic control and neatly arranged themselves on the coffee table. A fork drifted in front of Accelerator.
"I'm confident that once you try my cooking, you won't reject being my friend." Arata said with a smile.
"Mind your own business." Accelerator grabbed the fork, clearly annoyed. Still, there was no reason to refuse. Everything here belonged to her in the first place.
She had nothing worth protecting except herself.
And yet, she would still protect everything she considered hers with absolute determination.
Even the Misaka Sisters.
Her method was simple. Eliminate anyone with malicious intent, one by one, until no one dared touch them again.
"No one understands you better than I do, Accelerator. You don't need to hide behind that cold exterior and killing intent." Arata spoke softly.
"..."
Accelerator's pupils shrank, her expression darkening instantly as she stared at him.
She didn't deny it.
This guy really did understand her. More than she understood herself.
It was as if he could see straight through her thoughts.
"The life you're living right now isn't one a normal human should live. There is kindness, malice, joy, and pain. All of it exists together. That's what it means to be human. No one is purely evil. The path you've chosen won't lead anywhere." Arata said calmly.
"What exactly do you think you understand? What choices do you think I have? Deny everything I've done? Don't make me laugh." Accelerator felt as if countless blades were piercing through her chest.
How could he see through her so completely?
What kind of ability was that?
"Is that all you came here to say?"
"Alright, my mistake. What I actually want is for you to join me." Arata shrugged lightly.
"...What do you mean?" Accelerator frowned.
Instinctively, she wanted to reject it. But Arata continued speaking.
"We need to clean up the garbage in Academy City. If we want real change, we have to start from the root. Only when the foundation changes will everything else follow." Arata said firmly.
"The root... So you're talking about those parasites sitting comfortably in their glass towers, drinking wine and controlling everything from above?" Accelerator paused, then let out a sharp laugh.
"Heh... hahaha."
Then her expression turned cold again.
"I refuse."
Do you think it's that simple?
Even without meeting them directly, it was obvious those people weren't easy to deal with. Every dark tragedy in Academy City traced back to them.
"Don't reject it so quickly. Academy City isn't as stable as it appears. You know a bit about the magic side. If this place collapses, do you think espers will still have a place in this world?"
"You don't really have a reason to refuse cleaning up your own home." Arata said, looking directly at her.
"Tch." Accelerator clicked her tongue in irritation. "Annoying bastard."
"Not refusing means you're agreeing." Arata smiled.
In his eyes, Academy City was already something within his grasp. All that remained was to take control step by step.
As for Aleister, control itself didn't matter to him. His plans were far too vast and intricate to be bound to a single outcome.
"Even if I cooperate, I won't take orders from you." Accelerator said coldly.
She didn't need anyone to dictate her actions.
If she joined, it would only be to ensure that this fragile sanctuary did not collapse.
Life was already unbearable enough.
If even Academy City disappeared, the outside world would be far worse.
"Of course. Everything is up to you. For now, take a look at this." Arata said, sending something to her phone.
"..."
Accelerator's expression darkened instantly.
This bastard had already obtained her contact information.
From the very beginning, he had been planning around her.
...
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