The existence of memory-cleansing techniques is not solely for confidentiality. Sometimes, it's also for discarding memories one simply can't bear to keep.
After many anomalous containment missions…
If the scenes involved are incredibly sanity-draining…
Or if the methods used are inhumane or go against ordinary moral and ethical standards…
Then the Foundation will usually grant staff the right to choose whether or not they want to undergo memory erasure.
And most people will choose to forget.
Which is perfectly understandable.
In Haruto's view, Misaki wasn't all that different.
Although Haruto didn't recall much about her state from the anime he remembered…
He could more or less guess.
As a Level 5 esper, Misaki underwent numerous ability development experiments as a child.
And the ability development institutions in Academy City…
Heh.
Let's just say, most of them aren't exactly run by good people.
So long as they can develop powerful abilities with research value, those institutes will resort to any means.
Including but not limited to poison culture experiments, cloning, and other shady methods. Developing a top-tier Level 5 ability, unless one's born insanely gifted, definitely requires enduring an unimaginable process.
Misaki said she couldn't find any records of her past.
That can only mean she underwent long-term development in some shady black site. Most likely, her amnesia is self-inflicted—her own desire to abandon her past memories.
Looking at the utterly lost Misaki, Haruto sighed.
"My advice is, if you're not ready to face the truth, then forget you ever had a past."
"From now on, after your treatment, enroll as a normal student. With your Level 5 abilities, your future will be bright. As for ability control, you just need to retrain a little—you'll get the hang of it quickly, since your powers are already fully developed."
"Since you once chose to abandon your past, there's nothing wrong with honoring that and becoming a whole new person."
"But if you insist on digging into your memories, then be prepared for the consequences. Whatever you tried to forget must've been unbearably painful."
Upon hearing that, Misaki gave a firm nod.
The confusion in her eyes disappeared completely. As if the fog in her mind had suddenly cleared.
At that moment, Megumi returned.
"Discharge procedures are done. None of them had any data logged anyway—they were emergency cases. I've already deleted their hospitalization records. No one should notice anything out of the ordinary."
Haruto nodded.
Then snapped his fingers.
A black-glow virus invaded the crew members' bodies, controlling them as they woke up and stood, ready to follow him out.
After all, carrying a bunch of unconscious people out would be a bit too absurd.
Just as Haruto was about to leave…
Misaki quickly got out of bed and ran over to him in small steps.
Haruto raised a finger and pressed it to her forehead, stopping her from getting any closer.
"What are you doing? I'm leaving. Why are you following me?"
Misaki didn't respond.
Truthfully, even she didn't know why she wanted to follow him. But with no memories to anchor her, she had no reason to hesitate.
She could only rely on her instincts. And right now, her instincts were telling her to follow this boy.
Seeing how persistent she was, Haruto shifted his tone.
"Fine, let's change the question. Why should I bring you with me? There's got to be a reason."
That question clearly stumped her.
"I'm a Level 5 esper! I get a huge allowance every month—I can give it all to you!" she said tentatively.
In Academy City, students get monthly allowance as long as they stay in school.
Due to the need to develop abilities, students cooperate with development experiments and post-development research.
Which brings in huge profits for the institutions, schools, and even Academy City itself.
So handing out stipends is a win-win deal.
It attracts more people to the city and makes students less resistant to participating in ability development.
And the size of the allowance depends on one's power level and research value. As a Level 5, Misaki definitely receives a lot of money each month.
Haruto twitched his lips.
What kind of reverse sugar mommy situation is this?
"Unfortunately, I'm not short on money."
Haruto rejected her offer flatly.
Misaki's shoulders slumped.
Money was really the only thing she had going for her at the moment…
And if that was rejected…
Then suddenly, an idea popped into her head. She flashed a sly grin.
"Then, since you're my boyfriend, you have to take responsibility, right, Haruto?"
She repeated the joke Haruto had made earlier and even mimicked Megumi's way of calling his name.
Haruto was briefly stunned, then chuckled helplessly.
He had to admit—Misaki was already showing glimpses of her queenly nature. It seemed that, memory or not, her personality remained unchanged.
"Alright then, we're breaking up now."
He casually said.
Misaki pouted and feigned heartbreak.
"Why? Am I not cute enough? You're dumping me just like that? You owe me a reason! Did I do something wrong?"
What she meant was simple:
If you're going to break up with me, at least tell me what I did wrong—I'll change it if I have to.
Haruto's gaze shifted downward.
Then he spoke in a serious tone,
"Because for someone your age… having an airport is just too much for me to handle. I don't deserve you."
At first, Misaki was confused.
Then she noticed where he was looking…
And when she glanced down as well…
Sharp as she was, she immediately understood what "airport" meant.
In that instant, she couldn't keep it together. Her teeth clenched with an audible crack.
"I'm still growing! In the future, I'll definitely be full of feminine charm!"
She stared hard at Haruto, speaking each word with force.
Even Megumi was having a hard time watching the exchange.
Sure, she knew Haruto had a twisted sense of humor—but wasn't he going a little overboard today?
However, upon hearing Misaki's retort, Haruto felt a sudden shift in his heart. Others might not know, but Haruto did—what she said would become reality.
If he remembered correctly, within a year, she'd go from AA to D…
Her growth was insane.
In the end, Misaki followed Haruto as he left the hospital.
With the crew in tow, Haruto led them out of Academy City and toward the edge of a remote island.
Staring at the fog-covered sea, Misaki was stunned.
"So it really did relocate to the ocean… Those rumors sounded so unbelievable."
While recovering in the hospital, she'd researched her background and picked up on all sorts of Academy City news.
Including this bombshell revelation.
But seeing it with her own eyes made all the difference.
"So what are we doing here?" she asked, puzzled.
"You insisted on tagging along—just know, there's no turning back now."
Haruto's tone grew sinister.
Hearing that, Misaki shivered slightly.
Dragging a bunch of patients to a foggy ocean's edge…
It really did look like…
But she quickly shook it off and huffed.
"Say whatever you want. I'm not bothered!"
After all, she'd already been scared once back in the hospital by a similar misunderstanding.
So now, she adjusted quickly and figured Haruto was just teasing her again.
But soon, a massive submarine surfaced from the ocean depths.
The sight left Misaki completely dumbfounded.
"Y-you-you…"
Haruto grinned.
"I wasn't joking. You came along, so now there's no going back!"
Once you join the Foundation, it's as deep as the sea.
Go back? There's no such thing!
Under Haruto's control, the crew boarded the submarine. Then, Haruto deactivated the black-glow virus and let them all pass out again.
From here on, there was no need to control them.
Just letting them exist as survivors in the world would be enough.
Their presence alone carried meaning—no need for speeches or declarations.