At a Hospital,
Misaka Mikoto sat in a corner outside the consultation room, hugging her knees, her mind unable to settle.
Thinking of the tragedy caused by the Absolute Power Project, countless irrecoverable lives seemed to vanish one after another in her mind.
As soon as she closed her eyes, she imagined countless Misaka Sisters, identical to her, being wantonly slaughtered by Accelerator. This sorrow continuously spread from her heart, making it inexpressible.
'Uncle.' Tears streamed down Misaka Mikoto's face, her fragile, weeping appearance was truly pitiful.
"Nurse Young Miss, please arrange a ward for this guy." Suddenly, a low, magnetic voice entered Misaka Mikoto's ears. She looked up in surprise towards the direction of the voice.
Misaka Mikoto saw Rhode standing unharmed at the emergency room reception, holding Accelerator, who was wrapped up like a zongzi.
"U-Uncle!?" Misaka Mikoto, in disbelief, cried out, but then saw Rhode place a finger to his nose, signaling her to be quiet.
Realizing she was still in a Hospital, Misaka Mikoto quickly covered her mouth, her pretty face slightly flushed.
She hurried over to Rhode's side.
"Uncle, are… are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Do I look injured?" Rhode chuckled, dropping Accelerator onto the emergency bed a nurse had pushed over, and spread his hands, asking in return.
"Th-that…" Looking at Accelerator's retreating figure, Misaka Mikoto was momentarily speechless, unsure how to react.
"The Absolute Power Project is over. Just as I said before, Aleister should use this opportunity to send the Misaka Sisters to various parts of the world. As for the genetic issues, Dr. Meito Ansei should be able to solve them."
Facing the somewhat bewildered Young Miss, Rhode briefly explained the matters she was concerned about.
"Is… is that so? So it's finally over. Thank you, Uncle." Hearing this news, Misaka Mikoto's long-standing worries finally eased, but a sense of unwillingness still lingered in her heart. Why could Accelerator, who harmed her clones, continue to live?
The loss of tens of thousands of lives made Misaka Mikoto realize that within this seemingly bright and glamorous Academy City, there lurked a darkness like an abyss.
"You should see a psychologist. If you let these emotions accumulate, you will fall into darkness." Rhode sensed Misaka Mikoto's strong emotional fluctuations and suggested.
"If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have been created, and they wouldn't have died!" Intense emotions made Misaka Mikoto tremble uncontrollably. The heavy regret of thinking that all of this was caused by her could not be appeased.
"No, if it weren't for you, Aleister would have just found someone else to create clones and carry out the project." Rhode patted the Young Miss's shoulder, comforting her.
"But…" Misaka Mikoto wanted to retort, but Rhode interrupted her.
"Rather, without you, they wouldn't have been given life. Since they were given life, even if they are scientific creations, they are still lives."
"Keep moving forward, Misaka Mikoto. Remember those lost lives. This is the only proof that they once existed in this world."
"This is your choice. You have no obligation to bear the sins that Academy City has given you. You can choose to escape, or protect them, give them emotions, just like you would a real sister."
"You have time to think slowly. For you, who are not yet an adult, these matters are too heavy." Rhode's palm stroked Misaka Mikoto's head, his caring words, like those of an elder comforting a junior, completely broke through Misaka Mikoto's emotional defenses.
As if to vent, the Young Miss hugged Rhode and cried loudly.
Watching his once beloved character successfully release her emotions under his comfort, Rhode also couldn't help but show a warm smile after a long time.
A long while later, a blushing Misaka Mikoto sat in the medical room, listening to Dr. Meito Ansei's diagnosis and treatment plan, her mind still unsettled.
'I actually cried in Uncle's arms, am I a primary school student!?'
Misaka Mikoto, silently complaining, noticed Rhode's conversation with Dr. Meito Ansei.
"I'm truly surprised. How could such injuries recover? How did you manage it?" Dr. Meito Ansei looked at Rhode, observing his unharmed appearance, and exclaimed.
"The power I use is different from superpowers and magic. It's Curse Power, which comes from negative emotions. Everyone has more or less negative emotions in their hearts. These energies can breed curses, and their basic energy is Curse Power."
"The healing ability I use is called Reversal Technique, which is an advanced manipulation of Curse Power. Its principle is 'two negatives make a positive,' multiplying Curse Power to obtain positive energy suitable for healing."
Rhode sat with his legs crossed, explaining to Dr. Meito Ansei without any reservation.
"Curse Power? That's a really difficult Item to understand." Dr. Meito Ansei stroked his chin, pondering.
"As a thank you for saving me, if the doctor has any patients he can't treat, I can step in." Rhode chuckled, confidently making a grand offer.
Even the usually calm Dr. Meito Ansei was slightly stunned by these words, then showed a smile and responded seriously.
"Who do you think I am?"
"The patients I'm referring to, whether it's Innate disabilities or irreversible injuries, I can all repair them." Rhode's words made Dr. Meito Ansei's eyes light up.
It's important to know that this person's motto is 'never give up on a patient, no matter what happens.' Even if he could save a patient's life, he was powerless for those with disabilities. Although Academy City's technology could indeed produce clones,
the people who could use such technology were invariably from the elite class of society or higher. As for ordinary civilians and patients with Innate disabilities, where would they find such a large sum of money to squander?
"If that's true, then I, on behalf of myself, extend my sincere gratitude to Mr. Rhode." Dr. Meito Ansei said with unprecedented solemnity.
'So Uncle is called Rhode.' Misaka Mikoto, who only now learned Rhode's true name, had a glimmer in her eyes.
A doctor who values a patient's life to such an extent deserves respect in any Dao.
"In that case, I'll leave the Misaka Sisters to you. As for this little girl, please arrange psychological treatment for her as well, so she can return to her daily life sooner." Taking the list handed to him by Dr. Meito Ansei, Rhode, who happened to want to test his new Item, Idle Transfiguration, followed the nurse Young Miss out of the ward.
"Thank you, Uncle Rhode." Misaka Mikoto's whispered thanks came from behind him.
"The 'Uncle' is unnecessary." Rhode's response brought a long-lost smile to Misaka Mikoto's face.