"Hmm~"
Yuuya strolled down the street, hands in his pockets, humming a light tune. His mood was excellent.
The events of the day had been nothing short of a miracle. Before the System awakened, he wouldn't have dared to dream of such excitement.
'Although... thinking about that massive electric discharge earlier, Misaka Mikoto must be furious.'
'Next time we meet, she'll probably hunt me down with a Railgun to the face.'
He chuckled. It didn't matter.
'Her electricity vanished the moment it touched me. Whether it was absorbed by the Star Grail or simply nullified by its conceptual defense... I am invincible against her.'
It was similar to Imagine Breaker, but better—it covered his entire body.
'However, I've made contact with the Third Ranked Level 5. That kind of energy spike definitely triggered the Board of Directors' sensors.'
'Aleister Crowley is watching. He'll likely calculate me as a new variable.'
'He might send a Dark Side organization—like GROUP or MEMBER—to test me soon.'
...
Noon.
In the park, Yuuya enjoyed a divine lunch: Mao's Glowing Golden Fried Rice. It tasted like happiness.
Afternoon.
He spent the rest of the day scouring District 7, collecting every Black Iron and Bronze Treasure Chest he could reach.
District 7 was huge, but 90% of the chests were Common (White). He ignored those—he didn't need any more used stockings or sanitary pads.
He found about thirty Iron Chests and a dozen Bronze Chests.
Unfortunately, his luck seemed to have run out after the Gekota incident.
Most of the Bronze rewards were low-tier Esper abilities like Aero Hand (Level 2) or Telekinesis (Level 2). Useful for party tricks, but useless for combat.
As for the Silver Chests? There were thirteen in the district, but they were all located inside secure facilities—elite schools or high-security labs. He couldn't just walk in without a pass.
"I've pushed my luck enough for today. The chests refresh tomorrow anyway."
Yuuya stretched his arms above his head as the sun began to set.
Dusk settled over Academy City. Since it was a weekend, the streets were still crowded with students. The crepe shops had long lines, and the heat hadn't fully dissipated.
He checked his virtual map.
A specific Silver Icon began to move away from the Kihara Institute.
"Looks like Nunotaba Shinobu has finally clocked out."
Yuuya smirked.
"Time to get to work."
...
Outside the Kihara Institute for Pathological Analysis.
A girl with messy, wavy black hair—looking somewhat like ramen noodles—stepped out of the automatic doors. She wore a white lab coat over her sailor uniform and held a tablet in her hand.
Shinobu Nunotaba rubbed her stiff shoulders and sighed.
"Finally. The study plans for the next batch are sorted out."
She didn't feel any satisfaction. Just a hollow, heavy weight in her chest.
She scrolled through the data on her tablet, her dead-fish eyes staring blankly at the screen.
'I haven't been truly happy since I joined the Level 6 Shift Project two years ago. Why is that?'
She looked up at the wind turbines spinning slowly against the twilight sky.
'The "Testament"... I invented it to help people learn. To upload knowledge directly into the brain. It was supposed to be a tool for education.'
'But now? It's used to program "experimental animals."'
'They input data into the brains of the Misaka Sisters to give them basic motor functions and language. Just enough to make them walk and talk so they can be killed.'
'I thought I was used to it. One identical clone after another. But why do I feel so... suffocated?'
"Phew... I'll get some rest tonight. I have to calibrate the next batch of Testaments tomorrow."
She tucked the tablet under her arm and walked toward the convenience store.
The streets grew darker as she moved away from the main thoroughfare. Most restaurants were closed in this sector.
"Canned mackerel again tonight," she muttered.
She bought two cans of food and a bottle of tea. Bag in hand, she turned the corner toward her student apartment.
Suddenly, she froze.
Her pupils shrank to pinpoints.
A cold, hard metal object was pressed against her temple.
"Miss Nunotaba. Please don't move~"
A playful, chilling voice whispered in her ear.
"I know that Nagatenjouki Academy has combat courses. But if you move even slightly... I might get scared. And if I get scared, my hand might shake. That would be such a shame."
Yuuya stood in the shadows of the alley, holding the Desert Eagle to her head. A mischievous, dangerous smile played on his lips.
"It's... you..."
Nunotaba's eyes widened in recognition.
White summer shirt. Short black hair. Deep, dark eyes.
It was the student she had tested this morning. The "Level 2 Pyrokinesis" user.
Her mind raced.
'He's not a student. That was a cover.'
'Is he from the Dark Side? A cleaner?'
'Are they here to purge me?'
Cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
She knew too much. The Level 6 Shift Project was top secret. If the higher-ups decided she was a liability...
'Did I access a file I wasn't supposed to? Or is the project moving to a new phase where the original researchers are no longer needed?'
"Were you sent by the Dark Side to eliminate me?"
Nunotaba's voice was steady, despite the fear. Her resilience was incredible.
"Before you pull the trigger... can I ask why?"
"Dark Side?"
Yuuya blinked. He realized she had mistaken him for a hitman from an organization like ITEM or SCHOOL.
He chuckled.
"I'm not from the Dark Side. I'm just a concerned citizen who wants to... collaborate with you."
Nunotaba let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
'Not a hitman. That means there's room to negotiate.'
She regained her composure, her dead-fish eyes staring at him with logical disdain.
"You're pointing a .50 caliber pistol at my head. Is this your idea of 'collaboration'?"
"Oh well," Yuuya sighed dramatically, keeping the gun steady. "I'm just a very timid person. I scare easily."
"..."
Nunotaba stared at him blankly.
'You're the one with the gun. I should be the one who's scared.'
....
.....
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