The boy in the gray shirt walks alone in the silent world.
Although the streets were filled with noisy crowds because the Daihasei Festival was open to the public, these had nothing to do with No. 1 having the 'Reflected Sound' setting added to his body.
It has been almost a week since Accelerator was discharged from the hospital, but he still feels that something is wrong.
He is still the strongest in Academy City.
Still the person closest to Level 6 with super powers.
There are still people who are short-sighted and come to challenge him.
Just like a few weeks ago, his daily routine has not changed at all.
But it's just not right.
The coffee cans in the bag made a clanking sound, and Accelerator tilted his head casually.
It wasn't that his physical injuries hadn't healed yet, but that he felt as if he had reached a blind alley.
Although Accelerator usually lives a very casual life, he has never been in such a depressed state.
So, what exactly is the problem?
The red light on the edge of the sidewalk turned on, and Accelerator stopped.
The "Absolute Ability User Evolution Plan" has been frozen due to his refusal, and currently it seems that the research institutes have not made any move to find a second or fourth person to continue the experiment.
Those clones that have been created but have not yet been put into experiments seem to have relevant research institutes and hospitals to take care of them, so they don't have to worry about the lives of thousands of people anyway.
What else?
He frowned intently.
Suddenly, the green light did not turn on, the crowd began to separate on both sides at some point, and the road in front of them turned into a slowly moving viewing queue.
Doll frogs in fancy costumes became the protagonists on the street. Balloons were flying. Some of the tourists, mostly children, were lying on the railings, some were riding on the shoulders of their parents, and some almost squeezed onto the road because of their excitement, and were finally pulled by their sisters.
Live to preach.
"Tsk."
Returning to his original thoughts, Accelerator, who was not interested in these parades, changed direction and prepared to take a long way back to his residence.
Sure enough, 'something' was changing in him.
He thought about the monster that day.
Accelerator put his other hand in his pocket and stared coldly at the non-existent imaginary object in front of him.
That monster whose powers don't work.
The monster who made him lose so badly for the first time.
No matter how he searched for and investigated the monster, the result was that it was an 'unidentified' monster.
(…What a joke.)
Accelerator vented his inner dissatisfaction.
He actually attributed that experiment to his out-of-control ability. Are those researchers all pig-minded?
He snorted with disdain.
Or……
With the strongest calculation ability in Academy City, Accelerator is certainly not a fool.
But until he got there, he didn't go any further.
Because I was interrupted.
To be precise, it was the vibration from his pocket that attracted his attention.
(ah?)
Accelerator looked a little confused. There were only a handful of people who would contact him on the phone, basically only researchers.
But the experiment has been frozen, and he has no plans to join other research institutes for the time being.
Who is it?
Accelerator took out his cell phone unhappily, but Accelerator was not prepared to answer it.
He can't muster any energy now, so he doesn't intend to accompany anyone at all.
But the moment Accelerator opened the standby interface, his plan was destined to fail.
He remembered.
In other words, I don’t want to admit it.
Besides that monster, there is another 'reason' that might make him change.
On the street, which was filled with excitement, a boy with white hair stood quietly there.
The phone screen emits a faint blue light.
What he was staring at was a photo of a girl being put into an ambulance.
…
******************
The night viewing procession of the "Dahasei Festival" is in full swing.
Glancing at the fireworks rising in the night sky through the glass window, Yoshikawa Kikyo smiled softly and once again focused on the report in hand.
This is one of the research facilities related to the evolution experiment of absolute ability users. Although the plan has been frozen and the main laboratory has been destroyed, it seems that these cultivation rooms or places used to store data have not had time to deal with it. They are currently in the building.
Empty desolate state.
However, this can be regarded as doing Yoshikawa Kikyo a favor. Her ID card is still valid and she can freely use the equipment in the room.
Having rejected offers from other research facilities, the reason why this talented yet naive female researcher is still struggling here is because she hopes to use her meager efforts to make up for the sins she has committed.
Yoshikawa Kikyo used to be a central member responsible for managing the experiments of the "Absolute Essence User Evolution Project". She also participated in the "Military Mass Production Essence Project" in the past. She can be said to be one of the people who is most familiar with 'sisters'.
That's why she's looking for 'errors' here.
It is not to find out the 'errors' that allowed the experiment to be carried out again, but to better adjust the 'errors' in each 'sister''s physical data.
This is the only thing she can do for those children now.
It's just that the amount of 20,000 pieces of data is a big project after all. Even after screening and the support of the hospital, it is enough to keep her busy for a long time.
But Yoshikawa Kikyo felt unexpectedly satisfied.
Maybe it's because this is the time when she feels closest to her ideal.
After confirming a piece of information again, Yoshikawa Kikyo stretched out and was about to continue.
At this moment, the command to pass the password suddenly came from the entrance of the laboratory, disrupting her plan.
The female researcher raised her head in despair and frowned as she looked at the man entering.
"...patio...Yaxiong...why are you here?"
she asked.
The tone of voice did not conceal the unwelcomeness. After all, this man Yoshikawa Kikyo was no stranger, and he was also one of the 'losers' who led the experiment.
"This is what I want to say, Yoshikawa Kikyo."
The man's tone was a little urgent. He first glanced at the scattered documents around him, and finally landed on the computer that was printing data.
His eyes were bloodshot, making his expression look particularly ferocious.
"You supported this experiment at the beginning, right?! Why are you trying to stop it now? Do you still think you are qualified to stand on the side of a good person?"
He believed that this woman absolutely understood what he was referring to.
His 'resurrection' plan is reaching a critical moment, and this woman must not be allowed to cause trouble at this time.
"..."
But he still miscalculated.
Yoshikawa Kikyo did understand how ridiculous her actions were in the eyes of the other party, and she could also guess the reason why the other party came to visit her.
But she already has a more important goal, and she will never waver again because of these few words.
In order to protect the remaining "innocence", the female researcher took out a protective pistol from her jacket pocket and pointed it at the frightened male researcher.
"I am indeed no longer qualified."
She said calmly.
"But they still qualify."
Even if you step into hell, I will never allow you to attack them again.
Amai Ao clearly read this meaning from Yoshikawa Kikyo's eyes.
He didn't expect this woman to be so decisive this time.