"Shh... I know it's probably a shock, but there's no time to explain. If we don't leave right now, this will all be for nothing. And then she's going to be pissed at me. Well, she'd be mad at me for doing this anyway. But, oh yeah, focus on the task at hand... Let's go!"
She gestured for him to come along, and after taking a moment to regain his composure, he shrugged his shoulders and followed her. She had cleared a path straight to the outer wall. He figured it had to be some ability that had made such a straight line of destruction. She must have someone else helping her, there's no way someone that never developed their power could make this happen. Maybe that's the 'she' 37 was referring to.
Accelerator slowed down for a moment as he stepped out of the breach in the wall and into the morning sunlight. It had been so long since he had been outside, his eyes hurt as they adjusted to the brightness. Once his vision had returned to normal, he continued to follow her to an equally large hole in the outer gate that they casually ran through.
This is the furthest I've been outside since I got to that shithole, aside from short trips into town with the general classes. He thought as they continued past other schools and buildings. She wove through the alleys and sidewalks so gracefully, and he caught himself admiring her light purple hair floating and flowing behind her as they ran. What the hell am I doing... And just how is she still alive? That agonizing scream had been the last thing he'd heard from her. He was sure that had been the end of her life, snuffed out because that bastard Kihara dubbed her useless.
"Hey, 37... HEY. Just where... are you taking us, and... how the hell are you alive?" he said breathing heavily as the strain of running began taking a toll on his weak body.
"We're almost there. I'll tell you everything once we're safe." He took a deep breath and pushed himself to keep up with her pace as they went around the back of a large building. There was a smaller building behind it, and beyond that, what looked like an overlook for a river or ocean.
"Quickly, in here." She climbed the steps to the smaller building and opened the door. Once they were inside, she shut the door and led him towards the back of the building. Accelerator's eyes had an easier time adjusting to the lighting as they began to slow their pace to a steady walk. They approached the back wall, and even though Accelerator couldn't see a visible opening, he could feel the air draft proving an opening existed. Sure enough, 37 moved what looked like a solid piece of the wall to one side, revealing a secret room.
"Come on in, make yourself comfortable." 37 said to Accelerator casually as she started to catch her breath. He stepped into the room and went to the nearest couch and collapsed. Physical activity wasn't one of the significant factors in his Esper training, and that escape wore him out. He laid flat on his back and covered his eyes with his forearm as his breathing gradually slowed down.
She slid the hidden door back into place and walked into the room. "I'm sorry for all the strain I just put you through, but I'm sure that we managed to get away without being seen or followed. In all, I'd say your retrieval was a success. I know she wanted to wait until they had more solid evidence for their case. But knowing what was likely going on in that place, I just couldn't wait any longer."
Accelerator leaned up, propping himself up on the couch with his right elbow. 37 was sitting in a chair a few feet away from him, her face finally still enough for him to look at closely. It had been a year since their first and only meeting, and he could tell she had aged. She had grown taller, and her hair was longer than before too. Even her gray bodysuit seemed more... filled out... in certain... places. He felt his face get hot as he quickly redirected his eyes from that area to her hands, which still had the same gray gloves covering them as she clasped her fingers together and drew them apart repeatedly.
"How are you still alive... The way you screamed when they took you through those doors, then silence... I was so sure you were gone." He sat up on the back of the couch now, his legs still resting on the cushions.
"It's a long story. Before we get started, do you want something to eat or drink? I have some soda, but mostly cold no-sugar black coffees, is that alright?"
"Sure, just the coffee though, I don't think I could stomach actual food at the moment."
She went to the kitchen and brought back two black cans of iced coffee, handed him one and then went back to her seat.
"Now, that scream you heard... It wasn't what you think happened. Remember back to when Kihara was explaining my ability? How using it would cause me severe pain and injury. Well, I desperately needed to get away, so I decided to use my ability on the two guards. It wasn't enjoyable, to put it mildly. One of them happened to be a fairly strong Esper, level 3 at least. Gravity Swing is the name of the ability. It alters gravity of certain areas and objects. I used it to fling the two of them at the ceiling then sent them crashing back down, knocking them both out. Then all I had to do was force my way through the exits, using gravity to clear my path."
"So you used an ability to escape, but how did you manage to survive for this long out of the Institute? Surely you must have had help to make it this far."
The hidden door was suddenly flung to one side, startling both of the current occupants. A tall woman stepped into the room, looking very angry. She wore a green tracksuit that fit her full figure snugly. Her long navy blue hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail. She stalked into the middle of the room between Accelerator and 37, staring intently at the younger girl.
"I thought I told you to be patient. I needed more evidence so we could bring the SAI down the right way. I did tell you that, right? So maybe you could explain to me why that place now has a gaping hole in its side?!" The angry woman in green asked 37.
"Yes, ma'am. But... I felt like our time was running out. But look, I got him out of there just fine, see?" She gestured her gloved hands towards the couch Accelerator currently occupied. "And I made sure no one or nothing followed or tracked us, I swear."
"I hate to interrupt what sounds like a thrilling argument-to-be, but could somebody let me know what's going on here?" asked Accelerator.
37 answered before the green woman began her tirade again. "Seiji, this is Yomi..."
"Stop calling me by that name." Accelerator interrupted sharply. "That person doesn't exist anymore."
"But... Sei-" She decided to respect his wish and continued with the introduction. "Accelerator, this is Yomikawa Aiho, she's a member of Anti-Skill. And yes, she's one of the few people that know I'm still alive and know what's really going on at the SAI."
"What's so special about her knowing about the Institute? They plan on closing it down or something?"
Yomikawa answered that question herself. "Exactly, kiddo. We're shutting those bastards down for good."