"How did that bastard rank higher than me? I wasn't even aware he had an Esper ability!" yelled Accelerator, still furious over the results of the latest update in Esper rankings.

Yomikawa was driving back to the safe house while Accelerator let his anger and rage out in the backseat. "It's a surprise to me too, kid. How about you get all that aggression out of your system before we get back to the safe house though, okay? It won't do 37 much good to see you so angry."

"WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT-." Accelerator's temper began to die down as he thought about what else had happened during the raid. "I'll keep it to myself once we're back there. Did you bring a copy of her records? She may want to finish looking through them."

"Anti-Skill has to finish documenting the original before I can get a copy. She was at the SAI for nearly seven years, so there's a lot to go through. I also requested copies of your files as well. The information in them may prove useful to you in the future."

"Great, more fun reading material. What I need to do is find out what power he has and why he never revealed it until now." They were approaching the safe house, he took a few deep breaths and calmed himself before stepping out of the car.

They entered the house and found there were few lights on. A sudden sense of panic rose from Accelerator's stomach as he started to fear the worst. Was she kidnapped on her way here? Could they have had someone waiting to take her out as she left the SAI? I've got to find her! "37? Are you here? Answer me, dammit!" he yelled as he walked towards the bedrooms. He stopped at her door and tried the handle, but it was locked.

Yomikawa caught up with him as he started knocking on the door. "Is she in there?"

"It's locked, so I think so. 37 open the door, now! This isn't the time to sit around feeling sorry for yourself, you hear me? You're stronger than that. Are you really going to let one minor detail about your past affect you like this?" He heard footsteps approach the door and felt the handle move from the other side, so he let it go. The door opened to reveal half of 37's tear-stained face.

"How can you stand there and call it a minor detail?" she asked him, her voice strained with emotion. "You don't even realize all the damage I've done!"

"It was just some scientists and a couple of thugs that were going to kill you. You shouldn't have any remorse over that. I've done much worse than you..." Accelerator's voice trailed off as he saw tears running down her face, the sight caused him to lose track of what he was saying. She brought her arm up to her face and wiped them away once she realized they were the reason he was distracted. She stepped back and opened up the door. She was dressed in her bodysuit and gloves, once again not allowing any part of herself to be exposed aside from her face. She gestured towards the living room, and all three of them walked back there and sat down. 37 took up her spot on the end of the couch, immediately covering herself with blankets, while Accelerator sat at the other end while Yomikawa took one of the nearby chairs.

"You don't understand... All those years I was there, the experiments didn't just involve scientists. They also involved other students, specifically the original 47 Subjects. Every so often they'd have me meet with one of the other Subjects. They'd force us to come into contact with each other. Whenever I touched them, I'd feel so much pain, but I could copy their ability. I never saw the same Subject twice. Soon I found out that I was the only one left out of the original 47. I didn't realize why that had been until now. With their abilities stolen, they had become useless to the Institute. And you know what happens to the useless." She began to sob quietly again, burying her head in the blankets.

She was right... I didn't realize what this detail meant at all. Damn, I wish she'd stop crying. I can't stand seeing her like this.

"I wiped out an entire group of students with a mere touch. No wonder they moved me to seclusion. If I had grown careless, I would have stolen more from the general students. Even you, Accelerator. And that scares me more than anything right now." 37 lifted her head from the blankets, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

He looked at her blankly, opening his mouth to speak but nothing came out. I have no idea what to say to that. No idea what I could tell her that would make a difference to how she felt. Is this what it is to be heartless and not have any empathy for others? No, if that were the case I wouldn't even be here right now. Just because I can't find the words to say doesn't mean I don't feel for her.

Yomikawa answered her, "Listen, you had no control over what happened to them after they left you. That Institute and the people running it are responsible. And it's no longer able to commit anymore evil thanks to you two. You can't let yourselves be tied down by the past. Yeah, you two had a really shitty start to your lives, but that doesn't mean you have to carry that into the future. Now is the time to start thinking about what *you* want. Where do you want to go from here?" she asked, looking first to 37 and then to Accelerator.

"You should already know my answer, lady. I'm going after Kihara. I'll figure out the rest once that business is cleared up."

"He's been detained. There's no way you can get to him right now. You'll have your chance to face him when his trial begins. I meant what do you guys want for yourselves? Haven't you ever wished for anything? Any goals to meet? 37, I've been thinking about something lately. Don't you want to be more than just a number?"

"Well, I've been 37 so long, and I haven't given any thought to any other designation. I don't know what my parents used to call me. I suppose I know my last name was Utsu-ru now, but I don't... feel like that's me."

"Why don't we...I dunno... help you choose a name. I mean it can't be that hard to find one that suits you." Accelerator said with a hint of shyness in his voice as he first spoke.

For the first time since leaving the SAI, a trace of a smile appeared on 37's face. "I'd like that. I suppose we have other matters to take care of first, but we'll do that once it's all done." Her eyes dried up and her cheerful attitude slowly began to emerge. Once she looked capable of handling it, Accelerator told her about Kihara being the highest ranked Esper.

"I have no idea what ability he has, but apparently it's more powerful than my own. I need to know what it is..."

"Yeah, I want to know what it could be as well. Could it be listed in the Data Bank, Yomikawa?" asked 37.

"It's possible, let's find out," she answered as she went to the computer terminal on the other side of the living room. She quickly logged into Anti-Skill's system and started a search in the Bank. "Yeah, it's in here now. Kihara's Esper ability is 'Deviant'. Any force used against him is immediately re-directed wherever he chooses."

"Sounds like he's had a counter to my Redirection this entire time. Why didn't he ever reveal it while I was training?"

"To make you believe your ability couldn't be defeated or countered?" suggested 37.

"I don't know, but I don't like the thought that he's had this strong power all this time and chose to reveal it now. It's like he's trying to lure me into a fight. He knew how badly I've wanted to defeat him."

"A fight that won't happen, because he's going to be in prison! How many times must I say it?" Yomikawa's phone rang just as she finished scolding Accelerator. She stepped away as she answered the call. 37 and Accelerator just looked at each other, almost as though they knew their current subject of conversation had something to do with the phone call.

"WHAT? WHEN? And there was nothing Anti-Skill could have done? Is he still there? I'm on my way. NO, YOU WAIT UNTIL I GET THERE!" Yomikawa slapped her phone shut and drew a deep breath before facing the two children again.

"He got out, didn't he? That slimy bastard found a way out of all this, right?" Accelerator prodded, waiting for Yomikawa to respond. The defeated look on her face was the only answer he needed.

"Looks like it's time for a monster to take out one of its own kind." Accelerator growled as he made his way to the exit.