A/N: This current mini-Accelerator arc will have one more chapter, but don't expect part 3 to tie up any loose ends. After that, I'll do something more light hearted.

Also (something I've been trying to do recently) if you have any questions about anything I've written or just have a question in general, make a comment and I'll answer through a PM. I might even tell a (subjectively) funny joke.


The Mole

In the club room…

Misaka Mikoto started the session off by slamming her hands on the table.

"EVERYONE! LISTEN TO ME FOR A SECOND! ACCELERATOR IS A GODDAMN MOLE!"

She dramatically pointed at the white-haired boy, who was currently wearing a lab coat and taking notes on a clipboard.

"…"

After turning their heads from the Number 3 to the Number 1, the group returned to whatever they were doing without so much of a reaction.

"Oi, oi!"

In Plain Sight

"You're probably overthinking it."

Mugino Shizuri said this as she stuck her tongue out so Accelerator could examine it with a Popsicle stick.

( Accelerator: Normal. )

"You look stressed out. Are you feeling okay?"

Kakine Teitoku said this while Accelerator took his blood pressure.

( Accelerator: Surprisingly normal. )

"Yeah. I mean, really? A mole? That's doubtful."

Sogiita Gunha went back to taking the ink blot test that Accelerator had prepared for him.

( Gunha: I see guts. )

( Accelerator: Fascinating. )

"ARE YOU EVEN TRYING TO HIDE IT?-!"

"Am I supposed to?"

Status Quo

Accelerator spoke bluntly.

"Look. Whether I'm collecting information on everyone or not, does it matter? Everyone's already a willing participant in this experiment, and it's obvious that 'someone's' been collecting data. The situation won't change from that kind of revelation."

Misaka Mikoto became discouraged.

"I… I guess that's true…"

The Number 1 laid the matter to rest.

"Good. Good. Now that you understand…"

The white-haired boy unrolled a pack of measuring tape.

"Give me your measurements."

"…"

"…Eh?"

Playing Doctor

"Do you know how fucking annoying the paperwork is when you leave those fields blank on a medical form? Exactly, how have you been getting away with this in the first place?"

Accelerator slowly approached the girl with a maddening grin.

…!-?

Looking down, Misaka Mikoto saw that both Shokuhou Misaki and Sogiita Gunha were holding her legs in place.

And looking left and right, Mugino Shizuri and Kakine Teitoku held her arms back as well.

"W-What's going on?-!"

Accelerator stretched the tape with a snap. He started cackling.

"When was the last time you had a checkup, RAAAAILGUN? Hehe. Hehekeke. KEKEKEK. KEKEKEKUKIKUKEKEKUKIKAKEKUKIKAKEKI!"

Smooth transition to real life…

Misaka Mikoto was sitting up in bed. Her expression did not relay any amusement.

"I should have seen that coming."

Alone

The Number 3 arrived at the testing facility right on time. She was not early. She was not late. However…

"Huh?"

The club room was empty. Typically, there would be one or two people already waiting inside before she got there, but to her surprise, she was the first to arrive. At least... at first glance.

"…"

The girl scanned the room and noted something peculiar. A lab coat hung on one of the seats. And in front of that was a laptop.

"…?"

An eerie feeling settled in. It was the same feeling one would get from walking into a classroom at night.

Nonetheless, she cautiously stepped forward.

Stepping Over Boundaries

There was nothing interesting on the screen of the laptop. She needed a password to get past the log in screen.

"…"

It looked like there were items in the front pocket of the lab coat, but Misaka Mikoto wouldn't dare-

[ SFX: BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ. ]

The girl's heart jumped. It was just a phone vibrating.

[ SFX: BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ. ]

"…"

[ SFX: BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ. ]

A moment later… and it stopped.

"..."

...

The Number 3 made one more look around the room.

And letting her curiosity get the better of her… she reached into the pocket.

Reminder

A wallet fell out as she pulled out the smart device.

"Ah…"

But, sorting out her priorities, she looked at the phone screen first and found…

[ Missed Call from Piece of Shit ]

This has to be his…

Misaka Mikoto turned her gaze towards the wallet on the ground and saw that something else had fallen out.

A picture…?

For a better look, she knelt down and picked up the photograph. And it pretty much confirmed her suspicions.

It was a Christmas photo. On it, Yomikawa Aiho, Yoshikawa Kikyou, Misaka Worst, and Last Order were all formally dressed. Accelerator was there too; however, it seemed like Last Order and Worst had pulled him in at last second. He was in the midst of falling over with a distressed look on his face. It wasn't a good photo, but…

How cute…

The Number 3 made a self-satisfied grin. If there was ever an opportunity to blackmail the Number 1, she was holding it in her hands. Of course she would never do that, but it made her happy to know she could.

The girl instinctively flipped the picture…

Her smile disappeared from what she read.

[ You can't protect them forever. ]

Wristband

The door to the clubroom opened. Accelerator hobbled in with his cane but stopped upon seeing Misaka Mikoto. She was in the seat farthest from the lab coat and laptop.

"Activities are canceled today. I sent the e-mail this morning."

The white-haired boy spoke coarsely as he went over to grab his stuff.

"Ah… yeah. Yeah, I… I must have missed it."

Putting on his coat…

"Is that right? Well, I'm about to head off. If you want to stick around, suit yourself. Doors automatically lock at 9 PM, so don't stay too late."

He added.

"And if you still have that wristband, just leave it on the table."

"Oh, right. You never told me what that wristband was supposed to do."

"Supposedly, it promotes hip growth while shrinking chest size."

"W-WHAT?-!"

The Number 3 stood up in alarm.

"It measures AIM field interactions."

As always, Accelerator had a mean sense of humor.

Closing the Gap

Accelerator had his hand on the doorknob, but he stopped upon hearing the girl call out.

"Wait!"

"What is it?"

Misaka Mikoto struggled to find the right words.

"Erm… Eh… That… That lab coat looks good on you!"

"I'll be leaving now."

He opened the door.

"No. Hold on."

Gathering herself for a moment, she spoke cautiously.

"It… it doesn't sit well with me.

"I admit, I don't really know you well, but… I'd like to think I have an understanding of who you are.

"Taking part in an experiment this way… I don't think this is something you'd do willingly."

"…"

"Tell me. Is there…

"I mean, if there's something going on, you can tell me!"

Misaka Mikoto gave him a friendly smile.

But Accelerator's expression did not change.

These two did not have such a close relationship. There was no reason a girl like her would want to feel sympathy for a guy like him, especially considering their history. As such, this conflict needed to be addressed.

And he did this in the worst way possible.

"Subject 7432… She suffocated, you know?"

A darkness fell over the room.

Pushing Away

"Eh?"

Misaka Mikoto didn't understand.

"The initial impact didn't kill her, but she ended up buried underneath a bunch of rubble. I didn't realize it was over until I was told to stop searching."

The Number 3 slowly began to realize.

"Subject 7944 went out quickly. After being impaled by several metal beams, she bled out. Most likely, she lost consciousness immediately."

"Stop."

"Subject 8972 had her neck sliced by a piece of metal. She attempted escape, but she couldn't make it far with that injury. She exhibited strange behaviors right at the end, but it was reasoned that it was from chemical imbalances."

"I said stop."

"Subject 9982's leg was torn off. I don't need to explain much since you were there, but she was crushed underneath-"

At Arm's Length

Misaka Mikoto snapped. She grabbed the closest thing nearby and hastily threw it at Accelerator. A chair stumbled from its position before falling beside the Number 1.

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP! WHY ARE YOU BRINGING THIS UP NOW?-! DO YOU THINK I WANT TO REMEMBER?-!"

"…"

The girl couldn't tell what kind of face the boy was making.

"So you haven't forgotten then."

His voice seemed strangely detached.

"As of late, I may have been teasing you too much. But I'll stop now."

Stepping out, he shut the door softly.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Shitty kid."

Railgun and Accelerator

In the club room where a social experiment was held…

Tic. Tic. Tic. Tic.

When no activities should have taken place that day, one member stayed behind.

Tic. Tic. Tic. Tic.

The sun's rays were gradually turning orange. A warm color flooded in.

Tic. Tic. Tic. Tic.

Misaka Mikoto slowly clenched her fists.

She said quietly.

"Jackass."


Timeline: 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, x, 3, x, 5, 6, 7