Next Chapter: Accelerator takes a look back.
Timeline: 42, 43, 44, 46, 47
The woman in front of Accelerator spoke quietly.
"I didn't think anyone else would still be up."
Sizing him up, she lifted her bat right underneath the boy's chin.
"…"
The air felt different. It felt heavier.
There was a sweet scent lingering.
…gas?
Without moving his head, he made a quick glance towards the various bodies lying about.
It occurred to Accelerator…
Before now, he had been spending time with Misaka Mikoto. Had she been acting as an active purifier, unconsciously warding off a leaking anesthetic and preventing him from noticing earlier?
Following that line of thought, a lot had to have happened while the two were together. A certain amount of coordination needed to exist for this type of event…
She couldn't have been working alone.
"Stand up."
Toxin
"…"
The woman didn't budge from her position.
"And raise them up slowly. I want to see your hands."
Accelerator eyes drifted down to her waist. A handgun not unlike the revolvers standardized by the Japanese police force was at her side.
"…"
"Are you deaf? I told you to stand up."
Her voice was low but simmering. A normal person would have followed her orders to a tee as to not escalate the situation further; however, Accelerator's circumstances were more complicated. On various fronts.
"I… can't do that."
"You can't what? 'Stand'?"
He anticipated the cold response. She was quickly getting agitated.
"Awhile back, I got shot in the head. I survived, but parts of me are messed up. Balance, movement, and coordination aren't exactly my forte anymore."
"That sounds like bad writing."
"…I can't deny that. But doesn't make it any less true."
Balance
"I just need something to hold onto…"
It should be noted that most of these problems expressed by Accelerator could be easily fixed if he flipped the switch on his neck. But he couldn't exactly be subtle with the woman's hounding gaze on him.
"Is he telling the truth?"
The woman aimed her question to the bound researcher, Yoshikawa Kikyou.
…
"…this is the first I've heard about it, but… come to think of it, you were holding my arm rather tightly when I was dragging you around. I thought you were just being clingy."
"I wasn't."
"Oh…"
Ignoring Yoshikawa Kikyou's slight dejection, the woman carefully paced back a few steps. She kicked a nearby office chair in the boy's direction.
"Fine. Have it your way. If you can't stand, sit down."
"…"
It was a tense moment.
The boy struggled to lift himself into the seat under a demanding eye. It was almost a humiliating affair to be watched, and the opportunity to flip his switch still never arose.
"Now, hands behind your back."
Tape
Accelerator was in a bind. Literally. He was tied to a chair with duct tape covering his mouth.
"…"
"…mmh." ( "Hey." )
Accelerator glanced to the side to see Yoshikawa Kikyou. Of course, her mouth had been re-taped.
"…mm?" ( "What?" )
The young researcher scooted slightly closer.
"Mmm mm mmmn mmmm mmm mmh mmhhh. Mmmm mmh mmmh?" ( "Since that large-breasted woman is gone, we should figure out a way to escape. Do you have anything sharp to cut these restraints with?" )
"Mm. Mmm Nmm Nnnn." ( "I can't understand what you're saying." )
"Mnnnn mm mnn mnnnn mmmh nnh nnnh mmmh!" ( "D-Don't get cheeky! Complimenting me like that won't do you any favors!" )
Dis-Communication
Yoshikawa Kikyou squirmed in place.
"Mmm mmmn mmmh mnn nnnh mnn. Mm nnn nnnnh mmh mmn. Mmmn mmh nnnm." ( "I'm itchy." )
"…"
As Accelerator blankly reflected on his life decisions, the researcher beside him struggled to find an answer to their predicament.
"Nnnnm nnnh mnnn mmmmh mmn. Nnnnh mnn mmmm nmmm nhh." ( "So itchy." )
Turning her head from side to side, her eyes analyzed any possible outs, and it was then that she found-
"…!"
A small girl peering through the doorway.
"Mm!" ( "Huh? Isn't that-! Oh shoot! That's one of the kids from the study! Misaka Mikoto! What's she doing here?-! No wait, it doesn't matter! Help! Come over here and untie us! I'll reward you with unlimited headpats if you do!" )
Yoshikawa Kikyou rattled with excitement.
The girl briefly disappeared for a moment…
But then scuttled into the room holding a box about as large as she was.
( Miko-chan: Oof. )
Placing the box down, she responsibly shut the door behind herself, walked over to Accelerator, and climbed into his lap where she proceeded to tug the tape off his face with her child-like strength.
[ SFX: *RIIIIIIIIIP* ]
( Accelerator: Fucking shit!)
"I got your stuff."
"…oh, great."
Misaka Mikoto seemed oddly calm despite the strange scene.
"What kind of game are you two playing?"
"Does it look like we're playing a game?"
"An adult game, maybe? My parents sometimes do things kind of like this."
The boy decided not to press her.
Pint-Sized Heroine
"Mmm! Mmmn Nmm!" ( "Over here too!" )
While the researcher strived to grab the girl's attention, Accelerator changed topics.
"You… Did you see some kind of masked vigilante wandering around?"
"An? You mean that large-breasted woman? I waited until she left since it seemed like all of you were doing something important."
"Nnnnh mmmh hmmm mmmn!" ( "Do you not recognize this as a hostage situation?-!" )
"…Whatever. Look, there's a switch on my collar. I want you to flip it."
"Switch?"
The small girl tilted her head.
"What will happen if I do that?"
She asked the obvious question.
"It'll… make me useful. A little more useful than I am now."
"…"
Accelerator was clearly uncomfortable with the idea of having a more direct connection to 'Tree Diagram'. But resolving the current situation seemed nigh impossible without his abilities. His reluctance could only last him this far.
"Just… do it, alright."
He leaned forward.
"O-Okay…"
Holding onto his arms, Misaka Mikoto teetered to the side to get a better view.
Extending her fingers out…
…
There was a faint click.
Unexpectedly, the door behind them opened.
Anticipation
The woman in the motorcycle helmet came back in carrying another passed-out researcher.
[ SFX: Step. Step. ]
Accelerator and Yoshikawa Kikyou remained quiet as she tossed the body among the others she had amassed.
[ SFX: Step. Step. ]
Behind the corner of a desk, Misaka Mikoto covered her mouth.
[ SFX: Step. Step. ]
Through it all, Yoshikawa Kikyou noticed something else she was carrying. It looked like a gasoline tank.
Signaling to Accelerator, her expression conveyed equal parts stress and panic.
[ SFX: Step. Step. ]
[ SFX: Step. Step. ]
[ SFX: Step. ]
The woman was about to leave again but stopped.
She noticed the box near the entrance.
Anticipation II
"…"
…
Slowly, she took several steps forward while surveying the room.
As she veered closer, she saw another clue.
The tape on Accelerator was missing.
Her footsteps became quicker.
Pressure condensed as she approached.
Pulling out her sidearm, she aimed between his eyes.
"Where are they?"
…
"…I don't-"
"Don't make me ask again."
"…"
"It isn't worth it. Just tell me the truth, and no one gets hurt."
Nearby, Yoshikawa Kikyou was glued to her seat. It was fear that pulled her down, that any subtle movement would set their assailant off. She didn't dare make a move…
But as for Misaka Mikoto…
She was far more naive.
"What do you think you're trying to protect here?"
Slowly, the child stepped out, alerting the boy.
The slight movement in his eyes was all it took.
And turning around…
She pointed her pistol and shot.
On Sight
The room rang from the sharp blast.
Misaka Mikoto stood shocked with her hands shielding her face.
And then…
Sparks.
A violent torrent of sparks.
As if a firework had erroneously erupted between them, both the girl and the woman were caught off guard. And even more by the billowing flames that exploded out the next moment.
"What-!"
Leaving no time for her to gather her thoughts, Accelerator jumped in his seat to push her over.
"Get off-!"
She threw him back roughly.
The boy toppled over in his chair and skidded across the room. He hadn't been able to bring her down.
Though…
The unexpected chaos gave enough time for a one-shot kill.
Feeling something grab her leg, the woman looked down to see the girl who would eventually be Academy City's Number 3.
Then…
A surge.
And afterwards…
Darkness.
Static
Overhead, sprinklers turned on, showering everyone with water and dampening an already dying flame.
"Ha… ha… ha…"
Miko-chan breathed heavily. This may have been the first time she attempted something like this.
Looking toward where Accelerator fell over, she splashed toward him at an increasing pitter-pattered pace.
"H-Hey! What was that? That was an explosion?-! And fire?-! And sparks?-! And-! Why does it smell so bad?-!"
The boy rolled over.
"That's what happens when you shoot a battery."
"…battery?"
…
The small girl remembered. During her interview, Accelerator destroyed a camcorder and harvested its parts.
"From that?-!"
"…"
Instead of answering directly, he slowly stood up. His hands were no longer bound.
"It doesn't matter."
( Miko-chan: ? )
Interference
The white-haired boy stepped over to where unconscious masked woman lied and knelt down. At this point his white hair was dripping and sticking to his skin.
"…"
…
He was hesitant to pull the motorcycle helmet off.
Accelerator didn't need to confirm her identity, but it didn't seem right to leave it on.
…
Dark bags were evident.
And a stench of alcohol was prevalent.
She had the face of a broken human being.
"…"
"Isn't that…"
"Yeah… It is."
Misaka Mikoto went pale.
There was no use trying to hide it when she had already seen the photo.
Crack in the Mirror
Accelerator had been hesitant to use force against Yomikawa Aiho. In the end, it was Misaka Mikoto who settled everything. And as for how she felt about it…
"…"
"I'm-"
"Don't apologize."
Accelerator placed the helmet down. The fire sprinkles began to subside, turning from a drizzle to a mist.
"But…"
The small girl tried to sort out her uneasiness but couldn't finish the thought.
"…"
Her inability to say anything left her frustrated at herself. She may have done the right thing, what she believed was the right thing, but the result was far from a happy ending. She was missing context. And without answers, it turned her thoughts to the worst possible scenarios.
"…"
"You brought my cane, right?"
"…?"
She felt a hand rustle the top of her head.
Accelerator may have sensed her feelings. And this might have been his awkward way of comforting her.
Crack in the Mirror II
"There should be a phone somewhere nearby."
Misaka Mikoto looked up at the boy.
"It'd help me out a lot if you could call the police for me."
"…"
"I'll stay here. Are you fine on your own?"
Accelerator was displaying a surprising amount of consideration towards her. It was a step forward the girl hadn't expected.
Wiping the water off her face, the girl nodded.
"O-Okay."
She took one last look at Yomikawa Aiho before bolting out of the room.
And Accelerator…
What steps did he need to take after this?
…
Yoshikawa Kikyou was anxiously waiting.
The boy could tell that underneath the tape was a wide grin.
Crack in the Mirror III
Accelerator was loosely aware of it. That before they met, Yomikawa Aiho had been involved in an incident that resulted in the murder of a child. He never asked about the details.
He didn't want to know.
He didn't want to acknowledge the extent of which Academy City had already sunk its claws into her. And…
It was also the same for Yoshikawa Kikyou…
…
Cane in head, Accelerator limped toward the researcher.
Ripping the tape off her mouth for the second time-
"Pfah-! Te-te-te-te! Ouch!"
Accelerator resisted rolling his eyes at the outburst of emotion.
"I don't know what happened there, but good job! You went above and beyond! Now, if you could, my hands?"
She attempted to rotate herself in place.
"…before that, there's something I want to know."
The boy was hoping for an answer that couldn't exist with the current world.
"Why is it that you're tied up when everyone else is passed out?"
…
"…"
She stopped moving. The researcher's expression soured.
"I don't… What are you trying to say?"
…
"This isn't the time to mess around. That… 'terrorist'… can wake up at any moment."
"Answer the question, Yoshikawa."
Whistleblower
Her gaze turned almost hateful.
"Untie me."
…
Accelerator patiently stared down at her.
"…"
It didn't take much to break her down. When she was completely at his mercy, there wasn't much she could do. The researcher gritted her teeth.
"I don't know her. I'm not associated with her.
"I was standing outside the interviewing room when something hit me from behind and knocked me out. And then I was here, tied to this chair. Just like how you were."
"…"
"It's the truth."
…
Accelerator blinked. It made sense. If Yoshikawa Kikyou had been outside the interrogation room but still nearby Misaka Mikoto, then she might not have been affected by any gas, but…
The answer he hoped for had not arrived.
"It's like that, then."
"Alright, so untie me."
…
"Not yet."
"…?"
"It would have been a lot easier if the two of you were working together."
Whistleblower II
"So Anti-Skill is going to be here any moment, and I'm wondering what I should tell them."
Accelerator stared down at an eager researcher who has yet to be humbled.
"I could say that a woman busted in here and attempted to burn this whole place to the ground, or…
"I could say that everyone here is illicitly attempting to steal the DNA maps of seven innocent children who have yet to give their permission."
The boy clicked his tongue.
"And for reasons you may be forced to clarify."
"…"
Yoshikawa Kikyou's eyes widened.
"A lot of people seem to be on board with this. Even I'm surprised who's involved. It would be a shame if something were to put a halt to this."
"I don't… know what you mean…"
She spoke quietly and looked away. She began to bite down on her lip as Accelerator continued to press forward.
"That right…?
"Call my bluff. Let's let Anti-Skill sift around. I'm sure they won't find anything incriminating. But…
"That's a lot of wasted time, don't cha think? Time for others to get ahead of you. Right now is the Golden Age of Science, a time where a single minute of downtime can leave a researcher completely irrelevant and obsolete. When you've got the future of Academy City served on a silver platter in front of you, you can't fuck it up."
"…"
"However,
"I can keep quiet.
"And the lot of you can continue doing your 'harmless' experiments.
"Just as long as I get what I want."
Whistleblower III
"…"
Yoshikawa Kikyou stood up. She massaged her unrestrained wrists. Her attitude changed to something colder and more distant.
…
Passing by Accelerator, she stepped toward the collapsed Yomikawa Aiho. And she hoisted her over her own shoulders. She struggled under the weight but managed to stay on her balanced.
…
Dragging herself towards the exit, she passed by Accelerator again. She didn't give him so much as a glance.
And.
Before leaving…
…
"I hope I never see you again."
That was her goodbye.
…
Alone… the boy gripped his cane.
"You should have tried being a teacher from the start."
Whistleblower IV
After the day's events settled…
On the roof of the pharmacological lab…
Accelerator leaned against the railing, staring out at the darkening sky.
Below, vehicles of all types started to gather around. Their sirens though seemed muted.
"To live today without regrets."
The small girl beside him spoke aloud.
"To live today without regrets
To live tomorrow with a smile
Even though I cried yesterday
No matter how many times I fall
I will not give up
Because I want to live
Always smiling
Boat headed out to the distant ocean
Keep on charging toward that distant light
Forward, forward
Cast off your chains"
She recited it with conviction. And it echoed in his mind with solidarity.
"That's something I heard from an anime."
"…"
"Anime is pretty great, huh?"
"Yup!"
Poem
Misaka Mikoto held onto the fence with her delicate fingers.
"Will they be alright?"
She referred to Yoshikawa and Yomikawa, the women in the photograph she recognized. Whatever happened to them from then on was out of his hands.
"Who knows."
…
"Did I make things worse?"
"…"
Accelerator placed his hand on her head.
( Miko-chan: *pah!* )
"…again?"
"…"
Accelerator wasn't good at this sort of thing.
And although the girl complained, she came to accept the gesture.
Comfort
The two stared out into the distance. There was a fishing boat in the river, drifting about in a routine path. The ambient noise was barely perceptible.
From here on out, Academy City would only grow larger and larger. And the darkness would continue to hunger.
"Aniki…"
The small girl looked up at him. Her eyes were almost glass-like.
"I know you can't tell me about the future…
"But there's something I need to know."
Accelerator felt heavier as she continued.
"Someone told me that…
"If I gave away my DNA map, I'd be able to save a lot of people."
He expected the topic to come up. It was a major event that shaped their lives.
"Even if you aren't allowed to say anything…
"Can you at least give me a hint?"
Higuchi Pharmacology Laboratory 7. This was the place where it all started.
"Will giving my DNA map really help people?
"I don't know why, but…
"I'm… scared."
What was left of the sun's rays dwindled. Her small figure only made her look more vulnerable as the surrounding shadows enveloped around her.
"Aniki. Tell me what I should do."
Laboratory 7
A/N: Re-edited but with more or less the same events and conclusions. After reading it over, I felt I needed to make the chapter more cohesive.
