Hello there. In this chapter Nobilis finally begins the first step of her plan, slowly preparing those around her for her actions and she will explain to one person where she got such a range of knowledge from.
Chapter 5: Fragments of the Past
It was the morning of November 8. Nobilis knew that a 'small' detour with the Freshmen from the original plan would get her noticed by the city administration and many others. But that didn't bother her. Her next steps would lead to that. She knew that Academy City was a dangerous structure inside, masquerading as a beautiful metropolis only for tourists and naive people living their daily lives.
"(While I put the matter with Kamijou Touma aside, I still haven't found out where the little girl is being held. May she not suffer a day longer. But it's only a matter of time to find her. The question is what to do next. I'm not sure how to get rid of her the second form of her suffering. If I relieve her of her suffering, what then? There is probably no other way but death, when she desires it so much.)"
As Nobilis thought, she looked at the water level of the city's lake and the unsuspecting people living their daily lives in Academy City.
. . .
Meanwhile, Uiharu Kazari and Saten Ruiko walked carefree along the street surrounded by avenues of trees. Their friends Edasaki Banri and Haruue Erii ran nearby to buy some pancakes. They planned to join them later.
Kazari was telling new information about the recent events, since as a member of Judgment she has more information than the others, including the 'urban legend hunters'.
"Legends are already circulating about the person both Anti-Skill and Judgment are looking for. Some say it's the new Level 5, others say it might even be a gemstone. Some say she put the volcano in Hawaii to sleep! We now only that she is aforeigner."
As Ruiko said this, she was looking through her cell phone, looking for new information about urban legends.
"And also–" she stopped talking and even walking. Her eyes were still looking at the screen of her smarpthon.
"Huh? Saten-san? Did something happen?"
"Look, Uiharu! That's her!"
Ruiko turned her cell phone to Kazari where there was aphoto taken from adistance of a girl with black and white hair standing near the lake.
"They found her! Legend Hunters, just a few minutes ago, is not far from us! Come, we may see her with our own eyes!"
"Satan, stop! He's a wanted person!" Kazari put her Judgment badge on her sleeve and continued. "We need to contact Judgment and Anti-Skill! But I admit that you who are obsessed with legends sometimes work more efficiently than we do at Judgment."
Ruiko just laughed sheepishly. Despite the possible risk, her desire to see the legend with her own eyes remained constant.
Meanwhile, Kazari called Kuroko.
"Shirai-san, we found her! She is in District 21 by the boat rentals."
"Did you find her?! But... the city government has forbidden us from arresting her. It came this morning. Even Anti-Skill can't do anything."
"What?! But after all..."
"I know Uihara, I find it strange too. But in the news, everything was thrown at the Freshmen. Well, I talked to her. I was there when she destroyed that underground warehouse. It's probably something that's being hidden from us."
"I understand, Shirai. Thank you. See you later."
After the phone call ended, Kazari was just as confused as the rest of Judgment and Anti-Skill. Ruiko was also surprised, but she was more interested in the possibility of seeing the legend.
"Uiharu. Let's take a look at her, at least from a distance! It's daytime and there are other people around, she won't do anything to us. We'll be like paparazzi!" Saten said, winking at Uihara.
Kazari was finally convinced.
Saten and Uiharu approached where Nobilis was thinking and looking at the park setting.
But before they got there, they saw the 'legend' standing by the water, and next to her was... Shiari Kuroko, with whom she was having a conversation.
Both were surprised.
"Shirai-san?!" Kazari called.
Both girls standing by the water turned around. The girl with white and black hair turned around and smiled slightly.
"Saten Ruiko and Uiharu Kazari. I'm glad to meet you."
Both were stunned. Kuroko too.
"How do you know them?" Shirai asked.
"I know many of you. Don't worry, you can come closer."
"Shirai-san, what's going on here?" Uiharu asked.
"I was restless and went here, where you saw her. Finally she was willing to talk to me."
"Ehmm, well... may I ask what's your name?" Ruiko asked timidly.
"Nobilis."
"Nobilis... And your family name?"
"Just Nobilis, I don't have family name."
Everyone looked on with a slightly puzzled expression.
"Well, okey then..." Ruiko said at loud, then she whispered in Kazari's ear. "She is so pretty."
"Is that importent now?" answered Kazari with low voice.
"And how do you know us? You even call us by our first names instead of our family names," Ruiko asked again at loud.
"I hope you don't mind. I know you because some knowledge precedes the ordinary range of perception. Let's say you got involved in various problems."
Then Kuroko spoke up.
"But she doesn't want to tell me why she is here."
"The world you see is only the tip of the iceberg. You, Ruiko, Kazari and many others. You are good people. I don't want to drag you down to the depths I'm here for. I don't want to worry you or cause you trouble."
"Onee-sama says the same things."
Nobilis smiled. "It's nice that you keep calling her that. I wonder that you all are not afraid of me."
Ruiko put her hand behind her head and smiled.
"Well, you know… when we saw you and Shirai talking, we figured you probably wouldn't hurt us. Although Uiharu was a bit scared."
"Of course, someone who is Level 5..." Uiharu said.
She was interrupted by an excited Ruiko.
"Misaka is also Level 5 and she belongs to the good ones. How many plans of villains did she foil?"
"I'm not Level 5, I'm not even an esper."
Ruiko was confused, just like all others."Huh, so then…?"
"Exactly, can you at least tell us what your ability is? I've seen enough and I can't explain it. You can control gravity, we know that for sure. And also teleportation, but that's not possible without multiskills." Kuroko asked those quesionts seriously.
"Gravity or teleportation... They are just one of the many applications of my power. Universe has so many forces, energies and rules. But, it doesn't have to be all about destruction."
As she said this, Nobilis looked at the lake they were standing by. As if she wanted to redirect the attention of the other girls to this lake. At that moment, dolphins formed from the water started jumping out of the water.
Kazari and Ruiko were amazed and delighted. Kuroko looked rather surprised.
"Do you also control water or liquid? Hydrokinesis? You have Multi-Skill, right?" Kuroko asked at a fast pace.
"Like I said, I'm not an esper."
"But you're at least a gemstone."
"Neither. Okay, it's about time..."
"Oh, wait. How about you come with us?"
"Saten-san!" the still uncertain Kazari admonished her.
"What...?" Kuroko also responded.
"Come on, I think she is one of the good ones," Ruiko said in a slightly cheerful yet slightly cautious tone.
"I said a while ago that I didn't want to cause you any trouble, so it would be better, if–" said Nobilis with honest tone.
"Come on! You will meet Misaka-san! Haruue-san and Edasaki-san will be amazed if you show them more dolphins created from water or maybe small drama from watter, like walking animals in Africa. I mean... if you don't mind."
Nobilis smiled. "Of course I won't mind. They are pure souls, such as are rarely found." Nobilis thought. "I can show them things they couldn't even dream of imagining. But... you all must be careful, this city has already noticed my presence."
Kuroko and Kazari were still uncertain, finding Ruiko too carefree.
"Saten-sab, we don't know her at all," Kuroko whispered.
Ruiko nevertheless called Banri and Erii on the phone to see her 'new discovery'. They were at the lake where the four girls were standing a few minutes later. They didn't know who the girl with two-tone hair and red eyes was.
"Edasaki Banri and Haruue Erii, nice to meet you," Nobilis said with a slight smile.
They both wondered.
"You are…" Banri asked timidly.
"I'm—"
"Ta-daaa, this is Nobilis!" Ruiko said excitedly.
Nobilis just smiled modestly and spoke to the two girls.
"Is Miss Kiyama Harumi okay?"
"Do you know Kiyama-sensei?" Erii asked.
"Not personally."
"She is doing well. We visit her regularly and she always gives us gifts or takes us on small trips in the city."
"I see. I'm glad to hear that."
Then Ruiko started to speak.
"Hey, won't you show them the water trick? Banri and Erii would surely be very happy."
"Maybe I'll do something even more interesting. As I promised, I will show you something beautiful. Universe would be abit scary for you, but at least something small and calm."
"What does she want to do?" Kuroko said in a low voice.
"Look at the sky," Nobilis said with movement of her eyes to the clouds.
At that moment, a huge whale began to form from the clouds, swimming among the clouds as if it were an ocean.
The girls who were looking at the sky had an expression of wonder.
"Who... are you?" Kuroko asked, her eyes still looking at the whale in the sky and expression in awe.
"After all, Nobilis," she responded with low tone.
The whale slowly dissolved.
"Ahhh, it's fading," Erii said a little sadly between Nobilis and Kuroko's small conversation.
"Okay, so what are you?" Kuroko asked with serious expression.
"Just a girl."
"Hey, don't you want to go somewhere with us? Maybe to arestaurant?"
"Thank you, but I don't needfood to live."
All girls just just looked on with a puzzled expression. Then Ruiko try another question.
"Okey," she said slowly, "then maybe somwehre else? We can call Misaka-san too. Maybe even Kongou-san and her group will came! They will be blown away by you!"
Nobilis smiled slightly and closed her eyes. "I really appreciate your offer, but as I said, will be better if you have a distance from me. For good of all of you."
The girls just stood there silently. In ashort moment, Nobilis spoke.
"I will go now. Take good care of yourself. All of you."
"And where are you going?" Kuroko asked.
"To take the next step. Now please listen to me. Especially you Kuroko. I want Mikoto to know that I will do things that you will doubt or think are wrong. You won't know why I do some of them. But know that I will try so that no one innocent comes to harm. The forces of this city and of this world, which you do not know, will be against me. Don't let the system and especially ignorance use you, Mikoto and other good people against me. But that will happen. She will hate me. Even so, it will be useless to stand in my way, she, you or anyone else don't have the strength for it. No one in this world has. Don't worry, I won't hurt her or any of you. If you will tell her all of this or not, is up to you. Its not so importent, just you all was so friendly to my, so I just don't want you to see me as your enemy so cheaply."
After a short pause, Nobilis said one last word before disappearing. "Goodbey."
"What–" Kuroko wanted to ask a question but it was too late. Nobilis was gone. "...are you trying to tell us?" she ended question with low voice.
All the girls grew serious at these words. They just stood there, not understanding, confused and a little worried.
"She…" Erii said.
"Yeah, she teleported away," Kuroko replied.
Kazari began to speak with concerns.
"Shiari-san, did you understand what she wanted to tell us? What she was saying sounded quite ominous."
Kuroko spoke. "This was abit more than quite ominous, Uiharu. She said something similar in that underground warehouse."
Saten just stared ahead with a worried and somewhat confused expression. She spoke slowly.
"Nobilis said those words as a warning while trying to be friendly. Do you really think she wouldn't... be on the side of the good guys?"
"I don't know, Saten-san. I don't know. Many people justify their actions with circumstances, a higher good or misunderstanding from others. From her point of view, she is certainly does good, but it is questionable what she will do next. Freshmen was obviously just the beginning, and even then entire facilities across the city were destroyed."
"Didn't you also destroy the building when you were catching the Level Upper dealers?" said Ruiko.
"Saten-san, I fought against them back then. This is different. She uses destruction as a problem-solving tool. It is not about some buildings and facilities. She didn't hurt anyone. But when I spoke to her before your arrival, she said that it was just a small, inadvertent detour due to circumstances. And now she's hinting that she's going to do more, that whatever she's here for, she hasn't really started acting yet? What can this mean for the city then? And through me she warned Onee-sama."
"You are afraid that she will do something that Misaka will react to? And since her powers..."
"Don't underestimate Tokiwadai's Railgun!"
"Nobody underestimate Misaka-san, but... You saw what happened and data when she destroyed the Freshmen."
Kuroko was silent. She understood that if Mikoto will stand against this girl for any reason, her chances will be zero.
Then a soft voice spoke slowly. It was Haruue Erii's voice.
"Is it… really?" Everyone looked at her. "Maybe that's why she showed us that whale in the sky and said that not all power can only destroy. To show that she does not have a dark heart before that warning."
Kuroko closed her eyes and sighed. She wanted to lighten the mood.
"You seem to have been impressed by her show on the sky and the praise she gave you."
The others smiled a bit. Then Kazari looked down at the ground.
"Those words she said before she left are not only for us to know, but mainly for Mikoto. Shirai-san, will you tell her that?"
"I don't know yet. She should know. But at the same time, I know her well and I'm afraid that it will only put her in more danger, because she will try to find out more about that girl and what she wants. Onee-sama always intervenes in critical situations. After all, she is the Tokiwadai Railgun protecting the peace of this city,"
Kuroko said last sentence in a bit proud tone, but it was felt that her tone was forced. In truth, she was worried. She continued to speak.
"But she, Nobilis, from what she says, sees this city as something evil, something dark. If she deals with things like with the Freshmen, she may come into conflict with the good ones as well. I don't know what she wants to do, but she probably assumes that Onee-sama and others like her will try to stop her from doing it."
Everyone was silent. Only the sounds of the surroundings and the sound of water and the distant voices of people could be heard.
. . .
Nobilis left the group of girls and teleported to District 7. She knocked on the door to the apartment owned by Yomikawa. Accelerator and Misaka Worst were gone. Last Order was just playing games. Yoshikawa opened the door. Her eyes widened in surprise, or rather shock.
"What! You–"
"Just calm down, I'm not here to hurt you. I just want to ask something."
But that's when Yomikawa came to the door.
"You?! How did you find us?!"
"Don't worry, I'm not here to cause you problems. I just want answers. I am looking for one girl. Ladylee Tangleroad. Please tell me. Do you know where she is?"
"Space elevator incident... Why are you looking for her?"
"Because she suffers."
"How does she suffer? She should be in a reformatory."
"She is definitely not there. Yoshikawa, you know the dark side, you participated in its activities. Do you know of someone or a facility that focuses on, for example, gemstones? Or very specific espers?"
"We will not deal with it here. Come to the apartment," Yomikawa said.
"Hello," Nobilis greeted Last Order.
Last Order turned away from the TV.
"Huh? Who is our guest? Asks Misaka as Misaka is curious about this strange person."
Nobilis smiled at the small energetic girl.
"Hello, Last Order. My name is Nobilis."
"Nobilis...? Repeats Misaka as Misaka is surprised."
Introducing stopped Yoshikawa.
"Last Order, there is still the cake in the fridge that I put aside. You can take it if you want."
Last Order was delighted and ran to the kitchen with expressions of joy.
Yoshikawa then turned to Nobilis.
"How do you know who I am and what I've been doing?"
"Is it important?"
"I think it is."
"Why? Are you concerned that I know what you were involved in?"
"I–" Yoshikawa began to have an angry expression. "If I could decide to do it over again, I would never have joined the... project."
"He says the same thing. It's strange that you turned after that. That you found empathy after that 'science project'. Where was it until then?"
"I admit that calling it the biggest mistake of my life is not enough. Therefore, helping Last Order, Worst, and the other Sisters is the least I can do."
"A mistake looks different. This was disgusting madness. Those of you who participated in it, you were with them for months, listening to their voice, thoughts, feelings, while watching them being killed by the thousands. This project, research on espers, experiments, criminal organizations... This city is full of psychopaths. And your care how I know about your crimes?"
"Did you come to kill me?" Yoshikawa asked the question in a calm voice as if a voice of reconciliation.
A worried Yomikawa intervened in the conversation. "That's enough!"
Nobilis looked at her and spoke to her.
"Miss Yomikawa, you are in Anti-Skill. I was wondering how you actually feel about some twisted research on espers in this city?"
"Every city has its dark sides. We are here to remove them. It is expected that there will be black sheep in the research world of such powers as espers. I try to make sure that all children can live their everyday happy lives here."
"You have no idea what the purpose of this city is. Espers are for for leadership just a resource. A product. That is why this so called Academy City was founded. There may be exceptions in the city council, but they are few."
"So you're saying espers shouldn't exist?"
"I am saying that you should not overlook the darkness of this city and all its evil as something that is only like a diseased branch of a tree. When we talk about Academy City, know that the very roots are diseased and thus the whole tree, you just don't see it for the green leaves and the sweet fruit, because you rarely get to the rotten fruit. It is hidden deep in the crown of the tree."
"How you can be so sure?"
"As I said to you yesterday. Some of us know more than you could ever imagine it."
"Maybe you're right. I know that the leadership of the city is not exactly the embodiment of goodness. But that doesn't mean I can't try to protect the inhabitants of this city from the darkness."
"When you look at it that way, now you have another chance to prove this belief of yours. Ladylee Tangleroad is being held as a research subject. It has the ability to regenerate and not age. There's more to it, but you just need to know this."
"And how do we know you're telling the truth?"
"You don't know. You can only believe that I want the next equivalent of Dark May Project or Level 6 Shift to be destroyed."
Both Yomikawa and Yoshikawa were a bit surprised again.
Yomikawa turned her head slightly. "You know somehow too much."
"You believe that. In fact, I know too little. The fact that I am looking to you for help with information is proof of that."
"I assume you want to destroy another dark lab."
"I came here because I don't know where to start. And this was the least violent method of obtaining information that I could think of. And now I will not take any action against the top management of the city. Not yet."
Yomikawa looked with her eyes suspiciously. "You want to… challenge the city council?"
"I promise nothing. By the highest leadership of the city, I did not necessarily mean the council. But now, direct action against the top leadership will thrown the city into an unwanted state. The system still needs to work before I take the necessary steps. Now focus on my intentions regarding Ladylee Tangleroad. That's my first step."
"The first step? And what are the others? Do you realize what you are telling us here? In a way as if you were talking about an everyday topic?"
"I won't tell you my next steps now. But I don't want to unnecessarily destabilize this city too much. It would not make my intentions any easier and in addition, it would endanger ordinary residents. That's why I came to ask you for help. So that I don't have to turn the city upside down."
"Otherwise you're going to do what you did with the Freshmen until you find the girl? Are you openly telling us here that you have something serious planned and in the meantime you're asking us for help with it? It's almost like a threat."
"No threats, there's no reason for the scale to be the same as the destruction of the Freshmen. I just want to get her out of that place. I will find her. Whether you advise me or not is up to you. You can help her this way too. I will not hurt her or allow her to do anything wrong. I just want to help her."
Yomikawa Sighed.
"Okay then. For this time. Now, if you allow me, I'll call someone and have it checked."
"No. Calls in this city are not safe."
"Why not?"
"He can eavesdrop on everything. Just tell me who to find and where they are."
Yomikawa objected. "No, I don't trust you that much yet. If someone is being used for experiments, we, the Anti-Skill, will handle it."
"As you think, I will not convince you. But it's naive. The top management of the city is responsible for these experiments. Anti-Skill is just a means of public order to make people think that the power of justice reigns in the city."
"Is this how you see us? At least believe me for a moment. I'll call and ask if she'll be willing to help you."
Yomikawa put the phone to her ear.
"It's me, Yomikawa. Please, may I ask you something? I suspect that one city disruptor has something up his sleeve with the remnants of Project Endymion. Do you know where the prisoners who participated in it went?... I understand... Sure... Thank you."
Yomikawa put the phone down and looked at Nobilis.
"Supposedly, if she is not in prison, there are rumors that someone was placed in a special facility. Maybe somewhere here, in District 7."
"Shutaura Sequenzia was on the phone, wasn't she?" Nobilis asked.
"Do you know each other?"
"She doesn't know me. Didn't she change a bit after the events with Endymion?"
"I don't know what you mean exactly, but I don't know her well enough to judge. I only needed her number to deal with the situation after the whole crisis that day. That's all what she knows."
"For now its enough. Thank you. I'll try to find the place."
"Wait a little longer. You know the city government has stopped looking for you. Why? Why would they just let you roam free and do whatever you want?'
"Probably the director is trying to find out more about my goals and abilities. In addition, common methods such as Anti-Skill, Item or Scavanger do not work against me. And he doesn't consider it necessary to take action yet. If, or when he try, he will regret it, but he doesn't realize that yet. Be careful. I blocked UNDER_LINE within a radius of hundreds of meters, but the city administration can still find out that I talked to you."
"UNDER_LINE?" Yomikawa said confused.
Immediately after that, Nobilis disappeared.
Yoshikawa and Yomikawa stood in the middle of the room while Last Order ate a cake in the kitchen.
Before long, Accelerator and Misaka Worst returned. Last Order immediately came running and told what happened a few minutes ago. Accelerator became visibly angry. This person directly came to their home and potentially endangered his entire family. Misaka Worst seemed quite pleased because it portends trouble and it means less boredom for her.
Nobilis teleported on the roof of one building. But how to find the facility where maybe Ladylee Tangleroad is?
"(Immortality, a special device... There are dozens of laboratories, and in one of them there is only one person. Maybe the doctor could advise.)" she said in her mind.
She decided to go to the hospital where Heaven Canceller works.
Meanwhile, Mikoto was walking through the streets, heading to the same hospital. She was carrying a small bag with sweets in her hand. She wanted to go visit the Sisters, especially Misaka 10032.
Nobilis entered the hospital invisibly so as not to attract attention. When she found the doctor, she canceled the invisibility. She spoke to him from behind his back.
"Doctor."
Heaven Canceler turned around in surprise.
"Huh? When did you appear here? Can I help you in any way?"
"You can to someone else. Do you know anything about so-called immortality research at any facility in this district? It's about a girl. Have you ever heard of such a thing?"
"Such sudden question? Let's see... immortality? I don't know about any esper even with such potential power. I would probably lose my job. I don't know about anything like that. Hmm, I know from my experience that no one is immortal."
"You are right, doctor. But your long-time former patient believes there is. You know him, you know how far he is willing to go for such a valuable discovery. And because of that, someone suffers."
The doctor's eyes widened and he struggled for words for a moment.
"Are you talking about..."
"Yes, I'm talking about him. But he is now unimportant. One little girl is important now."
The doctor was very serious. "I have no idea how you even know that or who told you. But it is dangerous, very dangerous. If anyone finds out–"
"They won't know. At least not from me. The main thing now is the girl."
"If the person you mentioned is really there, what do you want to do in such a laboratory? How can I be sure that you won't hurt her then? Or someone else?"
"I want to free her from that place. And you cannot be sure. You can just trust me. I'll find her anyway. And I'll get her out of it. Just in different ways, so now it's up to you how long it takes me. And you know your former patient well. You know what kind of person he is. If she's not in that facility, they won't even know I was there. But if I find her there, let's agree that I won't hurt anyone. I'll just save her, let the staff escape, and I will destroy that place."
Heaven Canceller looked at the ceiling of the hospital. "God in heaven... I don't know who you are or what you really want, but I know what you did across city the day before yesterday. I will believe you. Maybe one institute, only in theory. There, they investigate the regenerative properties of living organisms. I'll give you the address. Under one condition. Promise me you won't hurt anyone."
"Thank you doctor. I promise. If only because of how much I respect you."
Nobilis looked out the window. One of the Misaka Sisters was sitting in park and petting a black cat. She stared at her for a moment, which the doctor noticed.
"Are you interested in that girl?"
"I know who it is. Don't worry, I have no intention of harming them, none of them. That black cat... This is 10032, right?"
"Did Misaka Mikoto tell you about them?"
"No. She doesn't even know me."
"Then how do you know them?"
Nobilis didn't say anything or change her expression, just kept looking out the window.
"You...?" came a surprised girl's voice from the hospital corridor.
Nobilis recognized the voice. She turned her head slightly and put her red eyes to the side to look at Misaka Mikoto.
"It's you… from Hawaii," Mikoto said as she walked towards them. Her eyes were wide and fixed on Nobilis.
"Do you know each other?" asked the doctor.
"Not really," Mikoto replied. "Who are you?" she asked the unknown girl.
"I'm Nobilis, Misaka Mikoto. And doctor, since you didn't know my name yet."
"So Nobilis," said the doctor in a calm voice.
Mikoto came up to the girl with the two colored hair. "You're… I have so many questions. Why were you there? Why did you save us..."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, I just... Well then, thank you."
"With pleasure. Did you come to see the Sisters?" Nobilis asked.
Misaka was surprised and a little worried.
"Wait, you know about my–"
"No worries. 10032 is already waiting for you."
Mikoto frowned a bit. "How do you know about them, what do you want from us?"
"Nothing from you or them, Mikoto."
"Right away my first name?" Mikoto then looked at Heaven Canceller. "Doctor, I'm sorry, but can she and I be alone?"
"Of course." The doctor replied and left down the hall.
Mikoto then looked at Nobilis. "Can we talk?"
"Talk or ask me questions?"
"Huh? I certainly have a lot of questions. Mainly, why were you in Hawaii? How do you know about my sisters? And what ability do you have?"
"Given the situation, my presence in Hawaii was necessary."
"What kind of answer is that? I was talking to Kuroko. Apparently you destroyed the Freshmen organization, not Anti-Skill. I saw what you did in Hawaii. Who are you anyway? And why are you here?"
"You all keep asking me the same questions."
"Apparently there are reasons for this. You were involved in the crisis in Hawaii and you did there something I can't explain. And you didn't say how you know about my sisters."
"Speaking of the Sisters, tell me. Accelerator was in Hawaii too, did you see him?"
"I met him. I'm still feel sick."
"What did he say to you and you to him?"
"Why are you care about that?"
"Just because of the Sisters."
"What about them? We didn't say anything. I saw again someone who killed the Sisters before my eyes. Something like that…"
"Just this?"
"He just reminded me of my share of guilt in the experiment. And he is said to be trying to repay the debt to the Sisters, at least according to his words. I heard what happened to him. But why do we have to talk about him now?"
"Your share of the blame for the 'experiment'? Mikoto, you have no share."
"I..." Mikoto bowed her head. Nobilis's voice brought her out of her gloomy thoughts.
"May I speak to your Sister?"
"Well, that's up to her, she probably won't mind. But why?"
"Because they are… impressive creatures."
"That sounded a little strange."
"Maybe, but it's true." Nobilis' eyes looked at the small bag Mikoto was holding. "Are you bringing her a gift?"
"Well, yes... Okay then. Promise they won't be endangered because of you."
"I promise."
Both girls went downstairs to the small park that forms the hospital grounds. Misaka 10032 was sitting on a bench stroking her black cat on her arms. As Mikoto and Nobilis approached Misaka 10032, she raised her head towards them. It didn't take long for her to find information on Misaka network about this person from the Last Order who had seen her in the Yomkawa's apartment.
"Onee-sama. Misaka sees that you have company at your place. Nice to meet you. Says Misaka showing her courtesy."
"Yes, this is Nobilis."
"Misaka notices the girl's strange hair and eyes. But Misaka envies her beauty. Misaka expresses her honest opinion of the stranger's appearance."
"Hey, behave yourself!" Mikoto admonished her Imouto.
Nobilis smiled. "That's fine. You're 10032. This is the cat that Touma helped you take care of, right?"
"Yes, this is Inu. Do you know Touma? Misaka asks, wondering where you got this information from."
"I know. He doesn't know me, just like here, your sister."
"How is it possible that you know so much about us?" asked Mikoto suspiciously.
"I'm someone who was never supposed to be here, but too many things happened and a certain line was crossed."
"What are you talking about again?"
"Don't worry about it. There will be time for everything."
"Damn, it's bothering me too much! Everything you say just creates more questions!"
Meanwhile, another voice was heard coming from behind the trio of girls.
"Onee-sama?"
"Ah, you're…?" Mikoto asked.
"Misaka 10046. Misaka answers to her Onee-sama."
10046 immediately looked at Nobilis.
"And this girl..."
"I am Nobilis. Nice to meet you."
"My pleasure," 10046 replied, bowing slightly.
After some small talk, Mikoto gave them candies and puddings she bought at the store. Both Sisters were sitting on a bench enjoying the sweets that Mikoto had brought them.
"It's a pretty sight," Nobilis said as she looked at the two Sisters who were eating candies and playing with a black cat.
"What?" Mikoto asked her.
"The way you take care of them. And how innocent they are. Looking at your Sisters, I feel happiness, but also regret."
"Regret? You mean..."
"Of course. May none ever die. I wish you could to 10031 say other words... Sorry, maybe I said too much."
"Other words? ... Wait, do you know about that?!"
"I know."
"Tell me. You're a telepath like Mental Out, but can you break through my electromagnetic barrier?!"
"I didn't read your mind Mikoto. I don't read minds and I will never control anyone. Although I could do both on the whole planet. It's my rule. I just saw many things. Including your talk to 10031."
"On whole planet you can do what? Wait, you said you saw? How? How can you talk like that?"
"I can tell you that you, the Sisters, Touma and the others are influencing the course of many things. Many events have become a part of you or you are the cause of them. I studied, observed, researched."
"What?! How did you see? And for what purpose? Talk directly at last! How do you know what happened when you weren't there?!"
"Do you really want to know? To see lives and the world as I saw yours?"
"Yes! I finally want answers. How did you know what I said 10031?! How could you… know." Mikoto said with a slightly shaky voice.
Nobilis began to speak in an even more serious and slower tone. "Are you sure? It will only cause you pain."
"I still feel that pain."
"Alright, Mikoto. I just want you to know that what you will see is just a projection of the past. It cannot be changed."
The world was suddenly filled with white light. Mikoto closed her eyes in response and raised her hand in front of them. When she opened them again, the area around the hospital and the small park, the bench, the two Sisters eating dessert... none of that was there. Instead, she stood in the middle of the street. Next to her was Nobilis. A few meters in front of them, a moment when Misaka 10031 walking away and Mikoto slammed a street lamp.
Mikoto's eyes widened and she froze. She saw from a different perspective a moment she cannot forget.
"What... How... I... Wait please..." She spoke pitifully to Misaka 10031. She turned to Nobilis and began to speak emotionally. "What's going on? Is it an illusion?!"
"A look into the past."
"Huh? What? I don't understand."
"Time."
"Time?"
"These are fragments of time, fragments of the past that I can see. Not litteral fragments, of course."
Mikoto couldn't formulate a question, only show emotion. There was too much going on and the emotions were too strong for her to mentally process the situation. She looked back at the departing Sister.
"Where is she going? Can we go see her?"
"I'll move it a bit," Nobilis replied.
The world seemed to speed up. The movement of the clouds, sun, people and cars seemed to flicker and the whole city seemed to move. Like when you rewind a movie. Then the scene slowed down to the normal flow of time. It was evening. Nobilis moved this vision to a book store. One of the Sisters and Touma was standing by the shop. He had just thrown her a small black cat, said something to her, and entered the store.
"Is it… her?" Mikoto asked.
"That's 10032. 10031 is over there, across the street."
Mikoto looked over to see Misaka 10031 standing with a guitar case and saying something. Across from her is a boy with white hair. Accelerator.
Tears appeared in Mikoto's eyes. She spoke in a desperate voice. "We have to... We have to do something. Please!"
"Sorry, but as I said. Nothing can be done. I'll end it. You don't want to see it again. Neither do I."
"Please wait. Can we go back again? I want to know how more, how she felt or–"
"It will only cause you more pain."
"I want to know! I want to know more about her. I will never have that chance again. So please."
Nobilis said nothing, but moved the chronology back and changed the location. Misaka 10031 was walking down the street, it was slowly getting dark. Sister placed her hand on her chest and looked up at the sky and said afew words.
"My existence was not something Onee-sama could accept."
Mikoto watched with tears streaming down her cheeks. "No, that is not... true." Then she with crying eyes slowly turned to Nobilis. "Can you... stop it?"
Nobilis just nodded slightly.
The world around seemed to freeze, it looked like a diorama. Mikoto walked over to Misaka 10031. Mikoto put her hand to her Sister's cheek but she couldn't touch it. It was like touching smoke. Then she cried out loud.
"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."
Then a kind smile appeared on her tear-streaked face.
"Your Onee-san loves you very much. She always will."
Nobilis stood and silently watched. She waited a moment for Mikoto's crying to settle down. After she calmed down a bit, she wiped away her tears, turned to Nobilis and spoke to her.
"We can... we can go."
After saying these words, she looked at Misaka 10031 for the last time.
The whole world was flooded with the same light as at the beginning. When Mikoto opened her eyes, she was once again standing by the bench where 10032 and 10046 were sitting. They didn't seem to notice any change. They talked to each other and commented on the flavor of each candy in packing.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have exposed you to that." Nobilis said.
"No, it's... it's fine." There were still tears in Mikoto's eyes, but she quietly wiped them away. "Finally tell me how you can do all this and why?"
"As I said. Time."
"What with time? Don't say you can–"
"Let's now focus on the perception of the past. I see only parts of the past. As I said, I learn and evaluate from it. Preparing."
"Preparing for what?"
"To complete what is necessary."
Mikoto put her hand on her forehead and closed her eyes.
"A what is it? I know I asked that, but again. What role are you preparing for my and my Sisters?"
"None. Sisters play no role in my goals. Neither do you. As I said, you were just a part of certain events. Everything is connected. Coincidence, action and reaction."
"What do you mean? What events?"
"Those that affect the world. For example the Sisters, you, Touma, Accelerator. How many things in the world would be different if it weren't for you? Or if things turned out differently than they did?"
"That's still general talk. You're not going to tell me anything specific, are you?"
"You'll see in time. But you must know that you will not always agree with it. You must prepare for that."
"And what should I disagree with? Prepare for what? What do you really want to do?!"
The Sisters who were focused on the black cat and the candies then noticed that Mikoto was worried and she raised her voice.
"Onee-sama? What's going on?" Misaka 10046 asked.
Mikoto looked at her and just slightly shaked her head. Then she switched to a cheerful tone.
"So you two, what's new? How are you doing?"
Several minutes of conversation and amusing questions for Nobilis from the Sisters, like whether her hair and eyes are natural color and guessing what country she comes from.
Nobilis then spoke to Mikoto.
"From what I can see, Misaka 10032 likes humor. 10046 is more sensitive and modest. They have lovely personalities."
Mikoto just nodded with a smile.
Misaka 10046 then mentioned that she would like to go shopping. Nobilis impressed her with her 'style' of hair color and also atypical clothes, so she insisted that she wanted her shopping advice. Nobilis agreed with a light smile.
Mikoto was unusually quiet, though she tried to look carefree. The feelings were still too strong. The Sisters noticed, so Mikoto suggested they go for strawberry shortcake. Mikoto and Misaka 10032 went to the cafe, but Misaka 10046 insisted that she wanted to go with Nobilis to buy the desired item. Therefore, the group split up in the city. They agreed to meet later at the hospital.
. . .
On same streets a boy with white hair and a crutch in hand was looking for a a foreigner girl with a long two-tone hair. She didn't know he was looking for her and he, in his recklessness, has no idea who he wanted to dealing with.