Not a huge fan of the Toaru Accel spin-off, but it is what it is. You've got to make it at some point if you're a fan of Best Boy Accel.
Walking in the middle of the night, past curfew within the walls of Academy City, is an entirely different type of activity than during the day. The once bustling streets now lie eerily quiet, punctuated only by the faint hum of the city's machinery and the occasional flicker of streetlights overhead.
There were no cars passing by, no pedestrians out for a stroll, not even a bird to break the silence. The atmosphere was thick with tension, as if the very air held its breath, waiting for something to happen. The fact that he'd felt that he was being watched despite not even seeing anyone else around made him even more nervous.
Hirano was rarely ever nervous. But at this moment, he found himself scanning his surroundings with a keen eye, his hand unconsciously tightening around the plastic bag he was carrying. The shadows seemed to stretch longer, and the faint light of the streetlamps cast strange, dancing patterns on the walls of the buildings.
Earlier that day, he'd come home alone to find that the apartment had been empty. Kikyou called a bit later, around an hour or so ago. She'd apologized for not informing him that no one would be home, that they're at the hospital. Another one of Aiho's therapy, he supposed. But the scientist had asked him to bring some food.
There was no store open during this hour, so he had to cook (reheat some leftovers from today's breakfast), put it in a container and then transfer it via a plastic bag. The food was now cold, no surprise, considering how cold it is during the night. Which is cheating, because during the day heat could reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. For those who'd never experienced that kind of heat, you can just imagine what it's like to be inside a car without air conditioning in the middle of summer, and multiply that by ten. That's how hot it gets here.
He had been walking for about an hour now. Since the curfew, the bus and other forms of public transport are not running, so he had to rely on his own two feet. It wasn't as bad as he thought, though. The air is crisp, the streets are clear, and the scenery is, well, absolutely normal for this time of night in Academy City. It's like any other night, just darker and quieter.
He passed by a convenience store that had closed for the night, its automated doors still swaying gently. The 'CLOSED' sign glared at him like an accusatory eye. He kept walking, grumbling at the lack of convenience the store had provided him. He now has to spend an extra 5 minutes on the vending machine instead of the 1 minute the store would have taken.
So much for a short trip, he thought, as he turned the corner and headed towards the hospital. The cold wind whipped through the streets, carrying with it the faint smell of industrial chemicals and something else that he couldn't quite place. It was a distinct, acrid scent, almost like burning rubber or something similar.
He shrugged. This sort of thing happened a lot around here. The 9th District's Industrial arts and Fine arts, 10, maybe 15 kilometres away, was always producing something or other. Or maybe there was another road construction going on, and the rubber was the byproduct of the machinery. Whatever the case, it wasn't his concern. He had a job to do, and he was going to do it.
He wasn't hearing any sounds, so he figured he was the only one out here. Which, back to the previous topic, was creeping him out. Because he was sure something was watching him. He could feel it at the back of his head. He just couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. Could this be that girl again, from a few days back? That Mugino girl?
He shuddered a little at the thought of the psychopath that is Meltdowner. That woman certainly is one of the most dangerous people he's ever encountered. And he's encountered quite a few dangerous people. But Mugino is on a whole different level. She's not just dangerous, she's terrifying. The way she looked at him, the way she smiled, the way she spoke, it all sent chills down his spine.
She wasn't just terrifying; she was a wolf in a sheep's clothing. She wasn't cunning or sly; she was open and direct about her murderous intentions. But the fact that she looked just like another one of those haughty, rich girls from the upper class with an appearance that looks like it belongs in a fashion magazine made her even more unsettling.
She could be standing right next to you, smiling and being perfectly polite, and you wouldn't even know she was about to end your life in the next second. It was like she was two people in one body: a perfect, beautiful young woman on the outside, and a cold-blooded killer on the inside. He's never seen anything quite like it before.
To think Frenda's hanging out with her all these times. Does she know about Mugino's acts? She must've. Then why would she keep hanging out with her? Or is there something else going on here that he's not privy to? He can't always follow her, but he's definitely going to keep an eye on the situation. Who knows what kind of trouble Mugino could get Frenda into, if she's already doing stuff like trying to kill him. That girl is definitely not someone he wants to be around. Even more so around people he cared for.
As he rounded another corner, he finally saw the hospital looming in the distance. Its stark white walls and bright lights seemed to glow against the dark night sky, a beacon of hope in an otherwise bleak landscape. The cold wind picked up again, and he shivered involuntarily. He quickened his pace, eager to get inside and out of the frigid air.
As he approached the building though, he noticed something odd. In the parking lot, there was a weird thing going on. Anti-Skills, he presumed, had a girl bound, gagged and dragged to a black van. For them to do something like this, the girl must've done something really bad.
But he knew those people. He knew Anti-Skills and how they operate their business. He's never seen them operate this way. They were always so... professional. They were Academy City's policing agency and Military. And here they are, doing something that seems more like what a movie terrorist would do. What's going on here?
He watched as they roughly threw the girl into the van. She was struggling, but with her hands bound, she wasn't able to do much.
He doesn't like this, not one bit. That's not how you handle someone younger than you and less powerful, even if she is a criminal. And to top it off, the men were wearing balaclavas and visors to hide their identities.
When he got close enough, he noticed another peculiar thing. Their armour is different from the usual Anti-Skills. It was darker, slightly more advanced. He couldn't quite make out the details from this distance, but something about them just didn't sit right with him.
They were just about to enter the van when they saw him briskly walking towards them. He couldn't see their faces behind the visors, but he could feel their attention turn to him. One of them quickly shut the van door, and another one stepped forward, hand reaching for what he assumed was a weapon.
The cold wind whipped around him as he stopped, now standing just a few meters away from them. From here, he could see red. Dogs. Two of them. Filled with bullet holes, dead, lying on the ground beside the van.
"What the..." Hirano muttered under his breath, shock and horror freezing him in place. He stared at the dead animals, then back at the men, who were now fully alert and moving towards him, weapons drawn.
The lead man, a tall, broad-shouldered figure, stepped closer, his visor reflecting the harsh hospital lights. "You there! Don't move!" he barked, the words muffled but menacing.
The white haired boy however, has no concern over what the fuck the guy just said. He stood motionless, coldly glaring at the Anti-Skills. He took a breath. "Did you kill those dogs?" The lead man's posture stiffened, his hand tightening around his weapon.
"That's none of your business, kid." His tone was cold, clipped, with an edge that suggested he wasn't in the mood for questions. "Just turn around and leave. Now."
The other Anti-Skills fanned out, their weapons now visible - standard issue submachine guns, but modified to look more menacing. One of them whispered to the other. He couldn't hear it, but even if he wanted to, he wouldn't; the anger at this scene was too great for him to care about listening.
He stared at them for a moment, his head lowered in thought. The dead dogs lay motionless in pools of blood that now congealed in the frigid air, their once-furry coats matted with the sticky crimson. A grim reality that he couldn't escape or ignore.
The leader, growing impatient, barked again. "We're not going to repeat ourselves. Move along!"
He lifted his head, eyes narrowed, and spoke in a low, menacing murmur. "No, I don't think I will." He could feel the temperature in the air drop as tension built up around them.
The lead Anti-Skill's hand twitched on his weapon. "Last warning, boy." He stepped closer, the barrel of his submachine gun now pointed squarely at Hirano's chest. "You're obstructing a DA operation. Don't make us force you."
That got his attention. 'DA...?'. He'd never heard of that before. But the insignia on their armour clearly belongs to the Anti-Skills. Something was wrong. These weren't the Anti-Skills he knew. These men were killers. Their stance, their equipment, their cold demeanor - it was all wrong. He took another glance at the dead dogs, the blood still wet on their fur despite the cold.
Their patience ran out. Bullets tore through the air, a hail of lead meant to end him. The volley of hot lead did indeed find its mark, but none penetrated even the surface of his shirt. Few brushed against his hair, and that same bullet finds itself back where it came from, returning to its shooter and lodging itself in the gun's barrel. A perfect 180 degree turn, the bullet's path defying physics as it curved back to its source.
The Anti-Skills stared in disbelief as their weapons exploded into pieces. The rounds within the magazine caused a chain reaction, setting off the rest of the ammunition. The explosion was deafening, the force of it throwing them backwards. The leader stumbled, his face now visible as he pulled off his visor, revealing a middle-aged man with a scar running across his left cheek. His eyes were wide with shock.
Those who weren't lucky enough lost their hands, fingers hanging loosely around where they used to be. One man's left arm was completely shredded, the mangled mess of flesh and bone dripping onto the concrete. He screamed in agony, collapsing to his knees as blood spurted from the wound.
The remaining men quickly backed away, their weapons now useless and their bodies covered in minor shrapnel injuries. The leader stared at him, his face twisted with disbelief and fear. They're agitated now. More than words could describe.
None were about to leave just yet. That was more than enough for Hirano to see what he needed. These weren't real Anti-Skills. They were impostors, maybe a rogue group, and he had no doubt they were killers. The man on the ground, still stunned from the explosion, managed to raise his hand and point at him.
"You've fucked up now, boy! You're fucking dead!" The others, now recovered from the shock of their weapons' destruction, fanned out again, drawing sidearms. The girl in the van was still bound, but now she was frozen, clearly shocked by the turn of events.
The man on the ground went on blabber about justice and punishment, but Hirano had heard enough. He wasn't going to let them get away with this, and he wasn't going to let them hurt the girl in the van. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the leader, his power already building up inside him.
That's when a monstrosity of a machine fell from the sky. A shallow crater was left in the ground as it landed, its metallic surface reflecting the harsh lights of the hospital. The machine was massive, easily the size of a small house, with multiple joints and limbs that moved with an eerie fluidity.
Its core was a glowing sphere that pulsated with an otherworldly light, casting an ominous red glow across the scene. The Anti-Skills, laughing with maniacal glee, seemed to recognize the machine, their earlier fear momentarily forgotten. The leader pointed at Hirano, his words dripping with malice.
"Kill him! That's an order! Fucking turn him to mist!" The machine's joints creaked as it lumbered towards Hirano, its purpose clear. The girl in the van was now screaming, her muffled cries barely audible over the machine's heavy footsteps.
How the situation has escalated. Hirano was fully expecting the thing to try and just step on him, maybe shoot at him with a big ass cannon, but instead, the machine's head started producing a sphere. A fire so hot, it turned blue. The sphere grew rapidly, its temperature increasing to an unimaginable degree. Hirano could feel the intense heat bouncing off of his barrier from where he was standing, causing the air around him to distort and shimmer like a mirage. The machine's core glowed brighter, feeding the sphere with more and more energy.
The Anti-Skills whooped and cheered, clearly pleased with their monstrous creation. The leader barked orders, his scarred face twisted in sadistic glee.
Hirano wasn't impressed. Mugino's Meltdowner was more concentrated, more precise, and more dangerous. This was just an overgrown, unstable flamethrower that would probably just set itself on fire if it went too hot. He could sense the machine's power growing, but he also knew its limitations. The sphere of blue fire was now fully formed, its surface crackling with intense heat and energy.
The temperature around Hirano continued to rise as the machine prepared to unleash its devastating attack. He clicked his tongue.
"This is so stupidly unnecessary," he muttered, annoyed in his tone, closing his eyes so as to not damage his vision. It's so bright.
The machine's core glowed an even brighter red, and with a deafening roar, it launched the sphere of blue fire straight at Hirano. The explosion was massive, engulfing everything around him in a blinding blue-white inferno. The heat was so intense it warped the very air around it, creating a visible shockwave that traveled outward from the epicenter.
Once it was over, the damage could be seen. The ground was gone, the seer heat had vaporized even the concrete. The crater surrounding him was deep enough to bury half of a bus. All that's left is him, and the very asphalt that he'd been standing on. The remaining fires around him left the scene looking like a warzone. The Anti-Skills, who had been cheering moments ago, now started in stunned silence. The leader's face was frozen in shock, his earlier bravado completely shattered.
The machine, its core now dimmed, let out a series of clicks and whirs as it attempted to process what had just happened. Its joints moved erratically, as if it was struggling to understand why its most powerful attack had failed.
Hirano turned to look at the hospital building. No damage was done. He let out a sigh of relief. The girl in the van was still bound, but now she was staring at him with wide eyes, awed. "T-t-that's impossible! No one can deflect such intense heat!" one of them stammered, their voice rising in pitch as they tried to process what they'd had just witnessed.
The machine's core flickered erratically, and with a series of loud clicks, it began to move, its massive form lumbering closer to Hirano. It looked like it was preparing another attack, its joints groaning under the strain as it readied itself.
Any more attacks, it might hit the hospital. There were innocent people inside. Aiho's also inside. So is Kikyou and Last Order. He can't risk it. But looking at this, he can't let them get away either.
The white haired boy's attention snapped towards the girl inside the van. From what he could recall, the clothes she wore aren't something that you'd see so often in Academy City. With this type of technology and equipment, the machine, and the kind of people that would use them, Hirano had to assume she wasn't from this city. If they were this desperate to get their hands on her, it meant she could be important.
She might know something.
"Bastards," Hirano muttered under his breath. "I don't do this sort of thing often. To be frank, I don't like it either. But I'll be damned if I let the likes of you get away after this. So just die."
A tap of his foot pulled out a large chunk of earth from what remains of the ground he stood on. He proceeds to kick it like a soccer ball, aimed directly at the face of the machine. The force in which he kicked it vaporizes the earth before it even hits the thing. But the pressure and speed of the projectile is still enough to tear a large chunk of its face.
There were disgustingly large amounts of sparks, metal fragments and hydraulic fluid that gushed out like a geyser. The thing fell down on its back. Wires that looked oddly large and wet came out of it like parasites, while sparks and smoke filled the air. Wanting to finish it off, he jumped. The vectors from his jump, he manipulated, adding more force than a normal person could handle. He aimed at the glowing core, now clearly damaged and flickering like a bulb about to die.
He was just about to destroy whatever remains of its head, maybe even completely obliterate the thing, when he saw something that got his throat tight. From inside the machine, something lay unconscious. A girl with fiery red hair. Quickly enough, the force of his jump was redirected, his foot stopping just inches from the core. The machine's systems were clearly failing, sparks and smoke pouring out of its damaged head.
He knelt down and took a good look at her. There were no subtle movements in her eyes, no breathing. She was as pale as a corpse and as still as a marble. Her skin was smooth and unmarked, but somehow unnaturally so. He ripped out several things that were obstructing his view.
He pulled her out. He grimaced at how slimy she felt, her body still damp with hydraulic fluid. He looked away blushing when he noticed that she was naked.
Him looking away got him to notice that the DAs are now gone, at least the ones that are still alive. The dead were scattered across the ground, their gear and weapons abandoned.
Weirdly enough, their van was left there. But the door to the back of it was already open. No one is inside.
He was left here. Alone. Holding a nude, slimy corpse. Staring at a bunch of other dead corpses.
Not a second after, he heard a siren from afar. At least the real Anti-Skills are finally here.
He'd explained his part of the story to the Anti-Skills, and the hospital staff had taken the girl's body away for an autopsy. As for the machine, it was being dismantled and scrapped, maybe studied if the Anti-Skills deemed it necessary. The explosion had left a massive crater, and the damage was being assessed.
Hirano stood by, watching the cleanup operation, his eyes still closed from the intensity of the blue fire that had been unleashed. The girl's identity happened to be a student, just like him. She wasn't murdered or kidnapped and then shoved into that thing per se. But she did commit suicide several days back, video footage showing her jumping off a bridge. Her body was never recovered, until now, that is.
Another thing of concern is that she was a Level 2. Which is very peculiar, because this sort of destruction, that fireball she'd casted, would only be possible from a Level 4 or above. Someone had tampered with her abilities, or modified her in some way, and she was now nothing more than a shell of what she once was.
The captain of the Anti-Skills told him it was the machine. The one used by the DA. A Coffin, they'd call it. He wasn't surprised at the name. Seeing as how the corpse was quite literally being held inside the thing.
To think he'd stumbled upon a DA unit; as he had deduced, a rogue faction who overzealously believed in the supremacy of Justice, went beyond the bounds of reason, and were more or less terrorists. They were using the girl's corpse as a weapon, which would have destroyed a portion of the hospital, injuring maybe even everyone in it had it not been him who was the target.
The girl was now in the morgue, awaiting an autopsy. She could rest in peace later once she was buried, maybe cremated and sent to her family like it was supposed to be. He'd seen too many people die today. Plenty of them have their blood on his hands. Regardless if they deserved it or not, he still disliked taking the lives of others. It meant that the burden of death would forever rest on his shoulders.
Hirano nodded grimly at the captain and turned away. His eye ached. His tummy hurts. But mostly, his head was still spinning, trying to understand what in the hell had just transpired.
All he wanted to do was deliver some reheated curry.
The bright white lights of the hospital do not help whatsoever. It was quiet in here, seeing as it was already midnight. The majority of the staff has already left. The ones present are trying to calm the patients as to what had happened. Many of the newcomers to this city were not so used to seeing a massive crater in the middle of the parking lot. The ones who've seen what this city was capable of were only quite shaken, but not as surprised.
He doesn't really care what they had to say to him, just keeps his head low and walks over to the stairs. He would've liked to go straight for Aiho and the others. Her floor was quite high up, seeing as she was being personally taken care of by Heaven Canceller himself; the best Doctor/Physician in the city, maybe even the world.
And oh, he was also the head of the Medical Department. Good guy. Took care of him here when he was 9 too.
Maybe, it would've been nice to converse with the guy again after a while of not seeing the old man. If not for something trying to grab his wrist. Only to fail miserably due to his barrier still being up, what with the fight that had just occurred, of course.
He turned with a scowl, irritated at the constant interruptions. Only to be surprised when he saw that same blond hair from earlier.
He could hear the girl's breath hitching when she couldn't grab his wrist, causing her to look up at him with shock and surprise, as if to expect something to go wrong immediately. The only thing that had happened was; their eyes locking, frozen. While this was happening though, he couldn't help but get a good look at her.
She wore this weird outfit; a sleeveless white blouse under a black cloak that pretty much only covered her back, leaving her front exposed. Which kinda beats the point, cause cloaks are supposed to conceal what you wear or have underneath, such as the weird looking dagger that is strapped to her surprisingly large belt. She wore this red skirt and thigh-high black socks with a garter belt-
Oh what the hell, why am I describing her outfit? Who cares! It's a damn weird outfit, that's it.
She stared at him with an unrelenting intensity, and for a moment, his attention was drawn to her gloved hand. The one that was reaching for his wrist. "You," She started, after nearly 10 seconds of silence. She sounded like a young woman, but the way she spoke, and the way she carried herself, was more mature and experienced. "I don't know who you are or what you did, but you saved my life." She took a breath. "I owe you, and I intend to pay it back." Her head tilted to the side. "Esther Rosenthal." She held out her hand. "Nice to meet you... stranger."
He kept quiet for a second, looking at her hands. Not only was she wearing gloves, she also had bandages. Lots of bandages on her hands; reaching up to her elbows.
"Yomikawa Hirano," he finally replies, shaking her hand. As he does, he notices something odd; her grip is firm, confident, but her skin beneath the bandages feels unnaturally cold. "You're welcome, I suppose," he says, trying to mask his discomfort.
She nodded, smiling despite the bruise on her cheek, clearly from when she was trying to resist the restraints. She tilted her head, looking at the plastic bag on his side curiously.
Hirano would've liked to leave now. To which, he plans on doing, like, right now. Before he could even utter a single word, however, the girl decided that she hadn't finished her little conversation with him.
"By the way," she reaches into her back, seemingly trying to fish something out. "If you don't mind me asking," she pulled out a single piece of paper photo. There was a picture on it. Its Last Order.
"I was wondering if you know who this person might b-"
"What do you plan on doing with her?" The question came out as a sudden, sharp interruption. It was as harsh as he had intended, with cold anger behind the words. He had no intention of revealing anything about Last Order, especially not to someone who he had just met not even half an hour ago. People he had known for years didn't even know about her. The last thing he wanted was for this girl to find out about her, or worse, to use her.
Esther's face turned into a mask of surprise at the sudden harshness, her hand freezing midway through extending the photo to him. Her green eyes flickered, revealing confusion and a slight hint of wariness.
"I don't... I'm just trying to-" she stumbled over her words, caught off guard by his aggressive tone. She gulped, taking a step back as if subconsciously creating distance between them. Her hand lowered, the photo still clutched tightly in her grasp. "I... I'm not going to hurt her. I just want to know if you can help me find her." Her words were laced with uncertainty, but she managed to maintain a firm gaze, meeting his eyes despite her obvious discomfort.
Hirano's face remained stern, his jaw clenched as he stared at her intently. "Those same people, the DAs," Esther managed to say, "they're after Last Order. It was to be used as-"
Hirano glowered dangerously at her, his hands forming fists at his sides as he took a menacing step forward. The hostility in his eyes and demeanor was unmistakable, a stark departure from his previous calm, albeit aloofness. "It?"
"She's nobody's subject," Hirano snarled, his words laced with venom. He moved with surprising speed, his hand shooting out to grip her wrist with enough force to make her wince, the photo crumbling in her grasp. "If any of you cause her even the slightest harm. I'll fucking crush you."
The girl's determination was resolute. She looked like she was scared, but the clear look in her eyes, the one that wasn't cowering, was defiant. "Crush me however you like. A paste or a puddle. It won't change the fact that the DA's are still after her. I'm trying to help."
Hirano's grip tightened, growing. His mouth opened, but she interrupted him before he could say anything. "And if they do get her, the world will be destroyed," she continued, speaking with urgency. "It's all my fault they even got to this stage. If you intend on still killing me, I beg you, do something about the DAs... Please..."
Hirano's grip loosened slightly, his face still twisted in anger. "You don't know what you're talking about," he growled, but his words were laced with uncertainty. "The DA's are terrorists. They don't care about Last Order. They just want to use her as a weapon."
Esther's face contorted, her emotions shifting rapidly. "That's exactly what I'm trying to prevent," she said, her words strained "Let. Me. Help… Please."
Hirano, most of the time, could tell when people are lying. Though not as proficient at it as Misaki, who was a literal lie detector, he could still pick up on subtle cues. But with this girl, he was unsure. Her words seemed genuine, but her intentions were still unclear. He released her wrist, stepping back and creating some distance between them.
He kept his gaze at her, judging her reaction as she cradled her arm where he had gripped it, the photo now crushed beyond recognition in her clenched fist. The hospital corridor remained silent, the hum of the lights overhead feeling almost oppressive.
"You don't trust me," she said softly, correctly reading his body language. Her shoulders slumped, the fight seemingly leaving her body as she took a small step backward, creating even more distance. "I understand. You have no reason to."
"Why this hospital?" That was a question that had been nagging Hirano's mind for a while now. It was one of the biggest and most well-known hospitals in the city, but it seemed odd that she would seek this place out specifically. His eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion creeping into his face as he awaited her response.
"I... had some inside information. Not for her, specifically. But the SISTERs." This time, it was Hirano's breath that hitched.
He hadn't heard of them in a while. Months now, maybe. Last he's seen them? Years ago. Just hearing that name resurfaced some bad memories he very much would like to forget. Those eyes, nonchalant at the face of death, describing their own demise as cold, seeping into his soul, wearing a face that he treasure and consider a great friend. "What... Do you know about the SISTERs?" The words came out rough, and his eyes darted around nervously.
"They were... kept here. Somewhere in this hospital. Dozens of them." Her words, when she continued, were soft, almost apologetic. "Last Order was their Control Tower. If anyone knows of her whereabouts; it's the SISTERs."
He hummed. Hirano understood the logic of her words. To some degree, he could see how she might have thought this was a reasonable course of action. But that didn't make him any less agitated. The mere mention of the SISTERs was enough to set his teeth on edge. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides as he fought to contain his anger. "You're playing a dangerous game," he said, his words laced with warning.
Before the conversation could continue on, there was a step heard coming from above. It was light and tiny. He looked up and saw a familiar, dimpled face. Last Order's ahoge bobbed along with her head at the sight of the two of them. But the curious look was wiped away, turning into an innocent looking smile.
How could something that had witnessed and experienced death once still smile so innocently? Hirano's heart constricted at the sight of her. She was here, in this hospital, in this corridor. She was safe, for now. But for how long? If what this Esther girl had been the truth, then not only her and the SISTERs, but the whole world could be in danger. His family, friends and everyone he knew of was under the threat. It was an old threat that never really seemed to go away.
"Nii-san. Aunty's wondering what's taking you so long. Says Misaka as she berates him, holding her stomach hungrily." The little girl said, her ahoge bouncing as she spoke. Her presence was a clear contrast to the tense atmosphere between Hirano and Esther. She wasn't completely oblivious to the undercurrent of danger and uncertainty that surrounded them, more so she ignored it and chose to focus on simpler, more mundane matters instead.
Hirano sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly as he ran a hand through his hair. He climbed up the stairs towards her, stopping only when he's at her level. He extended his hand, the plastic bag from earlier dangling slightly from his grasp. "Here. Now, if you don't mind. Leave us for a bit. I'll join you later."
He gently placed it in her outstretched hand, watching as she opened the bag and extracted the contents with a look of childlike excitement. The containers weren't entirely cold yet, courtesy of Academy City's advanced cooling technology. Last Order's face lit up as she clutched the food, her ahoge bobbing happily. "Yay! Nii-san, you're the best! Says Misaka as Misaka held the food close to her chest!" She turned to look at Esther with wonder in her face. "And you are, miss? What's your name? Asks Misaka with a smile. You're so pretty!"
The blond appeared to be hesitating whether to respond, clearly caught off guard by the sudden appearance of Last Order. She opened her mouth to speak, especially when Hirano watches her struggle. He seemed to be curious; wanting to see how she'd handle the situation. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke up, her words carefully chosen. "I'm Esther Rosenthal. It's nice to meet you. An acquaintance of your brother, I suppose."
Last Order's smile faltered for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly as she processed the information. "My brother? You mean Nii-san? Asks Misaka curiously at the mention of a sibling. We're not related by blood, but we're super duper close! Misaka exclaims as she beamed at Nii-san.
Hirano's face softened at her words, a rare smile gracing his features as he ruffled her hair affectionately. "Go on now, eat your food before it gets cold. I'll be there soon." The little girl nodded ferociously, turning around and running back to the waiting room where two of their guardians were undoubtedly waiting. The sound of her footsteps faded, leaving Hirano and Esther alone once more in the now-quiet corridor.
The atmosphere between them was tense, neither of them sure of what to say or do next. The white haired boy didn't turn to look at her. "You can't just barge in here and expect things to go smoothly."
Esther nodded. "This is already better than what I had originally planned." Her voice is soft, despite the fact that he had nearly snapped her wrist just 3 minutes ago. Hirano could hear her talking. He felt something in her tone - a depth he hadn't heard before.
"Do you still intend to kill me, Hirano-san?" Hirano's gaze remained fixed ahead, his face a mask.
"I... don't know. You're either playing a dangerous game or you're genuinely trying to help. I can't tell which it is yet." He turned to face her, his eyes narrowing slightly as he scrutinized her face for any sign of deception. "But," he continued, speaking in a more calmed tone now, "you don't seem like a bad person either."
Esther smiled at that, her shoulder slumping in relief. "Thank you for not killing me, then."
He sighed in return, running a hand through his hair as he leaned against the wall. "So, where are these DAs located?"
"I... know a place where they kept me for a bit. A warehouse, not too far from here."
They got there several minutes later. Surprising because the place was nearly 10 kilometres away. Thank goodness someone (the hospital staff vouching for him) lent him their bicycle. Esther doesn't seem like the type of gal to be from the countryside, so it was rather amusing to see her be so amazed at a simple bike.
Still, they make it to a seemingly abandoned industrial area. It was quiet here, save for the occasional echo of dogs barking in the background. The buildings were old and decrepit, their walls cracked and covered in grime. Hirano dismounts, holding the bike upright as he turns to face Esther, who is looking even more determined at the familiar place.
"Never thought I'd be back here again…" He could hear her talk. He was just about to follow the blond's lead, towards a certain direction that looked to be the entrance. Instead, his eyes locked onto a particular part of the warehouse; a seemingly normal wall. The white haired boy has a good sense of smelling, on certain things at least. Mostly due to his upbringing where antiseptics, iron, and other sharp odors are always present, those sort of scents just tickled Hirano's nostrils and immediately caused a warning in the back of his head.
While Esther was getting further towards the right, Hirano's attention was firmly fixed on that particular area of the warehouse. The smell was distinct - a sharp, metallic tang mixed with something else. Something that made him think of blood and... something else, something he couldn't quite place but set him on the edge nonetheless. He approached the spot cautiously.
"Hirano-san, that's not where the entrance is." Esther calls out, concerned in her words, but he pays no heed to her warning. As he moves closer towards the wall, each step bringing him nearer to what his instincts tell him is significant. The metallic scent grows stronger, and his heart pounds harder as he detects something else - a faint vibration, almost like a hum.
His nose scrunched. He could see a tiny hole on the wall. There's something behind it.
A knock of his knuckles against the concrete wall caused the entire thing to fall apart. There was a resounding twang, a result from his power. Watching the whole thing crumble from something so simple as a knock, Esther couldn't help looking in absolute awe and amazement, her mouth slightly agape.
Behind the now-collapsed wall, the source of Hirano's instincts was revealed. Another mangled corpse. Still wearing that familiar DA armour and uniform. It was the same person from earlier back at the hospital. The same person that was supposed to kidnap Esther. Is it? He doesn't even know.
The body's state of brutalization was so severe, even the most gruesome of serial killers would have a hard time matching it. The whole place was littered in bits and pieces of the body. Blood painting the entire place red, making him think that the body was fucking exploded. Even the white haired boy, who has seen perhaps way too many deaths in a single lifetime, felt his stomach churn at the sight. The corpse was completely unrecognizable, its features so mangled that it was impossible to tell if it was male or female.
The DA uniform was torn and stained with what could only be blood, and the armor was dented and cracked in several places, as if it had been hit with tremendous force. He doesn't even know if this was the same person from earlier. He just assumes that it is, looking at how recent the blood looked. The body was positioned in a way that suggested it had been thrown against the wall with immense force, its limbs twisted at unnatural angles. The smell of blood and something else - something acrid and chemical - hung heavy in the air, making Hirano's eyes water slightly.
Esther approached cautiously, her face pale as she took in the scene. She held her stomach, clearly struggling to contain her revulsion. "Hirano-san... this is..." she managed to choke out, her words barely audible. Hirano remained silent, his eyes scanning every detail within the place.
He could see something deep inside the shadow. He clicked his tongue. "It's another one of those things."
Then a light chuckle. Rumbling machine from the shadow as its feet slowly moved. It looked different, somehow, but definitely from the same series of the previous ones. This one looked more like an animal, particularly a mantis. Turquoise blue or something or whatever kind of blue it is made of. Its head was tilted, as if it was sizing them up.
Unlike the previous one he fought just earlier, this one felt more powerful. He could feel it.
"Esther," The machine called out, its words dripping with malice and mockery. "How delightful to see you again. Never thought we'd meet again. Not here, at least. Could it be that you missed the shackled-up lifestyle?"
"Hishigata..." Esther whispered, her face contorting in horror as she recognized the voice coming from the machine. The Coffin model took a step forward, its chitinous body clicking and clacking as it moved. She recognized that model.
"Yeah, it's Qiong Qing if that's what you're thinking." There was a sense of pride in the machine's voice. Almost a boastful tone.
"You've completed it?!" The way Esther is acting now doesn't befit the way she acted before. Her emotions are so intense, so raw, that Hirano can sense her fear and revulsion. The clear horror that was etched on her face was genuine.
The machine, Qiong Qing, chuckled darkly, you could actually imagine the person controlling it tilted its head. "It's here, so yeah. And oh, in case you're wondering. It's not a prototype."
"Harumi's really planning on doing it then." Esther can only rub her arm, looking for comfort, or perhaps just out of habit.
"Yup. A complete body and mind, that's what Harumi and I are aiming for, so there's really no reason for us to really stop."
"Taoti and Hundun, are they-"
"Yeah, they're done."
"The 'Evil Spirits of Numbers', you inserted them in too...?"
"Well, they wouldn't work unless I did. They'd just be a disposable prototype if I didn't. The higher ups don't really understand though,"
The more they banter, the more devastated Esther looks. She's clearly shaken, her hands shaking as she speaks. And the longer it went, the more giddy and excited Hishigata got. It's almost like he's feeding off her fear and distress. And it's really, REALLY beginning to piss Hirano off.
"You talk too much." Hirano suddenly interjecting in-between the banter caught the attention of both Hishigata and Esther. The machine's head swiveled to face him, its compound eyes locking onto him with an unnerving intensity.
"Ah, yes, you must be the Great Accelerator," Again. That nickname. Hirano hated it. He hated how he flinched whenever he heard it being mentioned by anyone. It was like a brand, a mark of his past that he couldn't escape. "I've heard great things about you. I would love to have you as a specimen one day."
Hishigata's words triggered a sharp reaction from Hirano, his face twisting in disgust and anger. The machine's words were clearly meant to provoke him, and it was working. The ground beneath the white haired boy's starts to crack. Esther took a step away from him when she noticed his balled up hands, nails digging into his palms, and the tension in his muscles, the blood that is beginning to ooze from where his nails have broken the skin.
The air around them began to feel heavy. Literally.
"Hm, it appears that whenever you use your ability, the volume of information increases drastically." Hishigata's words of wonder, a scientific curiosity, spoken to him like a fucking subject of an experiment. "I wonder how much it would increase if I were to..."
Hirano's response was immediate. A whirlwind of concentrated air; like a tornado of pure destructive force, erupted from his body. The warehouse was instantly torn apart, metal and concrete flying in towards a single direction as the sheer power of his ability manifested. It was massive and black as the night, its core a swirling vortex of darkness and destruction.
The very fabric of space seemed to warp around it, as if reality itself was being distorted by the sheer force of his power. But Hirano was not without complete control. Even as Esther was thrown back, he maintained enough focus to keep her from being caught in the destructive path of his ability. The machine, however, was not so fortunate. It was engulfed in the maelstrom.
"Hah, what a powerful esper you are," Hishigata does not sound any bit amused by what just happened, but rather he seems to have a calmness that does not befit the situation he was in. Hirano's eyes widened when all the concentrated energy dispersed in an instant, revealing a completely obliterated landscape, with the Mecha still completely intact, little to no damage whatsoever.
"It is still too early to face you. So then, I'll be going on a strategic retreat."
"Like hell!" Hirano snarled, his eyes blazing with rage as he lunged forward, his fist crackling with raw power.
The thing was fast. The fastest Hirano has ever seen. One second, it's right in front of him, and the next, it's 150 yards away. His punch passed right through empty space as the thing suddenly accelerated and appeared further behind, the sonic boom of his own speed shocking through the warehouse. Qiong Qing didn't look bothered by its little retreat; on the contrary, it seems like it wanted him to catch it.
"I have all the datas about you, Accelerator," The white haired boy just kept on lunging forward, his punches and kicks leaving afterimages in the air as he tried to close the distance. "With your Vector Manipulations, anything you touch basically becomes your property, right?"
Hirano's movements became erratic, each attack creating craters and chasms, leaving the world behind them in total chaos, but each one missed Qiong Qing by mere centimeters as the machine taunted him from behind. It seemed to enjoy seeing Hirano getting more agitated.
"But when you aren't in contact with anything - all your attacks are but a simple physical phenomenon, correct?" The machine's words cut through the air, mocking and taunting. Hirano's face contorted in rage, his eyes blazing with fury as he continued his relentless pursuit, each step leaving a deep crater in the ground beneath him.
The warehouse was in ruins, its walls crumbling and collapsing under the force of Hirano's attacks. Dust and debris filled the air, making it difficult to see. "Qiong Qing, the all purpose psychokinesis, boosted to that of a Level 5. It's not a bad opponent for you, right?"
Momentarily, Hirano stopped just to register what he'd just said. Level 5. This mecha is on par to that of the strongest people in this world. The shock of this revelation momentarily slowed Hirano's movements as he processed what he'd been fighting this whole time.
"Yeah, well, until we meet again, Accelerator!" Qiong Qing took full advantage of the momentary hesitation, its mechanical body suddenly disappearing from where it was. The ceiling crumbled as it took flight, disappearing into the night sky, leaving Hirano alone in the ruined warehouse, his chest heaving with exertion and his mind reeling from the revelation of what he'd just faced.
The destruction around him was a stark reminder of the power he'd unleashed, but also of the even power he'd encountered. Esther slowly approached, her face still pale from the shock of seeing Qiong Qing, but her attention was now focused on Hirano. "Are you alright?"
He turned towards the girl. Pausing for a bit, before he finally nodded. "I'm fine."
His breathing still labored, Hirano looked at the ruins around him. The dust was beginning to settle, giving a clear view of the devastation around them. The warehouse was utterly destroyed, twisted metal and shattered concrete. He'd lost control. "I guess I really let my emotions get the better of me this time," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
He pressed his lips into a thin flat line, staring at the ceiling where Hishigata's Qiong Qing had disappeared. "He's dangerous," Hirano murmured, more to himself than to Esther. "Really dangerous. And he knows way too much about me." He turned back to her, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized her face.
"You know what he's planning, don't you?"
"Yes."
…
"Then, tell me everything you know."
Sup! Happy New Year and shit. Guess what? Today is ADR's 1 year anniversary! It's been an entire year since this story first got published. Damn, I feel old as shit.
Anyways, I don't really have that much of a thing to say. I'm currently working on Ch43 when this was written. So, do drop a review cause that shit gave me lots and lots of motivation to continue!
Anyways, new shit next Monday!