At a certain hospital, Mikoto sat outside the examination room waiting.
She sat in the corner with her hands hugging her knees, and her mind was hard to calm down.
When she thought about the tragedy caused by the “Level 6 Shift Project,” it felt like lives that could never be brought back were disappearing in her mind one after another.
Just by closing her eyes, she imagined the scenes of countless Misaka Sisters—who looked exactly like her—being slaughtered at will by Accelerator.
This sadness kept spreading from her heart.
It was a feeling that was hard to describe.
“Old Man…” Tears kept falling from the corners of Mikoto’s eyes.
Her weak, crying appearance made people feel sorry for her.
“Miss Nurse, please arrange a hospital room for this guy.” Suddenly, a voice reached Mikoto’s ears.
She looked up toward the sound in surprise.
Mikoto saw Tsukasa standing in front of the emergency room reception desk without a single scratch on him.
In his hand, he was carrying Accelerator, who was wrapped up completely in bandages like a mummy.
“Ol…
Old Man!?” Mikoto cried out in disbelief.
However, she saw Tsukasa put his finger in front of his nose, signaling for her to be quiet.
Realizing she was still inside the hospital, Mikoto quickly covered her mouth.
Her pretty face turned slightly red.
She quickly walked over to Tsukasa’s side.
“Old Man, are…
are you okay?” “I’m fine.
Do I look like I’m hurt?” Tsukasa laughed softly.
He threw Accelerator onto an emergency bed pushed over by a nurse.
He spread his hands and asked her back.
“That…
well…” Looking at the figure of Accelerator being pushed away, Mikoto was speechless for a moment.
She didn’t know how to react.
“The Level 6 Shift Project is over.
Just like I said before, Aleister will probably use this chance to send the Misaka Sisters to various places around the world.
As for the genetic problem, it should be solved if we leave it to Heaven Canceller.” Facing the girl who was a bit lost, Tsukasa briefly explained the things she was worried about.
“Is…
is that so?
So it’s finally over.
Thank you, Old Man.” Hearing this news, the worry Mikoto had carried all this time was finally put down.
However, there was still a feeling of resentment in her heart.
Why was Accelerator, who harmed her clones, allowed to keep living?
The loss of tens of thousands of lives made Mikoto realize that inside this Academy City, which looked bright on the surface, there was a darkness hidden like an abyss.
“You should go see a psychologist.
If you let these emotions pile up, you will fall into the darkness,” Tsukasa suggested, sensing Mikoto’s strong emotional fluctuations.
“If it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t have been created, and they wouldn’t have died!” Intense emotions made Mikoto’s whole body shake.
When she thought that all of this was caused by her, her heavy regret could not be calmed.
“No.
If it wasn’t you, Aleister would have just found someone else to create clones and carry out the plan,” Tsukasa patted the girl’s shoulder to comfort her.
“But…” Mikoto wanted to argue, but she was interrupted by Tsukasa.
“Rather, without you, they wouldn’t have been given life.
Since they were given life—even if they are creations of science—they are still living beings.
Keep moving forward, Mikoto.
Remember those lives that are gone.
That is the only proof that they once existed in this world.” “This is your choice.
You have no obligation to carry the sins that Academy City gave you.
You can choose to run away, or you can protect them and give them emotions, just like you would treat a real younger sister.” “You have time to think about it slowly.
For you, who is not yet an adult, these things are too heavy.” Tsukasa placed his hand on Mikoto’s head and stroked it.
His caring words, like those of an elder comforting a younger person, completely broke through Mikoto’s mental defenses.
As if releasing everything, the girl hugged Tsukasa and began to cry loudly.
A long time later, Mikoto sat in the medical room with a very red face.
She listened to Heaven Canceller’s diagnosis and treatment plan, but her mind was still not calm.
I actually cried in the old man’s arms.
Am I an elementary school student!?
While complaining to herself, Mikoto noticed the conversation between Tsukasa and Heaven Canceller.
“It’s truly surprising to me.
Even with those kinds of injuries, you were able to recover.
How exactly did you do it?” Heaven Canceller looked at Tsukasa.
He examined his uninjured body and spoke with feeling.
“The power I use is different from esper abilities or magic.
It is Cursed Energy.
It comes from negative emotions.
Everyone has some amount of negative emotions in their hearts.
This energy can grow into curses, and its basic energy is Cursed Energy.” “The recovery ability I use is called Reverse Cursed Technique.
It is a high-level operation of Cursed Energy.
The principle is ‘negative times negative equals positive.’ By multiplying Cursed Energy, you get positive energy suitable for treatment.” Tsukasa sat.
He explained everything to Heaven Canceller without hiding anything.
“Cursed Energy?
That is a very difficult ability to understand,” Heaven Canceller said, pinching his chin while thinking.
“As a thanks for saving me, if you have patients that cannot be treated, I can step in,” Tsukasa said with a light laugh, making a bold offer.
Even Heaven Canceller, who was always calm, was stunned for a moment.
Then, he showed a smile and responded seriously: “Who do you think I am?” “The patients I am talking about include those with congenital disabilities or irreversible damage.
I can repair all of them.” Tsukasa’s words made Heaven Canceller’s eyes light up.
One must know that this doctor’s life motto was “never give up on a patient no matter what happens.” “If that is true, then I express my sincere thanks to you on my own behalf, Tsukasa,” Heaven Canceller said with a more serious expression than ever before.
So the old man’s name is Tsukasa.
Mikoto, who only now learned Tsukasa’s real name, had a flash of light in her eyes.
“In that case, I’ll leave the Misaka Sisters to you.
As for this little girl, please arrange for her to see a psychologist so she can return to her daily life soon.” Tsukasa took the list handed over by Heaven Canceller.
He happened to want to test his new ability, Idle Transfiguration.
He followed a nurse out of the hospital room.
“Thank you, Tsukasa,” Mikoto’s quiet thanks came from behind him.
His response made Mikoto show a smile for the first time in a long time.