Just as Kobayashi's memories had indicated, Shokuhou Misaki had already successfully used her esper ability Mental Out to secretly take control of the Third Research Lab, "Internal Evolution," within the Talent Development Facility. As a result, she was able to obtain information that was far more detailed and accurate than anything reported in the news.
Once she deliberately began gathering intelligence, it didn't take long for Shokuhou to learn the full truth of the incident—including the strictly classified "truth of the underground training arena."
From that, she concluded:
The information that "Kobayashi is a transmigrator" was highly likely to be true. He had indeed taken action using his foreknowledge advantage, and in doing so, saved Kuro Jiho, who was supposed to have died.
Perhaps the entire affair had been filled with coincidences and unexpected turns, but judging purely by the outcome, Kobayashi had acted in accordance with his beliefs. He truly had taken action to save unfortunate girls, and that attitude was worthy of recognition.
That was one of the reasons Shokuhou Misaki had decided to approach Kobayashi again at close range—hoping to obtain even more detailed memory information.
In fact, according to the Security Department's original plan, there was no such thing as a "pre-evaluation" before psychological counseling.
That step had been added entirely at Shokuhou Misaki's own discretion.
As she stared into Kobayashi's eyes, probing for deeper memories, Shokuhou unconsciously leaned closer and closer—
Until she bumped into an invisible wall.
"Uh… Shokuhou-san?"
Shokuhou jolted awake. Only then did she realize that the two of them were face to face, so close that the tips of their noses were nearly touching.
"…Sorry. That was rude of me."
She quickly stepped back, though inwardly she couldn't help feeling a twinge of regret. If she'd been able to make direct physical contact, the effectiveness of her mind-reading would have been much higher.
She'd gotten too absorbed in the constantly updating stream of memories and lost herself for a moment—missing the perfect opportunity.
"You…"
Kobayashi was also suspicious. He couldn't tell how far Shokuhou Misaki's mind-reading abilities extended now, or whether she'd managed to read anything just now. Still, judging by her frustrated expression, she probably hadn't succeeded… right?
"Did you… run into some kind of trouble?" Kobayashi asked. Her behavior just now was practically a blatant hint.
However, Kobayashi was currently in the public spotlight, and his injuries hadn't healed yet. He really didn't want to get dragged into more troublesome affairs, so he deliberately avoided mentioning the Talent Development Facility by name.
To be honest, Kobayashi—who only wanted to lie low and enjoy his new life—had no desire at all to be some kind of "hero."
Shokuhou Misaki shot him an annoyed glare, then glanced at his arms and legs wrapped in casts and bandages. Her gaze softened.
As if she'd suddenly lost interest, the girl waved her hand.
"It's nothing, really. No need to worry. I was just speaking casually~ I don't have any problems here. Even if there are problems, they belong to the other sisters in the facility."
"Sisters!"
That keyword hit Kobayashi like a jolt of electricity. He immediately stiffened—then realized he'd misunderstood. Shokuhou Misaki wasn't talking about the Misaka Sisters.
Come to think of it, at this point in time, the Level 6 Shift Project shouldn't have officially begun yet… right?
—Damn it. The original story never gave a precise year. I can't get a clear timeline for any of these events!
—Still, I should try to find a chance to contact Misaka Mikoto and subtly warn her not to hand over her DNA map so casually… if it's not already too late.
"…So, you really do know,"
Shokuhou Misaki said as she looked at the boy who'd suddenly drifted off in thought.
"So there's even more to it…"
The keyword "sisters" had activated a flood of original-story memories in Lin Wuming's mind. In his agitation, those thoughts spilled out uncontrollably, allowing Shokuhou to harvest another wave of memory information.
"So that 'Railgun' girl went through something like that too…"
Shokuhou thought to herself.
"Handing over her genetic map so easily—how naïve."
Then again, when she thought about how parts of her own cerebral cortex had been extracted to create the Exterior support brain, she realized she wasn't much better. Shokuhou shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it.
After all, even if they were Level 5 espers, before that, they were still just children who didn't understand the world. Being deceived and exploited by adult researchers was, sadly, only natural.
Perhaps because of that, Shokuhou Misaki was extremely cautious. She trusted no one, relying only on the information she obtained herself through Mental Out.
The "transmigrator" Kobayashi standing before her was clearly someone with secrets.
However, the so-called "original storyline" in his memories was simply too fantastical. Even though she'd verified it through mind reading, Shokuhou didn't dare believe it completely. Instead, she chose to continue interacting with him—continuing to verify.
That was why she didn't tell Kobayashi the truth:
that the "sisters" had already been born, that the Mass-Produced Esper Project from his memories had already begun, and that it was already too late to stop Misaka Mikoto's mistake…
Just the afternoon before yesterday, Shokuhou Misaki had met "Dolly."
The first "verification unit" of the Misaka Mikoto clones—the No. 0 Misaka Sister: Dolly.
In the memories she'd obtained during their previous encounter, Shokuhou had already seen parts of this storyline. She knew only that the girl named Dolly would become her friend, then tragically die as her condition worsened—leaving an enormous regret in her heart and driving her to dismantle the Talent Development Facility from within.
Because it was directly tied to the facility's destruction, Shokuhou had paid special attention to that segment of the story.
And Dolly's appearance two days ago had verified the accuracy of Kobayashi's memories—prompting this meeting between them.
—I need to gather more memory information… and find a way to save Dolly!
Shokuhou Misaki silently made up her mind.
According to the original storyline, Dolly's death was unavoidable. Her memories would be synchronized and preserved in another Misaka Sister, "Dolly," who would awaken two years later—effectively "revived."
But Shokuhou Misaki refused to accept that ending.
The dead cannot truly return to life. Dolly was Dolly. Even if another Misaka Sister inherited all of her memories, she would never truly be her.
Perhaps the "original storyline" version of herself had simply had no other choice, and could only accept that Dolly was Dolly.
But now, having foreknowledge of how the story would unfold, there was no way she wouldn't try to change that regret.
"Nana-senpai, if there's ever another girl who needs saving, you must remember who you are!"
With that thought, Shokuhou Misaki emphasized the words once more—reinforcing the psychological suggestion she'd planted.
(End of Chapter)
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