"Hello, Kouzaku!"
"…Who are you? What do you want?"
In the Ninth Research Institute, Samuel lounged with his legs crossed, eyeing the girl in nurse-like attire before him.
She stood casually, a smile on her face, but her eyes blazed with loathing, like a demon from hell glaring at the world.
Swish!
A whip of liquid mercury lashed out from the side, its sharp crack echoing in Samuel's ears.
Then… it stopped.
Not because Kouzaku Mitori showed mercy, but because…
An invisible hand gripped the mercury whip tightly—a construct of Hayasaka Ai's Aero Hand ability.
Samuel traced the whip to its source: a small, doll-like mercury figure on the ground.
"So, this is your ability—Liquid Shadow?"
The power to manipulate liquid matter with ease was rare, even in Academy City.
But… Samuel could do it too.
Snap!
With a snap of his fingers, the mercury twisted into a ball, then stretched into several liquid ropes, binding Kouzaku in a… traditional knot style.
"What? How?"
Kouzaku gasped, incredulous. She could accept being defeated, but not her ability "betraying" her.
"Looks like we share the same ability! It doesn't grant great physical strength, but it lets us control liquid matter with precision. Seems… I'm just a tad better."
Samuel made a "tiny universe" gesture with his fingers, a teasing grin on his face.
"…"
Kouzaku's face darkened, her eyes' hatred undiminished.
"Tch… you really hate me. Care to share why?"
Samuel crouched before her, his tone playful.
He knew why, of course, and how to dispel her hatred. He'd acquired her from Kihara Gensei for that very purpose.
But Samuel was a mischievous sort. Teasing someone interesting was too fun to pass up.
"Hah…"
Kouzaku gathered liquid in her mouth, ready to spit at Samuel's face, inches away.
But he was faster, pressing his thumb to her philtrum and pinching her jaw with his other fingers, silencing her.
"Rather than spitting at me, how about a more… intimate contact? Zero distance."
Samuel licked his lips.
"Mmph! (Shameless jerk, I'm not afraid of you…)"
"Alright, enough teasing. Look who's here."
Samuel pulled a photo from his pocket—Dolly, taken at the institute.
"Mmph!"
"Want to see her? Be good and follow me."
He released her.
"Shameless scum! She's dead—killed by you filthy lot, you…"
"Mitori…"
"…"
A familiar voice came from nearby. Kouzaku's neck turned stiffly, like rusted gears.
Her chaotic eyes widened, a cosmic explosion of disbelief, shock, and joy flashing through them.
"No… impossible…"
But disbelief dominated. Dolly's death had fueled her hatred for this city, leading her to attack the Chairman of the Board of Directors and land in confinement. Yet now…
"That's right, she's alive. The death reports were to protect her, just like you…"
Samuel spoke slowly. To shield Dolly from prying eyes, he'd spread false information.
Kouzaku's death was similarly faked.
"Mitori…"
Dolly ran toward her.
"Dolly!"
Kouzaku struggled to her feet, only to collapse.
"Ow…"
Samuel hadn't released her bonds, and she hit her forehead on the floor. Pain brought tears, but joy followed.
"This… isn't a dream."
Dolly embraced her, and Samuel freed Kouzaku. Shokuhou Misaki's Mental Out confirmed Kouzaku's joy was genuine.
Days ago, Shokuhou and Dolly had their tearful reunion. Now, Dolly and Kouzaku played out the same drama. Samuel wasn't fond of such scenes—he preferred lighthearted moments.
"Hm?"
He glanced at the corner. Shokuhou Misaki hid there, her expression forlorn.
Is she Dolly's friend? Was I just a substitute? Should I stay?
As Shokuhou pondered, head bowed…
"Hey, Misaki, what's on your mind?"
"None of your business!"
"Come on, you're Dolly's friend too, right?"
"None of your business!"
Shokuhou snapped, turning to leave, but Samuel grabbed her wrist.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
Ignoring her protests, he dragged her from the corner, exposing her to Dolly and Kouzaku.
"Misaki, you're here! Mitori, this is my friend Misaki—Shokuhou Misaki. She kept me company while you were gone."
Dolly grinned, pulling Kouzaku to Shokuhou like a kid introducing friends… which, well, she was.
Shokuhou's maturity and Kouzaku's bitterness made Samuel forget—they were just junior high kids.
"Hello…"
"Hi."
As their hands clasped, a strange new dynamic sparked.
"This is my brother… Samuel!"
When Dolly introduced Samuel to Kouzaku, both girls reacted identically.
"Hmph!"
Girls hold grudges.
"Hehe… since everyone's here, let's hit the beach!!!"
***
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