"Oh dear. That was dangerous."
Yuuya scratched his temple, breathing a sigh of relief as he watched Kuroko storm away.
"Luckily, she mistook 9985 for the real Misaka Mikoto. If a Teleporter of her caliber had investigated closely... my cover would have been blown."
Shirai Kuroko was diligent. If she found out about the Clones, she would dig until she hit the Dark Side. And unlike Aleister, she wouldn't negotiate.
"DO, Misaka asks doubtfully: Did that female know the Original Body? Did she call her Onee-sama?"
Misaka 9985 stopped eating her cake.
"Will Misaka's presence disrupt the Original's social relationships? DO, Misaka worries about causing trouble."
"Who knows?" Yuuya shrugged. "Let's just eat."
...
Heaven Canceller's Hospital.
After the late-night snack, Yuuya returned 9985 to the hidden ward.
Heaven Canceller was checking the vitals of the sleeping clones in the incubation pods.
"Doctor," Yuuya asked quietly. "About a month ago... did you treat a patient who looked like a younger version of these girls? Named Dolly?"
The frog-faced doctor paused. He tapped his chin.
"Hmm... That child. Yes. I remember vividly. You were the one who sent that girl to me, weren't you?"
"Is she alive?" Yuuya asked, his eyes bright.
This was his first victory. Before the System fully awakened, he had given Shokuhou Misaki the tip to come here.
If Dolly was alive, then Shokuhou hadn't fallen into despair. The tragedy of the "Talent Workshop" had been averted.
"Well..." The Doctor's expression turned somber. "When she arrived... she had lost vital signs."
Yuuya's breath hitched. "Lost... vital signs?"
"Her body was destroyed by the prototype experiments. Her organs were failing. She was at the limit of human endurance. Even I felt anger seeing it."
"Then... Dolly..."
"Don't worry," the Doctor smiled, a confident glint in his eyes. "I snatched her back from hell. As long as a patient is in front of me, I won't let them die."
"Doctor!" Yuuya slumped against the wall. "Don't scare me like that! Lead with the good news!"
"She is alive. But she hasn't been discharged. 70% of her tissues were damaged. She needs long-term regeneration therapy."
"She's still here?" Yuuya's eyes widened.
That meant Shokuhou Misaki—the Queen of Tokiwadai—must be a frequent visitor.
Just as the thought crossed his mind...
"My, my~"
A sweet voice, dripping with playful sarcasm, drifted from the corridor behind him.
"Seeing so many 'Misaka Mikotos' in the hospital really startled me~"
"I did a little investigation... and wow. Level 5 Move Point? I'm surprised. You finally revealed your true colors, Mr. Hero~"
Yuuya smiled. He didn't need to turn around.
He knew that voice.
"It's been a long time. You haven't contacted me in weeks. I thought you forgot about your 'friend'."
He turned.
Standing there was a girl with long, honey-colored hair and starry eyes. She wore the Tokiwadai uniform, but with her own flair—spiderweb lace gloves, thigh-high socks, and a designer handbag.
Her figure was... impressive. Far more developed than a middle schooler should be.
The #5 Level 5. Shokuhou Misaki.
"Wow~" Yuuya's eyes immediately drifted downward. "You've leveled up again in just half a month. I'm impressed."
He gave her a thumbs up.
"I can understand admiring someone..." Shokuhou crossed her arms over her chest, looking at him with disgust. "But being so openly perverted is really something~"
Despite her sharp words, her starry eyes sparkled with gratitude.
She remembered.
A month ago, she was desperate. Her friend Dolly was dying in the Talent Workshop. She was alone.
Then this strange boy appeared. He teased her, took photos of her, and acted like a jerk... but he gave her the key to saving Dolly.
If not for him, she would have lost her only friend.
"I came to visit Dolly today," Shokuhou said softly, her teasing tone fading. "And then I saw you bringing these girls in."
She gestured to the rows of Misaka Clones sleeping in the tanks.
"At first, I was terrified. I thought you were making more experiments."
"But then I saw the Doctor treating them."
She looked at Yuuya.
"You saved them too, didn't you?"
....
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