"..."
The researchers were in a stir.
The rough video on the monitor showed the outcome of the battle that had just ended.
Since Accelerator's attack had wiped out all the surrounding cameras, this was the scene they were finally able to see with a drone they had hastily dispatched.
Accelerator, who had been at the heart of this experiment, was lying motionless on the ground.
They had no choice but to admit it.
Accelerator had lost. To that boy.
"The Tree Diagram! Request a re-calculation! We'll re-adjust the plan based on what happened!"
A researcher, who had come back to his senses, barked out an order.
The request was accepted immediately, and the results of the re-calculation came back in about 30 minutes.
"Due to Accelerator's defeat in the 10031st experiment, a fatal and irreversible change has occurred in Accelerator's Personal Reality. Therefore, the possibility of Accelerator reaching Level 6 through this experiment is 0%"
What came back was a ruthless notification.
The end of the experiment was announced in a short, simple sentence.
The calculation results of the Tree Diagram, which had tormented Sho and Mikoto, were now directed at the researchers.
They all collapsed in unison—no, there was one person who didn't.
Teara addressed Gen'ei, who did not seem disappointed.
"Hmm..."
"Kihara-san...?"
Gen'ei began to speak in his usual tone.
"Well, it can't be helped that it failed. Yes. It's an experiment. Just as a certain amount of sacrifice is necessary for the advancement of science, failure is an integral part of an experiment."
"I, I see...?"
That's true, but hearing it in this situation made her feel uncomfortable.
"(...Uncomfortable? Yes, uncomfortable. Why am I here, why am I participating in an experiment like this...)"
The question was clear, but her thoughts were like a fog that wouldn't settle. It was a symptom she had experienced many times before. While chasing the elusive fog, her thoughts would dissipate and disappear.
"Lunatique-kun, you still have 'that' thing I gave you, right?"
"Yes."
"Can you show it to me?"
"Understood."
At Gen'ei's voice, her doubts disappeared like mist, as they always did.
And as he told her, Teara took out a red and blue clock-shaped 'thing' from her chest pocket.
"Let's see, I'll teach you the real way to use this watch."
"BUILD"
"Eh—"
Gen'ei activated the 'thing'—an Anotherwatch—and embedded it into Teara.
"This was a worthwhile object for research, wasn't it? But unfortunately, I'll have to use it in this way this time."
"Ah, ah, ahhh—"
Teara's appearance changed in a flash.
The two colors, red and blue, were very prominent. Blades like rabbit ears and an antenna like a tank cannon extended from her two-colored compound eyes.
The 'teeth' that the 'real thing' didn't have gave off a more biological sense of horror.
"This is the crystallization of power. The power of a hero called 'Kamen Rider.' It will give you a completely unknown power, one that does not belong to this world."
Teara Lunatique no longer existed there. What was there was a grotesque monster.
"Dr. Kihara?! What are you doing?!"
"Ah, yes. What did he call that form?"
A researcher who noticed the change said something, but Gen'ei nonchalantly twisted his head.
"Lately, I've been unable to remember anything that isn't related to the experiment... Hmm, what was it... ... ... Ah! That's right, I remember!"
The fact that Accelerator had lost, that the experiment had failed, was no longer on anyone's mind.
All that was left was a sense of alarm toward the grotesque monster.
"Another Rider. Was it Another Build? Lunatique-kun, from today, you are—'Kamen Rider Build.' You all. From now on, follow 'this' one's instructions, okay? Well then—"
"Dr. K-Kihara—!!"
Gen'ei said something that was completely unplanned and turned his back on them.
"Please be quiet."
Another Build returned to her original form, Teara. The researchers were relieved by this, but her demeanor had clearly changed.
"The experiment will now transition to Plan B. Please follow my instructions."
"(Yes, yes. It seems I don't need to use suggestion anymore, do I?)"
Gen'ei, who was walking alone down the dark hallway, said,
"I'll leave the 'rest' to you, Lunatique-kun."
With those words, he vanished.
---------
The moment the battle between Accelerator and me ended, the Bureau came running. Everyone present was then taken to the hospital.
The Misaka Sister was slammed against a wall by a gust of wind. Accelerator was knocked out after I beat him up. I was injured from Accelerator's attacks. The only one who wasn't hurt was the Misaka Sister.
And the Misaka Sister was also taken along as an important person of interest. Since she didn't refuse, that went smoothly.
The one thing that bothered me was that none of the Bureau members who came were from the Sixth Division.
Well, not every incident involves the Sixth Division. I know that the world doesn't revolve around my acquaintances, so the probability of that is high, but still.
And so, we were taken to the hospital.
After receiving treatment, those of us who were conscious were questioned.
I was in a bed, and the Misaka Sister was in a different room.
Naturally, the first thing they asked was my name.
Misaka is a very famous Level 5, Railgun. It's something they could easily find out with a quick search.
Tokiwadai Middle School is strict. It's already bad enough that she was caught breaking curfew, but they'll keep finding more and more of her "crimes." She's probably going to have a very difficult summer vacation.
I feel a little sorry for the Misaka Sister who's not in the room with me.
I'm not famous, so I don't have much to lose.
"Sho Yotsuki... It seems you haven't been officially assigned yet, but you're a member of the Special Task Force 6. This wasn't an investigation, was it?"
"Ah, yes."
I forgot. I'm a Bureau member now, too. So do I even need to be questioned?
"I witnessed an assault and responded. Since I have a Butei license, I don't think there's a problem."
"I see. Understood. I'll contact your superior, so please submit the report to them as well. If we process this as a Butei incident, you'll have to pay for the building repairs."
"Underst—"
Oh, right. If I acted in an official capacity, a report is necessary.
I have no idea how much it would cost to repair a part of the island that was destroyed all the way down to the Ballast Area. Last time, it was covered by Holy Empress, but I can't imagine paying for it myself.
If that's the case, then writing a report is no big deal—
"—Did you contact them?"
"Huh? Yes. I did."
"I see... You work fast."
"Huh? I'm flattered."
The fact that they contacted them means they found out a lot of things. That I fought, destroyed the city, and was sent to the hospital.
And a report on top of that. I'll have to report the details of this incident.
The reason for such a flashy battle with the number one esper...? Hah, there's no way to hide it.
I'll just have to be prepared. I have to make sure I don't cause any trouble for Claudia.
Two hours passed after that. Although I said I was prepared, I kept trying to think of excuses, but I couldn't come up with anything.
The time limit was up. Someone from the Sixth Division finally came. And it was, of all people,
"I didn't expect the commander herself to come..."
"How are you? Are you doing well?"
It was my superior and the commander of the Sixth Division, Hayate Yagami, who entered the room with a smile.
"Haha, well, I have some free time. It seems a commander isn't supposed to be on the front lines."
"When you were little, you probably would have charged in, thinking that didn't matter."
"No, no. As a mage, I'm a support type. It's Fate-chan who charges in."
So you're saying you were on the battlefield.
Hayate-san sat down. I cut to the chase before the atmosphere became awkward.
"Um, so, about this incident."
"Yeah. We were surprised too. We never thought you'd be this far ahead of us."
Ahead of us?
"I heard most of the story from Claudia. You've heard about the Sixth Division, haven't you? To explain it in order..."
I knew the Sixth Division was investigating the Defect Electrical. But at that stage, their investigation authority was forcefully taken away.
It seemed they had no choice but to back down, but then a monster appeared in a different location from the institute I attacked yesterday.
They were scrambled, and Fate-san and Signum-san repelled it. And by chance, an informant who knew about the Level 6 Shift Project appeared.
And so, the Sixth Division, who had learned about the experiment, began to move to resolve it.
"We never thought that on that same day, Accelerator, who was supposed to be at the core of the experiment, would be defeated by one of our own."
"That's bad..."
Yeah, that's really bad.
They showed me a video, and the monster that attacked the institute, that's Zetton, right?! Even I, who don't know much about Ultraman, know that, isn't it a super famous monster?!
The Sixth Division seems to think that some kind of bio-weapon escaped, but someone definitely summoned it.
I have a bad feeling about this...
"Well, as a result, the number of Sisters who died was small, and this case, including Claudia's, will be dismissed."
I guess they can't hide that either.
"But, this also goes for Mikoto Misaka, but from now on, you have to consult with an adult properly. I want you to at least keep that promise. We're your friends, after all."
"...Yes."
"This time, there was a traitor in the Bureau, so we might not have been able to help much, but I still want you to say something."
"...Yes."
"And there are a lot of girls who are worried about you. You've kept this a secret from them, and do you know how terrible that is?"
"Yes, of course—"
Huh?
"Did you hear from Claudia that I've been keeping it a secret from everyone?"
"Huh? No, no, I heard it from them in person."
"Huh?"
"Yeah. Ah, since there were a few of them, it's more accurate to say 'them,' isn't it?"
That means,
"Are they all at the Sixth Division right now?!"
"Yeah. They're helping us out a little."
I never thought the problem I had been putting off would come to me in a place like this.
"Helping out with what?"
"Even though you defeated Accelerator, the researchers who were trying to carry out the experiment haven't been arrested yet. We're going to the most important, central location based on the informant's information. To arrest them. Well, it's more like a cleanup. You took the most exciting part."
"Then I'll—"
"Do you think I'll let you?"
"...No, I don't."
"The girls also told me. They said I absolutely can't let you do anything reckless. They said you should just stay put in the hospital."
I wasn't seriously injured, but the damage I took from Accelerator was still there.
Well, yeah. Those experts probably don't need my help. Now that I've defeated Accelerator, the biggest obstacle, my job here is pretty much done.
All that's left is to wait in this bed for the report of the incident's resolution.
And to wait to be scolded by everyone.
"Haah... This is depressing."
"Well, being able to worry about that is a privilege of a popular guy."
Just as we were talking, an email arrived.
"Oh, is that a scolding email?"
"Don't say scary things... Did you tell everyone that I'm here?"
"Of course. That was the most important thing to them."
Then it really might be a scolding email.
"Can I check it?"
"Sure."
I opened my device and checked the email.
"..."
"Hmm? What did everyone say?"
I silently closed the device.
"Commander Hayate."
"What?"
"You said everyone was doing cleanup for the experiment, but is that true?"
"What do you mean? Are you saying I lied to you?"
No, she probably didn't lie.
"No, that's not it. I just... I think you might have used the wrong words."
"..."
"The truth is, it's not at the 'cleanup' stage yet, is it?"
Of course, I have a reason for saying that.
The email wasn't from everyone.
It had no sender name. It was a notification of an 'Urgent Mission.'
The content was—'Stop the Sisters' rampage.' I can't be convinced that they're just doing cleanup when an urgent mission with that kind of content has been issued.
"Did something happen to the Sisters?"
"Sigh, you really are perceptive."
Hayate-san seemed to have resigned herself and began to speak.
"There are 'two' informants."
"Two."
One is Tobinobu Funisaka, a scientist who supervised the Sisters' learning devices, and the person Fate-san and Signum-san rescued.
"And there's another one. An informant that your girl acquaintances brought with them."
"Everyone did?"
Did they have a connection like that?
"To be honest, the information from Funisaka-san is no longer an issue thanks to your efforts. I'm really glad about that."
"Then are you responding to the second informant's information now? ...Don't be so secretive, just tell me."
"The informant's name is Kikyo Yoshikawa."
Hayate-san said it teasingly, but then,
"If we don't do something, this island—and maybe even countries around the world—might be targeted."
What she said was the worst possible scenario.
--------------------------------------------
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