Suzushina Yuriko had been escorted into the depths of the District 10 Juvenile Detention Center. The heavy steel gates had slammed shut behind her, sealing her in solitary confinement.
As she sat on the cold bed, she pondered how Aleister intended to let her out after she had caused such a massive, public disaster. If she really was the 'Protagonist' of his grand design—as Kakine Teitoku had claimed—then she wouldn't be locked in here forever.
'What exactly is this Plan...?' Yuriko thought, a rare frown crossing her face. 'That scumbag Kakine didn't explain it clearly. What is the connection between the Misaka Sisters, the Misaka Network, and Aleister's endgame?'
Although she knew she was the centerpiece of some massive conspiracy, the actual mechanics of it were completely hidden from her. Takahashi Yuuya hadn't explained it to her either. Perhaps knowing the truth would lead to a worse outcome? Or perhaps Aleister was actively preventing her from finding out?
Just then.
Buzzzzz.
A sharp, electronic hum rang out. It came from the secure communication intercom embedded in the wall of her cell.
"Hmm?" Yuriko looked over, her eyes narrowing.
"Number One. Accelerator. This is our first time speaking directly to one another. Is there anything you wish to say to me?"
A synthesized voice echoed from the speaker. It was calm and serene, as still and unreadable as the surface of a frozen lake.
Yuriko's pupils contracted slightly. There was only one person with the authority to bypass the prison's security grid to speak to her like this.
"You are..." Yuriko trailed off. Although she already knew the answer in her heart, she still asked.
"I am Aleister."
"General Superintendent Aleister..." Yuriko clenched her fists, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous whisper. "Is there something you want to discuss with me in this cowardly way?"
Even knowing that this man had orchestrated a series of cruel schemes against her life, she couldn't afford to blindly lash out at him now. It hadn't come to the point of turning against him entirely. She still needed to live in Academy City. This man could force her to become an enemy of the entire world with just a single word.
This was not an exaggeration. Academy City represented the absolute peak of human science. She was well aware that the geopolitical power of the General Board could not be resisted simply by having strong vectors.
"Now that you have been made aware of the Plan, you have earned the right to ask me questions. As long as the information falls within your current clearance level, I will answer them. But in return, you must follow Academy City's arrangements."
Aleister's tone remained completely devoid of emotion.
Yuriko took a deep breath. She didn't hold back.
"Am I just a pawn in your grand scheme? What purpose do you have for needing me? Have I been a lab rat you've been cultivating from the very beginning?"
Aleister paused for a moment, as if calculating the optimal response.
"Yes. And no. You were my predetermined cornerstone before you were even born."
Yuriko's breath hitched. Before she was born? That was a terrifying amount of information. Could it be that Aleister possessed the power to foresee the future, or had he actively manipulated her genetics and upbringing?
"What exactly is this Plan, and what role do I play in it?" Yuriko demanded.
"I can answer that question. But it is not the right time yet," Aleister replied smoothly.
"Is that so?" Yuriko fell silent, her mind racing. "Then... any more questions?"
"I... I want to know..." Yuriko opened her mouth, struggling to vocalize the question that had plagued her since she realized her life was a script. "Why me?"
"In my original calculations for the future," Aleister said calmly, "I intended to hand over the position of General Superintendent to you. I was grooming you to inherit Academy City."
"..."
"However, your development has gone astray. With Takahashi Yuuya's anomalous intervention, I can no longer accurately calculate a definitive future for you."
"What do you mean?" Yuriko asked, her voice trembling slightly.
To inherit the position of Chairman? To be handed the keys to Academy City? What did this mean?!
'My upbringing... it was all to groom me as his successor?' Yuriko's eyes widened. 'So that's how it is. That's why that Dark Matter bastard challenged me today. He wanted the throne of Academy City!'
"That is my answer. Are there any further questions?" Aleister asked.
"No... General Superintendent," Yuriko replied, her throat incredibly dry.
This was the most world-shattering information she had received since the day she manifested her powers. Was this the truth? Was her entire life of bloodshed just a twisted leadership training program?
"That is settled then, Accelerator. Or rather... Suzushina Yuriko. I hope you do not stray too far from the calculated path. Otherwise, I will be forced to activate the Spare Plan."
Yuriko remained silent. She knew exactly what the Spare Plan was. It was Kakine Teitoku.
The intercom hissed and clicked off. Yuriko took a deep, shuddering breath, staring at the floor.
...
Present Time.
Yuuya had already broken Yuriko out of her cell. To blend in, he had used his System to conjure a crisp white researcher's lab coat for her to wear over her black-and-white dress.
Because her striking white hair and red eyes were too conspicuous, he had also given her a pair of round, thick-rimmed glasses. The disguise surprisingly worked; it instantly changed her entire aura, making her look like a cynical, overworked intern. No one would subconsciously look at her and see the terrifying 'Accelerator'.
"If we're not breaking out of here right now, what are we still doing wandering the halls?" Yuriko asked impatiently, adjusting the glasses. She watched Yuuya swagger down the maximum-security corridor without a care in the world.
"We're looking for our new Dark Side members. They're all locked up in this block," Yuuya smiled pleasantly, his hands in his pockets.
"Teammates? Why bother? They're all just Level 4 grunts anyway," Yuriko scoffed dismissively.
She didn't care at all about forming a squad. She didn't need to cooperate with others; on the contrary, weak teammates would only drag her down. Her power was too absolute—she could easily kill an ally without realizing it if they stepped into her vector field during a fight. Rather than waiting for that inevitable tragedy, it was better to be alone from the start.
"Hey, the more teammates the merrier, right? Besides, they're all really interesting girls. Having them around means life won't be boring," Yuuya grinned, thinking of the deadly but highly entertaining assassins of Scavenger and the cyborgs of the Dark May Project.
"Tch! Pervert," Yuriko clicked her tongue.
They soon arrived at a heavily reinforced solitary confinement door.
...
A girl with messy, long purple hair squatted in the dark corner of the cell, hugging her knees tightly to her chest. Her purple eyes appeared cloudy and lifeless, yet a burning, bottomless hatred flickered deep within them. She dug her fingernails into her arms.
'How many months have I been imprisoned in this box?' she muttered hoarsely to herself. 'Has it been a year? Maybe even longer... there's no such thing as time in here.'
Even basic amenities like wall clocks or metal spoons were strictly forbidden. The entire room was a padded, empty void, containing nothing but a foam pillow and a thin blanket.
The Board of Directors was terrified that a high-level Esper might use everyday objects as mediums to escape.
'How much longer am I going to be locked up here? Am I just going to rot here until I die?'
She ground her teeth together. It was a real shame she and her squad were caught before they could carry out their ultimate revenge.
'I know that even if there were ten thousand of me, I would never be able to scratch the General Board. But even a crushed insect will try to bite you before it dies.'
Her cloudy eyes narrowed in the dark.
'Go ahead. Keep using us as your guinea pigs. Keep breaking our minds for your Dark May Project. One day, someone who hates you even more than I do will burn this city to the ground.'
BEEP.
Hiss—
Just then, the heavy pneumatic seals of the cell door disengaged. The thick steel door slid open, spilling harsh corridor light into the dark room.
The girl looked up, her purple eyes squinting at the doorway.
'White coats?' she thought, her hatred flaring. 'Researchers? I knew they would come to drag me back to the laboratory eventually...'
.....
.....
.....
Support me and read advance chapters on patreon.com/ImmortalDaoWriter