"Why do you think that?" Harumi Kiyama asked calmly, although her voice trembled slightly with exhaustion. She had not rested for more than three hours in several days.
She could not rest because her research had reached a critical stage. She feared that if she slept, she might subconsciously overlook something important after waking up.
She sighed inwardly, feeling troubled. This student clearly wanted to become closer to her.
That was troublesome. She was not good at communicating with others, not good at refusing people, not good at understanding others, and sometimes she did not even fully understand what other people were trying to say.
"Because my ability allows me to vaguely sense other people's emotions and feelings," Arata said with a smile as he leaned against the desk where Harumi Kiyama was working. One hand supported his cheek as he looked at her.
"And teacher, you seemed quite emotional when you heard the surname Kihara just now."
"I see. No wonder you are one of the eight Level 5 espers in Academy City. Your telekinesis can even achieve effects somewhat similar to a Mental Out ability," Harumi Kiyama said while her eyes twitched slightly.
"It is not a good idea to become involved with the Kihara name. You would be better off refusing."
"Of course I know that. Being associated with the Kihara family is practically the same as being labeled inhuman," Arata said as his eyes narrowed slightly.
Those words pierced straight into Harumi Kiyama's heart and exploded in her mind. Her pupils contracted and her fingers trembled slightly as she spoke in a dry voice.
"You also know about those things?"
"Yes. I was shocked by the filth and stench hidden inside Academy City as soon as I became a Level 5. Things like the Railgun Mass Production Project, the Level 6 Shift Project, the Dark May Project, and the Eighth Multi Ability and Time Ability Research Project concerning me." Arata spoke calmly.
Harumi Kiyama fell silent. That was an overwhelming amount of information. She had not expected that this student, who had only just become a Level 5, would uncover so many secrets within only one week.
The Eighth Multi Ability and Time Ability Research Project. He is a multi ability user and also possesses time related abilities.
Then she thought about the battle between two Level 5 espers not long ago.
"What exactly are you trying to say by telling me all this?" Harumi Kiyama took a deep breath and turned around to look at Arata with her tired and gloomy eyes. She did not believe that this student was simply chatting casually.
"I also know about that. The Ability Runaway Law Detonation Experiment. It was truly an experiment that left me feeling extremely uncomfortable," Arata said coldly while closing his eyes.
When he first arrived in Academy City ten years ago, his body was that of a six year old child. After he turned ten, he was placed under the care of the Advanced Education Bureau Affiliated Elementary School. At that time he was in the sixth grade while Ms. Kiyama taught the third grade. He often acted like an older brother and played games with the younger students.
"You even know about that..." Harumi Kiyama's pupils trembled as she heard those words echo repeatedly in her mind.
"Of course. I was in the sixth grade at the Advanced Education Bureau Affiliated Elementary School three years ago. I still remember those days very clearly." Arata smiled as he recalled that time.
He had actually spent a fairly pleasant ten years in Academy City, living the life of a very ordinary student.
"So that is how it is... So that is why you called me teacher that day. I am sorry. They... I..."
Harumi Kiyama remembered the first time she met him again at a certain high school. Even though she was now a researcher, he still called her teacher. She had been somewhat surprised at the time.
Her breathing became heavier and cold sweat slowly formed on her forehead.
Since she knew about that plan, she also knew that she had personally pushed her own students into the abyss.
"Ms. Kiyama, you do not need to apologize because you were also deceived. The Kihara family is the real culprit," Arata said sincerely.
"The teacher who became so haggard because of that incident was also doing it for those children. If you ever need my help, Ms. Kiyama, please do not hesitate to ask. Even though you did not directly teach me, you are still a teacher I respect."
"I do not need any help. The children will wake up soon," Harumi Kiyama said hoarsely as she bit her lip.
"Ms. Kiyama, you look this exhausted because you are about to complete the device that can wake them up, right?" Arata glanced at the computer on her desk. Although he could not understand the sound wave analysis diagrams displayed on the screen, he suspected that this device was the Imagine Breaker brainwave network system she was building.
"What exactly do you know?" Harumi Kiyama looked at Arata with a deep gaze. This student knew far too much. Even if some of it was only speculation, it was still difficult to accept. No one should have known what she was doing.
She was a specialist in brain research, and her brainwave analysis work looked completely normal. Everything was conducted openly and logically so that no one would suspect her true objective.
"It is nothing, teacher. If you need my help, I will definitely help you," Arata said with a gentle smile.
What Ms. Kiyama wanted was to use the Tree Diagram supercomputer, a machine capable of calculating the Earth's celestial phenomena for the next two thousand years, in order to find a way to save the children.
However, such a supercomputer was not accessible to ordinary researchers.
He himself also could not easily obtain permission to use it. Although the system was built using Aleister's theoretical framework, its ownership did not belong solely to Aleister but to the Board of Directors and the investors behind Academy City.
Even if he requested access from Aleister, the man would certainly attach conditions. That would only make things troublesome. No one could predict what kind of price Aleister might demand.
Meanwhile, Ms. Kiyama had already created her own brainwave control device and it was impossible to persuade her to give up now. She had finally seen a faint glimmer of hope. It would be cruel to shatter that hope again.
After that, Arata planned to continue with his usual routine. He would go to the supermarket to buy snacks and fruit, visit the hospital to see the Misaka Sisters, and then return home to cook dinner.
Life was different when living with someone else compared to living alone. At least in the past he could get by with just a single meal.
...
A windowless building.
Aleister silently stared at the electronic screen in front of him.
"A unique technological creation. Although its function appears simple, the level of technological sophistication it demonstrates is astonishing. Technology at this level should not exist in this world. Is it gradually leaning toward technological experimentation?"
Another golden projection screen appeared, displaying the image of a girl with long blonde hair.
"Hey, Aleister. It took a long time, but with the priest's help I finally managed to activate this machine. Now we can communicate across an entire ocean and continent. The technology of Academy City is truly incredible."
...
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