"I could feel it... just how badly she needed someone to talk to. But instead of answering her question properly, I brushed it off with a 'level doesn't matter'... it was the worst thing I could've said!" Misaka Mikoto groaned, clutching her hair in frustration.
"Uh..." Shirai Kuroko was speechless. You're a Level 5 telling a Level 0 that levels don't matter? No matter how well-intentioned, that would sound like pure dismissal. Of course it backfired.
"But still, Selene, how did you come up with that kind of response?" Feeling a bit embarrassed, Misaka blushed and quickly tried to change the subject.
"Hmm?" Selene blinked, a little caught off guard by the sudden question. "Honestly, I wouldn't call it comforting her. I just told her the truth."
"The truth?" both Misaka and Kuroko echoed curiously.
"Yes, reality," Selene said calmly. "We're Level 4 and above—high-level espers. Compared to Level 0s and lower-ranked espers, we live in completely different worlds. We've never experienced what their lives are like. To them, our words of comfort must sound like nobles saying, 'Why don't they just eat cake?'"
Maybe the topic was too heavy, because Misaka's face darkened with guilt. "I never thought it'd turn out like this..."
Selene looked up at her, her expression growing firm. "Her inferiority complex likely stems from us—her high-level esper friends. Think about it. If you were the weakest among your closest friends, wouldn't you feel pressured? Inferior?"
"Ugh... yeah, when you put it like that, Saten must've felt a lot of pressure being around us." Kuroko sighed, realizing she had never considered it before.
Selene exhaled softly. "We all possess overwhelming power, and naturally, that makes us indifferent to the struggles of weaker espers. I don't know about you two, but... to be honest, it's harsh."
She paused for a moment, her tone quiet but chillingly honest. "If Saten weren't our friend, would we care? Would we even pay attention to Level 0s? Personally, I wouldn't. At best, I'd skim a headline on the news, sigh for a second, and move on."
"And I believe most people would do the same."
"Wouldn't the Board of Directors step in? Doesn't Academy City promote equality? And... aren't they afraid of public backlash?" Misaka asked, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Heh, public opinion?" Selene scoffed softly. "Under absolute authority, public opinion is meaningless. Give it time, and who will remember any of this? Humans are forgetful creatures."
"Th-That's..." Misaka clenched her fists tightly, anger rising in her chest. "That's too cruel... why can't people just help each other?!"
"Cruel?" Selene stepped forward, meeting Misaka's gaze head-on. "When you strip away society's warm façade, you'll see that the law of the jungle governs most of it."
Her eyes—those crimson, cross-shaped irises—glimmered faintly as she continued, "Not everyone has your perseverance, talent, and compassion. People like you, who have all three, are rare."
"This world isn't cruel—it's merely real."
"..."
"Real?" Misaka's voice trembled, then rose sharply. "So 'reality' is just an excuse to abandon those who need help?!" Her eyes locked onto Selene's glowing gaze, her tone unwavering. "Maybe thinking ability levels don't matter is naive... but so what?"
"Maybe I can't help everyone in the world—but I can help those I meet who need it. Call it foolish if you want, but I'll still do it! Whether it's Saten or anyone else—I'll help them!"
"Selene, are you with me or not?!"
"Hah, that's the Misaka I know." Selene couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking her head at Misaka's impassioned declaration.
She admired her, truly—but Selene herself wasn't the type to take on the role of a selfless savior. Helping a friend or two? Sure, maybe. "Of course, don't forget—I already promised Saten I'd help her. I keep my word."
"Count me in too!" Moved by Misaka's determination, Shirai Kuroko gasped dramatically and threw herself at Misaka, wrapping her arms around her with feverish adoration. Burying her face against her Onee-sama's chest, she sighed dreamily, her cheeks flushed. "Ahh~ As expected of my beloved Onee-sama... Kuroko is in bliss~!"
Watching the scene unfold, Selene sighed helplessly. "Kuroko... as expected of you. One word—unbelievable."
"Ah! Kuroko, cut it out already!" Misaka scolded, face flushed as she shoved her junior away. But despite her exasperation, the faint smile tugging at her lips betrayed her good mood. "Alright, enough fooling around—we've got work to do!"
"Yeah, let's go. We've talked enough about principles—time to make sure Saten's safe." As she spoke, Selene reached out, grabbed both girls by the collar, and in a flash of light, they vanished from the room.
...
District 7 – A Certain University Hospital.
"So by the time Uiharu arrived, Saten was already unconscious, huh?" Selene looked down at Saten Ruiko, sleeping quietly in her hospital bed, then turned to Shirai Kuroko. "Where's Uiharu now?"
"She went to see Kiyama-sensei. Before she left, she said—'I'll definitely analyze the data and bring Saten back!'" Kuroko sighed, sounding both worried and frustrated. "But we've got no leads at all right now..."
"I see... When exactly did Saten use [Level Upper]?" Misaka murmured, her voice low. It was one thing to talk about it abstractly, but facing her unconscious friend in person made her feel lost. Could she really bring Saten back?
As the two stood there in silence, Selene suddenly spoke up.
"Actually, I might have an idea on how to find the developer behind [Level Upper]. We just need to talk to one person. And conveniently, that person's right here in this hospital." A faint, mysterious smile curved her lips as she turned to Misaka. "And... I think you'll quite like them."
"Huh? Me? Like them?" Misaka blinked, clearly confused.
"That's right!" Selene replied with a grin.