Just then, the door to the hospital room was flung open, and a cool, familiar voice echoed from the hallway. Moments later, Selene's signature figure—white hair and crimson eyes—appeared before everyone. "Looks like Saten's recovering well."
"I swear, who barges into a hospital like that?!" Misaka Mikoto exclaimed, startled by Selene's dramatic entrance. After some time reflecting on everything that had happened, she had finally come to terms with it all. She was done brooding—after all, being cheerful and straightforward was her nature. What good would sulking do?
After all, Selene had always treated her well enough. Why force things to be more complicated? As long as they were friends, that was enough.
Hands on her hips, Misaka shot Selene a disapproving look. "Saten's still a patient, you know! And this is a hospital! Why make such a big scene?"
"No problem." Selene gave her a sidelong glance, her expression unreadable. Even now, she still treats me the same... she thought. If I really belonged to this world, Misaka Mikoto, maybe we could've been true friends.
Friendship, huh...
Selene waved her hand casually. "The [Level Upper] network's already collapsed, so Saten should be fine now. Besides, I put up a soundproof barrier when I came in."
She added with a faint smirk, "Don't worry, this level of noise is nothing. You and Kuroko can flirt all you want—no one will hear a thing."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean, 'no one will hear me and Kuroko flirt'?! Explain yourself!" Misaka shouted, sparks flickering faintly around her head.
Selene's teasing grin widened. "Careful now—this is a hospital, remember? You said not to make a scene. Don't contradict yourself by starting one."
"Ugh! How did I end up with such a snarky friend?!" Misaka groaned, glaring at Selene, whose mischievous smile reminded her of that infuriating wannabe queen at school. "You're just as annoying as her! Every time we meet, you can't help but get under my skin!"
"Uh... okay, okay, let's calm down, Senpai," Uiharu Kazari interjected quickly, trying to smooth things over.
She stepped forward and bowed deeply—nearly ninety degrees—in apology. "I'm sorry, Senpai... I shouldn't have forced you like that this morning."
Selene raised her hand slightly, helping her up before pinching her cheek gently. "It's fine. I know you just got carried away. Let's leave it at that."
Selene didn't particularly mind Uiharu. She had no resentment or dislike toward her. It was simply how she was—Uiharu might have been a 'saintly' type, but she wasn't hypocritical. When she helped others, she did so through action, not empty words.
Meanwhile, Shirai Kuroko had clearly entered her perverted mode again, face flushed as she muttered something under her breath. "Soundproof barrier... so no one can hear anything... and Onee-sama's electric discharge hasn't fully recovered yet... hehehe..."
"Um... Selene-senpai, were you the one who saved me?" Saten Ruiko asked weakly.
"No," Selene replied bluntly, turning to glance at Misaka, whose cheeks puffed up in irritation. "To be exact, she saved you. She even fought other Level 5s because of it."
"Eh?" Saten blinked, stunned.
Selene then explained everything that had happened—including the battles with Mugino Shizuri and Kakine Teitoku. By the time she finished, everyone in the room was speechless. The idea that the [Level Upper] incident had escalated enough to involve multiple top-ranked espers was beyond belief.
Especially for Saten Ruiko—she had never imagined her actions would draw in such powerful figures.
Still, the [Level Upper] case had finally come to an end.
At that moment, Misaka suddenly remembered something. "Wait, where were you just now?"
"Handling some business for the company," Selene said smoothly. In truth, she had been summoned by Aleister for a long lecture—something about showing restraint and limiting the distribution of special enhancement serums...
"That's not the point. The real reason I came here—" Selene's crimson eyes glimmered faintly. "—is to fulfill my promise."
"Promise?" Misaka Mikoto blinked, confused by the sudden change of topic. "What promise?"
"Not yours." Selene turned her gaze toward the girl lying in bed—Saten Ruiko. "I'm talking about what I said to you on the phone. Do you remember?"
"Eh? The phone call... wait, really?!" Saten's eyes widened, and she almost sat up from her bed in disbelief.
She hadn't expected that promise to be real. She'd thought Selene's words back then were just to comfort her. "Senpai... can I really raise my ability level naturally?"
Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Even for someone as carefree as Saten, the idea of naturally awakening her power was too much to take calmly.
"Of course. Your ability is Aero Hand, right? You've already experienced it once, so you know what it feels like. You're not truly a Level 0—your brain just isn't processing fast enough to manifest your power consistently."
"So... what should I do?" Saten asked.
"That's why I'm here." Selene stepped to the bedside, pressing a finger gently to Saten's forehead. "You've already felt a higher state once. This time, it should come easier. You should have improved since then."
"Focus your mind—feel it carefully."
"But... Senpai, I don't feel anything at all..."
"Don't talk. Feel. Stop overthinking." Using her ability, Selene peered directly into Saten's thought patterns.
Seriously? You haven't even reawakened your power yet, and you're already thinking about using Aero Hand to flip Uiharu's skirt? That's so you, Saten... Selene sighed internally, snapping her fingers lightly against the girl's forehead to bring her focus back.
With a wince, Saten steadied herself and tried again to sense the power within.
"This is your own personal reality," Selene said softly. "Draw it out."
Her finger remained on Saten's forehead, channeling a trace of Honkai energy to gently stimulate her brain, enhancing its computational activity. At the same time, she used one of her latest Honkai-based applications—a micro illusion.
The illusion recreated a scene from Saten's own memory, immersing her in the experience of using [Level Upper], letting her relive the sensation of her power awakening. The illusion reconstructed every detail—her physical state, sensations, awareness, thoughts, even her brain's calculation process—allowing her to fully re-experience the moment of awakening.
Watching Saten close her eyes and sink into the illusion, Selene lowered her hand. Her part was done. This was the only method she could think of for natural ability elevation without resorting to force.
If Saten Ruiko still couldn't awaken, then perhaps—it was simply her fate.
A few moments later, Uiharu Kazari brought over a tray of fruit juice. Handing Selene a glass, she sat across from her and asked softly, "Is Saten-san going to be alright? And... can this really make her ability grow naturally?"
"She'll be fine," Selene said after taking a sip, pausing briefly. "As for whether she can truly awaken... that depends on her."
Suddenly, Selene tilted her head, eyes narrowing with surprise. "Oh?" Her lips curved into a faint smile as she turned to Misaka Mikoto. "Did you feel that?"
"Huh? Feel what—wait...!" Misaka's eyes widened as a familiar energy ripple filled the air. She nearly jumped from her seat, her expression lighting up with joy as she met Selene's gaze.
"That's... AIM Diffusion Field!!!"