Misaka 9982 sat frozen as Yuuya gently pinched her cheek. Her blank eyes stared at him, her internal processors struggling to compute his actions.
Even with the combined knowledge of the Misaka Network, she couldn't find a logical explanation for why this male would touch her face.
"Why?"
"Misaka does not understand. Misaka has doubts about her own heart... and your motivations."
"What's incomprehensible?" Yuuya smiled, withdrawing his hand. "Is it that you can't understand why I saved you?"
"There's no complex reason. I wanted to save you, so I did. No other explanation is needed."
"If you need a reason for everything, you'll never do anything. Sometimes, you just act."
He leaned back on the stool.
"We managed to keep you alive. Don't throw that away. Your life is precious. It belongs to you, and no one else has the right to decide when it ends."
9982's empty, lifeless eyes widened slightly.
"Life is something that belongs to oneself... Misaka understands the definition."
"However, Misaka cannot understand your application of this definition to Misaka."
She placed a hand over her chest.
"Misaka's body can be mass-produced as long as there are materials. Misaka's heart is borrowed via machine programming."
"Misaka's purpose is merely to facilitate the Level 6 Shift. Why would you deny the purpose of Misaka's existence? DO, Misaka asks for clarification."
Her voice was monotone, but the subtle shift in her expression revealed a deep confusion.
"No matter how many Misakas are needed... we are replaceable. Misaka is not 'Life' as you define it. True life is a naturally growing, unique individual born after 10 months in the womb..."
Yuuya took a deep breath. He reached out and covered her mouth with his hand, silencing the self-deprecating logic.
"Stop."
His eyes were serious.
"Stop repeating what the researchers fed you. That logic is garbage."
"Life isn't defined by how it's born. Test tube or womb... it doesn't matter. As long as you are alive, as long as your heart beats and you can think... you are Life."
"There is nothing 'borrowed.' Your heart is yours. Your thoughts are yours."
"Every life that comes into this world is a miracle. Perhaps... some people will be sad because of your disappearance."
9982 stared at him over his hand. Her eyes were still blank, but the processing speed of her mind had spiked.
The clones were essentially premature infants in teenage bodies. They had only existed for a few weeks. Their consciousness was a blank sheet, filled only by the Network's data.
Yuuya lowered his hand.
"If you die... your Big Sister will be in great pain. You cannot die for that reason alone."
"Big Sister?" 9982 tilted her head. "DO, is this referring to Misaka's biological template? The Third Level 5, Misaka Mikoto?"
"Yes. You look exactly like her, so naturally, you are her sisters."
Yuuya crossed his arms, thinking of the Railgun he had teased that morning.
"I am your Big Sister's friend. If she knew you died like this... she would be devastated."
"Big Sister... Hehe. Big Sister... Hehehe."
Yuuya expected a logical rebuttal. Instead, 9982 suddenly grinned—a strange, "wise" expression, like a child discovering a new toy.
"Big Sister. Misaka has received a new term. Misaka logs this into memory."
Yuuya's eyebrow twitched. He facepalmed.
'I forgot... the Sisters aren't just emotionless. They have a hidden attribute: cute, sharp-tongued trolls.'
"Yes, your dear Big Sister. Anyway, there's no point arguing. You can't leave the hospital in your condition. So stay here."
Yuuya stood up, stretching his stiff back.
"Tomorrow is Monday. I have school. If I'm late, Komoe-sensei will cry and say I hate her class. And then the rest of the class will try to kill me for making the loli cry."
He looked down at 9982 with a mischievous grin.
"By the way... I haven't asked for payment for saving your life yet. I don't work for free, you know."
"Reward? DO, Misaka asks what form of currency is required..."
Just as she opened her mouth to negotiate, Yuuya leaned in.
Chu.
He sealed her lips with his own.
Ten seconds later.
Yuuya pulled back, smacking his lips. His face twisted in disgust.
"Ugh..."
His mouth was filled with the bitter taste of medical cleaning solution.
'I'm an idiot.'
'Heaven Canceller must have sanitized her mouth when he treated her. My first kiss with a clone... tastes like rubbing alcohol.'
"DO, Misaka detects that your brainwaves and heart rate have accelerated significantly via internal electrical sensors," 9982 stated flatly, touching her lips. "Do you have a mental or cardiac condition, sir?"
"Calling it an illness is really disrespectful..." Yuuya muttered guiltily.
It seemed she didn't even understand what a kiss was. The outdoor experiment data package hadn't included "romance protocols."
"Hey. Stay here. See you tomorrow. Goodnight."
Yuuya waved, turning on his heel and leaving the room before the awkwardness could kill him.
9982 stared blankly at the closed door. She touched her lips again.
"Heart rate acceleration... Unknown stimuli. Misaka... is confused."
...
Kihara Institute for Pathological Analysis.
In the main lab, Shinobu Nunotaba paused over her microscope. Her hands froze as she overheard the hushed conversation of her colleagues.
"It happened during the first outdoor experiment."
"Really? Accelerator was defeated? That monster lost? You must be kidding."
"It's true. An intruder defeated him and abducted Subject 9982."
"I didn't expect obstacles this early. Will this affect the schedule?"
"Don't worry. I heard the Board of Directors has already dispatched the Dark Side (ANBU) to clean it up. The intruder is dead meat. No one goes against the Board and lives."
Nunotaba's blood ran cold.
'The Dark Side...'
'They actually sent an assassination squad?'
She looked down at the glowing bento box sitting on her desk.
'Yuuya... you idiot. You've kicked the hornet's nest.'
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