Internal Monologue: Shokuhou Misaki.
When she had first arrived at the hospital to visit Dolly, she had seen the girls being wheeled in.
She thought she had seen Misaka Mikoto.
Curious, she had tried to use Mental Out to peek into the girl's mind.
It was a mistake.
The girl didn't recognize her. Her memories were artificial. And beneath the surface...
Death. Death. Death.
She saw endless memories of being killed. Crushed. Burned. Electrocuted.
The darkness she saw in that split second almost caused a mental breakdown. If she hadn't cut the connection immediately, her own ego would have shattered. The Doctor had to give her a sedative to stop the shaking.
The Absolute Ability Evolution Project.
It was an insane experiment, several levels darker than even the tragedy of the Talent Workshop and Dolly.
Because she dared not access the Sisters' memories again, she relied on her own network. She returned to her secret base, the "Garden," and interrogated researchers under her control.
The truth came out.
Someone had interfered with the Level 6 Shift. A hidden powerhouse.
Takahashi Yuuya.
The complex boy who gave her hope in her despair. The boy she both hated and was grateful to. He was fighting a war against the Dark Side to save them.
He is a hidden Level 5.
That explained why her Mental Out had no effect on him. Level 5s possessed AIM Diffusion Fields so dense that her remote couldn't penetrate them without a struggle.
...
Heaven Canceller's Hospital. Corridor.
"That's really too much, Little Bee," Yuuya sighed, looking hurt. "We've only just met again, and you're already calling me a pervert? I thought we were friends."
"We are just superficial friends, aren't we?"
"You understand the situation, Mr. Takahashi. You are a pervert," Shokuhou said humorously, but her eyes were heavy as she looked at the incubation pods.
"I've been so worried about you these past few weeks," Yuuya's tone shifted to genuine concern. "You suddenly seem... distant."
"And could you please stop calling me 'Little Bee'? It gives me goosebumps," Shokuhou rubbed her arms, though she didn't step away.
"I have a lot of questions," she said.
"I have questions too," Yuuya countered. "But I'm relieved to see you safe. After you came to thank me that day... how did you escape the Deadlock assassins? I searched for you, but you vanished."
He had been worried. His interference might have changed the timeline, putting her in danger he couldn't predict.
"The pursuit by Deadlock almost prevented me from seeing Dolly," Shokuhou admitted, patting her chest.
"But I got lucky. I ran into the Seventh Level 5."
"Sogiita Gunha?" Yuuya blinked.
"Yes. That... loud guy. He saw a girl being chased by armed men and jumped in. He yelled something about 'GUTS' and blew them all away with a punch. It was... intense."
"Heh." Yuuya chuckled.
The Number Seven. The Gemstone with the inexplicable power.
That guy was a walking Shonen Manga protagonist. Of course he would save a damsel in distress. The timeline had shifted, but luck was still on the Queen's side.
"Now... it's my turn to ask," Shokuhou said, her starry eyes locking onto Yuuya's.
"Who exactly are you?"
"How do you know about Dolly? How do you know about the Sisters? How do you know about me?"
She took a step closer, her expression tight.
"I hope you can tell me. Otherwise... I'll be very worried about being 'friends' with you."
"Although I am grateful... you understand how terrifying it is to be around a 'Black Box,' right?"
Takahashi smiled slightly.
He understood.
Telepaths were the most paranoid people on earth. They knew better than anyone how dark the human heart could be. They didn't trust words; they trusted thoughts. And since she couldn't read him, she couldn't trust him.
"I knew you would ask this."
Yuuya looked directly into her sparkling eyes.
"To a Mental Out user, the only truth is the mind. Words are cheap."
"So... I'll open my brain to you."
"Huh?" Shokuhou froze.
"I will lower my AIM field defenses. You can read me."
[System Active: Star Grail Mental Defense]
[Mode: Selective Filtering]
Internally, Yuuya was calm. The Star Grail protected his mind absolutely. But he could choose to let specific memories leak out.
He would show her his "investigation" into the Dark Side. He would show her his "concern" for her. He would hide the System, his reincarnation, and his harem ambitions.
He would manufacture a "Truth" that she would accept as reality.
"Are you serious?" Shokuhou looked at him in disbelief.
"I'm the strongest telepath in the city. People avoid me because they're terrified I'll see their secrets."
"And you're... inviting me in?"
"Of course I'm serious," Yuuya said with a smile of pure, fabricated innocence. "Because I trust you, Misaki. I know you won't tamper with my personality."
The sight of his clear, trusting eyes struck a chord in her heart.
"Let's make this clear first," Shokuhou bit her lip, clutching her handbag. "If I look... I'll see everything. Your embarrassment, your dark side, your secrets. There is no going back."
"Everyone has a dark side," Yuuya shrugged confidently. "I accept mine. And I trust you to accept it too."
He tapped his temple.
"Come on, Queen. Take a look. See if I'm your enemy."
"It would be wonderful... to finally gain your trust."
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