Temperature Control in Academy City

"Really? I'll be right there."

...

Tsuchimikado-san's rice balls were very filling, so the three of them gave up their plans to go to a family restaurant.

However, Natsume Sonoko ate too much along the way, so she felt full without eating much.

However, the afternoon schedules conflicted with each other, so Natsume had to separate from Shigefuku and the others.

According to Natsume's arrangement, she would be busy receiving the holographic projection equipment she bought and signing a bill that made men speechless and women cry. In addition, the lady was about to finish the negotiation, and Natsume was eager to go back.

The morning was so leisurely, but it immediately became busy in the afternoon.

I checked the delivery schedule on the holographic projection company's website and found that Natsume was almost its only customer recently, which resulted in exceptionally fast door-to-door delivery.

Yes, most students would not buy such a big item, and only some generous and wealthy tycoon would buy two at once.

The delivery was made by a company called White Horse Freight.

Under the curious gazes of the sisters, the staff members wearing horse head T-shirt uniforms unloaded the purchased instruments neatly at the gate.

The first one was placed at Misaka Apartment, and the other one was to be sent to the safe house building.

The safe house building plans to set aside a floor specifically for the installation of this holographic projection device, while the Misaka Apartment will place it in a rain-proof corner of the yard. Anyway, this thing can also adjust the position where the image appears.

"Does this count as letting my sisters participate in the Daihaxing Festival?"

Looking at the instrument that had been debugged, Natsume muttered to himself.

The yard that was originally filled with various sundries has been cleared out, leaving an area the size of a basketball court. However, compared with a regular holographic projection venue, it is too simple and too small.

As the venue changed, the light and shadow around him began to change dramatically. Only a girl with a bun who was proficient in light and shadow could accurately capture the changes happening around him.

The surroundings became lively, with a large crowd and cameras surrounding. Basketball hoops with counting boards stood on both sides, and a large number of sandbags for throwing were placed there.

It is difficult to tell the difference from the real world with the naked eye, but Natsume is sure that these are all holographic projections created by the equipment.

"This is a sandbag throwing competition."

Natsume touched the sandbag on the ground out of curiosity, but there was almost no feeling.

Because what I bought was just an ordinary civilian version, it is impossible to simulate the real touch.

Chapter 397: The Earliest

The realism of this holographic projection is still under consideration, but it can meet some basic needs.

If one wants to reach the level that he saw when he was assessing people with super powers, even if he increases his money tenfold, it would be more than enough. It would be great if he could achieve an audio-visual effect that is so realistic that it can be mistaken for the real thing.

All in all, Natsume was very satisfied with the excellent performance of the product and felt that it was good value for money, and then he signed his bill very readily.

Although the numbers on the bill are heartbreaking, money is meant to be spent, and Natsume was quite efficient when paying the bill.

However, there was something subtle and strange between the brows of a certain girl with a bun.

Looking at the employees of Hakuba Freight Company leaving, Natsume looked at the star patterns flashing in their eyes with some concern. The familiar shapes and patterns made it impossible to look away.

That's right, the second-year adult showed up.

The blonde senior from my family is always trying to make her presence felt in places where no one is paying attention.

"Academy City's freight companies usually have cooperative relationships with some ANBU organizations. It is not a good thing to let them get in touch with the location of my sisters like this."

"So, in order to prevent possible dangers and ensure the normal lives of your sisters, Natsume-san can't be so reckless."

On the road next to Misaka Apartment, a blonde girl walked out from a shadowy corner.

Shokuhou-senpai is now golden again, with an expensive handbag hanging around her neck, her long hair falling around her ears, and she is holding the remote control in one hand and shaking it up and down gently.

The other hand was tightly bandaged and covered with a thick layer of plaster, which added a mismatched pale tone.

"Shokuhou-senpai, are you here to see my sisters as well, or are you here to see me?"

Looking at the girl who suddenly appeared with some surprise, Natsume spoke with some uncertainty in his tone.

Did something change with Kihara Gensei? Or was it just a coincidence?

Before she could finish her words, Natsume found that her left hand had been taken up by someone, and then the mysterious Shokuhou-senpai pulled her to a corner.

"What's wrong? Is there something urgent?"

His expression suddenly became dull, and Natsume was a little confused.

Judging from Shokuhou-senpai's expression, it seems like she has discovered some big news again.

"Are you anxious? Not really."

"Although Misaka-san can hack into all the cameras, her biggest flaw is her simple mind. However, it's always good to be able to hide something."

Shokuhou-senpai blinked and said playfully.

This scene seems somewhat familiar.

If Natsume didn't know that the relationship between the two seniors had eased a little because of what happened yesterday, he might have thought that the two of them were still at loggerheads.

However, based on her usual practice, Shokuhou-senpai still maintained her inherent impression of Miss A Certain Scientific Railgun, and her tone was more or less condescending.

The description of being simple-minded probably only applies to Shokuhou-senpai. Natsume-san thinks that Misaka-senpai is quite smart.

"Based on many past cases, important matters are best kept in the hands of a few calm people. At the same time, in order to ensure that the next plan will not be disturbed, it is necessary to directly notify a sufficiently reliable assistant."

"To put it simply, there are some things that are inappropriate for Misaka-san to know, so I can only come to you secretly."

Just when someone was about to explain to Shokuhou-senpai that the surrounding cameras were far away and there was no need to worry about this, the blonde girl in front of him said a long string of things.

As if she had deliberately emphasized the accent on the word "Sonoko", this second-year senior also changed the way she addressed herself. I wonder if she was influenced by the A Certain Scientific Railgun.

Well, although Miss A Certain Scientific Railgun is not here, she seems to be around in another way.

"Eh."

There was a hint of hesitation on his face, but Natsume thought about it and nodded.

Many past experiences told her that anything that was not suitable for Misaka-senpai to know must be bad news.

Senior Misaka finally got rid of some negative emotions, but there are still some places that she needs to avoid for the time being. A certain girl with a bun unknowingly got into the job of a psychologist.

However, Natsume also noticed the change in the way Shokuhou-senpai addressed her, and his heart tightened.

Many people around him knew more or less the personality of a certain bun-head, and tried not to appear too intimate when communicating with him. However, the sudden change of tone of a certain railgun seemed to have created a domino effect, which made Natsume a little troubled.

"Before the mass production of users with special abilities began, someone in the artificial room suggested making a prototype first in order to test the survival time of clones, adjust cloning technology, and test the Misaka network."

"And this prototype can be seen as the beginning of more than 20,000 sisters, the so-called size zero."

Having said that, Shokuhou Misaki pulled a dazed girl with a bun to the stairs of the apartment and gave her space to her sisters who were experimenting with new toys.

However, several sisters looked at the two people who were chatting from time to time, and seemed to be particularly curious about the girl whose whole body was shining.

"The new house? That's where you were before, Senior."

Natsume put one hand on the railing, with a thoughtful look on her face. She had heard of this place called the artificial house.

Shokuhou-senpai comes from a genius training institution called the Talent Training Institute, where she was developed to the level of a psychic.

Seniors Hokaze Junko and Yuumi Iruka in the school are both students from that place, and this is not a big secret in Tokiwadai Junior High School.

In fact, before entering Tokiwadai, quite a number of students had similar experiences, receiving capacity development in well-known or unknown research institutions.

But in this case, many of the far-fetched excuses can be explained.

Suddenly, it dawned on him that Natsume had found some clues.

Even though the relationship between the two seniors is so bad, Shokuhou-senpai still takes a lot of time and energy to pay attention to the younger sisters.

"What the senior wants to tell me is also related to Zero. Or, the senior already knew the sisters when they were in the workshop."

Natsume-san tried hard to open her eyes wide, trying to get an answer from Shokuhou-senpai, but she was probably already certain of something in her heart.

Apart from the relevant researchers, the person who actually knew the sisters first was not Accelerator or himself, but Shokuhou-senpai.

Chapter 398 Gathering

Shokuhou-senpai's first encounter with her sisters began due to the researchers' experimental needs.

In the cold experimental facility, the two girls got to know each other and became friends, and this relationship has continued until now, several years later, as if waiting for another reunion.

"Her name is Dolly. When I first met her, her body could no longer support her. I was assigned to be by her side, just playing the role of Dolly's friend Kodori, so that she could successfully complete the rest of the experiment."

Shokuhou-senpai's voice rang in her ears, with a slight tremor in her tone for no apparent reason. It was obvious that this incident had a great impact on her.

Natsume rarely sees Shokuhou-senpai lose her composure, and he suddenly felt a strong sense of oppression welling up in his heart.

"As the first prototype, Dolly's value has been infinitely increased, but she is still just an experimental consumable that can be discarded."

"Dolly's body had been riddled with holes due to the experiments, but in order to squeeze out the remaining research value, the researchers conducted a large number of high-load observation experiments in Dolly's last days, causing her to collapse before she reached the expected lifespan limit."

Staring blankly at the sisters below, Shokuhou-senpai thought of many things, and her bright eyes dimmed.

Originally, it was just a task assigned by the researchers, but when she witnessed Dolly's death with her own eyes, Shokuhou Misaki realized that she had long regarded her as an important friend.

However, she had been cooperating with the researchers to deceive them, which indirectly accelerated Dolly's death. The heart-wrenching feeling overwhelmed the young Shokuhou Misaki.

The bleak past was entangled in this pair of star-like pupils that could see through people's hearts, and once formed the initial values ​​of this person with the ability to master psychology.

In this city, things without value will be thrown away, regardless of whether they are cherished or not.

"Senior, do you also want revenge..."

For some reason, Natsume Sonoko clenched her fists inexplicably nervously, and even her breathing became rapid.

She didn't want another senior to fall into such a tragic situation.

Natsume knew that she had no reason to persuade him, and she even supported him in her heart, but she just couldn't accept that possible future.

"Revenge? What are you thinking about, Sonoko?"

Shokuhou-senpai was a little speechless. She silently looked at the ball-head classmate who was getting nervous in front of her, and suddenly said with a smile.

In a sense, her revenge had already been completed. The former talent studio was reduced to ashes, and part of the venue became the private property of the blonde girl.

"And I'm not Misaka-san. I won't be easily swayed by anger. Some things require compromise rather than confrontation. In fact, I want to invite Sonoko to do something. Go find Dolly and Kodori before Kodori launches his next attack on the Unified Council."

"I cheated on Dolly, so I want to get the real Xiao Qu back to make up for the mistakes I made in the past."

With a gleam in her pupils, Shokuhou-senpai spoke word by word, and her serious look looked particularly beautiful under the sunlight.

"Dolly, is she alive?"

After a slight pause, Natsume-san said uncertainly.

She could hardly keep up with the other party's train of thought, but that was indeed the literal meaning.

"Just yesterday, I got some new information from Kihara Gensei's memory. The research institute at that time once used Dolly's cells to create another sister."

"Before Dolly's body could no longer support her, the research institute conducted one last test experiment to test the feasibility of the Misaka Network and memory sharing. After the experiment, everything about Dolly was transferred to that new body."

Taking a deep breath, Shokuhou-senpai was rarely able to suppress her joy.

With the same memories and experiences, personalities are replicated and various emotions are gradually generated.

In this case, can the transferred Dolly be regarded as the same person, and are there two identical flowers in the world?

Natsume was in a daze, his mind seemed to be stuck in a state of agnosticism.

But then I got an answer that I thought was correct.

Natsume feels that there may really be souls in this world, and that the soul is the essence of a person.

Then the person who carries everything about Dolly cannot be Dolly, but just another familiar stranger.

She could understand Shokuhou-senpai's joy, but she also felt uncomfortable about the possible truth.

"In that case, let's set off quickly, Senior."

Looking up at the girl in front of her, Natsume-san suggested softly. She almost understood what Shokuhou-san was thinking.

As for Dolly's friend Xiaoqu, it is most likely that he is the one who is being watched by the police.

That crazy guy seems to have a side that is unknown to the public.

Just like Misaka-senpai, she revealed the dark side of her heart, and in the end she didn't even recognize herself.