The Legend of Level 0 in Academy City

"In fact, your mind suffered unexplained damage before your last hospitalization, and you should have lost your memory. Didn't you realize it yourself?"

Hearing the words "Netherworld Soul Chaser," Inoue Hideka breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, that! I already knew. But thank you anyway, doctor, for keeping it a secret."

"It's nothing. It's my duty to put myself in the patient's shoes and consider their needs. Well then, take care of yourself, young man."

After finishing his sentence, Mingtu Zhuihun walked straight out of the hospital.

After all this ordeal, Inoue Hideka felt that the anesthesia and hypnosis she had been receiving were starting to take effect.

My eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and gradually, I fell asleep.

--------

Beneath the outer wall of the hospital, a girl named Chafu, dressed in Tokiwadai school uniform, leaned against the wall with her head tilted back.

Looking up at the sky, their eyes held disbelief and inexplicable sorrow.

He crossed his arms over his chest, as if in prayer, and murmured something under his breath.

There were two bento boxes lying on the ground at my feet, seemingly thrown away, with a lot of soup and rice spilled out.

After casually buying two bento boxes, Misaka Mikoto returned to the hospital.

However, at the door of Inoue Eika's hospital room, the words of the spirit of the underworld stirred up a storm in her heart.

Upon hearing the last words of the Underworld Soul Chaser, Misaka Mikoto hurriedly ran out of the hospital.

Even now, she still can't believe that what the Underworld Soul Chaser said is true.

As if oblivious, Misaka Mikoto, with a bewildered look in her eyes, murmured to herself:

"You're kidding, right? How could that be?"

That idiot, he's lost his memory.

But she clearly still remembers herself.

Is it just that some memories have been lost?

Suddenly, a scene flashed through my mind: a few days ago, the boy in the hospital bed woke up and called me "Railgun Sister" in surprise.

isn't it?

He doesn't remember ever using that name.

In other words, he has forgotten all the memories from the first time they met six months ago until now?

To him now, I am...

She's just a strange girl named Misaka Mikoto, the third of the seven Level 7 espers in Academy City, and known as the Railgun.

"Do not……"

Thinking of this, tears welled up in Misaka Mikoto's eyes, and she covered her lips with her fair hand in disbelief, from which her soft, tearful words escaped.

"No...don't...this is too cunning..."

Those ones……

The things we went through together are now just memories that belong to me alone...

The joyful scene of everyone sitting around the table eating hotpot; the boy sitting on the bed watching her practice piano; the moment she was nervous, the boy accidentally pinning her down; seeing a shameful erotic painting and then the boy's naked body; a date watching a movie; a tense argument; the boy gently patting her head...

and many more……

Those shy yet heartwarming scenes flashed through Misaka Mikoto's mind.

"Does he...remember none of these things?"

Looking at his haggard self, is he still the one who says, "Misaka-senpai will always be our favorite, most reliable, and coolest senpai"?

Tears slowly filled her eyes, gradually streaming down her cheeks and dripping onto the ground.

Misaka Mikoto couldn't stop reminiscing about those scenes that once moved her but now made her incredibly sad.

I don't want to stop.

She was afraid that those memories, which now belonged only to her, would slowly fade away if she didn't even think about them.

Until one day, no one remembers what that boy did or said.

That was the figure who remained strong and unyielding even when facing a formidable opponent with overwhelming strength.

That stubborn face that, facing its own rampage, risked its life to save itself.

She didn't want to forget, even if she was the only one who knew about these things.

but……

Does the person who would say to their own suicidal self, "You can't die before I die," still exist today?

Can he still firmly say something like, "I would rather she see herself break through her inner limits and become the most dazzling star that shines in the world and glitters in the sky"?

Will that scumbag who claims to be dating Saten, but actually likes me, ever... come back?

"Fool……"

His choked voice was filled with blame, regret, and sorrow.

"Idiot... idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"

asshole!

They just left me all alone, to carry these memories by myself...

Silent tears streamed down Misaka Mikoto's fair cheeks, her watery eyes filled with endless sorrow.

She slid slowly down the wall, squatted on the ground, buried her head deep in her knees, and made no sound. Only her slightly trembling shoulders could be seen.

I don't know how much time passed, but the night was completely dark, and faint lights were scattered in the deep night sky.

Misaka Mikoto slowly stood up, ignoring the bento box that had fallen beside her, and walked directly into the hospital.

Because of maintaining one posture for a long time, her stiff muscles made her walk look unusually awkward.

Knock knock knock!

I knocked gently on the ward door, but there was no response from inside.

Knock knock knock!

I knocked on the door again, but there was still no response.

Misaka Mikoto opened the door and went inside.

On the moonlit hospital bed, the boy slept soundly with a peaceful expression on his face.

Misaka Mikoto stood quietly at the door of the ward, neither born nor moving.

He stared at the boy on the hospital bed, his eyes filled with a complex expression.

a long time.

As if guided by some unseen force, the girl gently moved her feet and walked towards the hospital bed.

then……

He bent down, slowly lowered his head, and little by little moved closer to the boy's cheek.

Her lips gently brushed against the boy's cheek, but did not touch him.

Instead, after a brief pause, she shifted her target and gently pressed her lips to the boy's.

A strange sensation came from my lips.

Before me was Inoue Hideka's face magnified many times over, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, her breath warm and labored.

For some reason, Misaka Mikoto stuck out her tongue and lightly licked the boy's slightly dry lips.

one more time.

She had no experience with kissing and didn't know how to kiss.

It simply licked and nibbled lightly...

Gradually, her eyes filled with tears again.

A cool sensation brushed against her cheek, and tears streamed down Misaka Mikoto's fair skin, dripping onto Inoue Eika's sleeping face.

The girl suddenly woke up, quickly stood up, and looked at the still-sleeping boy with her mouth slightly open in surprise.

What...what am I doing?

Thinking of this, Misaka Mikoto ran out of the ward in a panic.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance.

Chapter 198 The Strange 'Woman'

Squeak~ Squeak~

The chirping of birds outside the window woke Inoue Hideka from her sleep.

The blinding sunlight poured into the ward. Thanks to the anesthesia and sleep aids, Inoue Eika slept until the sun was high in the sky before slowly waking up.

I picked up my phone and checked the time; it was already past nine in the morning.

Feeling that the pain in her back had lessened considerably, Inoue Hideka got up, put on her clothes, and went out to complete the discharge procedures.

Walking on the sun-drenched street, Inoue Hideka recalled the question from yesterday.

She took out her phone and started dialing Misaki Shokuhou's number.

beep...beep...beep...

No one answered.

I dialed again.

beep...beep...beep...

No one answered, but the phone kept ringing busy.

In other words, the phone went through, but no one answered.