Chapter 128: An Equal Measure in Desperation

"Hmm. Personally, I don’t really care much about things like Near Death Promises or washed-up tricks like Mental Out and Astral Buddy."

Even when facing this overwhelming lineup, Gensei-san laughed cheerfully.
That said, it was only the tone of his voice that conveyed cheer; his expression was impossible to read.

The pure white substance spreading across Gensei-san’s body had already covered nearly three-quarters of his face, leaving only the area around his left eye uncovered. From the neck down he was completely engulfed, his figure resembling some kind of white-painted cyborg.

But its true nature was nothing but a mass of "power," shaped to wrap around his entire body. In other words, amorphous. To demonstrate that—Clang!!—his pure white right hand reshaped itself into a sharp blade.

"Well then, why don’t I take another look at what lies hidden in Kamijou-kun’s right hand?"

"You really think we’ll let you do that?"

In response to Shokuhou-san’s sharp voice—Hokaze-san’s form suddenly vanished. No, not vanished. This was—

《Electromagnetic acceleration!?》

Hokaze-san had appeared right before Gensei-san, kicking his arm away at blinding speed, only to vanish once more and reappear right beside Shokuhou-san.

It was invisible to the naked eye, but my airflow sensing ability could follow the current: aerial movement powered by electromagnetic acceleration. That was the core of the entire exchange.

……Wait, what!? Since when could Hokaze-san pull that off!? At this speed, she’s basically operating at Level 5 standards!

"Heh. Quite the look of shock, isn’t it? Coming from the leading expert in Square Face, no less."

Shokuhou-san’s teasing voice came from behind me. …Square Face? At this timing, why bring that up…?

《Don’t tell me that woman… could it be Hokaze isn’t alone in there?》

《What—!? You mean Hokaze-san has two personalities like us!? And she’s using that for Square Face… wow, that’s incredible…》

"Well, when someone flaunts that much technology, anyone with similar conditions can display the same absorption potential. Shiren-san may not care, but for the Queen of the Hill, watching her exclusive tech leak into other factions must be rather unsettling, don’t you think?"

Shokuhou-san smiled triumphantly.

"Our faction is well-stocked with talent, after all. Possession-type abilities are only natural for us to have. And if we’ve got specialists, reproducing techniques like these is child’s play. Maybe you should’ve filed a patent while you had the chance?"

"If you’re trying to provoke me, I don’t mind obliging. But unfortunately, Gensei before us is doing the very same thing. No matter how many imitators appear now, as the original we’ve no complaints. The ‘apex’ belongs to us regardless. If you’d like, I could demonstrate the difference in class right here and now."

"………."

…Ah, yeah. Reicia-chan’s nerves are clearly on edge. Shokuhou-san, sorry, but could you not provoke her any further? I’m the one who has to calm her down…

"! Incoming!!"

At that moment, Touma-san raised his voice.
Hearing him, Hokaze-san immediately scooped up Shokuhou-san and whisked her away at high speed. I took flight using the Wings of Fractures, while Touma-san chose instead to stand his ground and face it head-on.

"…!"

Gensei-san’s right arm, reshaped into a white scythe, swung down toward Touma-san’s raised right hand. Touma-san met the strike, but couldn’t hold it—Crash!!—and was blown back. I quickly steadied him with airflow control.

But to Gensei-san, that was nothing more than a jab. While I desperately supported Touma-san and he struggled to regain his footing, Gensei-san reshaped his left hand into another blade and raised it overhead—

"Touma-san!!"

"Don’t worry about me. Protect yourself!!"

Airflow wouldn’t help. I was about to try lifting him with ultrasonic telekinesis when Touma-san pulled out his phone—and fired the flash.

……?

No way Gensei-san could be fazed by something so trivial, right? Unless… he had some vulnerability to light?

And yet, the flash did make his movements falter. Surprised, but seeing the hesitation was real, I pinned him to the ground with ultrasonic telekinesis.

It was broken almost immediately, and Gensei-san escaped into the sky.

……That’s right.
He escaped into the sky. He shouldn’t have needed to retreat over such a minor move—yet he did. That alone meant the camera flash had cornered him that badly.

"Your Square Face. Unlike Reicia’s, it seems to have a weakness."

With that conclusion, Touma-san spoke decisively.

Gensei-san twitched at the words, stopping cold.

"When I used my phone’s flash earlier, you clearly froze up. I only did it hoping to buy a momentary opening, but think about it: there’s no way a mad scientist who’s endured countless experiments would seize up at a camera light. That wasn’t Kihara Gensei’s reaction. It was the reaction of Nurikae Onore."

…!! That means…

Because we ourselves are Square Face, we understand. Up until now, Gensei-san had been forcibly rousing Nurikae’s soul to manifest Square Face. But reinforcement through Square Face only stabilizes when both personalities are fully awake.

In our case too, during the Level 6 Shift project, Reicia-chan reached Level 5 in a half-awakened state, but the boost was temporary; as my soul slipped toward slumber, our output gradually dropped. Stability only came later, after the Makeup Project incident and my revival, when both our personalities were fully awake.

But once in that state, control of the body is shared. So Gensei-san has been forcing Nurikae into slumber, deliberately using an unstable Square Face. Unlike Reicia-chan, who chose death and drifted into deep sleep, Nurikae hadn’t given up on life. This situation must be against her will.

And now that Gensei-san has been cornered, that forced suppression is breaking down. Just like when Reicia-chan slowly began to awaken back then.

……If that’s the case—

"Kihara Gensei. You pretend as though you’ve got complete control of Nurikae’s body, but that’s not the truth, is it? You’re not controlling her—you’re layering restraints upon restraints to keep her consciousness from awakening. Of course you are. Nurikae isn’t some ruin who’s abandoned life and the world. She’s a junior of ours, someone still searching for hope in the future!"

"Which makes it simple. We don’t need to damage Nurikae’s body. All we have to do is speak to her, the one you’re trampling underfoot. That alone will overturn your foundation, strip away your advantage, and leave you with nothing!!"

Touma-san cut straight to the heart of the matter.

It was the presentation of a clear victory condition. We didn’t need to rely on incomprehensible powers like Dragon Strike, the Jaw of the Dragon King. All we had to do was awaken Nurikae-san’s soul. That alone would be enough for us to achieve our goal.

"Heh-heh-heh, but can you really pull that off? I’m the one holding the reins on his personality. Sure, I’ll admit I don’t have much energy left. But realistically, don’t you think we’re well past the point where words alone can solve this?"

"Oh my. And who ever said we were going to stop you with just words?"

While Gensei-san continued to speak in his usual breezy tone, Shokuhou-san, who was being held in Hokaze-san’s arms, pointed a remote control straight at him.

"You do know Shiren-san’s revival was achieved through personality excitation, don’t you? Right here, we’ve got the foremost expert in Personality Excitation Makeup, and the top authority in mental manipulation telepathy. In this situation, do you really think we wouldn’t have the means to strike you with a fatal blow?"

"……"

It seemed Shokuhou-san’s words were more than enough to stir a sense of danger in Gensei-san.

The faint smile disappeared from the corners of his eyes. Then, with a sharp kick into empty space, his body slid through the air as if he were in zero gravity.

──No need to think about it. Gensei-san was trying to escape.

If he stayed here any longer, all that awaited him was the collapse of his plan. He understood that much, which was why he was trying to put some distance between us. Or perhaps… he only wanted to make it look that way, planning to exploit the opening when we inevitably shifted into pursuit.

Either way, there was only one thing to do here.

"You don’t seriously think you can escape from here, do you?"

ZUGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGANNNN!!!

From the heavens, pillars rained down.

No—those weren’t pillars. They were the "Debris Matter" that had manifested in huge quantities from our "Cracks." As they poured down, interlocking together, they formed a gigantic cage.

A cage meant to keep Gensei-san from escaping into the sky.

"The 'Debris Matter' has already been tested—it cannot be destroyed even by one of your strikes. If you waste time trying to run in this confined space, then surely you understand what awaits you just one second later: defeat."

Alongside Reicia-chan’s provocation, I spread the "Cracks" in every direction.

It was to ensure that Touma-san and Hokaze-san could run freely inside the cage. With this, the advantage of flight in this battlefield was gone.

If Touma-san’s right hand could reach even into the sky, then the more Gensei-san’s resources would be drained, and the more chances Shokuhou-san’s Mental Out could strike true. If that happened, whether it was Touma-san’s Imagine Breaker or our Personality Excitation Makeup, we would be able to free Nurikae-san…!

The situation was already checkmate in shogi.

Just as I prepared to make the next move to corner Gensei-san—

We came to realize something.

That when facing "Kihara," there is no such thing as a "safe zone."

Chapter 3: The Worth of a Soul Is Worthless — Double(Square)_Faith.
Episode 102: An Equal Measure in Desperation — Daredevil_Devil.

"Have you perhaps forgotten the basic premise?"

Crack…—

That flat, cloth-stretched face twisted, carving out wrinkles in the shape of a smile.

And then—ruin began.

Bishibishibishibiii!! Cracks suddenly began to run across Gensei-san’s entire body.

"What…!?"

"You seem to be under a misunderstanding. Nurikae-kun’s 'limit' isn’t just a disadvantage for me. In fact, isn’t that minus going to fall squarely upon you, the ones who want to save him?"

N-no way………!!

"Sure, it’s true that using up the Double Personality Square_Faith without the city’s protection made Nurikae-kun convenient for me. But I don’t have any reason to cling to this body. So, like this, I can destroy your victory condition if I want to."

"B-but…! If Nurikae-san’s body collapses, then you too…!!"

"Not really? That’s where you’re mistaken. The reason I haven’t discarded this vessel is because the Kiharas’ custom is to use an experimental subject until it breaks. As a researcher, I would have preferred to follow the proper procedure before destroying it, but… if that can’t be done, then there’s nothing wrong with moving up the schedule and collapsing it early."

Th-this is bad…!?

G-Gensei-san… at this moment, of all things, he’s taken Nurikae-san’s body hostage!? That means we can’t afford any slow, drawn-out plan to shave away Gensei-san’s resources with Touma’s right hand and Personality Excitation Makeup until Nurikae-san is freed!! We have to save him immediately… or he’ll really be killed!?

But… you don’t even need to think about it. This is obviously a trap…! He wants to make us panic, to force a hole into the encirclement we’ve been carefully building…! And yet, even knowing that, how can we not panic in this situation!?

"Don’t screw with me…! You treated Misaka like an experimental subject too… Just what the hell do you think people are, huh!?"

Unable to bear the sight of Nurikae-san’s cracking body, Touma-san shouted.

But Gensei-san only looked puzzled at Touma-san’s passion.

"On the contrary, you’re the one I find hard to understand. Isn’t this vessel, to you, nothing more than a villain who entrapped your friends? Same with Blackguard-kun. Is he really worth risking your life to protect?"

"…Yeah, sure, he’s a villain. Even I’d like to give him a punch. But… that doesn’t make it a reason to abandon Nurikae, does it?"

Touma-san spoke.

"Reicia said it herself. 'I want to save Nurikae.' She’s the one who once almost got socially killed along with her companions. She had every reason to abandon him—or even actively crush him while she was at it—but even so, she still wished to save the very guy who hurt her!!"

Clenching his fists, Touma-san glared straight at Gensei-san.

At the sorrowful old man who could only judge others by whether or not they were 'useful for experimentation.'

"I won’t let the likes of you trample on such a modest illusion, such a tiny wish. For that, I’ll plunge headfirst into any danger, no matter how reckless!!"

"Hmm… sentimentalism, is it? I do think the relationship between the expression of self-ego and ability strength is fascinating, but… the purity here seems lacking."

"…You’ll never understand, not even if you lived a hundred lifetimes. The brilliance that spills from such ego—that’s what, at times, becomes the very force capable of shattering even the miracle systems of gods."

………

Saying that, I spread the wings of "Cracks" and dove at Gensei-san.

At the same time, Hokaze-san carrying Shokuhou-san, and Touma-san, all moved into action. Naturally, Gensei-san’s vigilance was not directed at us.

Of course not. I couldn’t launch a direct attack with the "Cracks" because I couldn’t risk killing Nurikae-san. Whether it was Imagine Breaker or Personality Excitation Makeup, the starting point had to come from Touma-san or Shokuhou-san. To Gensei-san, my sudden move would look like nothing more than…

"A decoy, easily brushed aside without a plan. At this point, don’t you think that assumption is far too naïve?"

──As if he had read my thoughts.

Gensei-san said this as he withdrew from me.

Right to the very edge—just outside the range where Jagged Edge’s sawtooth strike could force a checkmate. Yet at the same time, positioning himself where he could still cover the other two. Seeing him do so, I spoke:

"──And yet, what I expected was the opposite. That you would see me as a hidden ambush disguised as a decoy, and treat me with caution. …Kihara Gensei."

It was at that moment.

Gensei-san’s movements visibly faltered.

"W-what…!? This… personality control is suddenly destabilizing…!? But Shokuhou-kun isn’t within range yet! The AIM barrier should still be blunting Mental Out…!?"

"Indeed, Mental Out may be so. But what about… me?"

With my hand held out, I posed the question.

Shokuhou-san had once said this: Personality Excitation Makeup is nothing more than a technique. If you know the theory, anyone can reproduce it. In her faction’s case, they apparently paired an in-house "possessing esper" with Hokaze-san.

And isn’t the same thing true for us?

In practice, I’m possessing Reicia-chan right now. It’s not that I have some special ability… it’s simply that, since Gensei-san is in fact possessing Nurikae-san, then such a technique really does exist.

In fact, AIM thoughtform technology is exactly that. Just like when Yakumi-san entered Koisa-san’s body.

So I began to think.

Maybe I couldn’t achieve full possession, but since I don’t technically have a body of my own, what if I could interfere with another’s possession—like sliding in, the same way I myself possess someone else?

I doubt I could outright hijack someone’s body, nor would I want to. But in a rare case like Gensei-san’s current unstable possession, maybe I could jam my hand into the cracks and scramble it.

"Im…possible!? Interference with possession!? That’s as lawless as smashing two computers together to rewrite data!! Are you saying a science exists that could make such nonsense feasible!? Hyohoh, such absurdity can’t…!!"

And yet, it was a fatal opening.

By the time he realized it, Shokuhou-san had already drawn Gensei-san into the range of her Mental Out, and Touma-san was sprinting across the "Cracks," charging straight at him.

"Lawless? That’s our line."

Criiick!! A cross-shaped gleam lit up in Gensei-san’s one eye not covered in white, as I spoke.

"Possession, angelification… enough already. Spare a thought for the ones dragged into this."

And so, the scattered, branching futures began to converge. Toward the form everyone here wished for—one without victims.

"──However. If you intend to rise again in a proper way, I wouldn’t mind lending a hand."

Just after I added those words to the immobilized Gensei-san—

"…Kakine, forgive me."

With that murmur, Touma-san’s hand touched Gensei-san—no, Nurikae-san’s body.

"Well then, good work, everyone."

After watching Touma-san cancel Gensei-san’s possession, I turned to face Shokuhou-san.

"…Oh my, you noticed?"

Having just been let down by Hokaze-san, Shokuhou-san spoke with a slightly surprised tone.

Noticed, huh… Well, sort of. I already had a rough idea of Kakine-san’s circumstances. I knew the memory data of Gensei-san was crucial for him to save someone important. Knowing that, there’s no way I could crush that path and then shamelessly claim, “this is the future everyone wanted.”

"The real reason you came here, Shokuhou-san… it’s that, isn’t it?"

Reicia-chan said it was to stop a love rival from running ahead, or something like that. But still, Shokuhou-san is kind at heart. I think she also wanted to spare Touma-san from being torn apart, caught between Kakine-san’s wish and my own.

"…Don’t get the wrong idea, okay? I don’t have some motive overflowing with compassion like Shiren-san is imagining. I could sell a favor to the Number Two. I could decipher Gensei’s science and make it my own. See? There are plenty of nice, profitable reasons."

With a deliberately wicked smile, Shokuhou-san said this.
…Though, just by looking at Hokaze-san’s expression beside her, it’s pretty obvious that isn’t her real intent.

"And besides."

Closing the distance by a single step, Shokuhou-san spoke to Touma-san.

"I never said I’d hand over information for free. Obviously, right? This is intel I went out of my way to come here and gather. Thinking you can take it without offering anything in return—that’s way too convenient, you know☆"

"…Hah. You already attacked my people on a baseless misunderstanding, and now you’re trying to touch information we alone secured? I could easily label Hokaze-san’s actions as hostile, and that would put you in quite a bad position, don’t you think?"

"You think Shiren-san would let that happen?"

…Yeah, no, I wouldn’t.

At the very least, since they’ve acted as part of our force up to now, the organization of GMDW hasn’t lost face. And besides, I don’t care about faction politics. As long as our own territory isn’t being invaded, I’m fine with conceding what can be conceded. Plus, Shokuhou-san’s demands aren’t going to be the kind that would put us in real trouble. For all her airs, she’s a good girl.

《This airhead…》

《Isn’t that a bit harsh?》

Anyway, it’s give and take, right? No harm in granting her a little request.

"That said, I’m not asking for anything huge. Actually, what I want is… you."

"Eh, me?"

Suddenly dragged into the conversation, Touma-san blinked in confusion.
And I, too, froze for a moment. I mean, sure, given the flow of things, the one who should pay the price is definitely Touma-san. But Touma-san doesn’t really have any “resources” to pay with, right…? Strictly speaking, the one who ought to pay is Kakine-san.

Even as Touma-san, already struggling to keep up with the earlier exchanges, sank further into confusion, Shokuhou-san looked up at him with her eyes and said:

"‘A reservation.’ …Well, you’ll probably just activate that forgetfulness of yours, though. But next time we meet—even if you’ve forgotten—I’ll drag you along, no questions asked. So be ready for it☆"

"………??? N-no, I don’t think I’d forget something like that…"

…Yeah, this is not my cue to interrupt.
Not wanting to get in the way, I used the time instead to contact Xochitl-san and ask her to come pick up Nurikae-san, and to check in with Baba-san about how the battlefront had shifted while we were away.

……………

……………!?

"I got your word, you know? I’ll come to collect someday, so be prepared."

"Y-you two!!"

At that moment, I raised my voice, stepping between them. Not out of any deeper reason—just because an emergency had erupted.

No, seriously. I’m not exaggerating. Things had gotten so bad that this really wasn’t the time to be fooling around like this!!

Suppressing my rising panic, I did my best to convey the objective fact to them.

"Mikoto-san… Mikoto-san is rampaging!! She’s transformed into something… something twisted by Gensei-san’s experiments!!!!"

Why—why is she turning into something out of Gensei-san’s schemes, even though we defeated him!?!?!?