Chapter 36: Strategy Meeting

Chapter 3: I Won’t Let You Get Away With Winning – (N)ever_Give_Up.
Episode 29: Strategy Meeting – Discussion_And_Action.

“So, that’s the situation.”

In front of Reicia stood a group of a dozen or so girls—and one boy. It was an all-female gathering, but the lone male, Kamijou Touma, didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. As expected from someone with strong harem-resistance.

Not that he was without lust—far from it. He simply had the kind of happy-go-lucky mindset that told him no such romantic entanglements would ever come his way, given his constant misfortune.

But putting that aside—

“I’d like to begin the strategy meeting now.”

With all the dignity she could muster, Reicia made her declaration.

“Yes.”

“What is it, Shika?”

“…Did you just drop the honorific?”

“It’s boring if I call you the same as Shiren. This feels more natural.”

“…Even though I’m your senior…”

“Feel free to complain after you surpass me in body size. I won’t say where, but. You know where.”

“Grrr!! Grrrrrrr!!!!”

“Now now…”

Clearly puffing out her chest, Reicia stoked the flames of Shika’s rage, but thanks to Sonai’s mediation, the girl managed to cool down somewhat.

“…Sheesh. Anyway, I recognize the spiky-haired guy, but who’s this white-robed sister over here?”

“Ah… This is Index. Kamijou Touma’s cohabitant…? Something like that.”

“Freeloader! I’m just a freeloader, Reicia-san! Don’t use misleading phrasing! And also, don’t use my full name!”

“Then Kamijou, it is. Now, back to the matter at hand.”

“Gnnnh… Moments like these make me appreciate how valuable Shiren’s manners were…”

Being high-handed and arrogant was simply her default setting.

And so, with all the usual bickering, the strategy meeting began.

The group assembled consisted of Shika, Sonai, and the other ten members of GMDW, plus Misaka, Kamijou, Index, and Reicia—fourteen people in total. Their main objective: to search for a way to bring back Shiren’s personality.

“Before that—”

Misaka suddenly raised her voice.

“I want to confirm something first. You guys have been working to revive the personality that was active for nearly two months under the name ‘Reicia’—that is, Shiren. That much I get. …But how much time do we actually have?”

A reasonable concern. The group was clearly motivated and ready to take immediate action. But if there was still time, rushing things wouldn’t be necessary.

There has been research into dissociative identity disorder. They could gather materials from that field and formulate a proper plan. That would likely increase their chances of success in the long run.

But Reicia cast her eyes downward.

“…We don’t have much time left.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because of the dual personality, my abilities were significantly enhanced.”

This was news to everyone present—but those familiar with her previous ability levels nodded. Her rapid power growth had been noticeable. If that was the result of an irregularity like a dual personality, it made sense.

“…However, my ability has been declining ever since that day—the battle against Accelerator. …Most likely, it will return to its original level by tomorrow.”

“No way…!”

In other words, the deadline was midnight tonight.

Solving this with no clear clues by then—yes, it was as hopeless as it sounded.

But—

“…I see. Guess we’ve got no choice but to try.”

Kamijou clenched his fist, showing no particular emotion. As if to say, this wasn’t even worth worrying about.

Seeing that, the others hardened their resolve. Reicia, watching from a neutral perspective, realized once again that this boy truly had a way of shifting the atmosphere.

“Now then. As for how to awaken Shiren…”

Of course, no one here had any real knowledge of multiple personalities. Therefore, the first step was clear: bring in an expert on the subject of personality. However—

“…Dr. Nunotaba is currently not in Academy City…”

Dr. Nunotaba, the developer of the Sisters’ learning device, Testament, and an acquaintance from the recent Silent Party revolution incident, had left Academy City. She was now involved in adjusting two girls—Febri and Janie—who were born from that incident, at an external research institute. She was unreachable, and asking for her cooperation was unlikely to succeed.

Revealing this kind of information to any other researcher was also out of the question. There just wasn’t enough trust. This wasn’t something that could be shared with just anyone.

“Yes, yes! Reicia-san!”

At that moment, Sonai raised her hand. When Reicia gave her a prompting look, Sonai seemed a bit intimidated but began to speak hesitantly.

“So, um, if Shiren’s second personality is weakening… what if we tried recreating the same kind of stimulus that triggered them last time? …Ah—n-no! I don’t mean to downplay what happened to you, Reicia-san! I just mean—strictly in terms of the stimulus...”

“Hm…”

That’s certainly one way of looking at it—if the dual personality is fading, reapplying the same shock might bring it back. A simple notion, but not an entirely unreasonable one, Reicia thought.

However, there was a fundamental flaw in that line of reasoning.

“For one thing, I am not truly a dual personality to begin with. More importantly, there’s a deeper issue with your idea.”

Reicia paused, then continued.

“While your logic has a basis, it's simply not feasible. A dual personality arises when part of the brain’s network is isolated and begins to operate independently. Even if we were to replicate that isolation, it would likely result in the creation of an entirely new, third personality—rather than the return of Shiren.”

Sonai had no response. She could only lower her head. Seeing this, Reicia gave her an awkward, gentle smile.

“…O-of course, depending on how it’s done—for example, if we were able to intentionally isolate the exact same part of the brain—then perhaps it wouldn't be impossible. It’s just that doing so would require a level 5 telepath, someone capable of precision mental interfacing…”

Even that kind of follow-up was something the old Reicia might not have offered. She didn’t realize it herself, but she had undeniably grown.

“…Technically, I do have a line of contact with her… but no, it’s too risky. You’re a faction leader, after all. I can’t see her helping without pulling something. I wouldn’t put it past her to plant some kind of mental bomb while she’s at it.”

And so, Misaka Mikoto added that relying on that girl—Shokuhou Misaki—should be reserved as a last resort. Reicia, familiar with the girl’s actions thanks to semantic memory, nodded in agreement.

“Oh, then I’ve got a suggestion too.”

Kamijou raised his hand.

“Basically, we just need Shiren to wake up, right? So how about we make it easier for our voices to reach them, then try calling out?”

“…………………………Surely, you’re not suggesting sheer willpower?”

“I-I mean, maybe.”

Reicia looked at him like she’d just witnessed a miracle of idiocy, and Kamijou quickly averted his eyes. Well, for someone like Kamijou—a dumb student through and through—suggesting anything with scientific nuance was probably a long shot.

“…………That’s actually a blind spot we missed.”

And surprisingly, Reicia didn’t reject it. In fact, she found the idea favorable.

“Wait, seriously?”

If anything, Kamijou—the one who suggested it—was the one most confused. But thinking about it, it made perfect sense.

After all, the very reason Reicia was awake and functioning now was because of that exact principle. It had been Shiren’s own emotional efforts that encouraged Reicia, helping her build up the will to live—leading to this very moment.

In other words, Reicia initiating contact and encouraging Shiren’s return through emotional reinforcement wasn’t a wrong approach.

Of course, if that alone had been enough, Shiren would’ve reawakened on their own by now. The fact that Reicia’s abilities had begun to decline even before Shiren went dormant hinted that there were deeper underlying issues at play.

“Well, let’s just say it’s a viable approach. Pure emotional appeals won’t be enough. After all, Shiren’s disappearance is being observed as a literal decline in ability. But if we establish a proper scientific framework around that emotional outreach—then yes, it might work.”

“Ahem,” Reicia coughed lightly to compose herself, and Misaka Mikoto twitched in response.

A decline in ability.
Despite identical physical conditions, why do fluctuations in power occur? Mikoto was already familiar with such a phenomenon.

The Sisters.

According to research records, despite having the exact same physical specifications as Mikoto herself, the Sisters showed differing levels of ability strength.

Same body, different personalities—Mikoto and the Sisters.
Same body, different personas—Reicia and Shiren.
…Aren’t these two cases remarkably similar?

And if that hypothesis holds—

Then someone deeply familiar with the Sisters might possess relevant insight.

“…There’s someone who comes to mind.”

Mikoto raised her hand as she spoke.

That person—

“The frog-faced doctor.
I think he might be able to tell us something.”

“…Wait, so even you knew that doctor?”

On the way to the hospital in the Seventh District, Kamijou remarked with a note of surprise. The frog-faced doctor was a familiar presence to him, but he hadn’t expected Mikoto to have any connection there.

Mikoto simply nodded.

“Well, from a certain incident a while back. Though honestly, I should be saying that to you. How did you end up knowing someone like him? He seemed like a pretty high-level specialist.”

“Ah… well, you know… I get injured a lot. Like, limbs getting cut off and stuff…”

Kamijou’s voice trailed off into muttering by the end, so no one pressed further.
Reicia, who did know what he was alluding to from semantic memory, gave him a withering sidelong glance.

“…Alright, enough idle chatter. Kamijou, try not to dig your own grave more than necessary.”

“Yes ma’am…”

Reicia's real intention behind the comment was: "Avoid topics that might lead to your memory loss being exposed, you idiot." But that nuance, of course, was lost on Kamijou.

Still, the group’s mood had improved noticeably. They hadn’t found a definitive lead yet, but they all recognized that the frog-faced doctor was highly competent.

After all, he had been entrusted with managing the Sisters' adjustments. Even without knowing the details, it was clear that he was no ordinary physician.

But of course—
The world never made things that easy.

“We’re here! Time to secure a lead for rescuing Shiren—!”

“We’ve got trouble, Onee-sama! Help me!”

Just as Shika energetically stepped onto the hospital grounds, a girl came barreling out of the hospital and collided right into her.

“M-Misaka reporting in straightforward Sister-like fashion to—”

“FOAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHH!!!!!!!”

In an instant, a blinding flash of Level 5 electromagnetic power filled the area—employed out of sheer necessity for information security. Every detail in the surroundings was completely drowned out in brilliant white light.