Bonus: The Medical Scan Incident

《I'm really sorry, Reicia-chan...》

That day.

Having just finished the medical system scan, I was doing my best to calm down a sulking Reicia-chan.

《But there was no helping it. Nothing was ready yet, not even close...》

《……Muu》

The reason I was going out of my way to appease Reicia-chan like this all started with today’s medical system scan.

The story goes back to this morning──

“It’s medical system scan day today!”

September 14th, morning. After homeroom, while we were killing time at our usual spot, Shika-san announced that out of the blue.

Around this time of year, most schools in Academy City conduct a school-wide power assessment. It’s meant to establish where everyone stands as they return from summer break, with the Daihasei Festival just around the corner.

Even at Tokiwadai, an elite school where every student is a Level 3 or higher esper, this is no exception. In fact, they tend to be more enthusiastic about it than most.

“Indeed it is!”

At a school like Tokiwadai, where ambition runs high, the medical system scan is the perfect chance to show off the fruits of one’s personal training.

Naturally, our group, “GMDW,” was no exception—everyone was fired up from the moment we got up today.

Reicia-chan especially had been bubbling with excitement at the chance to show how far she’d come. And understandably so—this scan would all but officially confirm her as a Level 5 esper.

“You’re really fired up today, Reicia.”

“As I should be! Our ‘faction’ is about to produce its very first Level 5 esper! That alone practically guarantees GMDW’s further rise to prominence!”

With all the cheers and chatter, the rest of the faction was already celebrating Reicia-chan’s nearly certain promotion to Level 5. Everyone knew how much it meant to her—both the good and the bad sides of it—so the emotions were running high.

Which made it very awkward to bring this up now…

“Um, about that…”

“Hm? What’s the matter, Shiren-san?”

“I was actually thinking… maybe I should hold off on making my Level 5 status public.”

The moment I said that, I could feel the atmosphere freeze over.

“HA-AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!?!? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, SHIREN!? HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!? WHY!?!?”

Reicia-chan erupted like a wildfire.

Well, yeah, I figured she’d react like that… and then—

“Wha—Shiren-san? What do you mean…? Are you… are you serious…?”

“Y-you’re joking, right?! You’re finally about to be certified as a Level 5 and you…?!”

Even the others in the faction, while not as explosive as Reicia-chan, were visibly stunned. I couldn’t blame them. If the head of our faction became a Level 5, the boost in name recognition alone would be huge. Our influence would grow, our activities would get much smoother.

And more than anything, it would be the realization of a long-held dream. Even thinking about our future, that title would be a massive asset.

I understood all of that. But even so…

“Please calm down, Reicia-chan… The timing just isn’t right.”

Becoming a Level 5 isn’t some bright and shiny fairy tale ending.

“The timing…?”

As Yumetsuki-san started to get heated, Rinka-san—speaking on behalf of the others—stepped in.

Thanks to Rinka-san’s level-headed tone, the others began to regain their composure. The murmuring died down.

…Honestly, having Rinka-san around for moments like this is a godsend.

“Yes. Without a doubt, we stand to gain a lot from my Level 5 certification. As the head of GMDW, I recognize that very clearly. But at the same time… there’s also risk involved.”

That’s right. If Reicia-chan became a Level 5, she’d inevitably attract some… unsavory interest.

Unlike the other Level 5s, we weren’t listed on the Aptitude Classification Parameter List. We were an unplanned, unauthorized Level 5.

The other Level 5s had been carefully selected from above, which meant even the darker elements of Academy City had some degree of control.

But us? We were complete irregulars. The kind the power development agencies never saw coming. If that fact became known, it’d cause a full-blown panic.

Forget hopes or dreams—just the mere existence of a Level 5 that hadn’t been groomed or approved by the underground would bring out every faction trying to exploit her for their own gain.

And honestly, we weren’t strong enough yet to fend off those kinds of adults.

“…So you’re saying we should just hide this amazing power? For our sake?”

Yumetsuki-san’s eyes sharpened. Yeah, that tracks. Of all of us, Yumetsuki-san hates the “self-sacrifice for the greater good” logic the most.

But no—that wasn’t my reason.

“No. It’s for my sake.”

I stated it clearly.

Not for everyone else. Not to throw away my success, or Reicia-chan’s dream.

I was putting it on hold—for me.

“Of course, I don’t mean forever. I’m just saying that, right now, I don’t have the strength to stop others from exploiting my title. That’s why it’s not the right move yet. First, I want to build a solid foundation—tie-ups with related research institutions, more allies, and a structure strong enough to withstand any outside pressure. Once that’s done, I’ll be able to stand tall and proudly announce myself as a Level 5 esper.”

And for that, now just wasn’t the time.

That’s all there was to it.

Once I laid it out like that, the rest of the faction seemed to accept it.

《………I get the logic, but……》

Except for one.

Aside from my other half, that is.

Prologue: Checking the Current Situation is Important – Lost_Remnant.
Bonus: The Medical Scan Incident

Well, I think my reasoning was sound—but emotions aren’t so easily satisfied by logic alone.

Reicia-chan was still clearly sulking. And honestly, I get it. I really do. I understand how much this meant to her, which is why all I can do is keep apologizing.

《But… try to understand, okay? It’s not like it’ll be forever…》

《I do understand.》

Reicia-chan snapped back firmly—

《…I understand, and yet I still can’t accept it. That’s what makes me feel so pathetic.》

She added that last part in a quiet, dejected tone.

…Yeah. I really am awful.

Not because I trampled on her dream in the name of practical risk management.

But because I couldn’t come up with a way to crush that so-called practicality itself. Because all I’ve done is force this girl to swallow her feelings.

What I should’ve said wasn’t, “That’s why the timing’s bad”—it should’ve been, “That’s why I already have a plan to break through it.”

But I’m no superhero like Kamijou-san. I can’t do everything. That’s why all I can come up with are lukewarm “practical strategies.”

《…Um, Shiren? I-it’s fine now. I can already tell what you’re thinking just from your face. So it’s okay, really—your feelings got through, so please try to calm down…》

Huh? …Ah! Crap! Was it showing on my face?

My Dual-Persona Square Face mode—still not used to it, and lately if I’m not actively focusing, my emotions slip through…

《That won’t do. I know this must be painful for you too, Shiren.》

《You don’t have to worry about me. Reicia-chan’s the one hurting the most here.》

《…Really, I need to be more careful. If I keep leaning on you like this, I feel like you’ll end up carrying everything on your back again…》

What does Reicia-chan think I am, anyway?

《By the way… was there anything else planned after this?》

《After this? The medical system scan, obviously.》

《No, not that.》

Reicia-chan replied calmly—

《I meant in the “main timeline.” Let’s see… last we checked, it was Volume 6, wasn’t it? With Kazakiri?》

《Right. And now… I think the Orsola arc is over by now…》

Next would be Remnant. Though, wait—didn’t the satellite not fall this time? Then that arc probably won’t happen. That means Musujime-san won’t fall into the dark side, huh…? Well, we’ll work around that somehow.

Which means the next event is—

《The Daihasei Festival. It’s finally here, huh, Reicia-chan.》

I said it casually, but Reicia-chan’s silence carried a clear tension.

Honestly, we’ve all been pushing ourselves pretty hard since summer break ended. Even Reicia-chan, who used to be surprisingly lacking in the physical department, can now hold her own and pass as someone with decent athletic ability. Youth is amazing.

The rest of the faction’s been working hard too. I really want us to see good results. If I remember right, in the main timeline Misaka-san lost to Kamijou-san in total points...

《That’s true, but…》

Reicia-chan added quietly—

《If we want to make the Daihasei Festival enjoyable, I’ll need to hurry up and break off my engagement. If I stay his fiancée, I’ll almost certainly get stuck doing events in the family category.》

《Ah.》

Right, that’s right… The engagement breakup. That was still on the table… Well, the plan was already set anyway…

《Reicia-chan, are you really going to do that?》

《Of course! I want to get that troublesome engagement breakup over with as soon as possible—and besides, it puts me a step ahead in the heroine race, doesn’t it? There’s absolutely no reason not to do it.》

《Heroine race…?》

Hearing it straight from her, there’s a certain forcefulness to it… Sure, right now it really is a heroine race between Misaka, Index, and us, after all…

《Well, jokes aside, it would be the worst if my fiancé showed up at the Daihasei Festival. He’s got a reputation to uphold, you know? If I were to break off the engagement at an event we’re supposed to attend as fiancé and fiancée, he’d absolutely make a huge mess of things.》

《…Is he really that troublesome? Um…》

《The “Nurikae Ono” — yeah, he’s a proud man. So proud that he’s constantly busy covering things up. He’d try to spin it as, “I divorced her because I found someone better,” or something along those lines.》

Oof, that was harsh. But honestly, if that was the reason for breaking off an engagement, I wouldn’t want to deal with that either…

As I was lost in those thoughts, Reicia-chan continued—

《…Um, Shiren. Changing the subject a bit…》

《Hmm?》

《Shiren, if I were truly an utterly hopeless, terrible woman… what would you do?》

Her question was laden with anxiety.

…I don’t know why she’d ask that now, but.

《I was saved by you, Shiren. But I also think that’s because I was still in a state where I could be saved—that I could receive your words. If I were truly the worst person, someone who wouldn’t listen to you at all…》

《………》

I thought about it.

What if the person I was possessing was truly the worst kind of person—someone better left unawakened, happier in oblivion?

Could I have still believed in that personality? Could I have still acted for that personality’s sake? Even if this wasn’t a straightforward inspiring story, but rather someone whose path, if one step was misstepped, might be painted in psychedelic hues of chaos and confusion?

Could I have stuck to my original resolve?

《That would be———》

At the time, I thought it was just a thought experiment.

I figured that thinking about it would help me understand myself better.

But…

Looking back now, maybe that answer I gave back then decided everything.