Anime Girls are Moist

"You saved them? But… why?"

Mikoto Misaka was full of doubts about Shokuhou Misaki's role in all this.

"Why…?"

Misaki gazed at the sleeping Misaka Sisters in their containers, her eyes reflecting a deep, reminiscent sorrow.

"Because of Dolly…"

"Dolly?"

Mikoto didn't recognize the name.

"Dolly was my friend…"

For the first time, Misaki's expression revealed genuine sadness. In a low voice, she began recounting a story from her past.

…

Misaki's Past

Before entering middle school, during the time she was being "tested" at the research facility known as the Talent Workshop, she was assigned to help a certain girl—one who had lost her only friend—recover her emotional stability. That girl's name was Dolly.

Back then, Misaki's ability wasn't yet able to fully rewrite memories, but it could alter Dolly's perception. By shifting Dolly's perception, Dolly would treat her as if she were Kouzaku Mitori (the "police caretaker" Dolly dearly missed). So day after day, Misaki went to see Dolly, taking on the role of that caretaker.

In those repeated exchanges, Misaki gradually came to regard Dolly as a real friend, even though she was deceiving her. It weighed heavily on her conscience. Ironically, Dolly had long since realized through scent that Misaki wasn't Mitori, yet she never exposed her.

Dolly's condition remained stable—until one day, it abruptly deteriorated. Her life ebbed away. Near the end, Dolly begged Misaki to tell her her real name. Only then did Misaki understand that Dolly truly saw her as a friend. The shock of that realization left a profound impact on Misaki's heart.

But the researchers were far from kind. Whether Dolly or Misaki, to them both were nothing more than test subjects—tools to be used. Once the "Exterior" plan (related to "External Brain") was complete, they had planned to get rid of Misaki.

Misaki had suspected all this and took precautions. As her power developed further, she could do more and more with her "Mental Out" ability. Early on, she'd used her power on certain lower-level researchers, instructing them to sabotage the mental defenses of other staff members, thereby furthering her own influence.

Gradually, she expanded the range of her covert domination. In the end, everyone connected to the Talent Workshop and the Exterior project fell under her control. Misaki essentially became the new "owner" of the Talent Workshop.

Through the Workshop, she uncovered many secrets, including Dolly's true identity—and two top-secret projects: the "Mass-Produced Esper Project" and the "Level 6 Shift Project." The former was the source of Dolly's existence. Dolly, as it turned out, wasn't an ordinary human but rather a clone.

Enraged by such madness—treating these Sisters as disposable, subhuman test subjects—Misaki, though she disliked the "brainless" Mikoto, didn't resent the Sisters themselves.

In fact, she cared for them out of respect for Dolly, worrying about all the other clones. So for some time now, Misaki had been covertly interfering with various labs.

The Sisters in her care were a handful of still-dormant clones she managed to rescue. She dared not wake them, because these cloned Sisters had genetic defects and painfully short lifespans. She couldn't bear letting them wake up just to suffer Dolly's fate.

Yet compared to the total of twenty thousand Sisters required for the Level 6 Shift Project, the ones she saved were but a drop in the bucket. Even Misaki didn't know how to save all of them.

"I see…"

Mikoto Misaka found this story nearly unbelievable.

"So Dolly was the very first Misaka Sister?"

She'd never suspected Misaki had such a history.

"Mm…"

Misaki's mood sank at the recollection.

"It's clearly your fault, but the Sisters are the ones suffering. Mikoto Misaka, you should feel remorse!"

"…"

Mikoto pressed her lips together.

"…Yes. It is my fault. So I have to make amends. I have to end it all!"

"I must stop this experiment before I atone."

She looked earnestly at Misaki.

"Shokuhou Misaki, could you help me? Even if you're just doing it for the Sisters' sake, please!"

"…"

After a moment's silence and a deep breath, Misaki smirked dismissively.

"Heh, don't slow me down, then."

Hearing that answer, Mikoto let out a tiny smile.

"We'll see who slows whom."

…

The Windowless Building

[Crowley, it seems two of your pawns have unexpectedly joined forces. Do you have no thoughts on that?]

The golden angel, Aiwass, spoke. Within his container of fluid, Aleister Crowley—suspended upside down—created multiple screens. One of them indeed displayed Mikoto Misaka and Shokuhou Misaki meeting. This development was outside his calculations.

"They're merely two manipulable pawns. No need to worry."

[You're as self-assured as ever, Crowley?]

Aleister made no direct reply. Confidence was a tricky concept for the angel to grasp.

[You're truly certain your plan won't fail?]

"I am confident. Nothing to fear."

[Confidence…what does that even mean?]

Aleister ignored Aiwass's question, switching to a new feed. On that screen, a spiky-haired boy was shouting about his bad luck.

[Moving that particular pawn, are we? Seems you're not entirely passive. That's not "confidence," is it, Crowley?]

"Heh heh… If not "confidence," I'd call it "calculated strategy.""

[Another strange phrase. So, what is "confidence"?]

Aleister gave no further answer.

~~~

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