02x02 - Critical

[bunniefuu]

What's he doing?

He has a disease called muscular dystrophy.

Muscu... lar?

It's a genetic disease that causes your muscles to get weaker.

He was born with this terrible disease,

and he fights like this every day to take back what the disease has robbed him of.

However...

no matter how hard he tries, he cannot be cured.

There is no effective therapy known to current medical science.

His muscles will grow progressively weaker,

and eventually, he will lose the ability to even stand.

Eventually it will affect his respiratory system, and cause cardiac failure.

That said, this is only the situation for current medical science.

With your power, we might be able to save him and all others who suffer from the same disease.

Won't you grant us access to your DNA map?

Sure!

Thank you.

A dream...

Why was I dreaming of something that long ago?

Oh, right...

When we went to visit Edasaki-san yesterday...

Onee-sama, please wait!

Shut up, you pervert!

All I wanted was another person's warmth.

That's no excuse for crawling into my bed all the time!

A-Anyway, where are you going today?

We have that metropolitan society observation at the start of September, right?

Yes...

I was thinking of buying some supplies for the trip.

I'll bet you're just going to buy more strange children's toys.

Our room's already filled with knock-off goods made in some third world country.

What did you just say?

Oh, nothing.

So we're having a shopping date today?

You don't have to come, you know.

Oh come on!

So, is there anything else you're looking for?

Maybe a defense system to prevent perverts from crawling into my bed?

You're still mad at me?

Nope!

There's so much I could do to help you, though!

Take this, for example.

You'll find a much quicker route to the mall this way.

After you, Onee-sama.

Fine by me,

but you should know that it upsets me when people try to hug me in dark alleyways.

Wh-Who would even think of doing such a thing?

It's so narrow...

How do you even know about these alleyways?

Thanks to my job, I've memorized every nook and cranny in this city.

Excuse me.

Don't worry about it.

It gets pretty cramped when someone else comes by.

Well, it's not every day that it happens.

Excuse me.

Don't worry about it.

Is this a popular alleyway or something?

I don't think it is...

This is odd.

Why today, of all days?

Hey—

Are you okay?

What's wrong?

There's something underneath this.

An envelope?

There's no sender or recipient on it.

What's that?

It's a cash card.

Oh, you found one too, Shirai-san?

"Too"?

People have been bringing them in from the Seventh School District for the past few days now.

There are cases as of now.

Oh, it just jumped to .

That many?

I'm sure there are unreported cases too, so the number's probably higher.

Do you think this might be some sort of systematic counterfeiting?

That's the weird part.

Every card that's been brought in is real.

Really, Konori-senpai?

Yes.

Why haven't I been told about this up until now?

Though intentionally damaging or discarding cash is illegal,

it doesn't apply to cash cards, so there was no need to report it.

I see.

Each card has an arbitrary amount of money on it.

Some only have , yen, while others have over ,.

The strange thing is that they're all found in dark alleyways.

Each one in its own envelope too.

So someone is planting these cards intentionally?

I don't think anyone would go to this much trouble for a prank.

And we can't find any fingerprints on either the cards or the envelopes.

Rumors about this have spread already.

There are already treasure hunters crawling the alleyways looking for them.

I see.

So that's why...

Some students even fight over them,

and others have gotten into trouble after encroaching on Skill-Out territory.

This isn't something we can just ignore.

Onee-sama, I'm afraid we're going to have to postpone our date.

It's fine, I'll be okay on my own.

Bye now!

I miss her already...

Now, would you please patrol these areas, Shirai-san?

Finally, I get to do my shopping alone.

I'm sorry!

Don't worry about it.

Dang, there aren't any here either.

I see...

What if it really is just a rumor?

Didn't Ricchan from class B find one, though?

Did she?

Alternative ,Rumors, huh?

Why are Kuroko and I always the last to hear about them?

I guess this area's dry.

Um... Saten-san?

Oh, Misaka-san!

Hey, why were you ignoring me earlier?

Huh? What do you mean?

C'mon, don't play dumb.

I saw you walking in front of Seventh Mist.

I was yelling your name, but you totally ignored me.

I don't think that was me...

Huh?

I could've sworn she was wearing a Tokiwadai uniform, though...

I was with Kuroko at her office this entire time.

I guess it was someone else, then...

Anyway, what are you doing?

Are you looking for those rumored cash cards?

Oh, you know about it?

Ta-da!

W-Wow...

I'm actually pretty good at sniffing out rumors like this.

I-I see.

All right!

Let's go that way next!

What?!

But I...

Never mind that!

Alternative ,It will shortly be time for curfew.

Alternative ,All students are to return home immediately.

Alternative ,It will shortly be time for curfew.

Oh man, time sure flies.

Alternative ,All students are to return home immediately.

Here's your share.

Thanks...

Wait, no!

We have to bring those in!

I figured as much.

I'll give Uiharu a call later.

By the way, Saten-san...

Have you heard any rumors about who's distributing those cards?

I don't think I've heard anything about that.

I'm off then, Misaka-san!

We'll bring Uiharu along next time!

Sure.

See you!

Bye!

I spent the rest of my day doing that...

What the heck...

I'm serious, man!

I was taking a piss at some alleyway in Zone E when I saw a chick put down this envelope.

I followed her.

And?

She entered some multi-tenant building in Zone C.

I bet that's her base.

Wait, and she's all alone?

I bet she's got others with her.

Don't worry, I scouted out the place.

She really is all alone.

Let's go take a look, then.

How the heck did you scout the place?

I just stood there watching.

Sheesh, man. You worked your ass off.

It's been a while since we've had fun with a plaything.

Hey, Kuroko.

Yeah.

Well,


I've got a favor to ask.

Oh, welcome back!

Are you done counting?

Yep.

Today we've had...

cases reported.

The number keeps rising.

Have you seen Shirai-san?

Something came up and she had to leave.

Oh.

All right, I'm gonna eat dinner.

Alternative ,Dinner time, dinner time.

Hello?

Oh, Saten-san?

You found a cash card too?

All right.

How's tomorrow sound?

By the way...

Yeah.

Sure.

All right, I'll hang out with Haruue-san until you get home.

Thanks a bunch.

Oh, wait a minute, Uiharu!

I wanted to ask you something.

Huh? Misaka-san?

Yeah, she and Shirai-san brought in a cash card at around noon.

I see.

I guess it really must have been someone else, then.

No, never mind.

See ya!

So it really wasn't her...

Huh?

Someone who looked just like Misaka-san?

Yeah.

Saten-san was telling me about it.

That reminds me of those old rumors about the clones of a Level .

Clones?

It was about a laboratory trying to mass-produce Level espers by cloning.

Doesn't sound too far-fetched for Academy City.

Saten-san would love that rumor.

You bet.

Coming!

Good evening, Dorm Supervisor.

Your diligent patrols are a great example for us all.

Yeah.

Hey, where's Misaka?

Hey, Kuroko!

We're out of shampoo!

Coming!

She's hopeless.

Please excuse me, Dorm Supervisor.

Be right there!

Hurry up already, Kuroko!

Yeah, yeah!

Kuroko, where's my towe—

Hey, what are you doing h—

Good grief.

"I'll be home past curfew, so trick the dorm supervisor for me."

Thank goodness I had my secret Onee-sama Voice Collection, or I'd have been in real trouble.

It's been a while since I've had to do something like this.

She used to do this a lot more.

Onee-sama...

Hey there, sorry to barge in.

If you're a good girl and do what we say, we won't hurt you.

What do you want?

Well, you know those cash cards you've been hiding all over the place?

We'll save you the trouble and take them all.

Whoa, there.

I'd appreciate it if you didn't set off some anti-crime buzzer.

We'll get it ourselves.

Come on!

Right.

What the...

There's only two.

Huh?

There's nothing in here either.

It was a waste of time coming here.

You know,

I'm not really a fan of hitting women.

So you'd better tell—

They aren't here.

Equal.

That's all I've got on me.

You've gotta be kidding.

You're pretty calm, considering your situation.

D-Do you think she's an esper?

Even if she is, there's no way she could take us all on.

We're searching every inch of this place.

You watch her.

S-Sure.

What the hell are you so scared of?

I'm not scared!

Hey.

Let's just get moving.

What about there?

Nothing.

Damn it, where are they?

Alternative ,You guys go look over there!

Damn it, this girl's creeping the hell out of me.

Where have I seen that crest before...

Nagatenjouki Academy!

Wait... that's one of the five elite schools in the city.

That means she's probably some friggin' strong esper, right?

Wait, keep it together.

Unlike Tokiwadai, that school's got faculties where you can do without being an esper.

There's no way of telling if she's really an esper.

Wh-What?!

You look pale.

Is everything okay?

Shut up!

Your breathing is irregular,

and you're drenched in sweat.

You seem quite agitated.

Stay away!

Almost as if...

How'd you know...

Because.

Hey, what happened?!

What'd you do to him?!

She really is an esper!

She would've just att*cked us earlier, though!

B-But she's got no weapons on her...

There are certain requirements for it.

My power is called Critical.

It only works on people who I've touched.

However.

Once I've touched them,

no matter where they run, they will die.

Don't give us that bullshit.

I've never heard of a power like that.

I don't care whether or not you believe me.

There are many variations of this ability, allowing for apprehending and interfering with

people's AIM dispersion fields that have been memorized.

I don't expect you Level 's to understand how that feels, though.

How long do you want to keep bluffing?

What's with you?

I touched her earlier!

If she's telling the truth, then...

Stop being a baby.

I told you, she's bluffing.

B-But...

Hey, this isn't the time for that!

He's right.

You shouldn't fight amongst yourselves.

You bitch!

Hey, what should I do?!

Calm down!

Shut up.

I'll take care of her.

Wh-What was that?

Hey, guys...

Damn it.

What's going on here?

You're kidding...

You're the only one left.

Damn it!

I'll get you...

I'll get you...

There!

Th-The pipe!

Where did it go?

Damn it!

What the heck...

What's going on?

What the hell's going on?!

You're now a potential target for my ability.

Don't worry.

Just like your friends, your death will be painless.

W-Wait, please!

It was my fault!

I'll leave right away!

Please...

Now I only have to lower my hand.

Three...

Two...

One...

Well...

It was just a paper pop g*n.

That was an interesting performance.

I was going to help you out if things got dangerous,

but you dealt with this many Skill-Outs so easily...

With nothing but talking, a dramatic performance, and...

What was that, some anesthetic?

What?

So...

You're the original.

So you're the original.

That's right!

She was the original for my secret Onee-sama Voice Collection,

which played an important role in—

That's not what she means!