02x22 - STUDY

[bunniefuu]

I never thought I'd see her again.

You're all just guinea pigs! (copy from what you used in railgun)

Academy City's just a breeding farm for experiment material! (copy from what you used in railgun)

You brats are all just livestock! Every single one of you! (copy from what you used in railgun)

But she's the only one who can save Febri.

Oh? Long time no see, little guinea pig.

Therestina Kihara Lifeline.

Come and join us, Mugino!

Sure. Give me a bit.

Are you okay?

This feels great.

What the hell're you talking about?

My reputation's on the line.

I can't just sit back after they used me.

You need respect to get by in this business.

It's your fault you fell for that.

Alternative ,You know how to swim?

Alternative ,I like it.

Why do we have to wipe your sorry butt?

I hate dealing with you.

Look, I'll pay you personally, so quit complaining.

Didn't you say you were mad about that fake job?

I can blow stuff up?

As much as you want.

What's up, Mugino?

A job?

Not one I want to take,

but we're going out for a quick sweat.

What?

I like that look in your eyes.

It's as if you've seen the darkness in this city.

Did you despair?

Were you scared by how deep it goes?

What did you do then?

Did you curse Academy City?

And, in the end, you realized that I was right.

Academy City is one big laboratory.

You students are all just guinea pigs.

So, what do you want from me?

Do you want me to pat you on the head and tell you everything'll be all right?

I want to save a friend.

Her name's Febri.

She's an artificially created girl,

and she only has hours left to live.

So I want to save her.

I know that an underground organization made her.

I thought you could tell me something about the—

Hang on.

Are you stupid?

A friend?

You watched your clones getting k*lled, one-by-one, and you're thinking about friends?

The brat's just another guinea pig born from the darkness of this city!

If you want to survive in this city,

then you either let the darkness envelop and enslave you,

or you destroy it along with its darkness.

Those are your only options.

You're wrong.

Yes, I've seen the darkness of this city.

It was pretty shocking.

I didn't know what to do.

But the people I've met in this city saved me.

I've got a bunch of great friends.

If this city didn't exist, I'd have never met them.

There may be a lot of horrible things here,

but even that can't stop me from loving Academy City.

Whatever.

Get lost.

No.

Answer, then I leave.

Who made Febri?

Dunno.

What do they want?

And what's this?

Tell me! Please!

And what if I lie?

Huh?

Why would I tell you the truth?

Would you actually believe me?

Yes, I would.

Why?

Because I choose to.

Give me your hand.

Eat it.

There's nothing wrong with it.

It's just chocolate.

What's wrong?

Don't you believe me?

I said I'd believe you.

Go away.

No.

Tell me about Febri!

There's nothing to tell you!

I won't leave until you tell me!

Shut up!

Get lost!

Please! Tell me about Febri!

Please!

Damn, you're annoying.

Chemicaloid.

I think that's what they called her.

"They"?

And by "chemicaloid," you mean Febri?

It was just a theory back then.

Never thought those brats could actually make one.

They made Febri?

What for?

How should I know?

They probably just want to show the world that they exist.

What do you mean?

Isn't there some big event coming up?

An event?

The Assembly?

They want to show the world that they exist?

That's stupid! Who'd make Febri just—

Stupid?

That's what you think, O chosen Level .

Remember this, princess.

In Academy City, even a filthy guinea pig like you

can get a bunch of "close" friends with a label like "Level ."

You don't know how deep the darkness goes for those who can't even be guinea pigs.

Don't pee your panties.

Brat.

Wait, you met Therestina-san?

Yeah, I'm sorry.

It was kinda sudden, so I didn't have the time to talk to you about it.

So this "chemicaloid" is Febri's official designation?

And these people are planning something for the Assembly?

She didn't say that exactly...

But Kongou-san and her friends saw that guy who talked about Febri at the Assembly area too, right?

I can't really think of any other big, upcoming event either.

So you were able to see Therestina-san just because the doctor gave you permission?

He looks like some sort of mascot.

Who on Earth is he?

He told me something else too.

What?

With the amount of candy Febri has left,

she only has hours to live.

What?! No...

No way...

hours...

Uiharu?

I'll check people connected to the Assembly.

Both the organizers and the exhibitors.

Uiharu...

You're up, Febri?

Yeah.

Good afternoon, ladies!

I've brought you something wonderful.

Have you found any clues?

Oh, well... Not yet.

We're sorry.

We looked all over for that man...

...but we couldn't find anything.

W-We'll certainly find him sooner or later!

But for today, we wanted to give Febri-chan a present.

A present?

We found some really cute clothes.

We thought they would look great on you.

Isn't that great?

They're for you!

Okay, I'll open it for you!

Wow, it's so cute!

Is this for me?

Yeah.

Mitsuko, Wanna, Atsuki, thank you!

N-No need to thank us!

We're friends, after all.

It's mine!

It looks great on you!

Febri!

Your face is flushed!

Do you have a fever?

I don't know...

My head hurts...

Let's have some candy!

We need to hurry.

Oh?

My, my, my, my.

This is the man we saw at the Assembly area!

Right, Wannai-san, Awatsuki-san?

Yes, you're right.

That is him.

Where's that picture from?

Aritomi Haruki.

Wow, he won the award for best research at the Assembly two years ago.

In fact, he wins one of the top awards every year.

So he's a returning winner of the Assembly?

That must mean he's a genius, even by Academy City's standards.

Him? I've never heard of him.

Well, I suppose intellectual geniuses don't gain as much attention as high-level espers.

You don't know how deep the darkness goes for those who can't even be guinea pigs.

Wait a minute. He didn't enter this year.

That reminds me, Yomikawa-sensei said something like that too.

Apparently a lot of the usual participants haven't shown up this year.

Let's see.

It's true!

There are a lot of people who aren't participating this year.

His accomplices must be on that list too.

No matching data.

The first lab is the only place left that I can think of.

Gotcha!

I can't see!

Febri, you're feeling better, right?

Head doesn't hurt?

Yeah!

She had an appetite too.

I think we can rest easy for now.

Uiharu, are you still going over data?

Yeah, I can't just stay put.

It seems that this Aritomi guy quit school a while back.

What a waste.

Huh?

I mean, if he's smart enough to win all those prizes,

then he should use his brain for good.

Instead, he's with some underground organization trying to kidnap Febri.

I don't get it.

You're right.

I'd never heard of the Assembly before,

but I was happy that people without any esper powers could achieve something too.

Saten-san...

Yes.

That would be great, Yomikawa-sensei.

Thank you.

There's nothing they can do without any proof.

Not that we didn't expect that, though.

We knew that Anti-Skill's under pressure from above,

so we can't really count on them.

Onee-sama? Is something on your mind?

Yeah.

Just something Therestina told me.

"Tokiwadai's Railgun" is a pretty big title.

I've met a lot of people because of it.

I was thinking, if I weren't a Level ,

then maybe we'd have never become friends.

Onee-sama...

I don't see Tokiwadai's Level Railgun in front of me,

but Misaka Mikoto-oneesama, who's rough and childish, but kind to her juniors.

Kuroko...

Thanks, but...

It's obvious you're trying to feel me up!

And I'm not childish!

O-Onee-sama...

I love how merciless you are when you punish me...

Study Corporation?

Yes.

I found Aritomi Haruki's name on its board of directors.

What does the company do?

Alternative ,Which hand is Gekota hiding in?

They manufacture dr*gs and other chemicals of a wide spectrum.

Alternative ,This one!

Alternative ,Good job!

And what about that suspicious place you found?

It's a factory they own in the th District.

It's suspicious because they bought a normal, old factory for an insane price.

That does smell fishy.

A factory...

So that's where they made Febri?

And those lollipops too?

Alternative ,(bg)Which one?

Alternative ,(bg)This one!

If we could at least find data on that compound...

The easiest way would be to go and find out ourselves.

We don't have time to spare.

First and foremost, Febri's condition.

We need more lollipops.

That, or the recipe for them.

There's no room for failure.

Febri's life is on the line here.

That bridge...

It's my dream to go back home smiling, without having lost anything. (flashback)

So help me fulfill that. (flashback)

Looking back on it,

it was a pretty selfish and pushy demand.

So what if it's his dream?

Didn't he consider the possibility that it might go unfulfilled?

Believing it'll be fulfilled is the only way, huh?

Yeah.

What's wrong?

Trespassers at the first lab.

Trespassers?

Who?

I don't know.

The security system at Shift A entered alert mode.

The first lab is a bait with light security.

Doesn't surprise me that someone would bite.

Even if they find the first lab,

it's not like it matters anymore.

There's no sensitive data, right?

I moved all the data about Janie.

All that's left is the data on the poison neutralizer.

To make sure,

I'll go check.

To the first lab?

You'll be treated as an intruder as well.

I have no intentions of getting into danger.

Now that our plan has entered its final phase,

I just want to confirm that there won't be a single uncertain variable in our equation.

Very well.

There's no one, again.

Just like the last time.

Our intel is super-wrong.

We'll still get paid, right?

Wh-Why?

Why are they here?

Did they hear I was coming? An ambush?

No, it doesn't look that way.

Are they fighting the people who made Febri?

Infighting between underground organizations?

What's wrong, Takitsubo?

Mugino!

So pointless!

As long as we have Takitsubo's AIM Stalker,

we can detect any abilities she's seen before.

They can't ambush us, no matter how hard they try!

So it's an ability?

Someone's controlling those unmanned powered suits with psychokinesis?

But there's no one nearby.

Maybe they're remote-controlled?

But how would they...

It was in the powered suit. (flashback)

They appear to be made of the same proteins as Febri's body. (flashback)

Maybe that strand of hair acts like a receiver for the ability?

But still,

if one person were controlling all of those suits,

they'd have to be a Level -tier esper.

Which means whoever that hair's from—

Takitsubo!

Are you okay?

Yeah.

I just swam too much.

That was swimming?

Damn, I'm mad.

Let's get going.

Super-understood.

Let's go, Takitsubo.

Okay.

Crap!

Takitsubo? Is there someone left?

No, it's fine.

We're done with today's job.

Oh?

Dang, I broke a sweat.

Let's get back to the pool.

Yeah.

Maybe you shouldn't get in the water...

They sure made a mess.

There might be nothing left intact.

There are electronics powered on back there.

Don't move.

Try anything funny and I'll—

You?!

Why are you here?

So you were in on this.

What's going on?

Are you on their side?

You taught Febri my name, didn't you?!

Hey! Say some—

Take it.

It's the recipe for the neutralizer.

The neutralizer?

Those lollipops.

There should be some time left.

Why would you...

Sorry.

I owe you an apology.

Yes, I taught Febri your name.

I couldn't think of anyone else she could depend on.

I was naive.

But it must be fate that the lab was att*cked, and I met you here.

Now you can save Febri.

Give her the life—

Not a chance.

That data is just a dummy.

You can't save Febri with it.

Seems I was right to add some safety measures.

I suspected that you let Febri escape.

Not only have I found the traitor, I also got to meet a celebrity.

Just as you said, this must be fate.

This may be the first time we've met, Railgun,

but I've used plenty of your data for my experiments.

So you're Aritomi Haruki?

But to think you'd honor us with your presence just to save the life of our product, Febri...

Product? So you did make—

Whoa there.

You might want to hold back on the electricity.

Or perhaps you want to destroy the actual recipe?

Nunotaba.

Give her an injection.

It'll just paralyze her, not k*ll her.

If you're a good girl,

I won't mind giving this to you.

Not like we need it anymore.

I can't—

Do it.

It's for Febri.

Even a Level is powerless if they can't move.

I did as you asked.

Hand it over.

Oh. Right.

Not like it matters.

Febri was just a spare anyway.

A spare?

Yes.

A spare for our greatest invention,

Janie.

I knew you were involved in this!

But why?!

To tell the truth,it's quite a long story.

A long time ago in a—

Hang on, that's a really long story.