[Magic Forbidden Last Fantasy Access] Disorder

What came from the ear was the sound of disordered breathing.

Mixed with the sound of the desolate wind, it echoed vaguely in Index's ears.

"Hello?"

Index asked vaguely while chewing the food in her mouth. She was standing in front of the telephone, and the cheerful laughter of the last work came from behind her.

A few hours ago, Index obediently came to her home after being instigated by an amiable woman in sportswear with big breasts (Huang Quanchuan).Of course, another reason is that Kamijou was filling out the application form for Yoshikawa, and he couldn't go home to cook dinner for her before 21:[-].Driven by the fear of fasting, Index immediately abandoned the existence of the Kamijou family who had lived for a long time.

...But, I guess I'll go back after dinner, right?

Thinking so, Index put her ear on the receiver.

Caller ID is not displayed.A strange phone call in the middle of the night.

All that could be heard was the frightening sound of wind and breathing.

"That... Excuse me, who is it?"

Expressing the doubts in her heart again, Index held her breath and listened to the noise from the opposite side.

"...in...d..."

Finally, there was a whisper that seemed to have some kind of meaning.

Then, the voice suddenly became clear, and it was particularly abrupt in the sound of breathing and the sound of the wind.

That was Kamijou Touma's voice.

"Index! Never come back!"

Urgent, painful, howling as if crying.

The wind whirling around my ear was getting louder and louder, as if it would burst through the eardrum in the next second.

Index trembled all over, she held the microphone carefully, and stammered confirmation. "...Dang, Dangma?"

Perhaps because of the poor signal, Kamijou's voice seemed a little weak.

"Ah, it's me....Listen well, Index, don't take a step near the house, absolutely not."

An anxious and terribly determined voice.

It was Kamijou's voice that Index had never heard before.

"Even if you meet me somewhere on the street, don't say hello, try to pretend you don't know me, understand?"

As if a cold vine was gradually climbing up her heart, Index stood motionless, her lips trembled slightly, and finally let out a low voice.

"... What are you talking about, Dang, Dangma?"

I can't fully understand the words, and there is such an unfamiliar tone.These—all were not the hedgehog-haired boy that Index was familiar with.

"...Touma, where are you now?" Index clenched the receiver tightly, and finally came back to her senses and asked loudly. "Did something happen again...Quickly answer, Touma!"

After a long silence, Kamijou's deep and hoarse voice came over.As if crying, as if crying, he said desperately and bitterly.

"I... can't go back."

"I don't know what will happen in the future, but at least I hope you are safe and sound, Index."

These decisive words seemed to cut off all obsessions and ties.

Index suddenly tightened her grip on the hem of her clothes, then she took a deep breath and shouted to Kamijou at the highest volume.

"——What are you worrying about for yourself!"

Hearing subconscious gasps coming from the opposite side, Index continued talking.

"The person who said such words is not the Touma I know! Touma, he is a big idiot who will move forward no matter what difficulties and setbacks he encounters, and will not stop even if he gets bruised all over his body!"

"No... Index, I..."

"Are you going to hide everything from me anyway? Touma has been like this since before... But it doesn't matter anymore."

Index said in a crying voice.

"...As long as Touma can come back, nothing will matter."

What she didn't know was that Kamijou Touma had already left here, and embarked on a road of no return that deviated from "everyday".The nagging but gentle hedgehog-headed boy who once spent a warm and peaceful life with her has never returned.

But even so, she still believed in him simply and firmly, and placed her most sincere trust in him.

"Come back, Touma."

The girl's painful pleas echoed in her ears, shaking Kamijou Touma's heart all the time.He let out the stagnant breath in his chest and bit his lower lip tremblingly.

Kamijou slumped against the back of the chair, his head feebly thrown upwards.In the empty tram, the pale and harsh light sprinkled on his face like pity.

Then, as if to block everything, he sternly turned off the power of the portable terminal.Seemingly tired and frustrated, he slowly raised his arms to cover his eyes.

That feeble pallor was immediately annihilated in the endless thick darkness in the horizon, and the world instantly returned to dead silence.

"...I want to go back too, Index."

For a long time, he made a choked sound.

The empty tram continued to drive forward without knowing it, forward, as if there was no end, and continued to drive forward into the dark night fog.

Even this faint cry for help quickly disappeared.

------

Arakawa three districts.

This is an area that is completely unimaginable to be part of Academy City.Huge gray chimneys and square buildings obscured most of the sightlines, and jumbled traffic pipes traversed all around.Unlike the fully automated facilities in most of the industrial areas in Academy City, most of the equipment here is relatively backward, so they are also placed here away from the city center.

Although it is an industrial area, it still retains the style of the previous era due to the failure of redevelopment.

"...There is such a beautiful set of rhetoric to the outside world, but in fact it is 'the slums of Academy City'."

Kamijou murmured, and opened the shabby curtains to look at the landscape of this area.

Despite the purifiers, the entire area seemed to be shrouded in a gloomy gray.It is an area that cannot be imagined without actually seeing it, and is almost completely different from the advanced impression of Academy City-the abandoned Arakawa three districts.

It is also the hiding place of Kamijou Touma and Accelerator.

Kamijou lowered the broken curtain, and the room returned to darkness.They are located in an abandoned building that was originally used as a research institute for developing zero-gravity facilities. All the equipment has been evacuated, leaving only a thick dust and empty loneliness.

Beside him, Accelerator was curled up, leaning against the corner of the wall with the curtains rolled up. If you look carefully, you can find that the former strongest in Academy City is shivering, so weak that it seems that it will be shattered in the air in a second. Average.

"One way……"

Kamijou lowered his brows, and took a step towards the first place guiltily and apologetically.

But just this one step caused Accelerator's red eyes to shrink instantly, and the first one let out a short inhalation sound, and clung to the corner tightly in fear.The slender fingers were tearing at the curtain desperately, swinging wildly as if trying to hide themselves entirely.

On the first person's shoulder, the clumsy bandages had already been scattered, but the dark red blood was still shocking.Following Accelerator's large movements, the wound seemed to begin to ooze bright red liquid again.

In order to escape from the encirclement of Kamikawa and his party, Kamijou had no choice but to threaten Accelerator's life, and stabbed the first one pre-emptively.Although he did escape the enemy's sight temporarily, he also paid a heavy price for it——

——That is, the breakdown of his relationship with Accelerator.

Due to his broken personality, Accelerator was basically acting on instinct.Faced with Kamijou Touma who "has threatened his life", the first one naturally showed fear and alienation.Not to mention the basic contact, as long as Kamijou gets a little closer, he will repel him and make a defensive movement vigilantly.

As if all the trust accumulated so far had collapsed, Accelerator's only remaining feeling for Kamijou Touma was cold hostility.

Kamijou cautiously moved forward a few steps, and as expected, the first person immediately wrapped his whole body in the curtain, and let out a low and muffled growl from his throat, as if warning Kamijou, those hollow red eyes For the first time, nervousness and fear appeared in the eyes.

Kamijou's hand slowly extended towards Accelerator's shoulder.

Because the bandage was loosened, the wound was exposed to the air, making Kamijou feel even more guilty.In this harsh weather and lack of supplies, infection may occur if the wound is not paid attention to and treated.Especially now that Accelerator, who is incapacitated and physically weak, is very likely to die in this kind of place if he is not careful.

However, Kamijou's kindness was mercilessly rejected.

Accelerator slapped his hand away fiercely, his icy eyes pierced straight up through his messy white hair, the chest of the first person kept heaving violently, and his slender body trembled unconsciously.

Sure enough, can't you?

Kamijou pursed his lips in distress, but the next second his eyes became firmer, and the movements of his hands became more forceful.

Although I am a little sorry for Accelerator, at least the wound must be treated in a timely manner——

Kamijou grabbed the hands of the first person, and quickly tied them with the curtains, regardless of his frantic struggles and slightly crying cries.Then he firmly fixed Accelerator's shoulder, and finally took off the bloody bandage.

"Feel sorry."

Speaking words that should not have been accepted, Kamijou took out a new bandage from his backpack, and carefully and gently wrapped it around Accelerator's wound.

Even if he moved extremely slowly, he still couldn't relieve the first person's repulsion towards him.Accelerator desperately swung his hands to break free, and his movements became more and more intense. Those seemingly slender fingers brushed against Kamijou's arm, and unexpectedly scratched a few bloodstains.

Kamijou shrank back slightly in pain, but the movement of his hands still didn't stop. After wrapping the bandage up with a frown, he finally heaved a sigh of relief, and then let Accelerator go.

The moment the restraint was undone, Accelerator immediately pulled away from Kamijou in embarrassment, his slightly sullen appearance seemed to silently warn him: don't come over.

The expected reaction.

"...Sorry, it's all my fault."

While maintaining his squatting posture, Kamijou whispered.

He will not deny the mistakes he made, because it has become an established fact.But now he sincerely wants to restore the old relationship, and Kamijou is working hard for this.

"...It's all, my fault."

A frighteningly cold wind swirled outside the window, and the same biting chill spread between the two of them.

Both Accelerator's personality and the relationship between them have all collapsed.This is a cruel reality that cannot be undone no matter how hard you try.

He clearly knew that he was just deceiving himself and others, but why did he still have a glimmer of hope in his heart?

Why do you have to do these unnecessary struggles when you know you can't go back?

An ethereal voice lingered in Kamijou's ears, like the whispers of a devil constantly shaking his already perplexed heart.

Gray dead sky.Gray icy wind.Gray broken world.

In this gray nightmare, they have all fallen.

------

On the 24th, the third district of Arakawa.

"Hey, young man, do you come from outside?"

Kamijou Touma, who was leaning on the guardrail of the street while sipping a drink and gazing at the cityscape, was suddenly accosted.

Standing in front of him was an uncle in gray overalls, with two funny thick lips but sly eyes.Judging from his appearance, he should be a resident who has lived here for a long time, and his temperament is inexplicably in line with this monotonous and slightly desolate area.

But Kamijou still maintained the vigilance he should have as a stranger after all, he glanced at the middle-aged man suspiciously, then shook his head with a perfunctory smile. "No, I've been here a few times before..."

"You don't need to hide it. The green atmosphere around you is really incompatible with this place. It looks like a first-time tourist."

The uncle exposed Kamijou's lie very neatly, seeing his increasingly stiff expression, he suddenly showed a bright smile.

"However, don't be nervous. My name is Nigu, oops... I can't help but want to help when I see you in distress. If you don't mind, let me be your temporary tour guide?"

He held out his hand to Kamijou.

Seeing Nitani's hearty smile, Kamijou was slightly taken aback, and after a moment of hesitation, he also extended his hand to shake Nitani.

It is also necessary for me to familiarize myself with the situation in the third district of Arakawa, and this man named Nigu with a sincere smile does not look like a bad person.

"My name is Kamijou. Uh...please give me your advice."

……

While pointing to the main buildings in the three districts of Arakawa, Uitani explained to Kamijou carefully.

Under his explanation, Kamijou was finally able to distinguish the subtle differences between these gray square buildings.

"There are not as many research institutes in this area as in other industrial areas, because the research facilities of the previous era are still preserved here, so advanced enterprises are reluctant to invest here. The three districts of Arakawa can also be said to be 'the ruins of Academy City' Bar."

Uitani glanced at the thoughtful Kamijou and asked. "What's the matter, it looks like you still have a lot of questions, young man?"

"Ah, yes. I was thinking about it before... The landscape here is really different from other school districts. The sky looks very gray, and even the purification device doesn't work... And there are no security robots on the road..."

Kamijou looked at the empty road, without the facial recognition device of the guard robot, this is the reason why he dared to walk on the street without fear of being exposed.

Ni Gu smiled sadly. "Young man, you have only seen Academy City with a bright surface, right? Surrounded by high-tech products, you will only enjoy and indulge in it all day long. This is the illusion created by Academy City. This is the bottom layer of Academy City. .”

He raised his head sadly and looked at the cloudy gray sky that seemed to be impossible to clean, and sighed.

"In order to be advanced, you need a foil for backwardness. Just like in order to emphasize the intensity of pain, you must have a foreshadowing of joy, and in order to set off the light, you must have a strong darkness to render it. Academy City has a population of 230 million, but those who have the ability Humans—accounting for only 120 million people, the third district of Arakawa is one of the residences of the remaining 110 million disabled people.”

As if something in his heart was suddenly tightened, Kamijou stopped and stared blankly at Nitani.

Nitani opened his arms vigorously, as if to show Kamijou all this gray world, and said to him with a sad smile.

"Look, boy. This is the world of the powerless—!"

"Even if you want to live hard, you are still regarded as an ant-like existence. Even if you try to shine with all your strength, the faint light will soon be extinguished. The people here are already desperate. Lost in their hearts color, so this Arakawa three district is such a disgusting gray!"

Kamijou trembled his lips a few times, and after a long while, he finally squeezed out a few words dryly. "No, that's not the case..."

But when he saw Ni Gu's dark eyes, he couldn't say a word for a while.

The gloomyness of the human heart, which even the purification device cannot wash away, does exist here.Kamijou has fully understood from Nitani's words, and this cold fact is eroding his determination all the time.

He once swore to Accelerator that he would save the 230 million population of Academy City, but is this really possible?

Even if the enemy's intentions are prevented, at best they can only save those 120 million ability users, and the remaining 110 million people—their situation will still not change.

The hell they are in will still not change.

Perhaps many of them hated Academy City from the bottom of their hearts, and even wanted to break away from the shackles of this birdcage, even though the price they paid might be death.

"Young man... do you have something you want to protect?"

Facing Nitani's sudden question, Kamijou answered immediately after thinking for a moment. "some."

What he wanted to protect was Academy City, the residence he had lived in for a long time, and those important companions who had spent happy times with him.Kamijou is also fighting for these cherished things at this time, and he also has clear and firm goals.

However, what Nitani said next immediately shook Kamijou's heart.

"So, have you ever thought about...the thing you want to protect—it has completely deteriorated?"

At that moment, there seemed to be a fragile voice from my heart.

Something that has gone bad... something you want to protect?

The figure of the white-haired and red-eyed esper could not help appearing in Kamijou's mind.

It is an existence that has been lost and can no longer be retrieved.

His original intention was - "to protect one party Accelerator".

But is the current self really protecting him?

Can Fang Accelerator who has lost his personality still be regarded as "One Accelerator"?

That being the case, what I did...does it still make sense?

Kamijou bit his lower lip tightly, clenched his fists in contradiction and pain.

At that moment, he felt that he was so small and powerless in this gray world.

Alone, no reinforcements, no way out.

Not even—hopeless.

------

In the ruin-like space, Kamijou Touma and Accelerator sat silently by the wall.

Although the distance between them is only a few meters, it is a desperate and unreachable distance.

From the shattered ceiling, one could see a corner of the desolate, dry sky that could not tell whether it was day or dusk, so Kamijou just stared at the sky above in a daze.

Accelerator buried his face between his arms and curled up tightly, his thin body seemed to melt in the dead silence.

Without any communication, there seemed to be an invisible barrier between the two.

Just a few minutes ago, Kamijou took out the pre-prepared portable food from his backpack, intending to replenish energy and prepare for future actions.

But here comes a problem -

Accelerator refused to get close to Kamijou at all, let alone having a meal with him happily.But Kamijou couldn't leave the first one alone, if he didn't eat anymore, Accelerator would only become weaker and weaker, and his resistance would also decrease.

dilemma.

Kamijou hesitated for a while staring at the mineral water bottle in his hand, and finally clenched his teeth.

——Sure enough, I can’t let go.

……

After semi-compulsively feeding Accelerator the food, Kamijou finally breathed a sigh of relief, but before he could relax for a long time, he became nervous again.

Accelerator covered his mouth, bowed his body in pain, and after a few convulsions—he spit out all the food.The first one kept coughing, and Kamijou could see the uncomfortable look in his eyes.

It didn't look like he was acting against Kamijou, but more like he was suffering from some kind of disease.

Could it be... a symptom of inflammation?

Kamijou immediately supported Accelerator's body that seemed to be shaking due to dizziness. Although he encountered fierce resistance immediately, Kamijou managed to get the first person to lie down.

Putting his hand on Accelerator's forehead, he felt an abnormal heat.

Perhaps it was because the injury made his body weaker, coupled with the exhaustion of running around, the first person developed a fever at this time, which was the most troublesome for Kamijou.

...Damn it, I don't have medicine at hand...

Kamijou poured out all the items in the backpack, and after searching eagerly, he still couldn't get the desired result.

Seeing Accelerator who squinted his eyes and was breathing rapidly, Kamijou's heart seemed to be instantly clenched, and there was pain in his clenched fist.He glanced at the slightly dim sky outside the window, then took out a few banknotes from his wallet, stuffed them in his pocket randomly, and then stood up.

Accelerator's turbid, empty red eyes slightly turned towards him, but soon fell down weakly.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

Kamijou whispered to the first person with his eyes slightly closed. He habitually reached out to stroke Accelerator's head, but he stopped in mid-air as if he was worried about something, and he withdrew his hand hesitantly for a long time. .

Withdrawing his hand, he never touched Accelerator again.

It turns out that the bottom of my heart has acquiesced in the existence of this barrier?

Although I was very unwilling, although I was almost mad because of this annoyance, but I still couldn't overcome the barrier between the two of them.

How lonely it is, and how painful it is.

Kamijou took a few steps back silently, as if he wanted to imprint the figure of the white-haired and red-eyed psychic in front of his retina, silently staring at Accelerator.

Crouching in the shadows, the first to fall asleep from discomfort.

The first one who is just an empty shell, without thought and self-awareness.

Clearly aware of this cruel reality, but I still seem to be looking forward to something in my heart, and there is still a trace of unceasing obsession.

Kamijou closed the door gently, and stood in the dark corridor with his head bowed.After a long time, he began to move his legs unconsciously, as if he wanted to escape from this muddy world.

Finally, he ran like crazy.

The rough cold wind brushed against his cheeks, and the cold air rushed into his lungs, Kamijou's legs gradually became numb and dull, and his consciousness gradually lost in this gray world.

——When will I wake up from such a nightmare?

------

A group of gray square buildings that seemed to melt into one piece as far as the eye could see.

Huge, black chimneys tearing the sky apart.

The crowd seemed to be walking dead, wandering aimlessly.

On this intricate street, Kamijou stood there at a loss, looked around, and finally made up his mind to meet a passerby.

"Well, sorry, I want to ask the way..."

Not long after arriving in the third district of Arakawa, Kamijou was naturally familiar with the streets here, and the monotonous and unrecognizable landscape made it even more difficult to find the way.

Kamijou only knew roughly the location of the abandoned building where he and Accelerator were located and some of the surrounding paths, but the task of buying medicine right now really stumped him.In desperation, he could only ask for help from others.

However, as if he didn't see Kamijou, that person walked straight over.

Didn't you hear your own voice?

Kamijou was slightly taken aback, but he quickly came to his senses and chased after the man unrelentingly. "Wait a minute, I just want to ask for directions...!"

The hand that was stretched out to pat the man's shoulder was suddenly knocked away forcefully.

A cold, sharp and vigilant look was revealed on his face. After staring fiercely at Kamijou for a few seconds, he turned around coldly and left, leaving Kamijou dazed in place.

"...What the hell is going on...?" Kamijou muttered puzzled, he took one last look at the man, then turned to ask others for help. "Excuse me, I want to ask the way..."

Then, he received the same response.

Turn a blind eye, dismissive.When Kamijou called out to them, he showed a cold and ferocious expression again.

As if to completely obliterate the existence of Kamijou Touma, he hurried past him.Even—as if trying to isolate him, the flow of people clearly vacated a large space around him.

"…is that a lie?"

Kamijou maintained the posture of extending his hand, and stood there numbly.

As if I didn't exist here in the first place, and was cruelly ignored.

"Why me…"

The words choked in his throat, Kamijou took a few steps forward, but stopped in a daze.

A strong sense of loneliness hit him, and Kamijou couldn't help but shudder.

Gray areas, gray skies, gray streets, gray people.

Sticky, this unclean, overwhelming gray in which he was alone.

It's just -- hilarious.

……

Just when Kamijou was at a loss, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.

"Yo, what are you worrying about again, boy?"

The familiar tone woke Kamijou up, he looked back, and there was an old man with thick lips and sly eyes standing behind him.

It was Nitani, one of the few residents that Kamijou knew in the three districts of Arakawa.

Seeing that finally someone was willing to talk to him, Kamijou suddenly felt relieved.He showed a saved smile and said helplessly.

"...No, it's just that I was rejected when I asked for directions... It seems that the people here don't welcome me."

Ni Gu turned his head to look at the hurrying people around, and said carelessly. "Ah... you have to forgive me for this. After all, the guys here have a very heavy workload. Everyone doesn't want to delay the time, so that's why they have such a cold attitude."

"...Is that so..." Kamijou responded with a wry smile.

Uitani raised his head slightly to look at the sky, and then patted Kamijou on the back. "Where are you going? I'll take you there, because it seems to be raining soon."

Kamijou also followed his gaze to the sky, but the gray sky seemed to be the same as usual, and there was no change in the weather at all.So Kamijou looked at Nitani again, scratched his head and said embarrassingly.

"Can you show me the way to the convenience store? Please."

……

Sure enough, it began to rain cats and dogs.

Kamijou was looking at the hazy and gloomy streetscape shrouded in rain through the glass window, and let out a depressed sigh from his chest.

How can I go back without an umbrella?

Nitani said goodbye to him hastily in front of the convenience store, saying that there was something urgent that needed to be done, but the conversation before he left still echoed in Kamijou's mind.

【"Well, Mr. Nitani, you asked me this morning if I have something I want to protect? So what about you, Mr. Nitani?"】

Nitani's question at that time still haunts Kamijou from time to time, and he has indeed shaken everything he has done so far.He wants to protect Accelerator, but in fact the real Accelerator has died of personality, and Kamijou's protection can be said to be futile.

From now on, what should he do?

This is what Kamijou is currently confused about.

Ni Gu showed some embarrassment, he stroked his chin and said slowly.

【"The thing I want to protect... To be honest, it is gone now."】

【"……Eh?"】

Ni Gu's face suddenly became solemn and serious, and he was completely different from the idler before.

【"In the past, I used to work very hard for my family and earn living expenses to support them. At that time, I thought, maybe it might be good to live a life like this."】

【"Then what made this change of heart...?"】

Seeing Kamijou's somewhat pale face, Nitani smiled and patted his head with a big hand.

But that smile was something Kamijou had never seen before, a weak and tired smile.

【"At first, I worked hard to make money to protect my family, but I don't know when it became numb. In the end, it turned into just making money non-stop, and the need for money is getting bigger and bigger."】

People with stiff and indifferent expressions kept walking past them, and the rapid and unstoppable pace seemed to go on forever, moving forward, forward, forward.

【"... Then, I started to be confused. Why did I work so hard, what did I want to protect and cherish, and what did I live for."]

Under the dark sky, these words pierced into Kamijou's heart slowly like icicles, he only felt a pain in his chest, and a chill and tingling sensation swirled around his heart.

Nigu tapped his forehead lightly.

【"I'm sorry, sorry, I said these heavy words to you... But you boy, absolutely don't trust anyone here. Including me standing in front of you."】

Finally, he said in a sad, apologetic voice.

Kamijou stared blankly at him, at his fading figure, that gray figure that blended into the street.

In the end, without saying goodbye and without warning, Nigu disappeared from his eyes.

……

After picking up the medicine from the shelf, Kamijou stood there without moving.

He lowered his head and stared at his toes, as if he was in deep thought, without any movement for a long time.

Why... am I so at a loss?Haven't all the difficulties so far been overcome smoothly?But why is the only feeling he has left now, so sleepy and depressed?

He took the medicine to the cash register, still thinking about it for a moment.

Even if this is the trial, the answer is yet to be found.

It wasn't until the clerk's cold reminder brought him back to reality that Kamijou realized that he reached into his pocket to take out the coins.

at this time.

He remembered.

【"Absolutely don't trust anyone here. Including me standing in front of you."】A few minutes ago, Ni Gu had just said this to him.

Why would a stranger greet him for no reason and show him the way with kindness?Maybe this is not a strange thing to the former Kamijou, but the area where the current Kamijou is located is the third district of Arakawa.

The third district of Arakawa, where people are indifferent and gloomy.

The pockets were empty, and the coins that had been well placed a few minutes ago had disappeared without a trace.And the culprit--I'm afraid it's Nigu.

No.This may not be his real name.Even that hearty smile is probably not the product of his sincerity.

Lure foreign tourists, cheat the property and escape.This is the true face of mud valley.

And he should have quietly taken all the money in Kamijou's pocket while pretending to have an intimate conversation with Kamijou.

"hateful--!"

Shouting in such a self-defeating manner, Kamijou rushed out of the convenience store in a frenzy.

However, in front of his eyes, there was only the monotonously spreading gray city, and the damp and cold air blowing towards him.

Then a feeling of irritability rushed into Kamijou's heart instantly, his whole body seemed to be bitten by several insects and ants, he felt irritated and unbearable.It wasn't the fact that the money had been stolen that made him angry, but the fact that Nitani's smile on him was completely false.

Obviously... I trust him so much.Migu, who spoke such cheerful words, was willing to sink into the gloom of people's hearts.

"Why... give up everything."

Kamijou said in a low voice, distressed.

------

Without an umbrella, I ran into the rain like this.

The cold rain bombarded the top of his head in an instant, making Kamijou feel as if his whole body was compressed instantly, unable to breathe.

Because all the coins were stolen by Nitani, Kamijou could only go back and get the rest of the money to pay the bill. Thinking of the scene where Accelerator was still waiting there alone, he couldn't help but quicken his pace.

Even if they ran recklessly and frantically, they would not cause others to look sideways, because the people in the three districts of Arakawa—would not care about the lives of others, nor would they engage in contact beyond necessary interests.

On this indifferent street, Kamijou ran vigorously as if he wanted to abandon everything.

Like a silent cry in the rain, he ran painfully.

In front of him was the thick, deep night.

But that no longer matters.

Kamijou is now focused on escaping from here, from this gray, maddening world.

……

Because of the continuous running, there was a sharp pain in both legs that seemed to be breaking off, and the lungs also cramped with the frequency of breathing.The rain on the body soaked the coat, and it brought an uncomfortable wet feeling to the skin when it was attached to the body.

Under the dim lighting of the street lights, Kamijou walked with difficulty step by step.

The heavy rain showed no signs of abating, and there was a slight pain when it hit the body.

When will this desperate cold that lingers all over my body dissipate?

Then, when will I be able to find the way forward.

Kamijou staggered as he walked, his trembling legs seemed unable to bear the weight of his body.He slumped and slowly moved forward against the wall.

Then, suddenly and unexpectedly.

In the hazy field of vision that was washed away by the torrential rain, a smear of cloudy white appeared.

【"...you guy, you really look like a mess."】

The chuckling, slightly mocking voice was not covered by the sound of the rainstorm, and it clearly reached Kamijou's ears.

Not far from the corner of the street, in the thick darkness.

A dazzling white figure stood there.

That posture, that voice, and that tone are all the strongest in Academy City known to Kamijou - "Accelerator".

An existence that is impossible here.

Kamijou stood up slowly while leaning on the wall, and took a few steps forward in a staggering manner.

The white-haired and red-eyed psychic watched him quietly, as if welcoming him, as if embracing him, he opened his arms and laughed quietly.

In the rain and fog, the two of them looked at each other.

……

Kamijou approached Accelerator step by step.

Then, as if he didn't see it all, he staggered past the whiteness.

Turn a blind eye.dismissive.

With the most ruthless attitude, he passed by the first person.

While walking on the dark street, with warm liquid mixed with tears or rain on his face, Kamijou opened his mouth to let out a low sob, and covered his eyes tightly.

Different from the effect of "reflection", the rainwater passes through the body of "Accelerator" and washes violently on the ground.

In other words, this "accelerator" is nothing more than a phantom and delusion produced in Kamijou Touma's mind.Because I was too much looking forward to the return of the first place in my heart, I had hallucinations.

The first person in front of him is just a illusory illusion existing in Kamijou's mind.From the perspective of others, there was no one walking on the street at this time except Kamijou.

【"You're still so naive as usual. To be honest, I really don't know what you are expecting."】

In a familiar tone, the phantom named "Accelerator" said to himself.

"No... I have... nothing to look forward to."

Kamijou lowered his head as if asking and answering himself.

"Fang Accelerator is dead. It is impossible for someone to appear here, so you are nothing more than an undead at best."

【"Then why are you talking to me, an undead?"】"Accelerator" spread his hands contemptuously, mocking Kamijou viciously, 【"To be honest, it's not because you are so lonely that you fell down Is it to the point where you want to entertain yourself with the delusions in your head?"]

Kamijou didn't answer, he bit his lower lip tightly, his chest heaving violently.

【"...Okay, hurry up and put away your self-pitying appearance, it makes people feel unhappy."】

"One-way Accelerator" turned his face away and said displeasedly.

even