One-way traffic

The girl immediately clutched her head and cried like a child.

"What are you doing, you bastard?! I'll kill you—"

"Oh dear, don't say such dangerous things."

At this moment, Hatsune Miku directly took Kuroyori's arm and pulled her into her embrace.

Huh—that's strange, why can't I use my abilities at all while in this woman's arms?!

"On such a rare day, everyone should be happy, and Sister Night should be too."

"you…"

"Hmm... I'll give you a gift. You never seem to have any girlish charm in that outfit."

"Hey! Don't drag me anywhere else without my permission. I don't want to go to places where only normal people go—you woman!!"

And so, Hatsune Miku very kindly pulled the Black Seagull towards the clothing store.

I doubt these two girls will come out of there in less than half an hour.

Accelerator didn't care about these things.

He then looked behind him and walked slowly away.

————————————————————————————————————

At this moment.

On the rooftop, a brown-haired young man dressed in Christmas attire was surveying the entire city.

His mind then began to recall all sorts of things.

“I said, Kakine.”

Including something a certain girl once said.

"Will Kakine dress up as Santa Claus for Christmas?"

—These are the words that a girl named Ringo once said to herself.

Chapter 752 Time Without Regret

"How could that be, you brat?"

I still remember the words I wanted to say back then.

Facing the girl in front of him, the second-ranked Level 5 esper simply put on an indifferent expression.

"Judging from appearance alone, it's impossible, isn't it? Do you think a jerk like me could possibly play that kind of role?"

"But…"

"Anyway, it would be more appropriate for me to play a role like a killing machine, but Santa Claus handing out gifts to children everywhere? There should be a limit to jokes, that would be too stupid."

"…But."

Even if Kakine Teitoku said all sorts of things, the girl would only respond with this one sentence in the end.

"But I want to see it."

"..."

“I want to see Kakine dressed in Christmas clothes no matter what.”

The girl once spoke to herself with a genuine smile and high hopes.

"If that time ever comes, that would be wonderful."

Now, Kakine Teitoku has changed into a Christmas outfit.

Although it does look silly, upon closer inspection, it actually matches his personality quite well.

He was standing alone on the rooftop.

But there was no one left who could stand by his side.

The second ability user looked down at the vast city below, a city called Academy City that looked so bright and dazzling.

The darkness contained within is also of unfathomable depth.

Now, I have escaped from this so-called darkness.

But at any time, they can never break free from this so-called darkness.

"Yo."

Just as he was pondering all of this alone, a voice came from behind him.

Kakine Teitoku turned around to look.

The person who walked onto the rooftop was someone I knew.

White hair and red eyes, the number one esper in Academy City.

"You don't seem like the type to complain to yourself."

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, Kakine Teitoku ignored him.

Accelerator then walked to his side and together they looked down at the city before them.

above the sky.

Snowflakes drifted away.

"It's snowing."

"Whatever, the weather doesn't matter to you or me."

Whether it's raining or snowing, it no longer has a significant impact on the two people who exist in a realm beyond mere humans.

While watching the snow fall, Accelerator handed over what he was holding.

It's a hot canned coffee.

"Now you're thinking of befriending me?"

"Judging from my tone, do you think our relationship is at the level of close friends?"

"Hmph." The second person sneered and then took the drink from his hand.

Pulling the tab, the liquid I drank had a very deep bitter taste.

"...This city has really bad taste."

"What, you're not going to make that brat-like face, like you'd spit out a cup of black coffee because it's so bitter, are you?"

"That's not what I meant."

Kakine Teitoku let out a deep breath.

"Whether it's coffee or anything else, the taste in this city is just incredibly unpleasant."

Accelerator knew exactly what Kakine Teitoku was talking about.

He didn't say much, he just stood next to him, and the two of them drank the bitter liquid from the jar from time to time.

"You know what, kid?"

After what seemed like an eternity, Kakine Teitoku finally spoke again.

He looked up at the sky, his golden eyes slightly narrowed.

“I once thought that as long as I killed you and gained the right to negotiate with Aleister, everything would change.”

The tone of his voice when he said these words sounded exceptionally weak.

"With power, I can change all sorts of things. Once I gain the right to negotiate with the highest-ranking people, everything will fall under my control."

"...I thought it would be such a simple process and result."

Click.

Before he knew it, he had crushed the empty coffee can in his hand with his five fingers.

"I have now come into contact with what can be said to be the world's top level of power. Although I am not the strongest, and certainly not invincible, I can still exert a level of power that is enough to shake and change the world."

It possesses immense power capable of shaking the entire world.

If Kakine Teitoku had said this, there would be absolutely no problem with it.

however.

"Even if I could shake the entire universe and crush the weight of galaxies onto one person."

Even a unique Level 5 Holistic Ability User capable of doing such a thing.

There are still things that are impossible to accomplish.

"I can't change or bring back all the lives that have been lost and all the things that have happened."

Even if one has become a holistic ability user, even if one has reached the pinnacle of this world.

He still can't do even such a small thing.

Because this is fundamentally not something that can be resolved simply by having great power or significant negotiating leverage.

"You said."

At this point, Accelerator could clearly sense it.

The second person, who was fearless, seemed to have a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"What have we been fighting for all this time?"

What I wanted to protect was once lost, and I myself have suffered near-destructive trauma.

Even if we now possess terrifying power capable of changing the entire world, does such a battle truly still hold any meaning?

This has always been the answer in Kakine Teitoku's heart.

Accelerator was unable to provide a verbal response to this.

There was only one thing he could do.

It's the simplest thing.

Accelerator finished all his coffee and slowly walked to the very edge of the rooftop.

Look directly down.

Look down, the answer is right there.

The second person did the exact same thing as him, and then—

"Wow, Night Sister, this outfit is so pretty!"

"Stop, stop!! That's why I told you not to suddenly change me into these weird clothes!"

"Huh? But I think it's really cute, isn't it?"

"Cute... I don't want that! I don't want that weird compliment!!"

Hatsune Miku and Kuroya Umi-no-Kaze were having a great time together.

Then turn your gaze to the other end of the street.

"Saten-san!! I told you not to do such strange things all of a sudden!"

"Hmm... from that angle, only I should have been able to see it, right?"

"Even so, this is still not acceptable! And it's not just a matter of whether it's visible or not; you can't do this in front of so many people—oh my god, you dare to do that!!!"

Wearing a flower wreath, Haru Shiori is currently enjoying the same joyful and wonderful time with her close friend, Saten Ruiko, as they stroll down the street.

"Big Sister... Ahhh, it's the Christmas version of Big Sister!!!"

"...Spare me, I just feel like all these people are more and more abnormal than the last!"

Walking together in the distance are Misaka Mikoto, Shirai Kuroko, Saten Ruiko, and Uiharu Kazari, all dressed in Christmas outfits.

"Wow~! What a wonderful view and atmosphere!" Misaka Misaka couldn't help but utter these warm words to the street in front of her!

"That's absolutely right. The Christmas atmosphere combined with the sudden snowfall... well, it's a perfect combination."

"Even so, you can just let that child run around like that? How interesting. I can't help but feel sorry for you two who are babysitters, that you go unpunished."

"To be precise, he's a guardian... and when did you become someone who cares about that child's safety?"