One-way traffic

Choose one of your two most beloved people as a living sacrifice.

Only in this way can everything return to normal.

…so.

The strongest Level 5 Level 5 esper in Academy City made his own unique choice directly and decisively.

If, by any means necessary, one person's life must be sacrificed to change all of this.

"Then let's do it that way."

The bleeding was unstoppable, gushing continuously from his chest cavity.

That attack was delivered without the slightest hesitation; Accelerator's right arm pierced through his body completely, with even his five fingers protruding from behind him.

The heart was completely ruptured.

The world before my eyes instantly turned into a blurry scene of blood. My mouth was blocked by blood bubbles constantly gushing from my throat, making it impossible for me to breathe, speak, or do anything else.

But the person in first place still had that expression on their face.

That kind of oppressive expression he often wore.

The owner of that eye wanted his own despair.

But he never faced despair.

"If just one person gives their life here, the world can be restored... Ha, is that right? You bastard."

His words, which were originally so powerful, sounded so weak coming from his mouth.

pat-

Accelerator didn't even have the strength to stand up straight.

My mouth was filled with a sweet smell, but it wasn't the kind of sweetness you get from food. It was an unnatural sweetness from the blood gushing out.

Why do this?

Such a question seemed to arise in my own mind.

"Have you figured this out for me now?"

Blood kept gushing from Accelerator's mouth and chest, flowing endlessly into the void, until even his vision was robbed of light.

But he still growled in a low voice.

"I don't use my power for some exaggerated idea like protecting the whole world."

The reason why Accelerator did all this is actually very simple.

"Those two people... are so important to me that I can't lose them no matter what. I swore that even if it cost me my life, I would protect them..."

It has nothing to do with any grand, boring ideas like wanting to protect the world.

The number one in Academy City, from the very beginning, has been motivated by the desire to protect the most important people in her life, which is why she fights.

Even so, isn't such behavior a form of self-escape?

"What…"

A new round of questions arose in his mind, and then...

A series of images flashed through my mind.

—Bang! !

That was a scene of him constantly killing the Misaka Sisters as he worked towards the goal of becoming an Absolute Level 5 user.

Everything you're doing right now is just escaping from your own life.

Suicide in a place like this would be a relief from all the sins you've carried. How easy it is to escape the sea of ​​suffering caused by the blood debt of more than 10,000 people in such a way. This is the perfect reward for you, isn't it?

No need to pay any price, no need to bear any sins, and no need to atone for any ridiculous sins.

In this way, by letting oneself die, one can completely escape all sins.

"what."

But after hearing these words that were intended to drive him to a mental breakdown.

The first monster, on the contrary, revealed a mocking smile.

"You underestimate me far too much."

...?

"This was not an action taken to create tragedy or to escape from oneself."

In the darkness, Accelerator's faint voice suddenly became crystal clear.

"...This is just something we did to help them get back to their normal routines. It's nothing out of the ordinary."

If someone doesn't lose their life here, the girls' daily life won't return. Similarly, if one of these two girls disappears here, the daily life of this world can no longer be called daily life.

and so.

"What I did was not to create tragedy or to escape from myself."

The first and most resolute voice in Academy City resounded throughout the entire world.

"It's to completely shatter the bullshit tragedies you've created and to make you understand one thing."

"The direction in which everything in this world develops isn't controlled by guys like you... Remember that, you bastard!"

boom--

A deep, resonant sound exploded forth.

Then, the two beams of light that had appeared in front of Accelerator began to slowly dissipate.

He could feel it.

Everything in this world is being reconstructed.

Sure enough, that eye wasn't talking to me at all.

Accelerator lay there with a bitter smile. To this day, the conversations that had surfaced in his mind were nothing more than simulations he had created, conversations that reflected the other person's mindset.

The real eye wouldn't care about any of this.

Once it realized that a life had indeed been sacrificed here, it began to restore the world to its original state.

It wasn't some huge villain with evil thoughts; it was simply something like AI, acting purely on commands and instructions.

After all, it was just an eye.

Perhaps the owner of that eye possessed thought, but it was at a higher level than his level of consciousness could comprehend.

But whatever it may be, at least one thing is certain.

It will not go back on its word.

After the world truly received the life of Accelerator, it truly began to be reshaped.

for exchange.

Everything I own will disappear.

Consciousness is infinitely close to the abyss of darkness.

Everything that was in front of me disappeared.

...I see.

What I am recalling now is a scene that has been repeated countless times so far.

Arriving in this academy city.

It was developed into the strongest Level 5 superpower in Academy City.

Then, in pursuit of invincibility, he embarked on a killing spree that claimed over ten thousand lives.

But then he was stopped by that hero.

…On the night of August 31st, he encountered a girl named Last Order.

Later, during the time they entered the Dark Zone, they came into contact with the system.

then.

With the system's help, I traveled to the first world... and had my first encounter with the songstress girl from another world.

Everything started in these places.

I have experienced countless moments of despair and near-death experiences so far.

But it won't work anymore.

…This time, it seems like he's really leaving.

He did not feel sad.

Even at the very last moment of his life, the number one in Academy City remained number one. He slowly closed his eyes, but his cold and pale face still bore that signature expression.

but.

Everything is fine now.

As for Hatsune Miku... her power is strong enough to protect herself, and in her original world, she has so many people with whom she has connections, so they can help each other out.

The world will be reshaped.

Therefore, all the dead will be reborn.

…except for one person.

The white monster, who could never be resurrected, smiled nonchalantly as he collapsed into the dark world, letting the endless nothingness around him crash down on him like rocks, burying his body and soul.

…That's not right.

He has lived his entire life as the strongest, a monster, someone who would never lose his composure in front of anyone.

It's all come to an end.

So it's about time for me... to end all of this as a "human being."

he knows.

This is the last time I will witness this complex and diverse world.

Watching the world gradually return to peace and warmth, where although there will still be many disputes, we will never again encounter such unequal treatment.

—He revealed a completely satisfied and calm smile.

Is that all?

Can you really repay all the blood debts I've accumulated just like this?

No.

This is no longer a question of whether or not to repay.

"Your own lives...are to be lived by...yourselves..."

Accelerator.

The human who embodies this name said with a smile.

"This is...your own...one-way..."

then.

Even the last sound couldn't be conveyed.

————————————————————————

December is almost here, and Christmas is just around the corner.

The nights in Academy City are enveloped in an elegant and lovely atmosphere.

"Ugh... I really don't want to do this. It's almost Christmas and I still have to be an idol and sing and dance at a live performance!"

"Seriously, big sister~ As the second-ranked person in Academy City, you should really respect your status! Otherwise, the fans will feel really bad!"

"That's true, but... on Christmas Day, well... I still have some other plans—"

"The other arrangements...are they going to be men? Absolutely not, Big Sister!!!"