Mikoto found the name "Apocalypse" oddly familiar, but she couldn't recall where she had heard it before. As the girls tilted their heads in confusion, Yuki's smile turned cold and cruel. He proceeded to share details about her ability.
The girls instinctively distanced themselves, viewing Yuki with suspicion. Unfortunately, not all of them were lucky. Saten, sitting against the wall, had nowhere to escape. Yuki, enjoying the situation, approached her and playfully wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Well? What do you think of my power, Miss Ruiko?"
Nervously laughing, Saten's heart pounded. Yuki, the living disease, was not a joke, and nobody wanted to fall ill.
Saten's predicament mirrored the saying that curiosity killed the cat. Unable to escape or ask Yuki to stay away, she looked to Uiharu for help. However, Uiharu avoided eye contact, leaving Saten to her fate. Something clicked in Saten's mind as she glanced at Yami, who sat calmly beside Yuki, seemingly aware of his ability yet unafraid.
"Hehe, don't look at me like that; don't worry, I won't infect you."
Yuki returned to his original position, relishing the reaction. Kuroko, seizing the chance to separate Mikoto from Yuki, intervened.
"Onee-sama, this guy is dangerous, please stay away!"
"Come on, Kuroko, if I wanted to infect Mikoto, I would have done it long ago."
Yuki protested before Kuroko, disregarding his words, produced masks and disinfectants, creating a barrier around Mikoto.
"Don't call me so intimately, and stay away from Onee-sama!"
Kuroko had already labeled him as a pest.
*Cough... Cough...
"Kuroko!"
Coughing due to the disinfectant, Mikoto glared at Kuroko. This was no joke; Kuroko was taking it too far.
"Shirai-san, this is too much..."
Even Saten and Uiharu couldn't help but give Kuroko a second look. They now understood why Academy City kept Yuki hidden and why he insisted on keeping his ability private.
Having someone carrying a deadly virus was no laughing matter. Yuki would be feared and shunned, making him an outcast.
"Hahaha."
However, Yuki laughed it off. He cared little about what others thought, needing no approval to live, and certainly not bothered about infecting them.
Yet, Kuroko continued her drama. It was amusing, and though her actions were somewhat rude, it lightened the tension intentionally caused by Yuki.
"Don't worry, girls. I have this virus under control, and infecting people is not the only thing I can do."
*Creakkkkk...
Touching the table with a finger, Yuki applied force, creating several cracks.
"Ohhh~"
The girls opened their mouths, astonished at Yuki's display. He lifted the corner of his lips in response.
"Strength, endurance, speed, and much more. Thanks to my ability, my body's parameters increase periodically. I call this effect of my ability genetic evolution."
Explaining his ability, Yuki almost wanted to put on a lab coat and lecture his students on genetic evolution.
The girls exchanged glances, amazed at such a fantastic ability. Being able to use a virus to alter one's genetic code and evolve into a more powerful form was miraculous.
Diseases, poisons, and all kinds of mortal accidents for ordinary humans would be overcome by Yuki. With this ability, he could survive beyond what a regular human could achieve—a dream come true.
At this moment, the girls looked at Yuki differently. This guy in front of them was the key to human evolution.
They blinked, and even Mikoto couldn't help but look at him twice.
"Yuki-san... Is it really okay for you to tell us this? Isn't it a secret?"
Given the value of Yuki's body and the secrets of evolution, Saten and the girls were certain that countless scientists would want to study him. They might treat him as a guinea pig.
"In fact, this is a secret..."
Affirming his words, Yuki crossed his arms. Mikoto, however, stood up, electricity flickering around her as she spoke angrily.
"Then why are you telling me this?! Are you insane?!"
Yuki, on the other hand, smiled and looked her in the eyes. Internally, Yuki felt proud. After all, Mikoto wanted to argue with him, and she should know that not even Tsunade had won an argument against him. Mikoto was destined to fail, not to mention being a novice in this. Considering this, Yuki began his performance.
"It's because it's you that I'm willing to talk about this secret..."
"Eh?!"
Instantly, Mikoto blushed, and a single sentence was enough to crush all her complaints.
Regardless of Mikoto's dissatisfaction, Yuki clearly trusted her to the extent of sharing his ability with her. This level of trust didn't develop overnight, especially for someone only seen in dreams. Mikoto began to question and doubt whether the story Yuki had told earlier was true and if they were childhood sweethearts.
Saten and Uiharu exchanged smiles. This kind of trust between a couple was enviable.
"No! Onee-sama, this is a trick; don't be fooled!"
Only Kuroko didn't buy it. Seeing how embarrassed Mikoto was, her danger radar shot up. Sweet words like these were terrifying even to Kuroko, and she was certain her heart would start pounding, let alone Mikoto, who was rendered speechless.
"But... Yuki-san, why did you mention us too? We're different from Misaka-san; we just met."
However, Saten still had doubts. Even if Yuki trusted Mikoto, it didn't necessarily mean he should trust Saten, Uiharu, and Kuroko.
Yuki wouldn't know if any of these girls would disclose his information, potentially turning his life into a disaster.
Even if the girls kept quiet, Yuki wouldn't be well-received by them due to fear of the virus and potential problems.
"Um! Um!"
Uiharu shared the same doubt, nodding and clenching her fists, anxious for an answer.
"Well, this question is easier to answer. Mikoto is part of my family, and you are Mikoto's friends, which makes you part of my family too. So, I trust you..."
Taking another sip with the straw, Yuki didn't speak further. However, his words left the girls in silence once again. The weight of the trust Yuki placed in them was significant, and they felt somewhat embarrassed. Initially thinking Yuki was a weird guy, they now considered him a good person.
So, they scratched their cheeks and smiled shyly. Even the usually violent Kuroko was silent. Only Mikoto was in shock.
"Who is part of your family?!"
Indeed, being called part of his family embarrassed Mikoto, and recalling her dreams where Yuki's family consisted of his women, steam seemed to emit from Mikoto's head.
After a while of chatting, the group left the restaurant and went their separate ways.
"Well, goodbye for now. We'll meet again very soon."
Watching Yuki and Yami walk away together, Saten and Uiharu waved goodbye. The personality of the Eighth Level 5 esper was intriguing and fun, and both had enjoyed their time in her company, momentarily forgetting that this guy was the walking calamity.
Mikoto had mixed feelings. She didn't know what to think; there were so many things she needed to ask. However, before parting ways, Yuki sent her a message in the chat, assuring that all her questions would be answered tonight.
"Onee-sama..."
Tears welled up in Kuroko's eyes. Mikoto's action of watching Yuki and Yami walk away together with a furrowed brow made Kuroko think that Mikoto might be jealous.
After all, her 'boyfriend' was walking with another girl...
Saten's smile, on the other hand, grew wider.
"Hehehe~ Misaka-san, who would have thought... that you'd have a childhood sweetheart~ Hehehe, so mature~"
"He's not my boyfriend!"
And, of course, this triggered another electric outburst from the little Railgun.
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