"What's it like outside? I'd like to see the sea."
Looking out the window, Dolly's eyes filled with longing. For as long as she could remember, she had been in this laboratory, unable to see the world.
But according to her old friend Mitori, the sea was a magnificent experience, and Dolly believed it too. After all, Mitori used her ability to show her many marine animals. They were so beautiful that Dolly hoped to see the real ones.
"It's a shame, but there's no coast in Academia City."
Being a landlocked city-state, this was to be expected. Misaki could only sigh at this.
"Plus, access points are very strict. It's not easy to leave Academia City."
Being a city with technology 30 years ahead of the rest of the world, security was paramount. To prevent kidnappings of their Esper students by other countries, Academia City prohibited its students from leaving the city. Likewise, getting permission to leave was also very difficult, so very few students ever left the city.
(Although with my ability, leaving wouldn't be a problem...)
Bringing a finger to her cheek, Misaki thought. Her mind control ability would make it quite easy for her to leave the city, although she had never tried. It didn't mean she couldn't do it.
"Umm..."
Lowering her head, Dolly became depressed. This was the reality; even if she wanted to, she couldn't go outside.
Seeing her so down, Misaki winked and continued.
"But if you get permission, I could take you."
"Really? Thank you, Misaki-chan!"
Hugging Misaki, Dolly smiled with happiness. This was the first time someone offered to take her. She had lost a friend and thought it would be the end, but now she had Misaki. As long as she had her by her side, Dolly would be happy.
"Mou~ okay, enough already."
Blushing in embarrassment, Misaki looked away.
"Misaki-chan... what about Joker-san?"
After playing for a while, Dolly couldn't help but ask. Like Misaki, Joker was also an important person in her life. Although she didn't know exactly what that clown was, Dolly didn't care. Joker was her friend, the one who always made her smile. His presence made her feel very comfortable, and she wanted to hug him. However, Misaki had spent some time with her, and Joker hadn't shown up. This was quite unusual.
"I don't know. He hasn't spoken to me all day."
Misaki also thought it was suspicious. Unfortunately, Misaki had no way to contact him or call him. That clown had appeared out of nowhere and started living with her.
However, Misaki didn't think it was anything serious. It's not like Joker was always active; there were days when he didn't show up, so it wasn't much of a concern. What was odd was that he always showed up when Misaki played with Dolly.
"I see..."
Lowering her head in sadness, Dolly picked up a bottle of soda.
"Come on, don't be sad, Dolly. You make me feel like I'm nothing to you~"
Seeing her so sad, Misaki decided to tease her a bit, which of course Dolly fell for.
"No, it's not what you think!"
Waving her hands in panic, Dolly tried to justify herself, but this only brought a smile to Misaki's face.
"Hehehe~"
"Mou! Misaki-chan, you're a bully!"
Puffing out her cheeks, Dolly crossed her arms and huffed, while Misaki tried to contain her laughter.
"Eh?"
Suddenly, Dolly's gaze clouded over, her body stopped obeying her, her legs losing strength, causing her to fall to the ground.
"Dolly!"
Reacting instantly, Misaki quickly helped her up. However, Dolly's breathing became irregular, and large drops of sweat began to fall from her face.
"Dolly! What's happening?!"
Panicking, Misaki tried to call for help, but no one responded. Dolly suddenly fainted, and just as Misaki tried to use her ability to find out the cause of this, a voice stopped her.
"It's useless, Dolly has reached the limit of her life, I told you, didn't I?"
Yuki, who had been watching everything from the shadows, sighed and said.
I knew this day would come, Dolly's death, the first sister.
"Life... limit?"
Misaki's lips trembled, only now remembering why she had become friends with this girl. Dolly was going to die, and for this reason, Yuki blackmailed her.
"No... It can't be... Dolly... She..."
With tears falling from her beautiful starry eyes, Misaki couldn't accept it.
"The doctors... I have to call them. They have to save her."
Thinking of all those white coats, Misaki's hope returned. But again, Yuki had to crush it.
"They can't help her. After all, they were the ones who put Dolly in that state..."
"Eh?... What do you mean?"
Opening her eyes in surprise, Misaki stopped.
"They told you, didn't they? Dolly is a prototype... She is a clone."
Sighing, Yuki began to tell her the whole truth. Dolly is a clone of Misaka Mikoto, a reference point for the clones of the Radio Noise Project, but she is numbered differently because she is not part of it.
Dolly's exact purpose was to investigate more durable clones for mass production. The researchers gave her medication to gather more data. Additionally, she was also created as an experiment to build an information exchange network among the clones, the Misaka Network.
Dolly was created for this purpose, both her objectives and her lifespan were programmed, so it was impossible for these researchers to help Dolly.
And at this moment, Dolly entered the final phase of the experiment. She was no longer needed, the data had already been collected, and very soon they would begin to create clones en masse. Therefore, Dolly's life or death was irrelevant.
"No... It can't be... Dolly..."
Gritting her teeth and clenching her fists, Misaki cried. It was too cruel. Dolly never had a life, and her fate was written.
To the researchers, Dolly was not human; she was just a tool created to achieve their goals.
"Now that you know... What will you do?"
"I... I..."
Unable to control herself, Misaki's body began to tremble. All those days they spent together, playing, sharing smiles...
"Misaki, she's a clone."
"No... Don't... say that."
"Huh?"
"Don't you dare call her that! Dolly is human! She's my friend!"
Even if she's a clone, for Misaki, Dolly is much more. Dolly is more human than many people are, she is special, her precious friend. Even if she is a tool created for such a cruel purpose.
Misaki couldn't bear it. So even if Yuki was the one saying it, she couldn't allow it. Dolly is her first friend; she couldn't bear it. Dolly is her first friend; she couldn't bear to watch her die. A hatred began to form inside her, a hatred for these researchers, a hatred for this workshop, a hatred for this city.
However, she couldn't do anything but watch her die in her arms. Suddenly, Dolly's breathing stopped, and Misaki panicked completely...
"Is she that important to you?"
Seeing her so sad and defeated, Yuki sighed and continued. Human emotions are too complex to understand; although Dolly is a clone to Misaki, Dolly was special.
"Yes... Dolly is my best friend, the first one not to despise my power, the only one who accepted me for who I am."
"I understand... Misaki, would you be willing to protect her even if it means becoming an enemy of this city?"
"Huh? What are you saying?"
Confused by these words, Misaki wiped her tears and asked.
"Just answer."
However, Yuki didn't explain; he just needed her answer.
Misaki remained silent for a few seconds, frowned, and answered without hesitation.
"Yes, I'm willing..."
Smiling beneath his mask, these were the words Yuki had been waiting for. He no longer had to hesitate; his goal was fulfilled.
"Let me fulfill your wish."
Emerging from the shadows, Yuki held his top hat and looked directly at Dolly in Misaki's arms.
"Since you're willing, it's my duty to help you."
"Eh? What are you doing?"
And before Misaki could react, Dolly's body began to float, and Yuki's Sharingan started spinning. It was a pity, but Dolly's soul was about to disappear, and he needed to go and bring it back before her body died.
"Limit between life and death."
*Clap*
Applauding, a large amount of chakra began to emanate from Yuki's body. Although Yuki couldn't revive the dead, he could grant more years of life to the living.
But for that, Yuki needed the power of the limits. Unlike Zafkiel, where he could increase his years of life with Time, Yuki was going to modify Dolly's entire body at a much deeper level. He would remove all the abnormalities that Academia City had put in her body using the Apocalypse virus, making her stronger and with a longer lifespan.
From today onwards, Dolly would be reborn...
--------------
Author's Note: There will be more surprises in the volume, look forward to it...