"You say... what does this have to do with me?"
Selene's light words hit Kiyama Harumi like a heavy hammer to the chest. Indeed, this had nothing to do with Selene. Why should she care? Kiyama Harumi was just being self-indulgent...
Her students were all "abandoned" children. Why would someone at the top of Academy City, like Selene, pay attention to them?
As someone who had worked in Japanese society for many years, Kiyama Harumi knew well how cold and oppressive it could be.
"Don't cause trouble for others" had almost become a rule of life for the Japanese! Maybe she was too hasty. People like Misaka Mikoto, with a warm heart, were rare exceptions!
Moreover, the Board of Directors, which wielded the highest power in Academy City, probably wouldn't let her go.
"Yes, what does it have to do with me..." she muttered, repeating Selene's words, as she held her head, swaying as she leaned on the nearby railing.
Perhaps it was the previous exhaustion of her body and brain, or maybe it was Selene's words that triggered her, but Kiyama Harumi recalled everything she had done over the years.
As she revisited her memories, she remembered a time when she had short hair and no dark circles under her eyes. She had been assigned to teach at a primary school...
She was responsible for managing those children, called "abandoned" because they had no parents. Although they had grown up without parental care, it hadn't affected their innocent smiles.
She still remembered how, when she first arrived as the new teacher with short brown hair and a pretty but always expressionless face, the children welcomed her with great enthusiasm, giving her the title of "Kiyama-sensei."
As time went by and she spent more time with the children, even though they were still noisy and liked to play harmless pranks on her, her heart grew fuller, and she began to smile more.
Even though she often complained about them in her heart, these "rude," "impolite," "mischievous" kids had somehow become the softest part of her heart.
But then, that day came...
"I believe in you, Sensei." That girl named Edasaki Banri smiled sweetly at her. "Because this is your experiment, right, Sensei?"
Because of this, she personally sent the children to the experimental platform. Faced with their brave smiles, she lied, saying it would only hurt a little and would be over soon.
She had thought so herself, but when the blinding red blood splattered in an instant, everything was destroyed!
It seemed like it happened just yesterday.
She had sent those who cared about her, those who respected her...
...straight to hell with her own hands!!!
But in the end, she still couldn't save them. She was just useless, a pain like a needle stabbing her heart, causing her to clench her teeth and dig her nails into her palms.
But then Kiyama Harumi resigned herself to it.
Forget it, just give up. With that thought, Kiyama Harumi accepted her fate. Maybe she had no chance left... to go to prison to be punished, even to face death, which would be her redemption for her students.
Sensei will join you soon...
Just as Kiyama Harumi was about to resign herself to reality and give up,
"Don't give up!"
Suddenly, a strong voice rang in Kiyama Harumi's ear. Misaka Mikoto walked over, looking at her sincerely, "We will help you. It's just that your method was wrong! I believe in you!"
"Heh heh..." Hearing this, Kiyama Harumi let out a low laugh. Her voice no longer carried the anger from before, only endless sorrow. "You're still so naive... There's no chance left. It's all over... She and they won't give me another chance..."
"Really, I never expected it. How could someone as kind-hearted and warm as you end up with someone as cold as her... She and you are not the same kind of people."
"..." Misaka Mikoto was speechless. She and Selene did indeed have significant differences in personality and principles. Honestly, if Selene were responsible for handling this situation, she would likely have suppressed it mercilessly.
And what Kiyama Harumi had said, was it true? Everything she mentioned was completely outside Misaka Mikoto's life experience.
Wait... In her silence, Misaka Mikoto suddenly froze, recalling something Kiyama Harumi had said earlier.
"And it's all because of you people at the top! The experimental data obtained from their sacrifices served you so-called Level 5 'chosen ones!' It's laughable! And in the end, all it was considered was a farce!"
"Selene... is everything Kiyama Harumi said true?" Misaka Mikoto asked, looking with a complex expression at Kiyama Harumi, who was leaning against the railing, seemingly lost.
"Yes, it's all true," Selene replied, descending to stand in front of Misaka Mikoto, her face expressionless as she looked at her downcast face.
Upon receiving confirmation, Misaka Mikoto took a slight step back, her eyes trembling with disbelief, "So this Academy City we live in is actually..."
"...so dark and filthy," Selene's tone was cool as she finished Misaka Mikoto's sentence. Her crimson eyes remained indifferent. "Even though I find Kihara Gensei disgusting, I can't deny that his experiments have contributed to the development of Academy City..."
Upon hearing this, Misaka Mikoto had indeed stopped Kiyama Harumi's plan, but Selene's words about reality filled her heart with anger that she didn't originally have.
Academy City... does it really harbor such things?
Could it be, as Kiyama Harumi said, that this city is one that only appears shiny on the surface while being filthy inside?
"Don't give up!" Suddenly, Uiharu Kazari, who had been silent, stepped forward, her eyes firm as she looked at Kiyama Harumi. "I heard everything you said just now, and I understand why you did it. I sympathize with your students and understand your actions. But..."
Uiharu Kazari paused, her expression serious, not matching her youthful face. "While I understand your actions, I can't agree with what you did! If I had to save someone by hurting others, I would never do it!"
"I don't understand the complicated adult world you live in or the conflicts of interest," Uiharu Kazari said softly. "All I know is that Professor Kiyama is a good person! I will use my beliefs to stop you and then use my beliefs to help you!"
Uiharu Kazari looked earnestly at Kiyama Harumi, "I know, being Level 1, my words are laughable and lack credibility..."
"But please don't give up. After all this is over, we will do everything we can to help you. Aren't you trying to save your students, Professor Kiyama? How do you know it won't work if you don't try?"
Hearing Uiharu Kazari's encouragement and the familiar title of "Professor Kiyama," tears suddenly welled up in Kiyama Harumi's eyes, as if she were seeing her students again.
After speaking, Uiharu Kazari and Misaka Mikoto looked at Selene, who was leaning on the railing, aimlessly looking at the scenery, their eyes full of hope.
"What do you think, Selene?"