In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 91

That gratitude, originating from the underlying program and ignited by the emotional module, is like a seedling breaking through the soil, urgently needing an outlet for expression.

However, before the action was taken, a silent exchange was taking place among all the Misaka Sisters—within the shared Misaka Network.

Inside Misaka Network.

Misaka 10032: Detected that brother-in-law's energy consumption is extremely high. Misaka 10032 suggests providing energy drinks to replenish his energy. However… Emotional module analysis indicates that this action will not be rewarded sufficiently.

Misaka 15678: Suggests gifting a Gekota keychain. Based on shared memories, her older sister has a strong preference for this item. Misaka 15678 believes the same might apply to Mr. Friend.

Misaka 18903: The emotion module suggests using language to express gratitude. Vocabulary updated: "Thank you," "I'm extremely grateful." But... it feels lacking in impact. Misaka 18903 is confused.

Misaka 20001: Kiss! Misaka thinks a kiss best expresses affection and gratitude! Just like in the anime! Misaka excitedly proposes the most efficient solution!

Misaka Network Overall Consciousness: Comprehensive Assessment of the Emotional Module… The act of “kissing” represents high intimacy and gratitude in human social interactions. It aligns with the current emotional intensity. A deep connection (cognitive anchor) exists between the target individual and the network. High feasibility. Strong expectation of emotional resonance. Recommendation adopted.

Misaka 9999: Received network consensus instructions and emotional drive. Understood. Executes the "kiss" to express the highest level of gratitude. Misaka 9999 prepares to act.

Misaka 9999, the executor, was unaware that her emotional fluctuations were undergoing an unprecedented change.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Misaka 9999 moved. Her movements were no longer merely program commands, but carried a resolute sense of mission, imbued by the consensus of the network.

She walked steadily to Higashino Yu.

Higashino noticed the movement and slowly opened his eyes.

His consciousness had been frantically creating protective Gekota charms within his own phase. He had to race against time to complete these items, ensuring the Misaka Sisters wouldn't face any mortal danger after they left.

"what happened?"

Misaka 9999 did not answer, but simply tiptoed slightly and wrapped her arms around Higashino Yu's neck with a gentle yet somewhat awkward touch.

The movements were fluid, carrying the awkwardness and sincerity of nascent emotions, before leaving a brief, cool, yet incredibly clear kiss on Higashino Yu's cheek.

This kiss is an expression of the shared emotions and will of nearly ten thousand Misaka Sisters, condensed into one individual.

"Wow!!!"

On the hospital bed, a clear, childlike, and energetic voice suddenly rang out! Just awakened, Last Order widened her amber eyes, pointed in this direction with her little finger, and excitedly almost jumped up from the bed: "She kissed him! 9999-nee kissed brother-in-law! Misaka Misaka saw a miracle happen! My heart is pounding! Onee-sama, look, look!"

She completely forgot that she was a patient, her little face flushed as she shouted, as if she was incredibly proud that her suggestion had been perfectly executed.

"—?!!!!" Misaka Mikoto's face turned bright red instantly at a visible speed, and it seemed as if tangible white steam was rising from the top of her head.

She jumped up impatiently, pointing at Misaka 9999 and Higashino Yu, her voice trembling: "You...you...9999! What are you doing?! And you brat! What brother-in-law! Don't call me that! It's so embarrassing!"

She was at a loss, her eyes filled with shame and indignation as she glared fiercely at Dongye, stamping her feet as if she wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground.

She didn't know that this nickname was given to Misaka Mikoto by Higashino; otherwise, she might have been even more shy.

Higashino was slightly taken aback by this sudden "thank you attack" that carried the will of the entire internet.

The fleeting soft touch on his cheek and the clear, pure yet deeply grateful gaze in Misaka 9999's eyes left him momentarily stunned.

Then, a helpless yet gentle smile appeared on his lips as he looked at Mikoto, who had transformed into a steampunk princess, her eyes darting around, seemingly lost in thought. He felt the heavy gratitude emanating from the entire Misaka Network.

"But...but Misaka-senpai..."

Haru quickly pulled Mikoto back from the brink of self-immolation, her face full of suppressed laughter, and whispered, "The sisters' feelings are so pure... Besides... she called him 'brother-in-law,' which doesn't sound wrong... right?"

She winked mischievously at Mikoto, though she didn't mind her senior's womanizing ways at all.

Besides, what happened just now can't be blamed on the senior, right?

"Hatsuharu!"

Mikoto's face flushed even redder, this time not only with embarrassment and anger, but also with a hint of disbelief at being "betrayed" and a subtle jealousy. She abruptly turned to stare at Haruharu, her voice rising: "You...you're his 'number one official girlfriend'! Shouldn't you be protesting with me at a time like this?! Why are you...you're even taking his side?! Whose side are you on anyway?!"

She shook Chu Chun's shoulders forcefully, her voice filled with accusation, "You traitor!"

Haru's face flushed crimson when Mikoto so bluntly revealed her identity. Her eyes widened in panic as she stammered, "Eh? Eh?! No... no, Mikoto-senpai! I... I just think the sisters' feelings are precious... and... and senpai he..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was barely a whisper, and she didn't dare look in Higashino's direction at all, so embarrassed she wanted to bury her face in Mikoto's shoulder. A little voice inside her was screaming: Why did Mikoto-senpai have to bring this up at a time like this!

Fubuki Toshinobu stood by the hospital bed recording the data from the instruments, witnessing this chaotic yet vibrant scene.

Mikoto is overwhelmed with shame and angrily denounces the traitor; Uiharu Kazari is extremely embarrassed after her identity is exposed; Last Order claps excitedly on the bed; Higashino's face shows a rare slight surprise (and a hint of amusement); and Misaka 9999 quietly returns to her original position after giving her "thank you," but her eyes are bright and clear, as if she has completed an important mission.

A clear and warm smile finally appeared on her otherwise expressionless face. This smile was filled with relief—for the "real" future these children had and their way of expressing their emotions, and for the complex yet vibrant scene before her.

"cough."

The voice of the Netherworld Soul Chaser rang out at the door, and he returned without anyone noticing.

His gaze swept calmly over the crowd: "Alright, the patient needs quiet."

He looked at Misaka 9999 and Last Order: "You two still need to undergo a period of physical rehabilitation training and observation in the hospital. Make sure they fully recover and adapt to the new situation."

Then, he said to Mikoto, Toshinobu, and the others, "As for the other surviving individuals, the Academy City Council has made arrangements. Based on their need for long-term, professional medical adjustments to repair the physical defects caused by accelerated growth, Academy City will coordinate their transfer to several top medical institutions and biological research institutes around the world that we cooperate with. This is a transparent arrangement that is beneficial to their health. The procedures have begun, and they will depart from Academy City in batches in the coming days."

After exchanging information with the other Misakas on the Misaka Network for a while, Misaka 9999 addressed Meito and Mikoto, saying, "The Misaka Network has confirmed receiving the instructions. All individuals will complete the transfer within seven days. The emotion recording and sharing module is functioning well. Misaka 9999 and Last Order are under medical observation. Onee-sama... we are fine, don't worry. Misaka 9999 is using new emotion vocabulary to convey her status."

The "Big Sister" that conveyed both "worry" and "we're fine" stunned Mikoto, who was still feeling embarrassed and annoyed.

She looked into Misaka 9999's eyes, no longer empty but full of life, then at Last Order lying on the hospital bed, grinning innocently and affectionately at her...

A strong surge of warmth washed away all her shyness and pride. She took a deep breath, trying to straighten her face, but her cheeks remained flushed, and her eyes felt hot. She raised her chin, her voice trembling slightly, though it carried her signature haughty tone:

"Hmph! Who, who would care about you troublesome little sisters! Idiot 9999! You stupid brat! Stay in the hospital and rest properly! Don't... don't do that again! And..."

Her voice trailed off, her gaze sweeping over Higashino Yu before quickly looking away, while she nudged the still shy Haru with her elbow.

"...You all...have a good trip! Grow up properly!"

Higashino sat in his chair, watching everything unfold before him: the cheerful Mikoto, the embarrassed Haruharu, the jeering Last Order, the quiet yet vibrant Misaka 9999, the smiling Toshinobu Fubuki, the composed Tsuyoshi Meido…

Although the ward was chaotic, it was filled with the warmth of hope and the complex yet real bonds of youth.

After the storm, a new life is quietly unfolding in this small hospital ward.

The real future for the younger sisters has only just begun.

Chapter 120 The one who keeps Higashino as her sugar daddy is my post-marriage Mitsuko!

As the morning sunlight streamed through the dormitory window, casting warm dappled patterns on Higashino Yu's face, his cell phone rang with a cheerful ringtone at just the right moment.

Still somewhat dazed, Higashino pressed the answer button.

"Moshi moshi~ This is Hikari Mitsuko after marriage!"

A spirited female voice with a distinct upward inflection came from the other end of the phone. Even through the receiver, Higashino could imagine her smugly posture, chin held high and face half-covered by a folding fan.

"Higashino-kun, what I promised has been perfectly fulfilled! Your new home, the villa in Kazamigaoka in the 7th School District, has been prepared to the highest standards and is ready for you to move in at any time! Hehe, I personally selected and supervised the decoration of this place!"

You could even say she specifically hired someone to decorate according to her preferred style, and she's been supervising the work here for the past two days.

After all, in her mind, this might become her and Higashino Mirai's shared residence, so it had to be done to the best of her ability.

Higashino rubbed his still throbbing temples and slowly sat up.

Last night, after dealing with the aftermath of Last Order and Misaka 9999, and calming down Mikoto and Haru who were experiencing emotional ups and downs, he sent them back to their dormitories one by one. Coupled with the previous battle with Accelerator and the problems with the Misaka Network, his mental exhaustion was considerable.

However, Photon's energetic voice was like a refreshing breeze, dispelling the lingering fatigue. A smile appeared on his lips: "You've worked hard, Photon. Your efficiency is truly impressive."

"Of course!"

Hearing Higashino's praise, Mitsuko's voice became even more excited.

"It's nothing at all, just a small favor for me! So, when does Mr. Higashino plan to move to his new residence? I'm really looking forward to seeing your expression when you see it!"

His words were full of the subtext of "Praise me, praise me!"

"There's no time like the present, the weather outside is quite nice."

Higashino glanced at the bright weather outside the window; it was a good day to move.

"Let's do it at noon today."

"Noon? No problem! I'll be waiting for you at the villa! Please be sure to bring your... um... 'family'."

Mitsuko seemed to have carefully considered her words. Although she had mentioned it when chatting with Higashino and had met Index, the origins of the other two girls still felt strange to Mitsuko. After all, ghosts and witches didn't fit into a place like Academy City at all.

However, she didn't intend to delve into it further. She figured that she would naturally get to know Higashino when he was willing to tell her, and she wasn't in a hurry.

So, at noon, a rather peculiar moving team appeared in front of a magnificent European-style villa in the Kazamigaoka upscale residential area.

Leading the way was naturally Higashino, behind whom the silver-haired nun Index was excitedly looking around, her big eyes sparkling with curiosity about the new environment, and her lips suspiciously glistening, clearly already fantasizing about the new kitchen and unlimited food.

"Wow! What a big house! It's so many times bigger than our previous apartment! Yu! Where's the kitchen? Is the refrigerator big? What about the pantry?"

Index tugged at Higashino's sleeve, eagerly asking a question.

With such a big house, there must be room for more delicious food. In the previous small house, there was no way to store more food.

Wearing a newly bought dress and carrying a simple suitcase, Himegami Akisa stood quietly a little behind.

She remained expressionless and indifferent, not caring what kind of place she lived. As Higashino's property, she could only follow him wherever he went.

However, the backyard of the new house seems to be quite large. Should we suggest planting some vegetables or something?

And at the very end of the line, there was a... or rather, a figure floating in mid-air.

Yu Lingmingya tried to shrink herself into the shadow cast by Dongye to avoid the overly strong sunlight, but she couldn't help but look around at her future new home.

This villa is enormous! Even before she had officially begun exploring it, she had already made that judgment.

After all, the area of ​​this building, which seems to stretch as far as the eye can see, is simply too exaggerated. Moreover, the building has about six floors, which is unusual for a villa.

"This is it."

Higashino stopped and looked at the building in front of him, which had a wide lawn, an exquisite wrought iron gate and beautiful arched windows.

"Higashino-kun! Over here!"

A clear and proud voice rang out. There stood Mitsuko, her hands on her hips, waving at them.

Today she wore a well-tailored off-white dress, her long, straight black hair styled in a princess cut, looking every bit the part, like a proud white swan.

"Welcome to the new home that I've carefully chosen for you!"

Mitsuko approached with elegant steps, her chin slightly raised, looking confidently at Higashino.

"How about it? This grand gate, this meticulously manicured lawn, isn't it far superior to your previous cramped living space?"

Her eyes swept over Dongye's face, filled with anticipation, "Praise me, praise me!"

"It is indeed very impressive, Photon."

Higashino readily agreed, nodding with a smile.

He was indeed very satisfied with this villa; it was much larger than the previous one, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe it as a super villa.

"Thank you, you've gone to so much trouble."

He accurately captured the slight blush on Photon's cheeks, indicating that his favorability towards her had reached a very high level.

"Hmph~ Good thing you know!"

Photon covered the corners of her mouth with her hand, but the smugness in her voice was almost overflowing.

"This is just an appetizer! Please come with me, and I'll show you the real 'standards for a married family'!"

She acted like a highly competent tour guide, leading everyone through the entrance hall. The spacious and bright living room, the high-end furniture, the huge floor-to-ceiling windows... these were just the basics.

"First, here—the private backyard!" Guangzi pushed open a glass door, and a breathtaking view unfolded before her. A meticulously maintained garden appeared, with flowers of every color vying for attention, lush green grass, and a uniquely designed fountain in the center, refracting rainbow-like light in the sunlight. A cobblestone path meandered deeper into the garden.

"Hmm...so many flowers...they smell nice."

Index sniffed.

Himegami Akisa's gaze wandered among the various flowers, and she began to consider the time she would need to spend pruning these plants in the future.

After all, as the head of the family, Higashino certainly wouldn't have time to do these small things, and it wouldn't be appropriate for a ghost to do these things in broad daylight under the sunlight. Hopefully, Index can help out then, otherwise managing such a large villa won't be easy.

Yu Ling Mingya floated to a lush bush with pale blue flowers, her fingers gently brushing against the petals. She loved the cool and tranquil atmosphere.

She muttered to herself, "This place is so beautiful, but it's such a big place, won't it feel too empty if only a few of us live here?"

Mitsuko was unaware of her mutterings; otherwise, she would have definitely retorted that the villa was actually quite small for her family.

Unless Higashino actively uses her abilities to make specific people see her, ordinary people cannot hear or see her.

Of course, this was also Mingya's own request. She didn't really like being watched by too many people. For her now, she was already satisfied as long as she could be watched by Dongye.

"Next is here, the outdoor swimming pool!" After walking for a few minutes, Photon led the group to a huge swimming pool with crystal clear water.