In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 171

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached her ears very clearly.

"The earthquake just now... no, the 'chaotic openness' was actually caused by you, wasn't it?"

Kiyama Harumi's body stiffened abruptly, her pupils contracting instantly! Her hands, resting on her knees, clenched tightly around her pants.

How could that be? How did he find out? Her plans and her actions have always been extremely secretive!

However, the thought had barely formed when it was overwhelmed by the absolute trust in Higashino that was deeply rooted in his consciousness. This trust acted like a sturdy dam, instantly washing away any doubts or excuses.

She opened her mouth, but ultimately just lowered her head in despair, her voice carrying a barely perceptible dryness and...a relieved honesty: "...Yes. It's me."

There were no further explanations or excuses, because she neither needed nor could muster the will to resist Higashino Yu.

She took a deep breath and began to explain the reason in her flat but clear tone:

"After I was released on bail, I did not give up on waking up those children. I improved some of the core algorithms of the Imagine Master and developed a new, unfinished emergency rescue program, attempting to directly stimulate their damaged central nervous system and forcibly awaken their consciousness."

As she spoke, her previously rosy complexion faded.

“Every time…every time those children show signs of awakening, a violent, uncontrollable resonance occurs. This resonance distorts the nearby Am diffusion field, disrupts spatial stability…and ultimately triggers the ‘chaotic openness’ phenomenon you mentioned.”

She raised her head and looked directly at Higashino: "This is the reason. It's because of me... that I caused this chaos for those children."

There was no regret in her tone, only a heavy, almost tragic obsession.

Higashino listened quietly, then walked to the bedside and sat down, his gaze falling on Kiyama Haruo's haggard face.

These were largely consistent with what he knew, and with absolute trust, Kiyama Haruo did not hide anything from him.

Instead of rebuking you, he nodded and said, "I understand you, Dr. Kiyama. I don't want to stand on moral high ground and criticize you for being willing to do anything for someone important."

His tone was calm, but he immediately changed the subject: "However, if you continue like this, every attempt will cause even greater destruction. This chaos will not only affect the infrastructure and security of the entire Academy City, but will also affect many innocent people, including Mikoto and the others."

Higashino remembered clearly that if he didn't intervene, the subsequent consequences would have put the girls in danger. Since that was the case, it was better to cut off the problem at its source, preventing such a future from ever happening.

"Besides, Dr. Kiyama, Academy City... is my territory."

He said it casually, but that's exactly what Higashino thought. As for Aleister, he's just temporarily acting as his replacement!

"You've made a mess of things and are affecting my people, that won't do. As for the children, leave them to me."

Kiyama Harumi's body trembled again. He looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment: "You...you really can..."

She remembered. After her arrest, while she was in the detention cell, she had indeed received a message from Higashino.

He said he would help her awaken those children when he was able to do so later.

At the time, she thought it was a lie fabricated by Higashino to appease her, and in her despair, she didn't believe it at all. She only believed in her own research! But now... can that proposal really be made?

"Can you... really do it?"

Her voice trembled slightly with excitement and a faint hope, and her eyes were filled with expectation.

"Awaken them...repair their damage?"

Looking into the light in her eyes—a mixture of despair, obsession, and the last glimmer of hope—a confident and powerful smile slowly curved his lips. He stood up, looking down at her, the dim light of the night outlining his imposing silhouette.

"Kiyama Chunsheng."

His voice was deep and powerful.

"Who do you think I am?"

He stretched out his hand, palm up, as if grasping some invisible authority, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"I am the strongest esper in Academy City. Cognitive reconstruction, reality rewriting... nothing is impossible if I want it to be."

"Now……"

He withdrew his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Lead the way, take me to see those children!"

Kiyama Haruo stared at him blankly, his eyes clearly reflecting Higashino Yu's powerful and resolute figure.

The absolute trust made her hesitate almost without hesitation. The taut string in her heart seemed to relax instantly, and an indescribable expectation surged up.

Higashino is a monster who can even forcibly stop an earthquake. If it were him, he definitely could, right? He could awaken those children!

"it is good!"

She stood up abruptly, swaying slightly from the sudden movement, but her eyes were unusually bright.

"I'll take you there! It's at a certain hospital!"

She didn't ask Higashino how exactly to do it, nor did she question whether he had the ability to do it.

That absolute trust, which stemmed from competence, has now transformed into a desperate reliance.

Higashino nodded and walked towards the door first. Kiyama Harumi took a deep breath and followed closely behind him.

The two of them left the battlefield, which had just witnessed an absurd and ambiguous event, one after the other, and stepped into the deeper night.

The villa's door closed gently behind them. Moonlight filtered through the clouds, casting a cool glow that illuminated the road to the hospital and also the rekindled glimmer of hope in Kiyama Haruo's eyes.

Chapter 205 Theristina must be severely punished!

The streets of Academy City were empty and quiet late at night, with only the streetlights casting a dim yellow glow on the ground.

Higashino Yu and Kiyama Haruo were walking on their way to a hospital.

However, this silence was broken by an unexpected figure.

Just as the two were about to reach their destination, a tall woman blocked their way.

She had striking long, wavy orange hair tied into a neat ponytail, wore frameless glasses, and dressed in a well-tailored dark suit, making her look poised and capable.

The moment she saw Higashino Yu, a fleeting hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, but it was immediately masked by her perfectly professional smile.

"Good evening, Dr. Kiyama. And this is... Mr. Higashino Yu, nice to meet you."

The woman's voice was gentle and polite, with a deliberate air of friendliness.

“I am Theristina, and I belong to the Advanced Situation Rescue Team. I am currently the head of the Special Investigation Team for ‘Unauthorized Opening’ in District 7.”

Her sharp gaze swept over Kiyama Haruo's haggard face, a smile playing on her lips: "Dr. Kiyama, after our group's meticulous investigation and analysis, there is very conclusive evidence that the recent frequent occurrences of 'chaotic openings' are very likely related to the treatment activities you are conducting on your comatose students. The abnormal Am diffusion field resonance generated during the treatment process has interfered with spatial stability."

Kiyama Harumi's body tensed instantly, but she quickly composed herself, her voice flat and emotionless: "What are you talking about? I don't understand. I'm just conducting normal treatment, how could it cause spatial interference? This has nothing to do with me."

Theristina raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly unsurprised by her denial, and was about to apply further pressure.

“She’s right, and we’re going to the hospital now to resolve the children’s issues completely.”

Higashino's calm voice broke the unspoken tension between the two. He had his hands in his pockets, his posture relaxed, as if he were discussing something trivial.

Theristina's gaze immediately shifted to him, her eyes filled with incomprehension and confusion: "Oh? Sir, how do you intend to resolve this? Forgive my frankness, but the brain damage suffered by those children is a complex condition that even the designers of the tree diagram deemed irreparable..."

"My ability can awaken them."

Higashino interrupted her, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.

Theristina was somewhat surprised by Higashino's answer, but considering his identity, she understood: "Awaken them? This... is truly astonishing. Higashino's 'cognitive reconstruction' ability can actually go this far? I wonder if I could have the honor of accompanying you two and witnessing it firsthand? Of course, if it can solve the children's problems, I can refrain from reporting the recent commotion caused by Dr. Kiyama."

Theristina had no idea that Higashino and Kiyama Harumi's purpose in going out together tonight was to treat those children.

"can."

Higashino answered crisply and decisively, without even looking at Kiyama Haruo's reaction. He knew that this woman must have had an ulterior motive for contacting Kiyama Haruo and him at this time, but Higashino didn't mind.

In fact, the woman's initiative to step forward suited him perfectly, saving him a lot of time.

So, with the newly joined Theristina, the three of them went to a hospital.

Walking through the quiet corridor late at night, they arrived at a special care ward in a hospital.

The ward was dimly lit, filled with the smell of disinfectant and an indescribable tranquility.

On a dozen or so hospital beds lay quietly the students whom Kiyama Haruo cherished. On one of the beds by the window lay a girl wearing a faded headband, who was Kiyama Haruo's most valued student and to whom he had given everything.

Kiyama Harumi stood at the door, his gaze fixed on the sleeping face of Ikemoto.

Countless failures had made her almost afraid to have any hope, but tonight Higashino gave her new hope.

She believed that since Higashino had made such a firm promise that the problem could be solved, there was no possibility of failure.

Higashino walked straight to the bedside of Eizaki Kizuna. He didn't look at the curious Therese and the nervous Kiyama Harumi behind him, but simply reached out and gently covered Eizaki Kizuna's forehead.

In the depths of his eyes, a silver light suddenly shone like stars, then returned to an almost ethereal calm.

His consciousness instantly connected with the sleeping Zhi Xianfanli's spirit, entering her consciousness space.

A bizarre and distorted space that seems to be pieced together from countless shards of colored glass.

There was no direction, no sound, only flowing, unsettling colors and light spots. A small figure wearing a headband huddled in the center of the "ground".

Higashino's figure appeared amidst the chaos.

Zhi Xianbanli seemed to sense something and slowly raised her head. Her large eyes were filled with confusion: "...Who are you? Big brother?"

Her voice was timid.

Higashino crouched down, bringing his eye level with hers, a gentle smile on his face, his voice soft: "Me? I'm a doctor. I'm here to save you. Do you trust me?"

Zhi Xian stared blankly at the strange silver light in his eyes, a light that seemed to dispel the chaotic light and shadow in her consciousness and bring an indescribable sense of security.

The gloomy look on her face seemed to dissipate a little. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out her small hand and gently took the outstretched finger of Higashino Yu.

"Hmm...I believe you, big brother..."

In a real hospital ward.

Just as Zhi Xian's tiny fingers grabbed Higashino Yu in the space of consciousness.

On the hospital bed, Zhi Xian straightened her eyelashes, which had been tightly closed for two years, and they trembled slightly!

The next second, those clear eyes slowly and somewhat laboriously opened!

She seemed a little unaccustomed to the light, blinked blankly, and then her gaze swept across the ceiling with a somewhat unfocused look before finally settling on the face of the unfamiliar young man with a gentle smile who was withdrawing his hand by the bedside.

"Kizuri...?"

As if struck by lightning, Kiyama Harumi lunged forward to the bedside, her voice hoarse with unbelievable ecstasy, as if afraid that everything before her was an illusion. Her trembling hand wanted to touch Ichizaki's cheek, but dared not bring itself to do so.

"Mushan...old...teacher?"

Zhi Xian's voice was weak and hoarse, carrying the drowsiness of someone just waking up.

"Kizuri! It's me! It's me!"

Kiyama Haruo could no longer control himself and hugged the small body tightly in his arms. Tears streamed down his face like a burst dam, soaking the girl's thin hospital gown.

The despair, pain, and madness she felt since the children fell into a coma all transformed into scalding tears at this moment. Holding her recovered treasures, she wept like a helpless child.

Theristina stood a few steps away, her eyes wide behind her glasses, her professional smile completely frozen, replaced by pure shock and astonishment.

She looked at the girl who had just been sleeping, now nestled blankly yet realistically in Kiyama Harumi's arms, her throat felt blocked, and she couldn't utter a single word.

How...how is this possible?! They did it so easily!

Higashino didn't glance at the deeply moving reunion before him. He slowly straightened up, his gaze calmly sweeping over the other dozen or so beds in the ward, as if confirming something.

Then, under Theristina's almost jaw-dropping gaze, he raised his right hand and gently rubbed his thumb and middle finger together.

"Snapped."

A crisp snap of fingers.

It was as if an invisible switch had been pressed. It was like a signal to break a sleeping spell.

On the hospital beds, one child after another, their eyelashes began to tremble, and soft, dreamlike moans escaped their throats. Their fingers began to curl unconsciously, and their eyeballs rolled rapidly beneath their eyelids.

Within a few seconds, the ward was filled with the soft moans of newly awakened patients and the confused calls of others.

"teacher?"

"This is where?"

"I feel so dizzy..."

"How long...have I been sleeping?"

A dozen or so pairs of innocent eyes, filled with the confusion of just emerging from a long dream and the radiance of new life, opened one after another!

Kiyama Haru suddenly raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears, and looked around at the faces she had longed for day and night, the faces she had paid any price to awaken. Now, they were vividly appearing before her eyes. The immense happiness and shock almost suffocated her. She could only tightly hug the shinori in her arms, trembling with excitement, unable to even utter a word.