So the music for this update is Budda002's selection. Also some of you either didn't read my post thoroughly or you have very strange definitions of 'upbeat and cheerful'.
Anyway, here's the update.
First things first, you need more information. The Internet's pretty useful for the basics but it's not so great for investigating the dark side of Academy City. Plus there's just so much info it's hard to figure out what's useful and what isn't. You struggle to figure out someone who can tell you all that you've missed in the last nine years. Unfortunately the only people who knew you before your coma were the scientists in charge of you and Accelerator. Eventually you decide to try and find Accelerator. You really don't like the guy but at least he's unlikely to try to manipulate or lie to you. With the scientists it's almost a guarantee. All he wanted was to be left alone. You were never sure whether to be annoyed or relieved at his lack of ambitions. On one hand seeing all that potential going towards such a lackluster goal was kind of pathetic. On the other hand it meant that as long as you left him alone he wouldn't interfere with your goals and someone that powerful could quickly derail your plans.
There's just one problem with getting Accelerator to tell you what you need to know and that's that you have no idea where you can find him. The only thing you can think of is maybe Heaven Canceler will know where he lives. The idea that Accelerator might have been in the hospital at one point is laughable but the doctor always knew more then he should. At the very least he'll have been treating Accelerator's victims. Those few left alive that is. With an annoyed sigh you turn around and head back the way you came. Backtracking's a pain but it's the best idea you have for now.
As you head back to the hospital your mind wanders. You wonder what you should do when you do find Accelerator. You entertain the thought of catching him in a tackle-hug and calling him Nii-san as cutely as you can manage. The look on his face would be amazing. Still, it's weird to think of him as a teenager now. Hell, it's hard to wrap you head around the fact that you're a teenager yourself. At least you skipped puberty. At least you think you did. Who knows what all the chemicals keeping you unconscious did to your hormonal systems. Something else to ask the doctor about then.
Before you know it you're back at the hospital. You head the front desk and tell them that you'd like to talk to Heaven Canceller. You're in luck. He's in-between patients right now so he heads down to the lobby to talk to you. A few minutes latter the elevator doors open and the old doctor steps out, a smile on his froggy face. "Ah, Shouta. You didn't forget anything here did you?"
"No, I didn't have anything. Remember? You even had to scrounge up some clothes for me." It's true. The white t-shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers you were wearing at the moment had been provided by the hospital. You guess they keep extra clothes on hand for when someone's clothes get destroyed when they're injured. "Actually I was wondering where I could find Accelerator."
Heaven Canceler simile disappears. "Now why would you want that? Most people try their best to avoid him and for good reason."
"I need someone to tell me about what I missed while I was asleep and Accelerator's the only one I trust." Trust him to be an asshole. You think to yourself but you don't voice the thought. "I promise I'm not looking for trouble."
The frog-faced doctor looks at you for a few good minutes while he thinks. You consider giving him the puppy dog eyes but dismiss the idea. He knows what you're really like so acting cute wouldn't help. Eventually he comes to a decision. "Alright, I'll give you his phone number. But don't get into a fight with him. I really don't need anymore patients at the moment." He grabs a piece of paper from the front desk, writes down a number, hands it to you and leaves.
You walk over to the hospital's public phones, probably the only place you can still find the things, and dial up the number the doctor gave you. A cheerful female voice picks up. "Hello, this is Yoshikawa Kikyou."
Weird, last you heard Accelerator's handler was a Kiraha, Amata or something. Of course your info is nine years out of date. It would probably be weirder if he still had the same handler as nine years ago. You push your speculations from you head and reply. "I was told I could reach Accelerator at this number."
The woman, Yoshikawa, goes silent for a minute. We she speaks again every hint of her former cheerfulness is gone. "Who is this? What do you want with Accelerator? How did you get this number?"
Odd, she sounds almost… defensive. Could it be she actually cares about the white haired bastard? Can't be a scientist then. In that case… "P-please, I need Accelerator's help. I-I don't know what to do." You say, doing your best to lost, young and confused. It's not exactly untrue. Yoshikawa remains silent so you try again. "The frog-faced doctor gave me this number. H-he said Accelerator could help." Small lie there but who cares.
Mentioning Heaven Canceller must have done it. You hear a sigh on the other end of the line. "Fine. Accelerator isn't here right now but if you can wait until evening he'll be back later." You say that's fine and Yoshikawa gives you an address. You write it down on the paper with Accelerator's number, hang up the phone and leave the hospital.
You make it a few blocks, trying to figure out how to kill a few hours, before you realize you forgot to ask the frog-faced doctor about whether you went through puberty. It's not that big a deal but it's not like you to forget anything. Your mind's been wandering more than usual too. However before you can beat yourself up about it too much you're distracted by a really, really loud yell.
"TOOOUUUMMMMAAAAAAA!"
You turn and look for the source of what could be sonic attack only to be confronted by a very strange sight. Kamijou Touma is getting dragged down the street by what appears to be a miniature nun with blue hair dressed in a pure white habit with gold trim that's held together with safety pins. She's also loudly berating the supposed level zero. "C'mon Touma, I'm hungry! Hurry up!"
Kamijou groans as the shorter girl drags him along. "Well, excuse me if I'm not exactly eager to have my wallet drained down to the last yen."
"It's not my fault we have to go out for lunch." At the mention of lunch your stomach growls, reminding you of the fact that you skipped breakfast. It couldn't be helped. Heaven Canceller might be the city's greatest doctor but even he can't make hospital food taste good.
"Not your fault!?" Kamijou plants his feet and stops moving while he yells, causing the small nun to lose her balance and almost fall over. "I had an entire day's worth of food in the fridge! And what do you do? You eat all of it for breakfast! It's totally your fault."
What do?
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