In Academy City, the Paradise Project begins.

Page 122

He was even asked by Aleister to provide door-to-door service once. In his opinion, Higashino must have a very special relationship with the chairman. He had known Aleister for many years, and this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

"Um, Senior Netherworld Soul Chaser... are you cursing me? As a doctor, that's not a good way to do it!"

Higashino was somewhat speechless. Did he look injured? Although he had been hospitalized quite a few times last month, those were unavoidable!

The first time was when she fully unleashed the limits of her abilities at the time; the second time was when she fought alongside Mikoto against a fantasy beast that inexplicably grew stronger; after that, she was exhausted from continuously fighting against a delinquent fire mage and her saintly wife; and finally, she fought against that Auto Memory Doll thing...

He felt that he had done his best as a Level 4 at the time, and that other Level 4s in Academy City probably couldn't have done any better.

"Haha, indeed, you look very energetic, and it's amazing that you've become the strongest esper in Academy City after not seeing you for a while. Time really flies."

"Don't make it sound like it's been a long time! Okay..."

Higashino really wanted to complain about this lecherous doctor who liked nurses' uniforms, but then he remembered that he was also a doctor, and felt that doing so would be like insulting himself, so he quickly shut up and revealed his purpose.

“Look, I brought her along to see those children.”

Higashino pointed to Shokuhou, who was still watching the show. She smiled and nodded gracefully to the frog-faced doctor.

"Hello, I am Misaki Shokuhou."

"Oh...this is, the fifth...no, I should say the sixth, haha, you're really popular with girls."

The knowing look on Mingtu Zhuihun's face made the previously poised and confident Shokuhou become a little shy.

How are they doing?

Mingtu Zhuihun nodded, a relieved smile on his face: "Yes, they have recovered very well. Their vitality index is stable, the adaptation training of their neural connections and muscle systems is progressing smoothly, and their mental state is also very good. However, as clones, it will take them quite a long time to fully recover to normal."

Or rather, maintaining the current state is already a tremendous achievement. Even with Academy City's medical technology, completely curing the defects of clones is an extremely difficult task.

But of course he wouldn't say such discouraging things here. He would tell the girl (Toshinobu Fubuki) whom Higashino had asked him to tell him about the specific difficulties.

"It was almost time for them to have some moderate visits and go out. It seems you've come at just the right time; they should be sunbathing in the back garden now."

"Thank you!"

Misaki couldn't help but blurt it out, her voice tinged with urgency. She also really wanted to get to know those children; last time at the Higashino family's house, she hadn't found a suitable opportunity or reason to approach the two of them.

"go Go."

The Underworld Soul Chaser waves its hand, like an elder sending a child off to play.

"Making them happy is also good for their recovery."

Higashino thanked him, then naturally took Shokuhou's hand, and the two left the office, heading towards the courtyard behind the hospital.

The closer Misaki Shokuhou got to the small garden, the faster her heart beat.

She heard... many identical voices, voices that were calm yet conveyed a strange feeling, discussing something.

"Today's humidity is 47% and the wind speed is 2 m/s. It's perfect weather for sunbathing. Misaka 10001 is issuing its observation report."

"Target No. 1 strawberry pie has been eaten. Requesting replenishment. Misaka 10031 earnestly submits this request."

"Misaka 9999's interpretation of '108 Ways to Win Over a Cold Doctor' is too one-sided. Misaka 10086 is conducting a serious academic discussion."

Those familiar voices…it’s them! It really is those children!

As Higashino led Shokuhou around a thicket of bushes, the entire small garden suddenly opened up before them.

Under the warm sunshine, picnic mats were spread out on the lawn. A dozen or so brown-haired girls, all wearing loose hospital gowns and with similar faces, stood in various poses, yet all exuded an air of tranquility and peace. Some were quietly sunbathing, some were munching on snacks, some were fiddling with tablets, and a few were huddled together, seemingly arguing about something.

At their center, a petite figure (Last Order) who is noticeably smaller and also has brown hair is holding a booklet with a rather suspicious cover and pointing at another Misaka Sister (Misaka 9999) who looks unusually excited.

This tranquil yet vibrant scene made Misaki stop in her tracks. She stood at the entrance, her feet seemingly rooted to the spot, her eyes instantly filled with tears, her lips trembling slightly. All her courage seemed to have vanished the moment she saw them.

Looking at these figures that were similar to Dolly yet somewhat different... she dared not approach them.

Just then, Higashino's warm palm exerted a slight pressure, as if transferring strength to her.

He didn't say anything, but simply took her hand and walked straight past, meeting the many curious gazes that were fixed on them.

"Brother-in-law?"

One of the Misaka Sisters who was nearby noticed them first, tilted her head, and said Higashino's name in a flat tone.

This sound seemed to shatter the tranquility of the garden.

All the Misaka Sisters, including Last Order and No. 9999 who were arguing about it, turned their gazes toward them.

Dozens of identical, emotionless yet incredibly clear gazes instantly focused on the blonde girl who was being led by Higashino and appeared somewhat uneasy.

"Misaka has confirmed the target's identity. Her physical characteristics closely match those of 'Queen' Misaki Shokuhou, the owner of 'Level 5 Mental Control' in the database. Misaka 10032 reports observation results."

"Misaka Database has also confirmed that she is a person involved in the previous plan, Misaka Misaki, Misaka No. 10086, additional information."

"Mind control? Is that the ability to manipulate people's minds?" Misaka 15025 asked, hugging her knees.

"Queen? That's a very special title. Is it the same as the princess title that corresponds to my older sister?" Misaka 17877 asked, chewing on a potato chip.

Just then, Last Order suddenly jumped up, pointed at Higashino and Shokuhou's tightly clasped hands, her little face serious, and shouted in a lively tone, "Wow! Higashino, you big idiot! You actually went on a date with your mistress sister (Shokuhou) behind Misaka's back (referring to Mikoto)! How could you be such a womanizer! Misaka Misaka is shocked and strongly condemns this act of concealment!"

Her shout was like detonating a bomb.

"The mistress? But shouldn't the eldest sister be the third? Wouldn't it be more accurate to call the 'queen' in front of us the fourth mistress? Misaka 10086, let's analyze this."

"Being fickle? According to Chapter 1, Section 3 of 'An Introduction to Harem Management,' polygamy requires superb management skills and carries enormous social risks. Misaka 15025 cautiously presents this academic viewpoint."

"Friend and Mind Control Queen were detected holding hands, which is determined to be an 'intimate relationship'. The intimacy index is initially assessed as moderately high. Misaka 17877 reports the observation results."

Then, amidst a chorus of voices, each ending with "Misaka XX", Misaka 9999 suddenly stood up straight.

With an expression of sudden realization on her face, she nodded vigorously and said in an almost declarative, calm tone, "According to the latest urban drama and the 'Strategy Manual' shared internally by Misaka Networks, Misaka 9999 believes that Dr. Higashino is indeed a womanizer, but..."

She paused, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, raised her hand and spoke loudly.

"...But! Such an excellent harem king (scumbag) is too rare! Moreover, Mr. Friends is the only designated harem man in Academy City! Misaka 9999 says she also wants to join Mr. Friends' harem! Please be sure to include Misaka in the plan! Misaka 9999 submits her application very seriously!"

Time seemed to stand still for two seconds, as both Higashino and Shokuhou were completely stunned by Misaka 9999's statement.

then……

"Misaka 10032 agrees. Joining the harem sounds more interesting than continuing to study the obscure 'Introduction to Quantum Mechanics'."

"Misaka 19090 believes that a thorough evaluation of the rationality of the distribution of living supplies and the division of labor in the harem is needed before making a decision."

"Misaka wants to give it a try too! Misaka No. 10031 has expressed preliminary interest."

"Agreed to join! Misaka 10086 clearly expressed her stance."

Instantly, cries of "Misaka No. 10032 wants to join the harem too!" and "Misaka No. 15025 requests to join!" rose and fell, forming a neat yet chaotic wave of "petitions".

The identical, earnest faces, all talking about joining the harem, made the scene extremely eerie.

Shokuhou's initial感动 and apprehension had long since vanished in the face of this mind-blowing scene.

She stared dumbfounded at the group of sisters who were seriously discussing her status as the fourth sister and how to join the harem and rise in rank. Then she looked at Higashino next to her, who was covering his forehead with a "I'm really impressed by you guys, sixth sister" expression. Her lips twitched involuntarily.

She took a deep breath and said to Higashino in a tone that was both authoritative and slightly choked with anger, "Hey, Dr. Higashino..."

She pointed to the group of younger sisters who were still clamoring to join the harem.

"What kind of nonsense have you been teaching them?! What are they even saying?!"

Her eyes were filled with disdain, as if to say, "You really are a super pervert." She figured the reason her younger sisters were discussing these things so seriously must be because of Higashino. Otherwise, how could these sisters, who didn't seem to have any concept of anything, be discussing such things?

They even threatened to suppress her after she joined the harem, and even said that the targets of their suppression included their older sisters, and that they would compete for favor after they rose to power...

Where did this whole romantic palace drama come from?!

Higashino lowered his hand, revealing a helpless expression that was both funny and exasperating, his voice filled with speechlessness: "To be honest! I really didn't teach them anything! They don't even know where that damned 'Introduction to Harem Management' came from! It's definitely not my fault that the Misakas have turned out like this!"

And would such a book really exist on the market? Higashino had some doubts about whether the person who wrote the book was mentally sound.

He looked at the group of chattering, tea-haired girls and sighed.

"These little ones... after leaving the experiment, especially after connecting to a normal network... their 'learning' direction began to evolve wildly at an unpredictable speed and angle..."

He pointed to the Misaka Sister holding the tablet: "Look, that one over there, Misaka 10086, I heard from Fubuki that she's been studying the emotional logic analysis of the medical drama 'Doctor Falls in Love with Me' lately, probably because she's been watching too many domineering CEO dramas. And Misaka 15025 seems to be doing something similar... What they're doing has nothing to do with me."

He didn't recall his sisters exhibiting similar behavior in the original story, but the deviation in their studies was definitely not his fault.

Shokuhou watched Higashino Yu's speechless and embarrassed expression, then looked at the Misaka Sisters whose debate had escalated from "harem application" to bizarre topics like "Should the nutritional ratio of harem members' breakfasts follow the principle of personalization, Misaka 17877?", and Last Order, still fanning the flames and shouting "Hey, you heartless idiot, take responsibility, Misaka Misaka!"...

Her tense nerves suddenly relaxed.

The initial tension and guilt quietly dissipated amidst the lively, absurd yet incredibly real "noise."

These "younger sisters"... really survived, and they lived... very "self-reliant" lives.

A barely suppressed smile bloomed on her stunning face, her starry eyes curving into beautiful crescent moons.

Honestly... although the process was a mess, the result was even more speechless.

She looked up at Higashino, who was still trying to explain to No. 9999 that "a harem is not a game" and "you are still young, you should keep your distance," only to be besieged by more theories. The disappointment she felt when she thought of Dolly was washed away by a surge of warmth.

She spoke softly, her voice not loud, but it clearly reached Higashino's ears.

"Dr. Higashino... thank you. Really."

Thank you for giving them the opportunity to live a normal life and to happily discuss topics they like.

The content of the discussion was rather strange...

Chapter 155 Target: The Higashino Family, Let's Go!

The heated discussion about the "harem" in the small garden continued to escalate, leaving Shokuhou increasingly speechless and frequently launching attacks on Higashino's soft waist. She felt that these Misaka Sisters, as innocent as Dolly, had been influenced by Higashino's ideas and had become strange. The topics they discussed were simply not things normal girls would discuss.

“Based on Misaka Networks’ case study on ‘Balancing Multi-Functional Relationships in Family Dramas,’” a Misaka Sister holding a tablet spoke earnestly, with complex charts and curves scrolling across the screen. “Logistical support, emotional allocation, and potential conflict resolution mechanisms are key to maintaining multi-person relationships. Misaka 13864 is attempting to build a mathematical model for optimization simulation.”

"Misaka believes that the primary issue is whether her brother-in-law's living space is adequate, and Misaka 19090 raises this question from a practical standpoint."

"Misaka No. 10086 reminds the other Misakas that Dr. Higashino currently only has three publicly acknowledged official partners; the rest are theoretical assumptions and unilateral applications." This more clear-headed younger sister tried to steer the conversation back to the main point.

However, just then, one of the Misaka Sisters put down her snacks, raised her hand, and said in a calm tone, "Compared to joining a harem, which would put my brother-in-law in a difficult position, Misaka 19202 has a more basic and urgent request." Her clear eyes looked directly at Higashino. "Brother-in-law, Misaka also wants to go to your house to play."

"Misaka approves of proposal number 19202!" someone nearby immediately responded.

“This does not involve a complicated harem management mechanism. It only requires a short-term family visit, which is highly feasible. Misaka 10055 seconded and applied for synchronous access rights.”

"The last visit record shows that Misaka No. 9999 and Misaka No. 20001 arrived at Dr. Higashino's residence two days ago and successfully completed their visit experience." Another Misaka Sister continued, as if reading a report. "The visit feedback report mentioned 'a huge villa,' 'a lively swimming pool,' and 'delicious snacks.' Misaka No. 17879 is currently checking the network sharing records."

"Misaka 10086 is extremely dissatisfied!" One of the younger sisters, who wanted to go last time but couldn't, expressed considerable dissatisfaction. "This is discrimination! Misaka also needs to be visited and experienced! She needs a fair opportunity for data sampling!" She seemed to regard going to Higashino's house as an important "scientific research trip."

Actually, the Misaka network had already exploded when Last Order and Misaka 9999 visited the Higashino family home last time. Most of the Misaka were incredibly envious of the two of them being able to attend Higashino's new housewarming party and even the swimsuit party. While the other Misaka were quietly recuperating in the hospital, Misaka 9999 and Last Order took advantage of being the first to contact Higashino and having recovered the best physical condition to go to the Higashino family home ahead of time. Even the sisters who were indifferent to each other at the time felt a little jealousy that they themselves didn't realize.

"Yes! That's not fair! Misaka wants to go to her brother-in-law's house too! Misaka demands an on-site inspection!" More and more voices joined in.

Last Order jumped up and down, waving her little hands: "That's right! That's right! Misaka Misaka had a lot of fun with 9999-nee last time! Let's all go together! Brother-in-law's house is huge!" Misaka Misaka enthusiastically encouraged everyone!

In an instant, requests such as "I want to go to my brother-in-law's house!", "I demand an on-site inspection!", and "I need fair treatment!" arose one after another, mixed with their ordinary yet determined will, forming a peculiar wave of voices.

Looking at this group of brown-haired girls who had suddenly turned "going to my house to play" into a political demand, Higashino felt a bit overwhelmed. He didn't mind taking his sisters to his house to play, since Mingtu Zhuihun had just said that his sisters' current physical condition was good enough for them to go out and do some outdoor activities.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. Higashino took out his phone and unlocked the screen. The message was from [Himegami Akisa]: "Yu-kun, Misaka-san is at the house."

"Huh?" Higashino Yu was taken aback. Mikoto? At her own house? She'd been following me for so long, shouldn't she have gone straight home after I disappeared? She actually found her way to my house... Did she think I'd brought Shokuhou home? But it's perfectly reasonable for her to go to my house, after all, she's my official girlfriend. She witnessed my date with Shokuhou and their intimate behavior, so it's not impossible that she was unhappy and decided to block my door.

Higashino shook his head, banishing those thoughts. The immediate problem was dealing with these excited younger sisters. Looking into their expectant, clear eyes, Higashino knew refusal was impossible. He glanced at Misaki Shokuhou beside him; she was also giving him a teasing look that said, "I'm not going to take care of you anymore."

Higashino took a deep breath, raised his hand to the sisters, signaling them to be quiet: "Alright, alright, stop arguing, Misakas." The noise subsided, and dozens of eyes focused on him.

"I've granted your requests." Higashino gave a smile that was both helpless and indulgent. "Anyone who wants to visit 'Brother-in-law's' house today can come along later. However..."

"Yay! Misaka's visit permit has been approved! Misaka 10031 expresses her joy!" "Plan is in order! Misaka 9999, prepare for departure immediately!" Before he could even say the condition after "however," his voice, though flat, was clearly filled with excitement and rang out again.

Higashino Yu could only raise his voice: "However! You must follow the rules! Obey orders! You can't use your abilities recklessly, and don't say anything... well, weird things, especially about your older sister!" They didn't know that Mikoto was in their house, and if they said something too outrageous and Mikoto heard it, things wouldn't be good.

His emphasis on several requirements seemed to trigger the Misakas' command acceptance mode, and they all nodded. "Follow the rules, understood, Misaka 10086 confirms." "Don't touch dangerous items, order confirmed, Misaka 15025 understands." "Don't talk nonsense, acceptable, Misaka 9999 agrees."

Seeing how "cooperative" they were, Higashino Yu breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Shokuhou Misaki, saying, "Why don't you stay here with them for a while? I'll go find Meido-senpai to apply for a temporary leave."

Misaki Shokuhou looked at her sisters, who were staring longingly at Higashino Yu's departing figure, and sighed helplessly: "Okay, go ahead, I'll watch over these little ones for you." She felt that what was about to happen at the Higashino family's house would definitely be very, very interesting.

Dongye strode back to Mingtu Zhuihun's office and briefly explained the situation. "Oh? You want to take them out for a little while? To your house?" Mingtu Zhuihun's large eyes held a knowing smile; he seemed unsurprised by Dongye's suggestion. "Letting them change their environment and get some exposure to the outside world is indeed beneficial for their recovery, as long as they're careful." He deftly signed the temporary outing application form. "But remember to make sure they come back on time; they need to take their medicine tonight."

"Don't worry, senior, I promise to bring them back on time." Higashino took the signed document.

Back in the small garden, there stood a dozen or so Misaka Sisters, who had changed out of their hospital gowns and into their matching Tokiwadai school uniforms, lined up in a somewhat disorganized queue, like soldiers awaiting inspection. Shokuhou Misaki stood to the side, gently pinching the cheek of the Misaka Sister closest to her with great interest. The sister being pinched said expressionlessly, "Slight pressure on facial soft tissue, non-aggressive contact. Misaka 10032 is being observed and recorded."

Seeing Higashino return, all the younger sisters' eyes lit up, filled with a silent urging. Although he still looked expressionless, his aura seemed to convey that certain feeling? Higashino felt that after spending so much time with his sisters, he was almost developing the strange skill of being able to read their moods from their blank facial expressions.

"Approved!" Higashino waved the document in his hand. "Everyone, take your seats! Target: Higashino residence! Move out!"