"Mm…"
In a haze, the girl opened her eyes, greeted by a sleek, silver-white metallic ceiling glinting with faint lights.
Dolly awoke in the institute, a full day after the events of the previous chapter.
"Samuel-nii…"
As she lifted her head, the first sight to greet her was Samuel, seated beside her on a chair, eyes closed in rest.
She remembered his name and the moments before her last lapse into unconsciousness.
"Hm?"
She was still weak, terribly so, but her body no longer felt hollow.
If she had once been a hollow wooden shell, now she was a fragile sapling—still frail, but brimming with a newfound vitality.
Gently pulling aside her simple patient gown, she saw that the dense scars that once marred her body had vanished. In their place was smooth, flawless skin.
This battered, broken body had truly been reborn.
"Could it be…?"
Dolly's eyes widened in astonishment. She knew her old body better than anyone, and this one felt entirely foreign.
"Did nii-san save me?"
She recalled Samuel's resolute tone: "No, with me here, you won't die!"
Her tea-colored eyes narrowed slightly, a blissful smile spreading across her face. Only those who had lost everything could truly cherish what they regained, and for Dolly, born destined to lose her health, the joy of reclaiming it was overwhelming.
Samuel, who had brought her this happiness, naturally carved a place in her heart, second only to her two closest friends.
"Has he… been watching over me this whole time?"
She gazed at Samuel, still seated with his eyes closed, as if he'd been waiting so long he'd fallen asleep from exhaustion.
"Why, though?"
Doubt crept into her mind. She knew her previous condition well—saving her must have required immense effort.
Yet she and Samuel were strangers. She had nothing of value to offer anyone.
To go to such lengths to heal her and wait by her side for her to wake…
She was truly perplexed.
"Could it be…?"
A sudden thought struck her.
She knew she was a clone. If Samuel had no connection to her, could he be linked to her "original"?
That would explain why he saved her.
The idea brought a pang of disappointment, but her heart clung to it as the most plausible explanation.
After all… she was just a clone, destined to be discarded, worth no more than a few hundred thousand yen—a mere tool. Beyond this connection, she couldn't fathom why.
Though disappointed, she could accept it. Her optimistic nature pushed the thought aside for now.
Dolly's petite frame slowly climbed down from the hospital bed, approaching Samuel.
"So beautiful!"
Her eyes sparkled at the sight of him. She had never seen someone so perfect—flawless features, a face so dreamlike it seemed meticulously crafted.
If Samuel's appearance had a flaw, it was that it was too perfect, leaving no room for improvement.
As mentioned before, his immense computational capacity didn't just make life easier—it shaped his entire existence.
From his appearance to his lifestyle.
Subtly, his vast computational power molded him according to his subconscious ideal of perfection, blending innate gifts with calculated precision to create this ethereal visage.
If appearances were ranked like esper levels, Samuel's would undoubtedly be Academy City's ultimate goal: Level 6.
"With a mortal body, he bears the visage of a god."
Dolly extended her small hand, cautiously reaching toward Samuel's face.
Her cheeks flushed, her eyes darting nervously around, like a kitten sneaking a treat—utterly adorable.
"You're awake!"
Samuel's eyes snapped open. Though dark, they seemed to shimmer with traces of a starry sky, their beauty leaving Dolly momentarily stunned.
"Hey!"
Seeing her dazed expression, Samuel frowned slightly and called out again.
"Ah? Oh!"
Startled, Dolly snapped back to reality, instinctively stumbling backward. Embarrassment surged, her face turning crimson.
Her sudden movement aggravated her frail body, and her legs gave out, sending her tumbling backward.
Samuel swiftly reached out, his arm circling her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
"Eek!"
Dolly squeezed her eyes shut, her body curling instinctively. The expected pain never came, but the sensation of his arm around her waist lingered.
Peeking open her right eye, she cautiously glanced up and saw Samuel's faintly impassive face.
Then she realized she was cradled in his arms.
"Ah! I don't want to get pregnant!"
"???"
Dolly's outburst left Samuel utterly baffled, as if he were about to raise his hands for imaginary handcuffs.
But he quickly recovered.
"Dummy, this won't make you pregnant. Though, if you want to try, I wouldn't mind…"
Samuel's teasing remark was bold enough that, if Judgment or Anti-Skill were present, tomorrow's headlines might read: "Shock! Judgment Chief Sentenced to Three Years—Has the Committee Head Lost in Upper-Echelon Power Struggles?"
"It won't? But… Mitsumi said if a man holds you, you'll get pregnant!"
Dolly tilted her head, puzzled.
"Mitsumi? Oh, you mean Keikaku Mitsumi?"
Samuel quickly recalled the name.
Keikaku Mitsumi, Level 4, with the ability "Liquid Shadow," was a rather intriguing esper. Currently a fugitive, she had attempted to sabotage the Talent Workshop and failed, earning a wanted status.
His mind rapidly processed her profile, but he continued, "No, you misunderstood her meaning. You'll understand when you're older."
"Older? Can… Dolly still grow up?"
Given her body's prior state, merely surviving was a luxury, let alone "growing up."
"Well… your physical growth might be limited."
Dolly's head drooped in disappointment.
"But growing up isn't just about the body—it's about the heart."
As he spoke, Samuel pointed to her chest, near her heart.
"Eep!"
Her face flushed again, and she lowered her head, murmuring, "Mitsumi said… a girl's chest isn't for boys to touch, and anyone who touches Dolly's is a total pervert. Are you a pervert, nii-san?"
"…I'm exposed!"