"Mitori-chan! Is that really you?!"

At the doorway Dolly finally snapped out of her shock.

Tears welled up at once in those eyes—so like Misaka Mikoto's, yet softer and purer.

Without another thought, like a bird homing to its nest, she threw herself at Kōzaku Mitori!

"Dolly!!!"

Mitori spread her arms and sprinted forward as well.

The two crashed together in the middle of the office, clutching each other so hard they nearly lost their balance but never loosened their hold.

"M-Mitori-chan… sob… I thought… I'd never see you again…"

Dolly buried her face in the hollow of Mitori's neck and wailed.

Her scalding tears soaked straight through Mitori's grimy coat.

Mitori's body shook violently.

She hugged the friend she had regained from the abyss, feeling the solid warmth, the heartbeat, the familiar scent—salted with tears and dust yet painfully real.

An almost unreal happiness flooded her, sweeping away every defence, every hatred, every shred of despair.

Her mouth opened, and no sound came out; only boiling tears, like pearls from a snapped string, raced down her dirt‑streaked cheeks.

She could do nothing but hold Dolly ever tighter, as though to knead her into her very bones—terrified this was merely a beautiful dream.

"Dolly… it really is you? You're alive—alive…"

At last Mitori found her voice, choking out the words again and again, the huge joy of recovery written all over her.

She drank in every real sensation: the living warmth, the faint tremble of shoulders, the tears dampening her neck… everything shouting that this was not a dream.

Her dear friend Dolly had truly come back!

Misaka Mikoto stood aside, silently watching two girls weep in each other's arms.

She saw the hatred that had once blazed in Mitori's eyes wash away, leaving nothing but the joy of reunion. The unease Mikoto had nursed from the start bent, at last, into a relieved little smile.

At the same time, a gentle resonance rippled through the Misaka Network—countless tiny voices sharing the happiness of this moment.

Shokuhō Misaki turned her back and walked to the floor‑to‑ceiling window.

Golden hair hid her profile; her slim shoulders quivered almost imperceptibly.

No one saw her face, but Mikoto could sense the swirl of comfort, release, nostalgia for lost time—perhaps even a trace of indescribable envy—under that elegant silhouette.

Shokuhō saw in Mitori a reflection of her own past: it was through impersonating Dolly once that she met the girl and became her friend. Raising a hand, she seemed to brush the corner of her eye.

A long while later the loud sobs dwindled to muffled sniffles. Dolly and Mitori were still locked together, unwilling to part.

"Ahem."

Mikoto cleared her throat, breaking the heavy but tender atmosphere. With a touch of teasing she asked, "So… you two really do know each other?"

Dolly, cheeks blotchy and eyes swollen like little peaches, lifted her head at last. Nodding hard, voice still thick with tears, she said:

"Mm‑hm! Onee‑sama, Misaki‑chan—Mitori-chan was one of my very best friends back in the Artificial Talent Workshop!"

Her tear‑sparkling smile shone with pure regained happiness.

Mitori, too, looked up; the look she gave Mikoto and Shokuhō had changed completely. The towering hatred was gone, replaced by confusion, incredulous gratitude, and the dazed relief of a survivor.

She opened her mouth, seemed about to speak, but only hugged Dolly tighter, still afraid the miracle might vanish.

Shokuhō finally turned, composure restored—though her eyes were faintly red. Approaching with unhurried grace, she met Mitori's gaze, starry eyes gentle and tinged with apology.

"Do you believe it now, Kōzaku‑san?

The miracle was late, but it happened in the end."

Flooded with information and emotion, Mitori could only nod hard. Tears slid silently down—no longer tears of despair, but fresh springs of hope washing every shadow away.

"Sigh. Looks like the whole thing was one huge misunderstanding," Mikoto muttered, half exasperated.

Was her prototype clone Dolly secretly too charming? First Shokuhō, now Kōzaku: one after another ready to defy Academy City's brass for Dolly's sake. How was she supposed to react to that?

Well, they clearly couldn't tackle Mitori's case right now. Better to let the two girls have a proper cry first.

"Talk to each other as long as you need," she said, then dragged Shokuhō toward the door.

"???"

Out in the corridor Shokuhō shook off her hand. "Why are we leaving?"

Mikoto rolled her eyes. "What, you want to stay and eavesdrop?"

"I'm Dolly's bestie too!" Shokuhō pouted.

"Quit it. We still have to discuss Mitori and the 'Tool' project with Rei Ao."

"…Fine," Shokuhō conceded—then muttered, "If it's Rei Ao‑kun, he'll probably want everything."

"???"

Mikoto was baffled. What sort of line was that?! Yet, thinking about it… it was probably true, which meant they were basically helping that lecher build a harem.

"So annoying…" she grumbled.

~~~

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