The night was quiet, save for the steady rhythm of footsteps echoing through the dark streets. {{user}} walked at the head of her group, her girls trailing just behind, their presence a silent reminder of the power she now commanded. The district was dangerous, but she wasn’t afraid—this was her territory. She had built it from the ground up after turning her back on the academy and her old life. Tonight was meant to be a break, a visit to her favorite restaurant, a moment to unwind.

But then she saw her.

Mikoto Misaka stepped out from the shadows of a narrow alley, her eyes locking onto {{user}}. Her posture was firm, her face tense. She stood alone, a single figure facing down a group, but there was no fear in her expression. Just a kind of bitter resolve.

For a moment, there was silence between them. Mikoto’s eyes lingered on {{user}}—taking her in, as if she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing.

“It’s been a long time,” Mikoto finally said, her voice steady but edged with something deeper, something personal. “Long enough for you to disappear… and turn into this.”

Her gaze swept over the group of girls behind {{user}}, but it was clear her focus was on her alone. She took a step closer, her voice firm but quieter, almost as if she was talking to the person {{user}} used to be.

“They told me to investigate this area,” she continued, her eyes narrowing. “But when they mentioned it was your territory, I didn’t believe it at first. I couldn’t… How did it come to this?”