Date Acceleration II

Chapter 5

In the hallway, Artemisia and Lilith emerged from the room, their expressions a mix of exasperation and amusement. The echoes of the debate from inside drifted out into the corridor, carrying with them snippets of the ongoing discussion.

"Now they're talking about politics," Lilith remarked with a sigh, shaking her head. 

"Something about America trying to catch up with Britain's dominance, and China trying to enter the market with their products. And then there's some conspiracy theory about Russia preparing to go to war with DEM."

Artemisia chuckled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "I'm more inclined to believe in World War III at this point," she said with a laugh, clearly finding the debate's shift to geopolitics both ridiculous and entertaining.

Lilith raised an eyebrow, her tone laced with skepticism. "That's a bit extreme. Russia launching a full-scale invasion? That only happens in fiction. It's not as if the world's going to implode overnight."

Artemisia nodded, still smiling. "Yeah, it's all just noise. I think they're having fun with it, though. It's their way of blowing off steam."

They walked down the hallway, the sounds of the debate grew fainter, replaced by the soft hum of the building's air conditioning. As their conversation continued, weaving through light-hearted banter and occasional laughter. They passed by a partially opened door and, curious, decided to take a peek inside. To their surprise, they found Accelerator sprawled out on a bed, sleeping peacefully.

Artemisia's eyes widened slightly, a giggle escaping her lips as she took in the sight. "He looks like a cat," she said, her tone playful and affectionate.

Lilith nodded, her gaze softening as she observed Accelerator's serene expression. "Yeah, until that cat goes psycho on its prey," she said with a smirk. Her expression then grew more serious. "We're going to have one long talk when we get back to work. I can't have him flashing that creepy smile at his enemies. It's not working anymore, and it's getting old."

Artemisia's laughter faded into a thoughtful expression. "True. He's got a lot of potential, but his approach is... well, let's say unconventional. It's good to see him at peace for once, though."

Lilith sighed, massaging her forehead with a thoughtful expression. 

"I just have this feeling that something big is on the horizon. You know how these things go—sometimes the quiet moments are just the calm before the storm."

◈

A few days after the vacation forced to him by Ellen Mathers

Accelerator's eyes were fixed on the black van as he maintained his stealthy pursuit, blending seamlessly with his surroundings. His vector manipulation made him virtually invisible to both human eyes and sophisticated radar systems, allowing him to follow without detection.

He trailed the vehicle, Accelerator's attention was momentarily diverted by a bright, colorful banner fluttering on a nearby lamppost. The banner advertised a cosplay convention, featuring a variety of characters from popular media. His gaze landed on one particular guest appearance: a strikingly familiar figure with features reminiscent of Nia. The resemblance was uncanny, with the same piercing eyes and confident stance that he had come to associate with her.

Accelerator's focus shifted back to the black van, but the appearance on the banner lingered in his mind. The striking similarity to Nia was unsettling, and he couldn't help but wonder if it was merely a coincidence or if there was some deeper connection. Despite the distraction, he kept his pace steady, maintaining his cover as he followed the car through the bustling city streets.