Cicatrize

36

Experimental Log #93

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from the patient's circulatory system and propagated ex vivo under conditions designed to mimic hematopoietic activation. The aim was to inhibit the expression of quirk factors. Despite recombination with the inactivated gene of those previously associated with quirk factor inhibition in donor, the production of quirk factor continued spontaneously under standard culture conditions. This unexpected persistence suggests the involvement of alternative regulatory pathways, possibly through epigenetic memory or redundant genetic circuits that bypass the inactivated genes.

Chisaki leaned back into his chair as he finished logging the results of yet another one of his experiments. This time, he had been extra careful as to even provide the cells procured from your body, the inactive form of the quirk gene in hopes of your cells using the newly inserted gene as a template to not produce quirk factors. But it had been of no use.

It seemed as if your cells had a built-in set of instructions that ordered them to produce quirk factors, no matter the condition. Even if Chisaki tried a million times over to deactivate your quirk factors, your cells still produces more activated quirk factors. He couldn't understand where your cells were getting the template to produce the quirk factor protein when you literally lacked the genetic information in your DNA, that coded for quirks.

It was like building a skyscraper without the blueprints. No model, no calculations, no nothing.

He raised his hand and pressed his palm against his forehead, using his thumb and fingers to gently massage his temples in an attempt to relieve the headache that was already starting to form.

He didn't know where to go with the direction his research was leading him towards. His initial plan to study the relationship between the expression of quirk factor proteins and the quirk gene using your body as an ideal specimen, let alone the phenotypic results obtained from mutating the quirk gene, was completely thrashed because your stupid cells were refusing to follow the central dogma of molecular genetics!

He tried to think up some sort of explanation for your cells acting the way that they were, but the few suggestions that he was coming up with were very weak theories, some that had already been disproven by Chisaki himself.

Just as he was busy trying to think of any other reason as to why your cells were persistently producing quirk factors, his thoughts were interrupted by the frantic rapping on the door, turning his attention towards the knocks.

"Who is it?" He growled, his patience already running thin with the results lying in front of him. The last thing he needed was the stupidity of his subordinates to ruin his mood any further. The knocking stopped, and there was a pregnant silence before a low voice answered.

"It's Kurono."

"What is it?"

The clock-haired man took this as a cue to enter, slightly opening the door ajar ever so slightly, "It's... Dabi. He's seemed to have gone off the record. We can't get in contact with him–"

"That's all? Is that why you dared bother me, right now, of all times?" Chisaki's words were dripping in venom as he shot a dangerous glare towards the younger man. Kurono, despite the sweat that dripped down the side of his forehead, didn't let the fear show on his face.

"I understand, but he isn't an ordinary member. I'm afraid he might be plotting something, or he may have already–"

"I don't care what he's doing." Kai answered, already redirecting his focus back to the papers strewn across him. "On the chance that the rabid dog has turned against us, send some men to look for him. You have the permission to kill him on the spot when you find him. Take care of the matter."