03x07 - (Dub) Auribus oculi fideliores sunt. (The eyes are more trustworthy than the ears)

[bunniefuu]

[MIKOTO]
I know you can hear me.

I avoided the
communication system.

Make no mistake.

If I ever see one
of these again,

or if they go near my friends,

or if you so much as
look in their direction...

...then no matter where you are,

I swear I'll find you.

And crush you.

[MIKOTO]
He ran away.

Well, Shokuho would
probably erase any memories

linked to her anyway,
so it wouldn't matter.

Not much info in the
truck's systems either.

They're careful,
I'll give them that.

I could pretty much
tell as soon as I saw

that giant robot bug,

but this isn't the
work of amateurs.

A vehicle this big
would have no choice

but to take the main roads,

so there are only so many
routes it could've followed.

If I check the area's
security camera footage,

I can trace where it
came from and find her.

[F STUDENT D] Still no luck on
picking up Misaka's trail?

[F STUDENT B]
Sorry.

So much for the easy way out.

All right then,
let's form teams of three

and go search for--

We would, but some of us
have an event

that's about to start.

And we can't really have this
many people skip out on it.

Just perfect.

Okay, those of us who
are left will have to look!

If only our queen
were here right now.

Has anyone been
in contact with her?

[F STUDENT B]
Not since last night.

So... Who's this "queen?"

Oh, they mean Misaki Shokuho.

She goes to our school.

The girls in her clique pretty
much always refer to her

as their "queen,"
if you can believe it.

Yeah?

Queen, huh?

If I'm remembering right,
Shokuho is that girl

who can manipulate memories.

Her flock of rich girls
have strange taste.

[door opens]

Thank you for
taking care of her.

Wannai, is Kongo's
condition stabilizing?

According to what
the doctor said,

none of the injuries
should leave her

with any permanent scars.

And they're sending
the nanodevice off

to an agency that
specializes in them.

Thank goodness. I guess we
can breathe easy, then.

[WANNAI]
I believe so.

Though there is one
thing we can still do.

[CAT meows]

Sorry to keep bothering
you with this.

[SWIM TEAM]
It's fine!

So, uh...

You can talk to cats?

Is that it?

Well, not exactly.

My ability is actually
psychometry,

which is in a completely
different class than telepathy.

So it's not as though I can
"communicate" with them.

All I can really do
with furry friends

is read their "qualia,"
or sensory experiences.

Though that does
let me pick up on info

that they themselves may
not be able to understand.

So it can be useful.

Oh.

[CAT meows]

You said to check yesterday
around noon, right?

Yes, that's what we've
heard, at least.

All right.

It looks like it was at a
construction site or stockyard.

I'm seeing a tall man there.

Oh, and someone else.

A girl, it looks like.

They started talking.

"One way or another,
we have the initiative."

"We don't have time
to bother with that now."

"What's happening with
Auribus oculi fideliores sunt?"

[WANNAI]
That's Latin.

I'm pretty sure it means
"The eyes are more trustworthy

than the ears."

Do you think that could
be some kind of cipher?

I, uh...

[SWIM TEAM] I think getting
anything more than that might

be difficult.

The kitty seems to have
been pretty shaken up.

Don't worry.

Thank you very much.

While it might not mean
anything to those of us

that are here,
the info you just uncovered

could prove to be
useful to Misaka.

Hey Saten, do you have
your cell phone on you?

Yeah. I've got it right here.

With the situation
as serious as it is,

I think it'd be best if
we reached out to Misaka

as soon as possible.

If it's not too much trouble,
could you call her for us?

No trouble at all.

[AWATSUKI]
All right, then.

Thanks for your assistance.

[WANNAI] We'll be in
Kongo's hospital room.

If anything comes up,
please let us know!

Roger, Roger!

All right, let's see.

Hold on a sec! Come back!

I don't know Misaka's
phone number...

I have it saved in here?

[MIKOTO] Checking the cameras
at every key intersection

is taking too much time.

At this rate, they might
make a run for it

before I even find them.

[MISUZU]
Oh!

It looks like Mikoto's
doing pretty well.

That's my daughter.

[UIHARU]
Aww, everything'll be okay.

You don't need to worry.

[MISUZU]
I know that hairband.

Hey, Uiharu!

Hi, Ms. Misuzu!

[MISUZU]
Who's this?

A boy who got lost.

Huh? In this crowd?

That's a big problem.

Do you want any help?

Thanks.

But I've already
contacted his father,

and he's on his way here.

How'd you do that?

[UIHARU] Well, everyone's
entrance pass, including yours,

is equipped with GPS
so our headquarters

can look up the location
of any visitor in a pinch.

[BOY A]
It's Dad! Dad!

[laughs]

[UIHARU]
Please be careful, okay?

[MISUZU]
Interesting.

I was wondering how you
managed these visitors.

There are so many,
it seemed impossible.

But you guys have everything
under control, huh?

[KOZAKU] Yes, but if someone
were to hack into that system,

they could use it to
locate specific visitors

wherever they may be,
Mikoto Misaka's mother.

I thought one hostage
would be enough

to catch her attention.

But this is the third-ranked
Level 5 I'm dealing with.

It couldn't hurt to snatch
myself a second.

[KUROKO] So what is this urgent
matter that you wanted

to talk to me about?

Well, uh...

I don't exactly have
a lot of free time today.

So can we please
make this quick?

[SATEN]
The thing is...

[KUROKO]
And how is she now?

[SATEN]
Her life isn't in any danger,

and Wannai and Awatsuki
are watching her,

so I think she'll be okay.

That's awful though.

Kongo has gone through
quite the ordeal today,

hasn't she?

Misaka seemed really
angry about everything

that happened.

I think she might
feel responsible.

[KUROKO]
Once again with Mikoto Misaka.

I believe I have a handle
on the situation.

But the part about
Mikoto Misaka possibly being

one of our friends is a bit of
a stretch, don't you think?

It's good to be cautious,
but paranoia is different.

[SATEN] Yeah I know,
that's why I said "possibly."

There's an esper at
Tokiwadai who can manipulate

memories, isn't there?

So, what, Misaki Shokuho
tampered with our memories?

Why would she do that?

Moreover, if you're really
concerned this happened,

why didn't you
contact Uiharu, too?

Because if this gut-feeling
of mine turns out

to be correct, we might
want to wait on that.

[KUROKO]
Mm?

[SATEN]
Don't worry about it.

I have to call her anyway.

So why don't we just
ask Misaka about this?

Well, I suppose you leave
me with no choice.

This doesn't seem
to be a situation I,

as a member of Judgment,
can ignore.

[phone ringing]

[MIKOTO]
Who would be calling me now?

Saten?

Uh, hello?

[SATEN] Oh, um, am I
speaking with Misaka?

This is Ruiko Saten,
remember me?

[MIKOTO]
Uh, yeah!

Thanks for filling
me in earlier.

I appreciate you telling
me what happened.

[SATEN]
Yeah, no prob.

Why are you nervous
just talking to her?

[SATEN] You're looking for
your little sister, right?

Well, we found her cat,

so we had someone who can
do psychometry check it out.

[MIKOTO]
I see. But I'm sorry.

You guys went through
all that trouble,

and I have no idea
what this man, or girl

who could be Shokuho
were talking about,

or even who they are.

Yeah.
See, about what they said...

They mentioned a name
and it turned out to be

one I'm familiar with.

Huh? Wait, really?

[SATEN] I was hoping I could
ask you more about

our relationship, too.

Is there someplace where
we could meet up?

[MIKOTO]
Okay, yeah!

[SATEN]
Where are you right now, then?

[MIKOTO] In front of the station
building in District 15,

upper deck of the plaza.

[SATEN] Cool, we're pretty
close to there.

Okay, why don't you
wait where you are

and Shirai will
come pick you up,

then we can talk here,
that sound good?

Excuse me, but I'm
not a taxi service,

thank you very much!

[MIKOTO]
Kuroko is there with you?

[KUROKO] There you are,
shouting my name out

to the world again!
Will you please stop?

[KOZAKU B]
Misaka?

There's a little
something I was hoping

you might be willing to tell me.

Do you have a minute to chat?

I'm pretty busy right now.

I don't have time to be
chatting with strangers,

especially sketchy ones.

However, if you have something
to do with the people

who hurt my friend,
that's a different story.

What do you want?

[KOZAKU B] Whoa, just like that
and you're in combat mode.

Well, what do you have
to say about this?

[MIKOTO]
Uiharu?

That's better.

Now first off, why don't
you hang up that phone

and toss it aside for me?

[KOZAKU B]
Good girl.

I don't need to introduce
myself, do I?

I mean, you attacked
so many of our villas

and made off with our data.
I really shouldn't have to.

What does that mean?

I "attacked your villas"?

When?

[KOZAKU B] Oh, please,
you can't play dumb now.

I know that you've
been snooping around.

So you must already know
what I'm about to ask you.

Those clones of yours,
the ones known as "Sisters."

Where exactly are they hiding?

You know, I've done a very
thorough investigation

into how you interfered
with Project Level 6 Shift.

So I know there's no way
you'd be in the dark

about what happened to
your sisters after that.

It's likely they're still
somewhere in Academy City.

So where are they being kept?

[MIKOTO]
What's going on here?

I figured she was working
with Shokuho,

but maybe not.

[KOZAKU B] Our underground
intelligence network

is searching around the clock,
but for some reason,

whenever we look
into the "Sisters,"

our trail goes cold.

There must be some real
seasoned professionals

keeping them out of sight.

I honestly don't have a
clue who you people are,

but what do you think
assaulting my friends

is going to get you?

[KOZAKU B]
Really?

You think you're in a position
to be high and mighty?

In my humble opinion,
you're the one who's messed up.

Somehow you manage to
just go about your life

in this city
like everything's fine.

I mean, you know, after all
the horrors you've seen.

The inhuman atrocities
that were carried out

trying to achieve Level 6.

The human experimentation
that went on

using Child Errors.

Using negotiators to swindle
people out of their DNA maps.

And it's not like
that stuff was all done

by one organization,
or a single,

highly influential bad guy.

If you trace them backward,

they all lead
straight to the top.

To Academy City's higher-ups.

Considering what
you've been through,

you must realize this whole city
is one big proving ground.

No.

You aren't like the other
students who live

in blissful ignorance.

And yet you turn
a blind eye to the truth,

and continue to live
in this repulsive place.

I'm impressed that you
could be so apathetic.

And what do you know?

Never mind.

None of that has
anything to do with this.

The fact is, you hurt
my friends and frankly,

that's all that I care
about right now.

I have nothing to tell you.

Now let Uiharu go.

That knife won't move an inch.

My shocks will go
through you faster than

you can strike.

[KOZAKU B]
Called her by name, huh?

Then you do know her!

She was acting pretty
chummy with your mother,

so I suspected as much.

But it's good to know
my instincts were correct.

What do you mean?

My mother?

[MIKOTO]
No... Mama!

There's two of her?

[KOZAKU B] Good luck trying to
precision strike two targets

at once.

The lives of these two far
outweigh giving up

the location of the clones.

I'm sure you agree.

So I'll ask you again.

Where are the Sisters?

[MIKOTO] And I'll say this
one more time, too.

I have nothing to tell you.

[KOZAKU B] Oh, dear, you don't
think I'm bluffing, do you?

Or are you just that
willing to abandon

your family and friends?

[MIKOTO]
I... I'm going to save Uiharu.

Even if it kills me.

I swear.

[KOZAKU B laughs]

Does that mean you don't
care about your mother?

You're awfu--[gasps]

[KOZAKU]
Ugh, seriously?

I tried to negotiate,
but that's over.

Sorry about this, "Mommy."

I can't have her thinking
I'm all bark and no bite!

So if you have to blame someone,

blame your daughter
for letting you die--

--[KUROKO grunts]
--[KOZAKU gasps]

[KOZAKU]
She had a friend nearby?

[KUROKO] Her breathing, pulse,
and temperature are normal.

From what I can see,
she's not injured.

Ran off, huh?

I would like to go after her,

but the safety of
the hostage comes first.

Besides, I can ask
her what happened.

I think Uiharu is all right.

She doesn't look hurt.

--[KUROKO] Please back away!
--[MIKOTO] Huh? Hold on.

I'm a member of Judgment.

I'm charging you with
kidnapping and as*ault.

--You're under arrest--
--[MIKOTO] Kuroko!

Get away from her!

[MIKOTO]
That girl... isn't human?

My bolts have no effect.

Kuroko, teleport these
two someplace safe.

[MIKOTO]
My electricity didn't stop her.

Will my railgun even work?

[MIKOTO]
She melted?

What the...?

That's weird.

Is that some kind
of liquid metal?

[MIKOTO] It looked like she
was controlling it remotely,

like a puppet.

Makes sense.
But then why did she stop?

I'm not sure.

But if this is
that girl's ability,

then maybe she
fled out of range.

[KOZAKU] Well, I'm not
supposed to let Mikoto die,

so I did what I could, I guess.

I gotta admit, negotiating with
her head-on is not simple.

But she can easily
take care of someone

hiding behind a camera too,
so no choice.

You know what?

I should be glad I got anything
at all out of that encounter.

And what does that mean?

I "attacked your villas?" When?

[KOZAKU]
I brushed it off at the time,

but she would gain
nothing by denying that.

Eyewitness reports had me
convinced that it was Mikoto,

but maybe it's possible
that testimony was false.

Meaning...

It's also possible that
the witnesses' memories

were altered.

I'd better change how
I approach this. Besides...

And what do you know?

There may still be
some hope for her.

[KUROKO] Well?
Are you just gonna stand there?

Or are you gonna tell me
what that was about?

Huh? Sorry.

Believe me when I say
I have no idea

who that was, either--

[KUROKO]
I'm bothered by that, as well,

but I'm talking about
your actions.

You acted as if you somehow
knew I was going

to be there to back you up.

[KUROKO]
You told that girl quite clearly

that you intended to save
Uiharu and not your mother.

That was meant for me,

so I'd know who
to target, right?

I mean, after I had
to hang up on you two,

I could sense the E-M
signal of an incoming call

to Uiharu's cell,

and figured Saten was
calling her to make sure

everything was okay
since I said her name.

I had already told you
where I was,

and knowing you,
you could be here

in less than ten seconds,
so I assumed you were

hiding somewhere nearby.

Thank you for letting me take
care of rescuing your friend.

Uiharu is a member of Judgment.

It's only natural to give
priority to a civilian

over a coworker.

I should be asking you why
you left your mother's life

in the hands of a stranger.

[MIKOTO]
Mm...

If I had prioritized
Mama over a friend,

she would have been
furious with me.

Besides...

I just had faith in you.

I knew I could
trust you to save her.

So that's why.

Well... All right.

That is my job after all,

so it makes sense
that you'd think--

[MIKOTO]
Are you okay?

Sorry.

You're hurt and I
made you exert yourself.

Huh? No, I'm perfectly fine!

I do not require your
unwelcome concern!

Will you chill out?

Come on, hold on to me tight.

[KUROKO]
I... I'll be fine on my own!

Let me go.

I think you may have
misunderstood me!

[SATEN]
Good news.

It sounds like neither
of them were hurt.

They said they should
both wake up in no time.

Thank goodness.

So.

You said you needed to speak
with us about something?

Yeah. Uh...

So, the person who
kidnapped your sister,

the girl in that
kitten's memory.

You think it's safe for us to
assume it's Misaki Shokuho?

[MIKOTO]
Yeah.

I can't really think of anyone
else that it could be.

[SATEN] Well, that thing we
heard from the psychometry,

the auribus-whatever-it-was
Latin?

That's the name of
an urban legend site

that I've been
checking out lately.

A website for urban legends?

Where are you going with this?

What does that have to do
with a girl like Misaki Shokuho?

The thing is,
the site doesn't just collect

a bunch of different rumors--

it actually goes around
confirming their details

as best they can.

And yesterday,
when I was off trying to find

some Shadow Metal,

Uiharu was looking for
the site to feed me info,

but said she couldn't find it.

So not long ago,

I tried searching
for it again, but...

Sure enough, there's a whole
bunch of similar results,

but I can't find the original
site no matter how far I scroll.

It's impossible to
completely erase any data

once it's posted on
the internet. And so...

I was thinking that somebody
could have distributed

a bunch of meaningless,
substitute data

that would show up in
searches before the site

to keep people from reaching it.

Okay. That means there's
something on that site

that was a problem for someone,
and they wanted it taken down.

Right.

Knowing Uiharu,
she'd have sensed something

out of place and tried
to hunt down the cause.

She also has the skill
to actually find it.

But this somebody
probably detected

what Uiharu was doing
and attacked her.

Assuming it was Shokuho,

she would have had
Uiharu erase the data.

And then, after
searching her memories,

she'd also have learned
that she's a good friend

of mine.

That would explain
everything that's happened.

I know it sounds like
a crazy conclusion to draw

from trying to connect
the dots, but still,

if it's true, then we
have the computer.

[MIKOTO] I think it's
worth checking it out.

[GROUP gasps]

She restored the erased data!

There it is!

[MIKOTO]
Shokuho!

[KUROKO]
The Railgun of Tokiwadai.

She's an obnoxious girl
who brags about being

a Level 5!

At least, that's what I thought.

But what's with that
smile of hers?

Why does it feel like
my heart is in a vice-grip

whenever I run into this girl?

[UIHARU]
Well, you are rather excitable.