Vol 1 Chapter 23 (1/2)
[Novel] NO 6 - Vol 1 Ch 2 (c)
This is a continuation of PART B
Hope He repeated the word silently It was a word he hadn't used for years It was neither sweet nor bitter, but it sloarmed him from deep inside of his body
Hope What do I hope for?
His promised future had collapsed What was left to hies from his job, and his own sixteen-year-old body What hope resided in those? He wasn't sure But he was sure that he hadn't completely lost hope either
They entered the station The old-town district where shi+on lived was located adjacent to the West Block and the city border, and functioned as a sort of buffer zone between the city centre and the West Block It was called Lost Town A far cry from the tranquility of the city centre, it was a squalid place, dense with people The station they were in was also very crowded The faint smell of deep-fried food and alcohol wafted in the air
”I'ed insect on her shoulder Brushi+ng it away, shi+on asked a nonchalant question
”Be careful Oh, when are you off for your exchange again?”
”In two days”
”Two days!” shi+on exclaimed ”Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
”Because I didn't want to Would you have thrown me a farewell party if I did?”
Safu jutted her chin out defiantly
”shi+on, I want to ask so from you”
”Sure, if I can et it to you in time”
”Your sperm”
Safu looked shi+on in the eyes as she said those words She didn't blink once shi+on gaped at her open-mouthed
”Did you hear me? I want your sperm”
”Uh― what? Safu um―”
”Out of all the people I know, you would probably be the most superior sperm donor Your sperm and my ovum Don't you think it would produce the most perfect child? I want it, shi+on I want your sperm”
”Artificial insemination needs permission from the city,” shi+on answered cautiously
”Getting peres artificial insemination between people who possess excellent DNA and superior skills”
shi+on sed, and turned away The winged insect crossed his line of vision, buzzing incessantly Irritation welled up inside him
”Safu, I don't know if I told you this, but I've never known my father I don't know his personality, his stature, or if he had any illnesses”
”I know But parents don't eno I need to know about your genetic information”
”And then if you do get the infor in there that you don't want, what are you going to do?”
”Well”
”Safu, what are you trying to get at? Do you think a hu is entirely what his DNA base sequence tells us he is? Sure, you can look upto tell you aboutkids like it's easy, but―”
”I know a lot more about you than you think!”
Safu's voice cut him off shrilly People turned their heads as they passed
”We've been together since ere two I knohat kind of person you are, what you like to do I know I know, and I' you this― you're the one who doesn't know anything”
”What?”
Safu , but he couldn't catch it He bent toward her slightly so he could hear better
”I want to have sex with you”
Her words rang clear in shi+on's ears
”Safu”
”I don't want your sperm I don't want artificial inse kids or not I want to have sex with you That's it”
”Wait, uh― wait a minute Safu, I―”
”Right now”
shi+on inhaled The greasy scent of fried food wafted into his nostrils The clock chiht o'clock
”Not now”
”Why not? Because you're not interested in me? Or not interested in sex?”
”I'm interested in both But I don't want to do it, not noith you”
”So it's because it's with me?”
”No― my body would probably respond no problem Even now I'm but― but that's why I don't want to I don't want to sleep with you on a spur of the moment”
”You know that's like saying you've never seen me in that way before”
”Yeah I always thought of you as a friend”
”I can't believe it”Safu sighed in exasperation ”Why are you such a kid? Whatever I' home”
”Safu, in two years―”
”Hm?”
”Your exchange is for two years, right? When you come back, I'll ask this time”
”If I want to have sex?”
”Yeah”
”You're a bonafide idiot if I ever saw one I don't kno you could have co that laid-back”
”Stay safe Don't work too hard”
”Oh, you can count onhard I'll work so hard, it'll keep all the boys away”
With a casual wave of her hand in farewell, Safu turned around, and gave a srey animal darted past Safu's feet and scurried up shi+on's body
”A mouse!”
A small mouse about the size of shi+on's pinky sat on his shoulder, twitching its nose
”I'm surprised to see mice in this city But it is kind of cute,” Safu mused
”Pretty friendly, too”
The ht its face close to shi+on's ear
”Still a natural,” it whispered
He felt an electric shock run through hiers, bounded off his shoulder and shot toward the station exit True, this was an older district―but Lost Toas still within city liiene Bureau saw to the complete removal of all pests, ani the mouse that sped past their feet Shrieks of surprise and bursts of anxious buzzing rose from the crowd
And at the very end of it, shi+on saw a pair of grey eyes It was for a fleeting instant A jolt pierced through his body again
”Nezumi!”