episode_0315

Jin got up from his seat, operated his computer, and displayed photos on the large screen installed behind him.

The first thing that filled the screen were pictures of missing children.

Pictures of thousands of children flashed by quickly.

“This is…”

“These are young people with powers who have gone missing in the past year.”

I couldn’t examine each and every one in detail.

I just blankly stared at the photos passing by like flowing water.

I swallowed dry saliva.

Although it was something I had expected to some extent, seeing it with my own eyes required more determination.

It seemed like sweat was running down my forehead.

“Do you really want to see it?”

Jin asked me.

It was almost as if he was asking me if I could handle it.

In those unwavering eyes, a small girl is reflected.

The girl nodded.

Stealthily.

With small movements.

Jin’s eyes close.

He nodded and waved his hand.

The screen changes.

The last known locations of the missing children emerge rapidly, forming a pattern at regular intervals.

The screen turns quickly.

Knock-knock-knock.

Every time Jin’s hands struck the keyboard, a large circle was drawn.

The completed circle gradually shrinks.

The shrinking circle eventually points to a large building.

An incredibly large aquarium.

“Aquarium…?”

Next to the aquarium there was also a large research facility.

The surface name is Area 4 Marine Life Research Center.

“The last place the missing children were found. We tracked the vehicle that was found there.”

“Was that an aquarium vehicle?”

“There were many other candidates, but there’s a high probability that this vehicle was near the children’s last known location.”

As Jin typed on the keyboard, a picture of a large vehicle appeared on the screen.

A spacious cargo area built to transport large loads.

A cute penguin mark drawn on its surface.

“Seo, no way.”

“You’re right.”

Jin said that and tapped the keyboard.

The screen turns.

“But I wasn’t sure. So there was no clear evidence. So I looked up a list of animals that had recently been transported to the aquarium.”

As Jin speaks, a list of dozens of marine life appears on the screen.

This was a settlement document.

Superficial documentation showing that these creatures were purchased from the aquarium in question.

As I was browsing through the information on marine life, I was able to find one thing in common.

The size and weight were similar.

It didn’t go beyond the big picture.

The average size was around 140cm, and the average weight was also around 30-40kg, so the margin of error was small.

widely-

Jin’s hands struck the keyboard, making a loud sound.

My thoughts are cut off.

I stared blankly at the screen.

The light on the screen goes out.

Black.

A black screen was shining on my face.

The girl’s lips were slightly raised with an expression of strange excitement.

I was startled and touched my face.

Strange expression.

An expression you never want to show to Shine or Amy.

interest?

Are you interested?

curiosity?

no.

That’s not it.

This is anticipation.

Jin fortunately did not seem to notice my expression and turned around to continue speaking.

“You get the general idea, right? Do you need a more detailed explanation?”

“… No.”

Hide your voice trembling with excitement.

I took a deep breath and looked at Jin’s back.

“I needed to confirm one last time. Even though Mr. Ferman is watching over us, we can’t just do something recklessly.”

As Jin said that, he activated the small remote control on the desk.

Light returns to the screen that had been dark.

The connected device is a television, not a computer.

News was streaming on the screen.

People running around busily and black smoke rising.

The screen captures a half-collapsed aquarium and a marine research center with only a few traces left.

On the floor, lumps of red flesh of unknown origin were rolling around, crushed together.

The news anchor was repeating the word “terrorist group” like a parrot.

At that moment.

I opened my mouth when I saw a man caught on the screen.

The cameraman was filming people being rescued from the flames.

Survivors of the research facility.

They are carried out on stretchers or are walked out with difficulty while being supported.

White gown.

A familiar sight.

“Ah…!”

“Jeff. Let’s stop seeing each other now.”

just now!

That guy just now!

I reached out towards the screen.

But it didn’t reach.

Because Shine came up behind me and pulled me backwards while hugging me.

“Okay, wait! Over there!”

I moved forward, waving my arms, but the screen changed.

I let out a sigh of regret and stared at the screen in vain.

The newscaster kept saying the word terrorist group.

But that wasn’t the point.

Clearly, I felt like I had discovered someone very important.

Something you can’t miss.

I had to find the researcher in the white coat.

“Let go of this!”

“Jeff, calm down. It’s over.”

It’s not over.

Still, it’s there.

I have to go there now.

Right now.

I felt like I found something I had lost.

I had a feeling that if I missed it now, I would never get it.

“Jeff!”

“Ouch!”

Shine pulled my body hard.

My body, which had lost all strength and was staggering, eventually collapsed onto the sofa.

Shine didn’t miss the gap and grabbed my shoulder as she spoke.

“Jeff. What’s wrong? Why are you so excited all of a sudden? That’s a rerun?”

“Ah. Uh. Well. I think I should go now.”

“You have to go? Where? Why?”

“Uh…”

Thump, thump, thump.

The heart that was beating wildly calms down.

Shine’s buzzing voice calmed me down.

I looked back at myself a little calmly.

Why am I so excited?

Why did I feel the need to go there?

The baby was asleep now.

I was in a deep sleep, resting.

The baby that Shine fixed didn’t want to go outside.

I want a cute dinosaur toy.

So this was my thinking clear.

All mine.

my.

mine?

My body?

“Jeff.”

“Yeah…”

“Calm down.”

“Ahh…”

Huh- Huh-

When I came to my senses, I was breathing heavily without realizing it.

A cold sweat runs down my back.

Shine was hugging me and patting my back.

The smell of shine.

A warm, sunny scent.

My sister.

“Jin, Jeff seems tired. Can I have some cocoa please?”

“What? Cocoa? Do you think there’s something like that here?”

“There it is.”

“There is, but…”

Jin sighed and started rummaging through the drawers.

Are you tired?

I?

I just slept until just now?

“Should we take a break? Wasn’t that story just too horrible?”

no.

It was nothing.

Rather, I felt interested.

With those kids, it’s a different direction…

“Jeff.”

“Ah. Ugh…”

“Jeff is tired.”

“Really…?”

When I heard it, it seemed like that.

I grabbed my forehead.

My forehead was hot.

It felt dizzy, just like Shine said.

Judging from your fever, I think you might have a cold.

He let out a long sigh and stretched out on the sofa.

As my strength drained away and I sagged, Shine came over and sat down next to me.

She never left me for a single moment.

As I was absentmindedly lying in Shine’s arms, a cup of cocoa was placed on the table in front of me.

“What about me?”

“What? You want Jeff?”

“I should prepare mine too. Isn’t that obvious?”

Shine glared at Jin.

One cup of cocoa.

In other words, I only have my share to drink.

I grabbed Shine’s arm.

There was no need for her to be angry.

“Let’s drink together.”

“Huh? Huh…?”

The cup of cocoa was hot.

As I reach out and hold the hot cup, my head feels drowsy.

Why was I so excited just a moment ago?

Why did you think you had to go there?

There’s no connection, you know.

Shine was right.

I felt a little tired.

It was clear that things would get better if I rested a little.

Phew- Phew-

Blow on the hot cocoa to cool it down.

The breath that flows out of your mouth returns carrying the warmth and sweetness of cocoa.

The cocoa was still hot.

Put the hot cocoa in your mouth and let it cool.

My tongue is tingling.

“Je, Jeff?”

I look at Shine while drinking cocoa full in my mouth.

I’m ready.

What about shine?

I look into her eyes with that thought in my mind.

Shine was confused.

She quickly got up from her seat and shouted at Jin.

“Get out! Get out! Jin! Get out quickly!”

“Huh? Why? No, why?”

Jin was pushed out by Shine’s hand without even knowing what was going on.

bang-!

Shine came to me, having closed the door to her office.

I looked up at Shine with weak, relaxed eyes.

Shine, who seemed a little excited, let out a ragged breath.

She climbed onto my lap and closed her eyes.

I frowned at Shine.

It’s okay to sit on my lap, but why do you close your eyes?

Gulp-

After drinking the cocoa that filled his mouth, he handed the cup to her.

“Drink some shine.”

“Huh…?”

“I told you to drink cocoa together.”

Shine opened her mouth blankly, holding the cup of cocoa I offered her.

Her eyes twitch.

I yawned and pushed Shine away.

She was pushed helplessly away and fell onto the sofa.

My curiosity has been satisfied.

I thought I knew why Amy didn’t want to tell me about this incident.

Maybe it was Amy’s excuse that Jin left us out of the mission.

Amy was worried.

Since this was an incident that happened to kids our age, she couldn’t help but be cautious.

But it was okay.

I didn’t care.

Amy was a little shocked, but not enough to worry.

Were you worried that you might get traumatized?

I smiled slightly as I thought of Amy.

“Shine. Are you done drinking?”

Shine was blushing and had her head bowed.

Horruk- Horruk-

The sound of drinking cocoa filled the office.

After Shine finished drinking her cocoa, she gave the office back to Jin and headed straight to her room.

Fortunately, Amy was in a deep sleep.

It was as if he had twisted his body while sleeping. His posture had changed, but he was still breathing evenly.

Instead, Rain’s condition looked very bad.

Her whole body was as limp as a ripe radish.

She was gasping for breath, pinned down by Amy’s large body in the cramped space of the sofa.

“Heee… Heee…”

Rain sniffed, making a strange breathing sound.

Rain’s forehead was dripping with sweat like rain.

“Rain. It’s over. It’s okay for Amy to wake up now.”

“Oh, no. Amy seems tired… Let’s leave her like this a little longer…”

I was more worried about Lane than Amy.

He looked like he couldn’t even breathe properly, squeezed between Amy and the sofa.

Is it okay?

Instead of answering, Rain smiled happily.