Eternal Melody

Meanwhile back with Yuhi. He was amid having a serious discussion with Shin.

"Thanks for doing this, I know it's risky for you."

Shin shook his head, "It's fine. Or rather since I snuck those documents successfully. He probably wanted me to bring them to you. Even with my skills, I wouldn't have been able to hack without him noticing."

"I know."

From the moment Yuhi first met him, he got that sort of impression from that guy. It was the same as him, the same vibe. Whenever that guy looked at Sumire, he likes her, but it's not just that. Shin willing to risk so much for her sake, a feeling that resembles the one he has for her. But the methods are different. That must be why Sumire acts like that towards him.

"Still, it's rare for you to admit someone is better than you at hacking."

"Please, even I know there are many better people, and it's easy to admit defeat when you see a better candidate."

Yuhi senses the meaning behind Shin's words and puts the documents away. He takes out two cigarettes and extends one towards his friend; Shin murmurs something about having quit. But after a few seconds, he takes one and Yuhi lit alongside his. The two leaned on the wall.

"That guy Atushi introduced to Mina?"

Shin nodded. "When she told me that day during the historical park opening, she was frantically exclaiming. She didn't want me to misunderstand. But at the same time, she told me that guy asked her out."

"Well, isn't it a good sign that she told you?"

"I think so too when I asked her how she met him. She told me that it was Eijiro's friend, that's when I realized there was an issue."

"Atsuro isn't any better at you at romance."

"But, he's always cared for Sumire. That's the one thing that has always been transparent about him. Even though he moved out and barely has contact with his parents."

Yuhi sighed. "When is he coming?"

"A week or so. It could be longer, but he will come here."

A complicated look appeared on his face when he heard those words. It's not like he does not understand. "I spoke to Sumire about Atsuro, and she told me that she might have liked him before. But it was a fleeting feeling that she crushed before it became too big."

"That doesn't sound reassuring."

"Yeah." Yuhi trailed off and recalled her expression. "But I think this answer is better than nothing." If it were the past Sumire, she would have brushed aside that question and looked at him with those cold eyes.

"Did she tell you what happened the other day?" Shin asked.

"No, I wanted to ask you since she wouldn't give me the details. But is it regarding what you were doing for Mamoru?"

"Yes." Shin trailed off. "Yuhi, you heard about those mysterious disappearances, right?"

"The one where people got teleported to another world that resembles this one?"

Shin nodded. "That's the one. Mamoru was investigating that case in detail. The day before he got into the accident, he met with those people."

At that comment, he frowned. "That's--"

"We still aren't sure. But surely something must have happened."

It would be far too easy to conclude that those people did something to Mamoru. Besides, "You came with him?"

"I did since he wanted a third opinion. They mainly discussed rather scientific things, so I did not find anything unusual about it. But there was a time where I stepped out to answer a call. When I returned, the atmosphere seemed tense."

"How long did you leave for?"

"Fifteen minutes."

Not a long time or is it? At that time, Mamoru could have changed the topic altogether. Something about this bothers him, though. It is unlike that person to get so involved in something like this. When he joined the underworld society, Yuhi noticed that Tsueno Mamoru did not actively get involved. Nobody could tell if he was a member or not, with how he went in and out of the organization so freely.

Yuhi paused when something came to mind. The only time Mamoru got involved in something this large was when Sumire was concerned. Does it have something to do with her?

That guy was the reckless type, but he was, without a doubt, a genius. Yuhi doubted that somebody like that would do something like this without reason. If everything happens for a reason, then Tsueno Mamoru investigated this case for a good cause.

"Let me get involved."

It seems like Sumire will concern herself with this more from now on.

Shin sighed and pulled something out of his bag. "Take this."

Yuhi raised his eyebrows. "Arent you too prepared?"

"Read it first and then give it to her."

He opened the folder and pulled out some documents. Something caught his eye immediately. "The red queen hypothesis?"

"Do you know what it is?"

"Something to do with evolvement?"

Shin nodded. "It is an evolutionary theory that states that species must constantly adapt and evolve to survive against evolving species. In our time, it would be mankind against society. Humans must constantly evolve to continue living in this world." He trailed off. "There was a good example of this awhile ago, the story of the woman who became the first songstress. She met that man with an unusual bloodline, and their children developed strange abilities. I guess the correct term is supernatural powers."

Yuhi recalled the story he heard not too long ago and sighed. "If its to do with the latter, you already know, right?"

"Well, as a scientist, unless I see things myself, it is hard to believe. But I believe you. Besides, those who know about the red queen hypothesis do not rule out supernatural powers. The only way for humans to evolve is for something unusual to happen in their bodies. I looked at some strange cases from several centuries ago. I found cases where humans turned into monsters."

"This is turning into a horror story. But I guess it would not be unusual for such things to happen several centuries ago."

"Species involvement also includes how to prolong somebody's life span. However, there are no cases so far of somebody living that long."

"Is that so? Maybe you haven't found anyone, but surely there is

somebody."

"I want to test your understanding a bit. Despite your behavior, I know you are smarter than most people."

Yuhi sighed and took a long exhale from his cigarette. "Leigh Van Valen proposed an explanation to explain the law of extinction. People end up extinct not because of their lifetime but due to their level of adapting." He paused. "If one species deteriorates due to their evolvement, it would deteriorate their co-existing species too. But what if the other species evolve too? Nobody could get ahead of the other."