Silver Wish

"A favor?"

"Do you remember a few months ago during that last day we met that unusual man selling cotton candy?"

Haruka paused for a moment. It did not take long before he recalled it. That man wearing the strangely baggy and yet colorful clothes. The top hat and the pipe?

"I remember what about him?"

"Could you find him for me?"

He blinked at her request.

"Apparently he was once a famous medic. We need somebody who can create an antidote or even a temporary cure for this situation."

"That's fine and all. But would a regular doctor work?"

Lila shook her head. "He isn't a regular doctor. He is the brightest in our generation, and people say he is smarter than Mamoru-san. When I researched him, I found he was working at a special supernatural medical research center until recently."

"Until recently?"

"It turns out we made a mistake. Zane didn't strike till now because he did not have the resources or was waiting for the right moment. Zane struck in other areas at first. He struck at areas and made all the accidents seem like a coincidence."

Haruka then recalled something Zane told him before. He doesn't rush when playing his games, and he likes to stall and take his time - then strikes. At that time, Haruka did not think much of those words, but now? Now things are vastly different from before.

That man from the very start... "Those missions weren't given to me." Such an important task like that, it is hard to believe that he didn't ask him.

"He gave them to Sophia."

"Sophia blew up the research center, nearly everybody died. But the other survivor said they saw the professor grab some documents and a briefcase, before rushing off." Lila tapped her fingers against what looked like a tablet in her hands. "In that briefcase is the summarized investigation materials of what they were researching."

"A cure?"

"Yes. According to the Hyou4 reports, it seems they were already onto Zane's plans last year. So they already contacted the relative people. The professor's research center was among those chosen. They immediately got ahead of the others and produced results."

"So is this guarantee? Did they test it on anyone?"

"It seems they tested it on me," Lila mumbled.

Haruka blinked when he heard that.

"I thought it was strange. I stopped hearing that voice for a while, and I didn't lose control. I could live a normal life for so long. My urges and ŀȧpses did not take that long, either."

Now that she mentioned it, he turned to Kiryu. "You did it on purpose?" Haruka felt conflicted. Sure it helped Lila live in peace for a while. But how could Kiryu offer her as a research sample...

"Well, I had to. I was no longer with her. She would have problems with the competition if she continued that way."

Lila sighed. "Don't blame him, and it was a good thing they tested it on me. The cure is successful. But only towards regular people. I can vouch that if a normal person takes the cure, their evolution will stop. However," Lila extended her hand out, and he saw black markings on her skin. "--it will not work on hanyous."

He supposes that makes sense. Hanyous are individuals who have half-human and have half-demon blood anyway. Individuals who become hanyous are offsprings from the original songstress—her child and that man, their grandchildren, etc.

"Does that hurt?"

"Silly, don't fret over it." Lila laughed. "Im stronger than you think."

He knows that very well, but he is worried for her. When he is not around, Lila ends up doing careless things. The reason why he was so cold-hearted and harsh at the start was because of this. Lila often ran straight ahead without looking back. She would react to every single piece of danger like some kind of hero of justice.

"Haruka, um." Lila suddenly turned shy. "I also left some of my clothes behind. Could you bring it to me when you come here?"

Haruka blinked when he saw her shy demeanor. "Sure if it's just your--" He recalled something he saw, no several things. At first, he wasn't sure if they were hers. But now.. "Kiryu, could you leave for a second?"

Kiryu looked at him, puzzled but turned to Lila. By this point, the girl was completely red. At that, Kiryu stood up and left. It looked like he wanted to say something, but he kept it to himself as he left the room.

He turned to the flushed girl. "Was that for my sake?"

Lila shyly nodded.

"I see."

The girl peeked through her hands. "When I told you I wanted to make you happy, I meant it."

"Yeah, you did."

She said it from the very moment they started dating. She told him she would show him the light. Even now, those words remained in his head. It was hard to forget them, especially since it came from her.

"I want to see you soon," Haruka mumbled.

Her gaze softened, and she moved her hands away from her face. "I also want to see you, but until then, we both have to be strong, okay?"

"I cant wife. I miss you so much."

Lila laughed softly. "You sound so needy. Mm, I miss you a lot too. But there are things we have to do. That was the reason why I did not take you with me."

"I am already finished with my business here, so please.."

"I understand."