"What kind of information do you want?"
Ivan's sudden appearance made Ryoko Tamura feel like she was staring into fog. Everything about him was hidden under the surface.
If he hadn't said it himself, she would never have guessed he was a parasite.
"I'm nothing like you. I'm not interested in humans. Parasites, though… those I find interesting."
Ivan let his right hand return to normal and continued.
"You've got dissection data on parasites, don't you? I want everything you've got."
That kind of demand didn't sit well with Tamura.
Ever since becoming a parasite, no one had spoken to her like that.
The killing intent came back.
"I do have quite a bit of data on parasites. But why should I give it to you?"
"Because I'm worth working with. Isn't that enough?" Ivan looked at her with a faint smile.
Tamura studied his face for a long moment before finally nodding.
"Congratulations. You've convinced me. After school, come see me with Shinichi. I'll give you what you want."
With that, she turned and walked out of the guidance office.
Silence filled the room.
Shinichi stared at Ivan like he was seeing him for the first time. His lips pressed tight, his expression ugly.
"…When? When did you take over Ivan?"
Ivan just smiled and tapped his temple.
"What makes you so sure I'm a parasite? Or is your definition that anything infected automatically becomes one? If that's the case… what does that make you?"
Shinichi froze, unable to answer.
Migi spoke up instead.
"I have a symbiotic relationship with Shinichi. I didn't consume his brain. He retains his consciousness, so he's still human."
"Exactly. I'm still human. I'm not a parasite." Shinichi said it firmly, but the way he said it made it sound like he was trying to convince himself.
Ivan turned around and muttered to himself, "What if the parasite that tried to take me over lost consciousness during the process? Then with my human mind still intact… what the hell does that make me?"
"You mean… the parasite that infected you ended up brain-dead?" Shinichi said, stunned.
Ivan didn't answer. He just added, "Like you, I'm something… unusual."
Then he walked out of the guidance office and headed back to class.
Shinichi stood there, watching his back, lost in thought.
"Migi… could what he said actually be true?"
Migi's large eye shifted slightly.
"It's possible. In any species, there are always a few abnormal individuals. Like he said, he could be one of them."
"…No. He's telling the truth." Shinichi let out a small smile.
Migi sounded genuinely confused.
"How do you know?"
"Because there's something in him that none of you parasites have."
"What is it?"
"You figure it out." Shinichi left it hanging on purpose.
…
After school, the two of them took a bus to the café where Ryoko Tamura had asked to meet.
On the ride, Migi kept a small eye exposed, constantly studying Ivan. It wanted to figure out what exactly he had that parasites didn't.
It didn't get an answer by the time they arrived.
"Nice place. Bet a meal here costs a fucking fortune, huh?"
Unlike the stiff, nervous Shinichi, Ivan casually dropped his backpack at his feet and took a sip of the coffee on the table.
"Shinichi, roll up your sleeve," Migi said suddenly. It had detected two of its kind approaching.
"I thought you said there wouldn't be a fight?"
Shinichi rolled up his sleeve as he spoke.
"Because there are two of them."
"Relax. If it comes to a fight, I'll help," Ivan said, casually holding his coffee.
Before long, Ryoko Tamura appeared in front of them, accompanied by a man.
The man had a blank expression, dressed like an average office worker.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let me introduce him. This is Mr. A," Tamura said.
Mr. A looked at the two of them, quickly picking up on something off.
"What's going on here? Does this one count as one of us? And why is there a normal human here?"
"A, calm down. I'll explain," Tamura replied.
She and Mr. A took seats across from Ivan and Shinichi.
"This is the data you asked for." Tamura pulled out a file and handed it to Ivan.
Ivan took it, opened it on the spot, and flipped through the contents.
There were both written records and photos, but not much of it.
So she was holding back.
As his eyes moved over the parasite dissection images, the progress bar on his internal panel started jumping forward.
"…This isn't everything, is it?" Ivan looked up with a smile.
"Since this is a collaboration, I won't hand over all my leverage at once."
"Fair enough. This is still good stuff." Ivan slid the documents back into the file and tucked it into his backpack.
"So, what's the deal?"
At that, Tamura took out a stack of photocopied profiles.
"This parasite isn't under our control. It's already caused multiple incidents across Tokyo and caught the attention of both the public and the police. I need you to eliminate her for us."
Ivan took the photocopies. There was a photo of a woman, along with a map marking her recent movements.
So you want to test me?
Heh~
He folded the papers away. His lips stretched into a grin that split almost to his ears, sharp teeth showing.
"No problem. I'll take care of her soon."
"You're a parasite too?" Mr. A frowned.
Ivan's smile turned downright unsettling.
"What? I don't look like one?"
Mr. A didn't respond. Instead, Tamura spoke again.
"Now that our cooperation is established, we should discuss something else."
"Izumi… what exactly do you think we are?"
"Man-eating monsters," Shinichi said after a brief hesitation. "Honestly, I don't even know what to call you."
What Tamura said next made his blood run cold.
"I'm pregnant. With Mr. A's child."
Even the waitress passing by dropped a coffee cup, shattering it on the floor.
"Shame. That was a good coffee," Ivan said casually, already back to his normal appearance as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Tamura looked straight at Shinichi.
"So tell me, Shinichi… the child inside me. Is it human, or a parasite?"
___
[]~(￣▽￣)~*
Read 12 Advance Chapters—P@t- Captain69