Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 79: Strong?

"What have you done this time to piss off Agape that much?!" Sigi asked me with bewilderment.

We were in the cellar's hall that night. The dim lights were displaying Sigi's unnerved yet gorgeous features.

He had pulled me out of Amanita right after Agape had told both of us to behave as if it was a threat. Neither she nor I had dared to answer his question when he had come in and caught us arguing about my next mission concerning Eros.

So, at that moment, I was facing Sigi's inquisitive and uneasy mood on my own.

"She was calmer," he went on as if he was frustrated with me. His well-built arms were tense. "She had passed her check-up successfully, like Taro, and was smug about it. And she had discarded that stupid idea of thinking that K8 or you are guilty of messing with the mosquitoes with that virus that awakens the androids' personality. Everything was going back on track, especially after K8 and I had talked to her about taking it easy. She was decisive in the matter, actually. And she's promised she's gonna investigate the virus and try to figure out who's done it while Agape rests."

"Quick question: are you friends with K8 now?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Maybe. I don't know." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Come on," I insisted. I wanted him to admit the truth, that he might've misjudged K8 as a tin doll, as Momo had put it.

"OK, fine. She's cool." His pride was only mildly hurt while he stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and I found it cute.

"Of course she is. She's got no pulse."

He chuckled. I smiled at him briefly. But then, he went on in a fake foul mood:

"Daphne Peneus, confess already. What have you done to anger Agape again?!"

"What have I done? I was myself. That's the problem, apparently," I admitted. "As usual."

"But what have you told Agape exactly? I thought you liked her, respected her. Am I wrong? I thought everything would be fine, but the next thing I know, you're talking to her, and she goes nuke."

"I'm sorry, Sigi. It's..." My reply was a carousel of sadness, regret, and fear. His keen, brown eyes met mine with pity. "I can't say that I'm proud of my behaviour, but I can't say that I'm not proud of it either."

"What does this mean?"

"It's just like when I argue with you. We don't see eye to eye, and I was pushing it. Just like I had pushed you the other day. I wouldn't take back anything I've said, though. So, I earnt her threats. I messed up. And I'm sorry."

He sighed deeply. His well-built chest rose and fell as he inhaled and exhaled under that tight, black T-shirt. Then, he put a hand through his hair with mild irritation, combing it backwards while accidentally displaying his biceps and triceps.

"Take my advice: don't talk to her about your pacifist ideas ever again." His voice was soft and calm; his eyes, empathic and regretful while his rebellious fringe danced over them.

"I know. I realise it now. But I'm not comfortable with following orders blindly either."

"That's why I had advised you to reject any missions she might push you to do," he insisted.

"I'm too scared of her to tell her that I'm not going to do as she says," I answered even though my fear was crystal clear on my face. "It's too late now anyway. It's what Eros knows and has got access to. The palaeoviruses. Agape wants to use them as a bioweapon. Taro shall analyse them and reproduce them. I've suggested to her that Taro should be studying them to obtain a vaccine, but she's said that that's not the plan. Agape's plan is to remodel our mosquitoes to carry shots to poison clones and collaborators on demand. Did you know that?"