𝐑𝐔𝐑𝚰 • 𝐀𝐉𝚰𝐍

011. If Only I Was There

Ruri walks down the halls of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare facility in tranquil silence.

Through the web live they've watched earlier, the sole thing that has caught her full attention strays as she walks these halls—The extracted voice belonging to Sato, calling her name sends goosebumps running all over her skin, demanding her attention with his malicious perils...

During that matter, never has she stared at the screen with such uncertainty... and for the first time in a long time, she felt threatened. The remain of questions as it is begins to flood her mind endlessly; does he know that Ruri is an Ajin?

That she's under the disguise just like a human? Pretending and blending in their works for their lack of suspicion?

Is it why he's called to her because he knows exactly what she's doing?

Who she is...?

"Miss Ueda!"

A voice from the distance breaks her train of thought.

"Ah, Miss Ueda. I'm glad I found you at a time like this." A lady approaches her and politely dips her head. "Please, spare some time with me, I'd like to discuss with you for a short moment."

She stares at the lady, nodding her head apologetically. "I have important matters to attend to. Let's save it for later."

"The ministration has suggested for your inspection on relevant information your brother has filed. So, please. It won't take more than ten minutes."

Ruri registers the plead in her face with a soft sigh in defeat.

"Alright, alright. Hurry and show me."

"You were supposed to be receiving Tsuyuka-sama's files and the following work." The lady takes her into a small room, now empty and littered with boxes. "Unfortunately, we were unable to deliver it at a good time due to your unavailability. But anyways, here—" She moves a box of files and paperwork towards Ruri, "everything including his journal is here for you to pick up. The ministration thought his last works with their last Ajin, Tanaka Koji, will benefit your work."

Ruri carefully peers over the box like something rots in there... hesitation crossing her complexion. Her hands reach down and dig through the thick files and notebooks, then his black journal full of rigged notes.

She sets that aside and skims through once, then her eyes catch something.

She wearily takes out a file in the opening. Ajin case file, written in Tsuyuka's cursive on the tab of the file. She flips it open; documents, the newspaper of Ajins, an Ajin's IBM's, their regeneration, their immortality, their weaknesses, and strengths, her eyes overwhelms with information.

She takes note of the prominent questions on the side: what are Ajins'? Is it fitness? A genetic revolution? A new organism revolving in humanity?

Just then, her eyes slightly widen at a document's title.

Tanaka Koji and Ueda Ruri.

The written information is journaled with personalized work. The only problem was that the data discontinues midway through his passages; left with no closure like it was completely omitted and cut off.

Why did Tsuyuka write this much and haven't gotten far with their case?

"Uhm..." Ruri opens her mouth to endeavor a question... but solely reading, she stops herself.

"What's wrong?" The lady asks.

Ruri's eyes are round.

The endless work at the lab, and Tanaka's case — Ogura's earlier statement concluded that. It's like a contradiction that suddenly hit her.

"Never mind. It's nothing..." She feigns a smile. "I appreciate you for packing Tsuyuka's stuff for me."

"Ah, don't sweat it. We, ladies, have to back each other up, shall we not?" The lady laughs. "Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be in my office most of my hours."

Ruri nods with a small smile and when the lady leaves the room, she goes back to study the document a little more, skimming over some paragraphs.

Work of Tanaka Koji and Ueda Ruri, but only from inspections. It seemed as though Tsuyuka was making a hypothesis? Comparing Tanaka and Ruri as Ajins'... and their specimen, to what it seems. But there's no confirmation about that.

Ruri let out a stifled sigh and had a sudden need to put it all down, and stare at the austere popcorn wall.

The room she sits alone in, where the little traces of him now wither, the deafening silence that no longer remembers the sound of his voice, and the absence she breathes in, let alone walks in, digs an empty grave in her chest.

And it aches.

A soft sigh creeps from her tender lips once again before she closes her eyes. "If only you were here, Tsuyu." She whispers softly.

Her face then pools in anguish and perhaps a little of regret, in hopes he could hear her one way or another.

But she just looked stupid. And sounded stupid.

"If only I was there."