A few days later, Fujita invited all of us, in Hanamis name, to celebrate her birthday at the petting zoo. It's part of the city's animal park, but with a separate, second entrance/exit as well. This was my chance to talk to him. Well, mid-day had to come before I got the chance to. Sōma had cooked a big Bento together with Hanami's mother Kikyo for all of us and we'd built up a little picnic in the shadow of a big oak tree. When all of us were finally sated and the children had fell into some kind of comatose afternoon nap, I finally had time to talk. I'd been very happy, that Sōma and Kikyo got along well right from the start back then, so he just could enjoy her company without the need to explain himself any further. I was lost in thoughts, when a chill run down my spine.
«Woah!», surprised I looked up and saw Fujita with a chilled can of beer in his hand, «Ren!»
He just laughed: «Who would've thought, it'd really worked in real life.»
«I didn't know you've been watching films like this.», I couldn't help but also start to laugh. I then sighed.
«Ren, I'm really sorry for what happen the last time.», I said shamefully, «I found the note afterwards. I admit I was a dork, acting like a child.»
«Better late than never, right?», he smiled forgiving. «It's alright, my theater wasn't a very nice way to behave either, but it's unavoidable. It had to seem trustworthy, for your own safety.»
«I know, thank you.», we toasted with the beer cans.
«Here. But really no one must know.», his look had became serious, as he put my badge in my pocket, as inconspicuously as possible. «Tell me, what else did you found out since then?»
«I let the university analyze Soras nightgown and the probes I found up there that day. You remember their medical laboratory? Luckily they'd recollected me as an officer and I've been right all along, because Sora had been waking up there. I then tried to find the most detailed online map of both the forest and the surrounding area. A small website, reporting about the local history, also wrote a passage about the manufactory, which seemed to strongly affect the local economy back then. Now watch out: during the Bōshin war1, because of its strategic favorable location, they've allegedly created a huge underground labyrinth of corridors and caves there. Don't you think it'd explain a lot? And I've had also seen buildings, which looked like dorms – what if they keep the circle closed like this? What if the male beta, who they don't seem to benefit from, get to work all their life in the manufactory?»
He frowned. «If that's really true...», he pondered, «The question now is, how to verify it.»
«I'm speculating about that to.», I confessed, when all of sudden, Kikyo and Sōma sat down beside us.
«Hey, you two. Sōma-san and I thought about something. Hanami and Sora are on really good terms, so why don't we ask Sora, if he want to be taught together with her. Theoretically he knows a lot, it's just that he doesn't have any practical experience with learning itself and children of his age. Like this I'd teach him everything from scratch and he doesn't have to be afraid of bullying from others. Hanami herself could've a learning companion and as I see it, Yoshi also doesn't want to be apart from Sora anymore.»
That was perfect. Kikyo was a qualified social education worker, who'd been specialized herself on pet therapy with handicapped children after Hanamis birth.
«I'd call the child welfare center about it tomorrow.», Sōma said, «As I remember, one of their conditions was a therapeutical aftercare, so he can go to school sooner or later. Moreover he'd be in a trusted long-term care throughout the day as well.»
«That sounds fantastic!», I said excited, «But are you sure, it's not to much?»
«Oh no, don't worry. As I get to know him today, he's very easy to take care of in contrary to our little stubborn princess.», she said laughing and winked.
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The Facility - Fighting Fate
Fantasy"If the past holds you in chains, only the gaze into the future can save you!" Takao Yashima is on his way to work for the first time after the birth of his daughter, when he finds a seriously injured boy in the middle of the street. If this seems t...
