Hope. He repeated the word silently. It was a word he hadn't used for years. It was neither sweet nor bitter, but it slowly warmed him from deep inside of his body.
Hope. What do I hope for?
His promised future had collapsed. What was left to him now were his mother, the meager wages from his job, and his own sixteen-year-old body. What hope resided in those? He wasn't sure. But he was sure that he hadn't completely lost hope either.
They entered the station. The old-town district where Shion lived was located adjacent to the West Block and the city border, and functioned as a sort of buffer zone between the city centre and the West Block. It was called Lost Town. A far cry from the tranquility of the city centre, it was a squalid place, dense with people. The station they were in was also very crowded. The faint smell of deep-fried food and alcohol wafted in the air.
"I'm fine from here." Safu stopped. There was a black winged insect on her shoulder. Brushing it away, Shion asked a nonchalant question.
"Be careful. Oh, when are you off for your exchange again?"
"In two days."
"Two days!" Shion exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because I didn't want to. Would you have thrown me a farewell party if I did?"
Safu jutted her chin out defiantly.
"Shion, I want to ask something from you."
"Sure, if I can manage to get it to you in time..."
"Your sperm."
Safu looked Shion in the eyes as she said those words. She didn't blink once. Shion gaped at her open-mouthed.
"Did you hear me? I want your sperm."
"Uh― what? Safu... um―"
"Out of all the people I know, you would probably be the most superior sperm donor. Your sperm and my ovum. Don't you think it would produce the most perfect child? I want it, Shion. I want your sperm."
"Artificial insemination needs permission from the city," Shion answered cautiously.
"Getting permission would be easy. The city encourages artificial insemination between people who possess excellent DNA and superior skills."
Shion swallowed, and turned away. The winged insect crossed his line of vision, buzzing incessantly. Irritation welled up inside him.
"Safu, I don't know if I told you this, but I've never known my father. I don't know his personality, his stature, or if he had any illnesses."
"I know. But parents don't matter. Ninety-nine percent of the human genome has been decoded already. I can find out anything I need to know about your genetic information."
"And then... if you do get the information, and there's something in there that you don't want, what are you going to do?"
"Well..."
"Safu, what are you trying to get at? Do you think a human being is entirely what his DNA base sequence tells us he is? Sure, you can look up my DNA, analyze my genes, but what's that going to tell you about me? You talk about having kids like it's easy, but―"
"I know a lot more about you than you think!"
Safu's voice cut him off shrilly. People turned their heads as they passed.
