Katy Shimizu, 7th contagion investigator at Division 3, Cellos Robotics.

Inside the quiet vehicle, I never would have imagined that my first day as a contagion investigator would go like that. Nor did I think my new colleague would be like that.

From the moment I met him, Isayama Tore always gave me strange looks. Maybe he felt uncomfortable about my condition. Maybe, like Joshua Cam, he hated implants.

I felt like I’d been bothering him all day, like he hadn’t wanted to talk to me. Like he would have preferred to work with someone entirely different, someone he believed deserved to work by his side more than I did...

How are we supposed to become partners? I feel like he hates me...

In the distance, I watched as those men in white biohazard suits carried a metal coffin into their vehicle.

What if I chose the wrong job? This was horrible... Right when I thought I was finally moving past it...

I clenched my teeth, holding back my emotions as much as I could.

I want to cry... I don’t like this... we couldn’t save Joshua...

"I think Shizuka will grow up to be an amazing person."

"Huh?" On the verge of tears, my eyes met paths with Isayama’s.

"I said I think Shizuka will grow up to be an amazing person." He forced a fake smile. In fact, it was the fakest smile I’d ever seen.

Isayama was still breathing nervously, holding back his frustration, but he wanted to break the silence.

"I thought you didn’t want to talk to me..." I murmured.

"S-sorry? If you don’t want to talk, I’ll stay quiet, don’t worry. It’s just that the mood was so heavy..."

"You can talk..." I interrupted him, turning my gaze back to the window.

"Do you think this is what Joshua really wanted?"

"What do you mean?"

"I feel his sacrifice wasn’t in vain... I don’t agree with it, but if deep down this is what he wanted..."

What does he mean by that?

"Sometimes, things just... My old mentor told me once that defeats are just as common as victories. That the only difference is the will to keep helping despite the frustration..."

I didn’t know how to respond.

"Lately, I’m starting to understand more what he meant..." he murmured, his gaze distant.

He’s more mature than I thought... I wonder if someday...

"I don’t like Joshua’s decision, but I think Shizuka will move forward and overcome the loss... You know, she might even grow up to be a great doctor..."

I let a couple of seconds pass…

“S-so, Isayama Tore...”

"Y-yes?"

"Why did you decide to become a contagion investigator?”