Yamaguchi-sensei. II

Back in the beginning of May...

Back to that morning with Yamaguchi-sensei, after my father’s death...

...

“And me? Why did you want to talk to me?” I asked, confused.

“I just wanted to ask you to be careful out there. We don’t know what’s coming next…”

The old man stroked the pages of his notebook, resolute in his decision to devote himself wholly to this cause, even if it meant chasing shadows until his final breath.

At that moment, a cup of coffee was also placed in front of me.

“I understand what you’re saying, but I’m a contagion investigator now,” I said, staring at the foam heart in my coffee.

“Tore…”

“The risk of infection will always be there, especially for someone with so much flesh and bone left in his body like me…”

Once again, I imagined my father in his hospital bed.

“I’ll be careful out there, but given the personal implications of this case, you know I can’t walk away…”

“Listen to me, Tore. Let me finance your operation.”

My operation?

“Let me at least protect you from the S-Flu,” he said, wrinkling the pages of his notebook. Meanwhile, I simply felt the warmth of the coffee in my hands. “Get the operation, replace critical parts of your body with implants. Buy me some time to continue my research—I’ll cover all the costs...”

“I’m sorry, Yamaguchi-sensei… I can’t risk losing who I am…”

I didn’t take my eyes off the steam rising from my cup.

“I know you’re concerned about this, but your responsibility isn’t greater than mine. As a contagion investigator, I’ll do my best to provide you with as much information as possible to aid your research.”

“Tore, the risk is too high. Let me protect you,” he pleaded, his hand trembling.

“You don’t need to worry…”

“Money, knowledge, connections... Let me help you in some way…” he insisted, his voice heavy with sorrow.

When will you understand that I’ve never blamed you for what happened...?

“I can’t abandon my former apprentice after what’s happened...”

“I don’t need your help. If you want to do something for me, help me understand why this case worries you and Tatsumi so much,” I said, pointing to his notebook.

“Huh?”

“What if these isolated cases are pure coincidence? Couldn’t my father have died of a heart condition or something? Not everyone dies from the S-Flu.”

“The list of your father’s symptoms is too unique to ignore,” he said, rummaging through his notebook. “And besides, your father’s own implants would have detected any cardiovascular issues.”

“How sure are you that this could be the fifth evolution? Do you realize the social consequences that would have?”

I watched his expression. The once-respected and rational doctor, an expert in medicine, seemed far away. In his place was a man full of doubts and fears. Someone who, after so many years on the front lines, had lifted his head only to find a world he no longer recognized.

Or perhaps it was the world that no longer recognized him…

“Not very. It’s still too early to understand the gravity of this matter… Regardless, I’ve wanted to see you since Hikaru’s passing...”

The conversation eventually crumbled under its own weight.

Before leaving, Yamaguchi-sensei once again implored me to be cautious, insisting that in uncertain times, it was crucial to keep my eyes wide open.

Soon, I left the café and headed back to my office. As I stepped into the sunlight, surrounded by the towers of District 1, I found it curious to see a surveillance drone nearby.

“I thought they only patrolled the outer districts…”

I stopped to watch it for a while.

“Has something bad happened?”

The drone scanned each passerby, its camera lingering on me for about ten seconds.

“Maybe all this talk about the fifth evolution has made me overly paranoid…”

“...Or maybe Yamaguchi-sensei is right...”