CH 2.4

The safehouse of another person felt to Soji like a hotel on a trip. Even when he stepped foot into the apartment, it didn’t feel like he had returned home.

As such, the phrase “I’m back” never even crossed his mind as he entered without a word.

There was something he never failed to do whenever he entered a room. It was to check that there were no abnormalities—before that, however, he washed his hands and kept the groceries in the fridge.

The order might’ve been reversed, but he didn’t skip the check. The door, windows, all the various appliances and their surroundings, and let’s not forget the electrical sockets. All in all, no signs of intrusion at the moment.

“Phew.” Finally letting loose, he plopped down on the sofa.

Algernon, who was waiting by the entrance, poked her face in.

He called out: “…You can come in now. Don’t forget to take off your shoes.”

Slowly, the girl took off her loafers.

She stood still atop the entrance mat, and stopped moving.

She won’t do anything by herself, he thought. Armed with only a hastily-established sense of self, and barely knowing what to do with it, it seemed that she could not decide what to do of her own will.

It would probably be unwise to leave her hanging.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Soji scratched his head roughly. “Get over here and wash your hands and rinse your mouth and dry your hands with the towel!”

“……”

Did she actually understand what he was saying? He couldn’t tell anything from her dazed expression.

She walked towards the basin as instructed, and the sound of water followed.

He spoke again: “After you’re done, come over here and sit down.”

Algernon followed his words to the letter. She entered the room and, as he indicated, lowered herself onto the high chair. She then looked over at him, and bent her head slightly as if to ask his approval.

“So you know how to wash your hands, rinse your mouth and dry your hands?”

“Yes.” She nodded minimally, answering in a flat voice.

Algernon was able to read the memories of her host, Sakimi. Conversely, it meant she didn’t know anything if she hadn’t made the effort to read through the memories.

When instructed to do this or that, she’d look up the way to do so in Sakimi’s memories before taking action. However, without being told what to do, she could not even decide what to do next.

“…From now on, without me telling you to, do everything that would ensure the survival of that body, or rather to maintain the condition of that body. Actually, just do everything that is part of her everyday life.”

“Everyday life,” she murmured using Sakimi’s lips, her gaze directed outside the window.

That reminded him that Sanakura Sakimi was a (probably studious) university student. If Algernon referred to her memories to figure out her everyday life, that would obviously include going to university to attend lectures.

“Oh… but you can’t go out. Unless I specifically instruct you to, no leaving this building. All your actions are to be within this area only.”

“……” Her head moved slightly.

That was most likely a nod. Probably.

“Am I really getting through? Jeez.”

Soji had never owned a pet before. I guess this is what it’s like to welcome a new dog or cat. I gotta start from square one, teach her what it means to be human. Just the thought of it made him tired.

As he agonized about what lay ahead, doubt suddenly clouded his mind.

“Do you know how to use the toilet?”

As usual, a short silence followed.

“Yes.” She nodded.

…Which is it? Had she understood right from the start? Or perhaps, it being an unfamiliar term to her, and she had read through Sakimi’s memories to find out? He had no way to tell.

Slowly, she got up, and walked towards the toilet quietly.

“Right away, huh.” Watching her back recede, Soji softly heaved a deep sigh.

This is just great. It’s really like I’m breaking in a new cat or dog.

The sun was setting in the west.

Soji was glaring at the laptop screen.

He was studying the research data for the mysterious sample, attempting to decipher the heavy text in hopes of finding additional clues. But it wasn’t going well, since he lacked the necessary domain-specific knowledge. A few hours had passed with him in front of the screen, yet he had nothing to show for it. He hadn’t learnt anything new beyond what he read this morning.

This would be easier if it was  heavily encrypted data. Barring anything extraordinary, those could be cracked eventually with sufficient time and effort. However, when the content itself was abstruse, he could only raise his hands in defeat.

Seems like that’s as far as I can go…

Suddenly, he realized that it was quiet and looked to the side. Algernon was lying on the sofa, sleeping with her knees slightly tucked in.

Watching her like that, drowsiness​ began to set in as well, and a small yawn leaked out of his mouth.

Just then, the sound of flutes and drums wandered in from afar. It was festival music.

Is it already that time of the year?

Hagamine City’s summer festival was a rather big affair. After all, the streets were meant to draw in tourists, unsuccessful though they were. For the previous two years, the pandemic had caused them to stop holding the mikoshi procession, but the main street was still lined with food and game stalls, and they also launched small-scale fireworks.

Soji stood up and opened the sliding glass door of the balcony slightly. Sultry summer air rushed in along with the sounds of the festival, bringing back certain memories to his mind. 

The calorific junk food, yakisoba. The shooting gallery, set up to be impossible to win. The countless stalls peddling hot tapioca. The overpowering smell of kebabs.

When I was a boy, I’d be right in the middle of all that. 

Now, it’s so far away that I can’t reach it. Still, it’s close enough that I can hear them.

The buzz and commotion of strangers. Hearing that made his heart settle down somewhat, for it cemented the fact that though Ema Soji was alone, he remained near still to the other people going about their lives.

“Mm…”

He felt a slight stirring and a faint grunt from behind, reminding him that he was currently not alone. Thinking that it would be a pain to have Algernon wake up, he closed the door. The hot air was cut off, and the sound vanished.

Just then, the intercom rang, signaling the arrival of a visitor.