‘What am I doing here…’
Building a society on this earth that’s not like No.6, creating a country that won’t kill or be killed by anyone. But is that really possible? Youmin’s words echo in his ear.
‘What’s going to happen to me…’
A scratching sound—the wind? No, not the wind, someone’s tapping at the window.
‘Nezumi!’
He throws open the windpw, and the breeze brushes back his bangs.
There’s no one there—it was just the wind blowing through. Shion slumps to the floor and covers his face with both hands.
‘Nezumi… Why won’t you come back to me? Why aren’t you by my side? I want to see that I’m still me, that I’m continuing to be the person I really am—I want to find it in your eyes. That’s the only way I can.
Nezumi—I miss you so much.’
He doesn’t cry, but soft moans slip from his lips, animalistic whimpering that doesn’t even sound like himself.
An alarm sounds and doesn’t stop—and Shion stands and presses the intercom button: business discussions for the upcoming meeting later that day. He disconnects the call on completion and turns back to the window with a sigh. The brilliant blue sky spreads out before him, and he shuts the window again, turning his back on the endlessly blue sky."
Asano Atsuko "No.6 ~ Beyond" (c)