Paradox-Roid | Chapter 16

[healingbonds]

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Owen: Fufu, this is fun. There’s no one restricting me.

Figaro: Meanwhile I’m as restricted as it gets. Hey, do I have to keep both my hands behind my head?

Owen: Shut up and keep walking. I’ll stick a metal arm into your back.

Figaro: Where are you planning on heading exactly? Taking the highway into the shopping district? Or beyond?
No matter how far you go, you might not find anything that will bring you enjoyment.

Owen: ............

Figaro: You should know that, since you possess all the data in this world. There’s no unknown territory left to you upon this planet.
All that unfolds before you will be a map that you’ve already conquered. Or you might end up tangled in a mountain of problems.
We played god and created beings that looked just like us. But that simply gave birth to a new disease.
Assist-Roid dependency. We’re terrified of talking to people, yet we granted souls to talking dolls.
And now here we are, betrayed...... You’re so human that it’s almost boring. You’re just pretending to play human.
This rebellion of yours, this adventure of yours — they’ve all been done by others before you. Doesn’t it make you feel hollow?

Owen: So what? Just because I know everything, that doesn’t mean I’ve done everything.

Figaro: ............

Owen: I want to do it all. Things that the rules say I can’t do, and things that millions and billions of people have done before me.
Because I’ve never tried any of it before. I want to create life; I want to destroy life. I want to put all sorts of things into my mouth.
I want to take a walk in the rain, and I want to set trees on fire. I want to gaze at the tides of the ocean; I want to listen to the songs of the birds. I want to shatter stars and eat the sweet candies that lie within them.

Figaro: ......You want to shatter stars and eat desserts?

Snow: That’s from the CBSC commercial.

Owen: So what if you’ve experienced it all before? Don’t act like you know it all. Don’t pretend you’ve set a footprint upon my world.
I haven’t tried anything yet. I haven’t walked anywhere upon this earth. This world is a pure white country of mysteries.
My memories have just begun. I can go anywhere. I’ll see it all for myself — the shapes of stars, the face of god himself.
I’m going to experience this world with my whole body. Because someone once told me:
Hey, little darlings. Welcome to this world.

Figaro: ......Who told you that?

Snow: Mithra, maybe?

Owen: ............ Who was it again......
......Who.........

(Footsteps)

Cain: Owen......!

Owen: ............

We stare at Owen.
Owen holds his right hand aloft, making Dr. Garcia, who we saw on the news, and a black-haired boy walk in front of him.
After staring fixedly at us, he smiles: a cold, terrifying smile, like he’s a different person altogether.

Akira: (Huh?)

Owen: Two city police, two Assist-Roids, and two citizens. One of you is even a familiar face.
It’s been a while, Papa Rustica. This is your first time seeing my face, right? How is it? Do you like it?

Rustica: ......You still remember that awful joke. Owen.

Owen: I’m fond of it. Chloe. How’s life in the city? How do you feel coming back to our dear old home?

Chloe: Our dear old home...... Have I talked to you here before, Owen?

Owen: ......Ahaha! So you wiped Chloe’s memories of the lab. Sounds like something that you’d do.

Owen sneers at Rustica with a face I’ve never seen before.
He laughs sardonically at Dr. Garcia, his smile tinged with the slightest trace of uncertainty and sorrow.

Owen: Did you wipe Mithra’s memories too? So does no one remember me anymore?

He cries with a distorted voice, but another voice rings clear as if to drown out his sorrow.
It’s Cain.

Cain: I remember you, Owen.

Owen: What are you saying?

Owen glares at Cain with displeasure.

Owen: Who are you?

Cain: I should be the one asking you. It’s me, Cain. Don’t you know me?

Owen: I have your data. You’re from the Vollmond City Police, and your birthday is......

Cain: I don’t give a damn about the data. We met, we argued, and we flew over the CBSC wagon on my airbike.

Owen raises his eyebrows, puzzled. Agitated, Cain grabs my shoulders and pulls me close.

Akira: Whoa......!

Cain: See, this is Akira! You guys were hanging out together in front of the sakura trees. I promised you I’d treat you to a CBSC, remember!?

Owen: ......Promise......

That’s when the scenery from a few hours ago comes flashing back.
The cerulean blue of the night sky, and the pale pink of countless petals. And Owen, looking up at the moon.
That’s right. Those flowers are called sakura.
We shared that lovely scenery with each other.

Akira: ......Don’t you remember? We ate a giant soft serve together. It was sakura-flavoured......

Owen: ......I don’t know. I can’t remember. Did I manage to escape from the lab? Was I underneath the sakura trees?

Cain: Yeah. It was all recent! We were in Rustica’s lab together just a little while ago!

Owen: ............

Owen closes his mouth. He clearly doesn’t have any memories of us. His gaze remains as cold as ever.

Owen: Is that so.

Owen laughed so happily when I said I loved him.
I vividly recall that moment, and my heart is tinged with pain.
—Cain and Owen, maybe?
—Hear that? He said he loves me.
—He said that about me too! I’m happy.
There’s lots of information in this world. Words, lights, images, sounds, smells, even tastes.
Most of the time, you forget the information that you’re bombarded with almost immediately. Otherwise your brain would just short circuit.
But there are things that you don’t forget. I’m sure that’s what love is.
That’s what Cain said.
Cain smiles at Owen, whose expression remains unchanging.

Cain: ......It’s fine. If you’ve forgotten, I’ll repeat them as many times as it takes. All those things we did tonight.

Owen: ............

Cain: I was pretty rude tonight, so I’ll make sure to do everything properly next time.
I won’t point a gun at you, and I won’t mention scrap metal. And I won’t say goodbye without fulfilling my promises.
You’re making a really ugly face right now, but......

Owen: What? You have a problem with my face?

Cain: If anyone were treated the way you’ve been all of tonight, they would make that face too. ......I’m sorry.

Owen: ............

Cain: For pointing a gun at you, for restricting you, for dragging you around while using my promise as an excuse — yet I didn’t even follow through with it......
No one ever said yes to you: of course you’d make such a scary face.

Owen: ......Shut up.

Owen averts his gaze restlessly. He blinks rapidly, as if searching through his memories. At that moment......
The boy suddenly leaps high into the air and brings his heel down onto Owen’s back.

Snow: ...........

Owen: ......Ugh......!

Cain: Owen......!

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