When I walked the next day to the laboratory I was so tired from last night, that I almost thought about not going today. This little girl really did go on my nerves. But I made a promise and I know I can't break that.
I sigh and try to hold my eyes open as I walked through the door. The Professor was already waiting for me with a smile. He greeted me with a quick handshake and a comment on the rings under my eyes and then we already started to make our way to the room of the number 0.
"Do you know something about the mother of a Cora named Ria?"
I suddenly asked and he stopped walking. He looked at me with a strange glare, as if he didn't quite understand what I just said.
"How do you know Ria? Or her mother?"
He asks and then I respond with an innocent undertone in my voice, as if I didn't know what Ria has done.
"I don't really know her. I just used to see her around sometimes with her mother. And now I was wondering where her mother was, because yesterday I saw her around the area walking all by herself."
I lied. It looks like he believes me, because he continues to walk again.
"Don't get involved with her. It's for your best."
He says.
"Can you let her mother free? It's sad to not see her around without the only thing she loves. Don't you also study the nature and behaviors of Coras? It would be a good opportunity to find more about their-"
"You don't understand, Jinsei. I need her mothers ability. I need to study it. I can't just let her free."
He says as he interrupts me. I look disappointed on the ground and continue to walk. I try to think of a solution.
"And what if I do you a favor?"
I look at him again and he turns around. He must like the idea.
"Find out about the number 0 for me. Find out his ability. That's the most important. If you find out the ability I will let the mother free. Become close with the Cora. I know our deal originally was that you keep him alive, but now you have to get the information. All of it."
I wasn't too surprised when I heard that. I'm not sure if I can really get those informations, because I'm not even sure if the boy will talk to me about that, but I can at least try.
I nod.
"Okay, that's a deal. I will get you the information and you will free the mother?"
The professor smiles again. With this same smile. The smile that tells a thousand lies and the smile that is the most honest that I've ever seen. Every time he says something, I can't tell if he speaks the truth or not.
Then we arrive at the place where the number 0 is located in the room. The professor opens the room, with this keycard he always has in his pocket, and we walk in the room with all the monitors. I look around and I can see a plate with the same soup from yesterday. It looks like it's warm, that means it was prepared just a few minutes ago. It's probably for the number 0.
"Before you go in..."
He looks at me and puts a hand on my shoulder.
"...Remember our deal, Jinsei. Don't do anything you will regret."
He takes the plate and puts it in my hands.
"Don't worry about it"
I say and the door to the room opens. I walk inside and it closes again, before I can even take two steps further inside.
I look for the number 0, and as I look in the corner he was sitting in last time, I could see him looking up at me. He is still sitting in the same corner? Has he even moved?
"It's you again."
He said derogatory.
I slowly make my steps into the room. As he stood up I could see how thin he has become. He probably didn't eat what I brought last time.
"Didn't you eat at all?"
I ask and he looked me up and down, like I was some kind of insect. Do I imagine things, or is he today in a worse mood than the last time?
"Why should I eat something from a lab rat like you? How should I know it's not poisoned?"
He said and I immediately eat a spoon full of the soup. As I did so his attitude dropped and he just looked at me confused. He probably didn't expect that. Even if it was poisened, I wouldn't die, but maybe he forgot that part.
Now he steps closer, out of the shadow.
He looks at me for a good second, and then roughly takes the plate out of my hands
He says nothing and goes back to his corner. He could at least say thanks for the food, but he probably is too proud for that.
"You're welcome."
I say but he doesn't respond and starts to eat the food. He must have been really hungry, because the plate is empty in only a minute.
I sit down and wait for him to finish, so that we could talk.
"Can I ask you a question?"
I ask. Now he looks at me with those grey eyes, that stare directly in your soul. This stare makes me anxious. I hope he won't get mad if I ask.
"What is your ability?"
He says nothing for a good minute, but then he responds with a dry:
"Why?"
"I also told you my ability. So tell me. What is your ability? I'm just curious"
He hesitates, but then he looks away and actually responds.
"It's time."