I stared at them, the reality of my situation settling heavily over me. "What… what do they mean by 'selling'?" I managed, my voice laced with disbelief.
Naoto-san's expression was calm, almost as if he'd expected my reaction. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but… your parents actually have sold you to our agency. They accepted money and signed the paperwork." His voice was level, devoid of any emotion.
My disbelief quickly turned to anger. "Selling a human being is a crime," I retorted, fixing both of them with a glare. "This is the modern world. Slavery was abolished hundreds of years ago!"
Naomi-san met my gaze, unperturbed. "I'm afraid that's not entirely true," she replied evenly. "The practice of openly buying and selling people may have been abolished, but it still exists. Today, it's just… less publicized. For certain people, it's still a normal transaction."
I clenched my fists. "And what about the government?" I shot back. "If they find out about this—"
"They already know," Naoto-san cut in smoothly. "Do you really think we could conduct business like this without the government's knowledge? Our agency maintains a very close relationship with them. They're aware of everything, especially in situations like this, where we need people for… specific research."
"Research?" I muttered, feeling a chill crawl down my spine. "I don't know anything about that, but I know this is illegal. And if I go to the authorities, people will come after you."
Naomi-san offered me a faint, pitying smile. "You're free to try," she said with a slight shrug. "But I would suggest watching the rest of the video first. It might change your perspective."
My hands itched to do something, anything, to fight back. But part of me felt a reluctant curiosity. Why would my parents do this? How did it even come to this? Reluctantly, I nodded.
Naoto-san pressed a button, and the video continued to play.
On the screen, my mother's face reappeared, looking pale and worried. She took a breath before continuing, her words painfully deliberate.
["Shin, we've been having serious financial troubles these past few years. You know your father's business went bankrupt, and we just… we had no other options. We can't afford to make ends meet, and your sister Sana… well, she has big dreams. She wants to be an actress, like Miki-chan."]
I froze, hearing my sister's name. Sana. My little sister, my whole world.
["We actually reached out to Miki-chan for advice, and she recommended that Sana join Tsukiyomi Academy. It's the most prestigious school in the country, and it would give Sana a real chance at a future she deserves. But the tuition, the fees—it's all so much. So, we contacted Akashic Agency. They… they offered us a solution. If we… if we gave you to them, they would cover all of Sana's education expenses. Not only that, they would also grant us ownership of a large building that could bring us steady rental income. With that, we'd be set for life."]
The weight of her words sank in. My parents had actually traded my life and freedom for a building and tuition money.
["So, please, Shin. For our sake—for Sana's sake—don't make this difficult. They promised they wouldn't hurt you. They just need you for some research, and after that, they'll… well, they'll arrange for you to live with a wealthy family. It's a good deal for everyone. And we're… we're so sorry."]
The screen went dark. Silence filled the room.
My head spun, my heart pounding. It was true. My own family had sold me. And why? For a building, for tuition, for the vague promise of a better life. I wanted to hate them, to rage at their betrayal, but… I couldn't. Deep down, I knew I had nothing to offer my family. I didn't have a stable job, didn't have the means to support them. How could I blame them, really?
Sana. My little sister. I'd do anything for her, and my parents knew it. They'd counted on it. And here I was, helpless to fight back, knowing that maybe this was the best thing I could do for her.
I looked up at Naoto-san and Naomi-san, both of them watching me with expectant eyes. "What they said… is it all true?" I asked, my voice heavy with resignation.
"Yes," Naoto-san replied without hesitation. "In fact, we've already transferred ownership of the building to your family, and your sister has been enrolled at Tsukiyomi Academy. She's reportedly adjusting well and even made a few friends." He paused, then added, "They seem quite happy… without you."
The last words felt like a knife to my chest. I couldn't help but wonder if they'd even miss me at all.
"So… if something happens to me during this 'research,' does that mean Sana's tuition will stop?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Naomi-san shook her head. "No. It's all been arranged. Your sister's future is secured, whether you're here or not. It's in the contract. All of her expenses have already been covered, so she won't have to worry as long as she's at Tsukiyomi Academy."
Another heavy silence settled over us. I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on me. "I understand," I said at last, the words leaving me in a near whisper. "I'm willing to do this… for her. But I have a few requests before we begin."
Naoto-san raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what would those be?"
"First, I want all of my belongings given to Sana. It's not much, just a computer and a little bit of money. Make sure she gets it."
"We understand," Naomi-san said with a nod. "We'll make sure it's taken care of."
"And… I have one personal favor to ask of Naoto-san."
Naoto's eyebrows lifted slightly. "What is it?"
"If possible, I'd like only you to hear this," I said, glancing pointedly at Naomi-san.
Naomi chuckled. "Don't worry. Whatever you share, we'll take it to the grave." She leaned back with a smirk.
I took a deep breath. "On my computer, there's a hidden folder labeled Study Materials. Could you… delete it?"
For the first time, they both laughed. "Ah, I thought you were going to ask us to deliver a love letter or something dramatic," Naomi teased. "Don't worry—we'll make sure your secrets stay hidden."
"You know," Naoto added, grinning, "we've all had those kinds of 'study materials' folders. Nothing to be embarrassed about."
I shook my head, feeling a mix of mortification and amusement. "It's just… a little embarrassing, that's all."
Naomi gave me a conspiratorial smile. "Let me tell you, I have my own collection—premium files from Kamishima Sato herself."
"Wait… premium? Those are expensive!" I said, genuinely surprised.
Kamishima Sato was one of the most famous adult actresses, known for her high-quality productions. Most of her content was paywalled and far out of my budget.
Naomi winked. "Consider it a professional investment. Don't worry, we'll make sure your browsing history is cleared too."
I felt a faint smile tug at my lips. "Thanks. Just… for safety's sake."
They nodded, their expressions softening. "You can count on us," Naoto assured me.
Just then, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I blinked, feeling my vision blur.
"I… feel sleepy," I muttered, struggling to keep my eyes open. Everything around me felt distant, as though I were slipping away.
Naoto's voice sounded distant, almost comforting. "Don't worry, Shin. Rest for now. If you're lucky, we'll meet again soon."
Those were the last words I heard before everything faded to black. It felt as though I were sinking deep into an endless ocean, swallowed by darkness.