While Shion was talking to Shou and Rika, Vivian had a special guest in her room.
"So, what is it that you wanted to talk about?" Vivian said after stopping reading the book she was reading.
"You know why I came here, right?" Ayaka said, looking a bit irritated.
"Absolutely not." Vivian, who looked uninterested, said.
"Do you really think of Shion as your own daughter?" She asked.
"Do I really need to answer that?" Vivian seemed to be a bit irritated too.
"You surely do." She said. "If she was really your daughter, you could've saved her from the hell she will be going through."
"I don't really understand what kind of hell you are you talking about." Vivian said.
"I have just got to know her upcoming clients. I don't particularly mind her being an escort. Rather, for her to adopt in this house, she has to. But there's always a limit." She said with a bit of an angry expression. "You know better than anyone else about how bad Shion's health condition is. She is emotionally unstable. Why do you guys need her to take so many missions? I can understand that Rei wants as much money as possible. But what about you? You're her mother. Even if you haven't given birth to. But she is your daughter."
"You calmed down?" Vivian replied in a calm way. Ayaka didn't reply.
"I am her mother. That's why I requested Rei to give her more jobs." Vivian revealed.
"W-what... do you mean?" Ayaka couldn't believe her eyes.
"Ayaka, you need to understand the nature of Shion's transformation," Vivian began, her tone clinical yet not without a hint of concern. "What was done to her during the research... it wasn't just a physical change. It was far more complex than that. The process involved manipulation of her neurological pathways, hormonal balance, and emotional centers."
She paused to ensure Ayaka was following.
"The changes were not just physical but psychological. Shion's brain chemistry was intentionally altered to heighten her sexual and emotional responses. It's an artificial enhancement, not something natural or typical of the human body. The researchers wanted to induce an overwhelming level of receptivity to pleasure to see how her body could adapt to extreme states of desire."
Ayaka frowned, trying to process the words. "So, you're saying... she needs this? The lustful acts..."
Vivian nodded. "Yes. Her body is constantly in a state of heightened arousal, but more than that, her brain has been conditioned to crave sexual release. It's not simply about pleasure, Ayaka. The alterations to her neurotransmitters—specifically dopamine and oxytocin—have significantly amplified her brain's need for intimacy. She doesn't just seek it. She requires it to maintain emotional and mental stability."
"Stability?" Ayaka repeated, still struggling to comprehend. "How can... pleasure be related to her mental health?"
"Because," Vivian continued, her expression serious, "without these acts, her neural pathways may begin to malfunction. Shion's emotional state could become erratic—her mood swings, her desire, and her sense of self could destabilize. Essentially, if she doesn't engage in constant sexual activities, her body and mind will go into a kind of withdrawal. Her brain has been rewired to associate sexual acts with emotional equilibrium. If she doesn't follow through with these desires, it could lead to distress, anxiety, or even psychological breakdown."
Ayaka absorbed this with a sinking feeling. "So, the lust... it's not just about pleasure. It's necessary for her to feel... normal?"
"Exactly," Vivian confirmed. "Her emotional needs are now bound to sexual release. It's no longer a simple desire—it's a biological necessity. The more she resists, the more her body will crave it. In fact, her physical state could become painful if these urges are not satisfied."
"But what about the rest of her?" Ayaka asked, her voice softening with sympathy. "Does she even have control over her feelings anymore? Is she just... a slave to her body?"
Vivian sighed, looking almost regretful. "Unfortunately, in many ways, yes. Her new body is like a machine that needs fuel. It craves the stimulation and the emotional connection that comes with it. While her mind is still hers, her body compels her to engage in acts that others might find extreme. The emotional bonds she forms, the satisfaction of those desires, it helps her stay grounded, but it's a constant struggle."
"So, this is what she has to live with now," Ayaka said, her voice thick with the weight of this revelation. "There's no way back?"
Vivian gave a quiet, almost reluctant shake of her head. "Unfortunately, no. This transformation—these changes—are permanent. The research has altered her on a cellular and neurological level. It's not something that can be undone without drastic consequences. The only way for Shion to remain stable is by embracing this new nature of hers. It's a tragic reality, but it's hers to bear."
Ayaka sat in silence, her mind grappling with the complex truth about Shion's existence. She could sense the deep empathy in Vivian's words, though there was a part of her that still struggled to understand how something so intimate and personal could be turned into such a dire necessity.
"Is there anything we can do?" Ayaka finally asked, her voice quiet but filled with resolve.
Vivian sighed again, her gaze distant. "For now, we ensure that Shion's needs are met and she remains as stable as possible. We help her navigate this reality... one step at a time. That's all we can do."
"So, the sum of it is, you've requested Rei to give Shion more jobs is to make sure that her health remains well and her daily needs are fulfilled." Ayaka finally signed.
"Yes." Vivian nodded. "For the first few days, she is going to be mentally unstable. She will accept things that she previously would've never. She will feel mentally conflicted. So, in this case, we need to make sure that she accepts those. As they are part of her real self."
"Real self, huh." Ayaka looked outside through the windo
"For example, we had sex. Normally, I would've never done that to a patient who just got her consciousness. But now, I have to." Vivian said. "Shion needs sex, and the more stimulating it is, the more it will be beneficial for her."
"So, you as her mother did that."
"Yes."
"So, there's no other way?" Ayaka asked once again.
"Unfortunately, not." Vivian replied and once again engrossed in her book.