I am Min-Ah Sawada, a homunculus, born from the merging of a Korean man's and a Japanese woman's genes in an artificial womb.
Unfortunately, I was born with the overwhelming flaw of envy—hence my codename, "Invidia." My envy consumes me, especially when it comes to my own sisters, the ones who share the same origin as I do.
I envy Superbia Maeve for her regal air, her pride, elegance, and the authority that seems to flow from her very being. I envy Ira Benesha for her fiery spirit, her unwavering zeal, and the bold confidence she carries. I envy Luxuria Haniya for her breathtaking beauty and the purity of her soul.
But I don't envy Eliza, Kayla, or Mandane in the same way, because I consider them beneath me. Eliza's wealth is something I covet, while Kayla's carefree, indulgent lifestyle fascinates me. Mandane, on the other hand, is plain and unremarkable, though I do see potential in her. Maeve, too, once mentioned the fear she felt when Mandane pushed herself to her fullest potential… but that's neither here nor there.
The one I envy the most, though, is Lilith Maria. I despise how much I long to be her. She embodies the best traits of every one of my sisters, in ways I could never achieve.
Maria is more regal than Maeve, more zealous than Benesha, more angelic than Haniya, and far more ambitious than I could ever be. She surpasses Eliza in greed, makes Kayla's hedonism seem tame, and is everything Mandane could have been, had she committed fully to her potential. Maria is the magnum opus of our creation— the "Perfect Eve."
But just as Eve was granted to Adam, we, as the first homunculi women, have an inherent, natural desire to be someone's chosen woman.
Benesha has Tshikuta—the man to whom she is engaged. And I've heard of her younger brother, Sansula. Maria is engaged to him, and if she believes him to be the right "Adam" for her, then who am I to doubt that?
So I want him for myself. I want Sansula. I need him to be with me.
Before I met Sansula, I took a winter vacation to Tokyo, Japan, in 2029 with my parents. The trip was a chance to visit my grandparents and the extended family on my Japanese side.
In Japan, my name is written as "美永" (Mina) in Kanji. 美 means "beauty, beautiful, pretty," symbolizing pleasing appearance and attractive qualities. 永 means "eternity, permanence," signifying something that endures forever. In essence, my beauty and admirable traits are thought to be permanent, always worthy of praise. Yet, I don't feel that way about myself, which feels strangely ironic.
I've always envied those who seem to stand above me. I aspire to greater heights, to become better. But in my heart, I often feel like I'm not quite good enough.
One afternoon, I sat with my nieces in a cozy bedroom, chatting about life in the Netherlands and, of course, boys.
"You're so pretty, Mina-chan!" they said, their eyes wide with admiration. "Are all Asian girls in Holland born with light hair and light eyes like you?"
"Oh, stop it!" I laughed, feeling a little bashful.
"Do you have a boyfriend, Mina-chan?" they asked, curiosity piqued.
"Hmmm, no, I don't..." I replied with a soft smile.
"What?! Aren't there tons of tall, handsome guys in Holland? How come you haven't pursued any?" they probed further.
"I haven't met anyone worth pursuing," I said, nonchalantly.
"What's your type, then?" they asked, eager to know.
I paused, thinking for a moment. I'd never really considered it before. "Someone who the best woman on earth wants to be with," I answered thoughtfully.
"Huh??" they stared at me, caught off guard by my response. "But wouldn't that make it difficult for you to pursue him?"
"Exactly," I smiled, a gleam in my eye. "That's the point. It would push me to surpass the best woman on earth, to become someone worthy of pursuing him..."
A week had passed since that conversation with my nieces. Now, on New Year's Eve, I decided to go out with them to celebrate. We all wore kimonos for the occasion. My kimono was pink, adorned with delicate white and blue flower prints, reflecting the beauty and tradition of the moment.
Part 1
My nieces and I made our way to the food stalls, eager to try the many street food delights on offer. The air was filled with the delicious aroma of yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), takoyaki (octopus dumplings), taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries filled with sweet red bean paste), okonomiyaki (savory pancakes), and gyoza (dumplings). We indulged in a little bit of everything.
"Dutch cuisine doesn't even come close to this!" I exclaimed, savoring the flavors.
Just then, I heard a voice—familiar, but one I hadn't heard in ages. "Konichiwa."
I turned toward the voice and was met with a surprising sight.
There stood Zipporah, the daughter of Nathan, the Head Scientist in charge of the homunculi experiment. Zipporah, now in her late twenties, was accompanied by a man I didn't recognize.
She looked stunning in a beautiful white kimono, her head wrapped in a shawl to shield herself from the cold. The shawl had delicate tassels, complementing her outfit perfectly. Her companion also wore a white kimono, the hem adorned with tassels.
"Zipporah! It's been so long!" I called out, delighted to see her. She was enjoying some dango (sweet rice dumplings). "Never in a million years did I imagine I'd run into you in Tokyo!"
"I'm so glad to see you've grown into such a fine woman, Minah," Zipporah smiled warmly.
"And who's this? Your bodyguard or your boyfriend?" I asked with curiosity.
"Boyfriend?" she chuckled softly. "Don't you think I'm too old to still be playing around?"
I was taken aback by her response.
Zipporah then raised her hand, showing me a ring on her finger. "This is my husband. His name is Yeshaya Badila."
"Badila?" I asked, surprised. "Is he related to Benesha?"
"Yeshaya is the current head of the West African Badila branch," she explained. "He's not a direct relative of Benesha, but a distant one."
"Who is this kid?" Yeshaya asked, referring to me.
"She's one of the girls I used to volunteer with at the kindergarten, about ten years ago," Zipporah replied with a smile. "I told you about them, remember? How quirky they were."
"Ah! I remember now!" Yeshaya suddenly exclaimed with excitement. "So, this must be the 'envious girl' you mentioned! Since you told me she was Asian!"
"Exactly!" Zipporah replied with a grin.
I didn't appreciate being introduced as the "envious girl." It had negative connotations, and it felt a bit uncomfortable.
"It's nice to meet you!" Yeshaya smiled warmly.
"Likewise," I responded politely.
"So, how have you been, Minah?" Zipporah asked, clearly interested in catching up.
I shared my experiences from the final years of primary school and my transition into middle school. I told her about how much I had learned, the challenges I faced, and how I was now close to graduating.
"What university would you recommend for me?" I asked, eager for some guidance.
"Have you heard of the new school the government is building in Utrecht?" Zipporah inquired.
"I've heard of it. I'm planning to apply there," I answered.
"That's perfect!" she exclaimed. "I was going to recommend the Utrecht Metropolitan Self-Development School. I'll be a homeroom teacher there alongside my husband. The Headmaster from the kindergarten is going to be the principal, and your sisters have all applied too. It'll be just like the good ol' days!"
"That sounds exciting, but also very challenging," I said, realizing the weight of the situation.
I glanced at my nieces and realized they had no idea what we were talking about, since they couldn't understand Dutch.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" I quickly apologized to them, feeling bad for leaving them out of the conversation.
"No, no! It's okay!" they reassured me with smiles.
"Ah, my bad," Zipporah said in Japanese, realizing her mistake. "I didn't mean to leave you out. Are these your nieces?"
"Yes, ma'am," they replied, beaming up at her.
"I could tell," Zipporah smiled, glancing at them. "You're all just as beautiful as Minah."
After bidding farewell to Zipporah and Yeshaya, I continued to explore the streets with my nieces, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Tokyo.
Part 2
My nieces and I stumbled upon a tree adorned with candy apples, each glistening temptingly in the moonlight. Without hesitation, my nieces rushed forward to grab the last few remaining ones. There was only one candy apple left, and I quickly made my way toward the tree, eager to claim it for myself.
But as I reached the tree, I found myself face to face with a man in a stunning black kimono, embroidered with delicate white flowers. He, too, was reaching for the last candy apple.
We stood there for a moment, caught in a silent standoff. Then I heard a familiar voice call my name. "Minah?"
Turning around, I saw my sister, Ira Benesha Badila, approaching with a bright smile. She was dressed in an elegant purple kimono, and her presence immediately lifted my spirits.
"Benesha!" I exclaimed, surprised and delighted to see her.
The man, still holding the candy apple in his hand, looked between us and then asked, "Do you know my sister?"
"Why don't we share the candy apple?" I suggested with a playful smile, trying to break the tension.
We all sat together, and I began chatting with my sister Benesha and her younger brother. "What brings you both to Tokyo?" I asked curiously.
"We're here to enjoy the cozy, vibrant atmosphere of New Year's Eve," she explained. "And, of course, to attend the Asaliy performance. She'll have a guest performance for the show…"
"Kohaku Uta Gassen?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, that's the one."
"I'm so happy to see you, Benesha," I said, my smile widening. "How have you been?"
"Good," she replied, her expression warm. "And you?"
"I've been fine, thanks."
Just then, another man, dark-complexioned and dressed in a kimono, walked up to us. "This is my fiancé," Benesha introduced him. "His name is Tshikuta."
"Fiancé? Wow, you're already engaged! Congratulations!" I said, genuinely excited for her.
"Nice to meet you!" Tshikuta said with a friendly smile. "Are you a friend of Benesha?"
"We're more like sisters," I replied with a grin. "I've known her since kindergarten, though we haven't seen each other in a while."
"Oh, then you're just like Haniya and Mandane!" He remarked.
"What?" I was taken aback that he knew of them. "Did Benesha tell you about us?"
"I had met them while I was with her," he replied with a casual shrug.
I handed Benesha's brother the last piece of the candy apple, smiling. "You look just like your sister," I said.
"I know, right?" he returned the smile. "My name's Sansula, by the way. It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise!" I grinned. "By the way, Benesha, you won't believe who I just ran into."
"Zipporah?" she guessed.
"How did you know?"
"I ran into her too. Actually, I was just talking to her. I left because she wanted to speak with someone privately."
"Who? Her husband?"
"No… someone else…" she trailed off, but her words were cut short.
"Look at you two, eating an apple from a tree…" That voice—Lilith Maria. She stepped into view, wearing a striking green kimono. "This must be a bad omen," she added, glancing at us with a sly smile.
Benesha let out a sigh. "My parents adopted her. And she's engaged to my brother."
"Really?" I asked, surprised. "Why him?"
"Because he's everything I long for in a man," Maria answered, her tone almost dreamy.
"In that case, I'm going to snatch him away from you," I declared boldly.
"Huh???" Sansula looked utterly confused.
"Oh my!" Maria laughed lightly. "That isn't love, though. What even is it?"
"For you to choose Benesha's brother means he must be something special," I said. "So, I want him."
"You don't even have any feelings for him," Maria retorted.
"Love is something that develops over time," I replied, undeterred.
"All of you girls are ridiculous," Maria chuckled. "No wonder your qualities are all sinful."
"No," Benesha interjected, her voice calm but firm. "What we possess aren't sins; they are traits of success."
"Let's see how successful those traits will make you in life…" Maria's voice dripped with skepticism.
We all made our way to the hall for Kohaku Uta Gassen, the stage where Asaliy, or Ashley, would perform. The atmosphere was electric, filled with eager anticipation. It was packed, just as expected for one of the most talked-about musicians of the moment.
Asaliy took the stage, her presence commanding the crowd's attention. She sang her first-ever song written in Japanese, but the melody was eerie. It painted vivid images of a global catastrophe, with devastating loss and destruction.
Half a year passed, and the first day at Utrecht Metropolitan Self-Development School had finally arrived. I packed my suitcase, said my goodbyes to my parents, and boarded the train from Leiden to Utrecht.
As I passed through the entrance gates, I saw my sisters—Benesha, Mandane, Haniya, and Kayla—waiting for me.
"Minah!" Haniya rushed to me and enveloped me in a warm embrace. "I've missed you so much! How have you been?"
"I've missed you all too," I hugged her back. "I've been good. How about you all?"
"Same here," Benesha said with a smile. "Can't complain," Mandane added. "I've been... well..." Kayla trailed off, her eyes clouded with something unspoken.
"I've been doing great!" Haniya beamed.
"Yeah?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "I haven't seen Benesha since December, but I haven't seen the rest of you in ten years…"
"We should definitely catch up!" Haniya exclaimed, her excitement contagious.
"Wouldn't it be better to wait for Eliza and Maeve to arrive first?" Kayla suggested, a hint of worry in her voice.
"Good point," I agreed, considering the idea.
"Nah, forget about waiting!" Haniya declared, waving off the suggestion. "How about we start with brief summaries and dive deeper when everyone's here?"
"Alright, Kayla," Haniya said, turning to her with a mischievous grin. "You go first."
Kayla hesitated for a moment before speaking, her tone turning serious. "There's something I need to tell you all about Lilith..."