Arakawa’s demeanor changed before my eyes. Instead of a smiling child, he now had the air of seasoned interrogator about him.
This boy scares me... I’ve never felt fear like this. It’s as though I’m being choked by it. I felt as though I might scream if I weren’t careful.
“I see,” I said with difficulty. “In that case, I’ll continue.”
I explained the nature of the Alice Project.
“Attempts to make genetic improvements using nanomachines first started in 2051, and ended in success. We successfully induced artificial mutations in transposons — a form of moving gene — in the human genome and chromosomes. I’m sure a distinguished researcher like yourself is already aware, but the ultimate goal of the project was to produce mutations in a human. In other words, artificial evolution. However, the project was suspended for ethical reasons before becoming fruitful.”
Arakawa silently drank from his glass while I explained this to him. It was probably basic information for a researcher such as Arakawa, but the next part was more of a problem...
“In 2055, a UN resolution formally prohibited experiments of this sort. However, our country continued to conduct these experiments in secret. Our ultimate goal was to create a soldier with a strengthened body, but the project ran into difficulties and was temporarily suspended. However, the intelligence agency learned that the Canadian government was conducting the same type of research. When we learned of their efforts, we contacted them, hoping that we might collaborate.”
Arakawa interrupted me: “And then you formed an agreement where Russia would support the research financially while the Canadians would provide the research facility, the research staff, and the equipment. Right?” he asked with a smile.
I couldn’t help letting out a small cry. Again? But how?! How does he always know?!
“I heard all that from a friend of mine,” Arakawa told me. “No, not Anton. Another friend already gave me the basic information. I don’t need the details of the Alice Project. As far as I’m concerned, that’s Russia’s problem; it has nothing to do with Noa. What I want to know is why Dr. Sandra is planning terror attacks against Alice, me, and Noa.”
Basic information? Are our country’s best kept secrets no big deal to him? I thought frantically. In that case, I’m sure he knows that Sandra was my fiancée... There’s no use hiding it any longer.
“Are you familiar with the theory of soul reincarnation?” I asked hesitantly.
“Yes. It’s a groundbreaking theory. I can’t prove it, but I’m sure the theory is correct.”
“Well... it’s quite personal, but I’d like to tell you everything. Sandra disappeared two years ago. At that time, she was my fiancée.”
It had all been because of a trivial argument between us.
On that day two years ago, I’d bought a science magazine that Sandra had asked me to pick up for her on the way home...
We were having dinner with a glass of vodka at the dining table like always. We assumed we would be eating dinner the same way tomorrow, too.
Unfortunately, Miki Arakawa was featured on the cover of the magazine I had with me, and I said something I shouldn’t have: “That genius, Arakawa, is on the cover this month.”
Sandra had just barely finished the Alice Project and devoted herself to her own research. “Arakawa again? I hate that woman. She’s so full of herself. She’s always bragging about her research!”
“Don’t be like that, Sandra,” I said. “Most of her research comes from her son, Kouki. She doesn’t do it all herself.”
“Kouki? Don’t mention that monster to me! Do you know how many hours I spent on that equation?!”
“I know. That equation was meant to launch your career as a legitimate researcher. But he solved it first. It’s a waste of time complaining about it.”
“Well, I’m sorry for wasting your time! Why does this always happen to me...? I was so close to coming up with that equation, and then a little kid goes and derives the ideal solution first! It’s like he knew... It’s like... It’s like my theory when I created the sisters...”
The look on her face was unforgettable. She suddenly leapt up out of her chair and ran to her room where she began frantically working at her terminal. Then her hands suddenly stopped moving and she turned to face me.
“I knew it! My theory was right! The boy stole my research! He can’t have found it himself. His brain wasn’t developed enough for him to have been capable of math.”
“Calm down. What’s gotten into you?”
“Look at this! It’s the theory I constructed on soul reincarnation. Not only can souls move from the present to the future, they can also return to the present from the future. What if Kouki Arakawa is from the future? That would explain...”
“That’s enough! You promised you’d stop talking about this. You’re a legitimate researcher now. This baseless theory was why you—”
“It’s not baseless! I found the equation! Parallel universes exist, and if I had the technology and the funding, I’d prove it! If I could just observe that particle, I could even travel back and forth between other worlds! That’s what makes it possible for a soul to travel through time. Why does no one believe me? I’m not crazy!”
Sandra went on yelling and crying. Or maybe she was laughing.
Either way, the next day she had vanished, and I found her engagement ring on the dining table.
Perhaps she was insane like everyone said, but I would always believe the things she said were true.
“She... Dr. Sandra wasn’t insane,” I finished.
Arakawa spoke with his empty glass held in his hand. “Didn’t the information reach you? I was transported to another world during the incident at the Space Particle Research Institute.”
“You’re talking about the Arakawa particle?”
“That’s right. The world wanted to know the details of the incident, but everything was kept secret. I really did travel to another world and then back again. I even brought back physical evidence. It wasn’t just a dream.”
“That means... Sandra is...”
“Dr. Sandra is a true genius. My mother and I can’t compare. My achievements are just the results of coincidences. But Dr. Sandra solved the problem using nothing but her own intellect. In truth, she should go down in history as a great scientist.” Arakawa smiled sympathetically.
If Sandra had met this boy, what would have happened? I wondered. I’m sure she’d have gone back to her research with new enthusiasm. If only I’d believed in her with all my heart. Things might have gone differently.
I tried not to let my regrets overwhelm me as Arakawa adopted the air of an interrogator once more and began to speak.