Chapter 13: I Am the Same as You, a Special Existence
"What kind of information do you want?"
Xia Shang's sudden appearance felt like a mist to Reiko Tamura. All of his abilities were hidden beneath his skin. If he hadn't revealed his true identity himself, she wouldn't have been able to tell that Xia Shang was a parasyte at all.
"I am completely different from you. I have no interest in humans. On the contrary, I am very curious about parasytes."
Xia Shang restored his right hand to its normal appearance and continued, "You definitely have dissection data about parasytes, right? I hope to get all the data you have."
Xia Shang's appetite displeased Reiko Tamura.
Since she became a parasyte, it had been a long time since anyone dared to speak to her in such a tone.
The killing intent in her heart reappeared. "I do have quite a bit of information about parasytes, but why should I give it to you?"
"Because I have value for cooperation, don't I?" Xia Shang smiled as he looked at Reiko Tamura.
Reiko Tamura stared at Xia Shang's face for a long time, and finally nodded. "Congratulations, you've convinced me. Then after class, come find me with Shinichi Izumi. I will give you what you want."
After speaking, she walked straight out of the Guidance Office.
In the empty Guidance Office, Shinichi Izumi looked as if he were meeting Xia Shang for the first time. He pursed his lips, with a poor expression, and spoke, "When, when did you parasitize Mr. Xia?"
Facing Shinichi Izumi's angry questioning, Xia Shang smiled and pointed to his head with his finger.
"How do you know I must be a parasyte? Or rather, is your definition of a parasyte that any creature that is parasitized becomes a parasyte? If that's the case, then are you a parasyte?"
After hearing Xia Shang's words, Shinichi Izumi was momentarily at a loss for how to refute him.
It was Migi on his hand who answered the question for him. "I currently have a symbiotic relationship with Shinichi Izumi, and his brain was not eaten by me, retaining his own consciousness, so he is still a human."
"That's right, I am still a human, absolutely not a parasyte!" Shinichi Izumi said resolutely, though this action actually made him seem a bit guilty.
Xia Shang turned around and muttered to himself, "What if the parasyte happened to lose consciousness when it parasitized me? Then, if I retained my human consciousness, would I still be considered a human?"
"You mean the parasyte that parasitized you became a vegetable."
Shinichi Izumi said in shock.
Xia Shang did not answer his question, but continued to say, "I am the same as you, a special existence."
After speaking, he walked out of the Guidance Office and returned to the Classroom.
Shinichi Izumi, standing rooted to the spot, watched his retreating back and fell into thought. "Migi, is it possible that what he said is true?"
At this moment, Migi also wiggled his large eyes. "It's possible, just like in a species, there are always one or two special individuals that appear. Just as he said, he is also a special existence."
"No, what he said is true." Shinichi Izumi said with a smile.
Migi was very surprised and asked in a tone devoid of emotional fluctuation, "Shinichi Izumi, how do you know?"
"Because on him, I saw something that you parasytes don't have."
"What is it?"
"Guess." Shinichi Izumi deliberately spoke in riddles.
...
Next, after school, the two of them took the bus together to the Coffee Shop they had agreed to meet Reiko Tamura at.
On the bus, Migi kept one small eye exposed, constantly observing Xia Shang. It was curious about what Xia Shang had that parasytes didn't.
But it couldn't figure it out even by the time they reached the Coffee Shop.
"The environment here is nice. Eating a meal here should cost quite a bit." Compared to the reserved Shinichi Izumi, Xia Shang simply put his schoolbag down at his feet, picked up the coffee cup on the table, and took a sip. "Shinichi Izumi, roll up your sleeve," Migi noticed two kindred approaching them.
"Didn't you say there wouldn't be a fight?"
Shinichi Izumi said as he rolled up his sleeve.
"Because the other side brought two people."
"Don't be nervous, if a fight breaks out, I'll help." Xia Shang said, holding his coffee.
Soon, Reiko Tamura appeared before the two of them, accompanied by a man.
The man was expressionless, dressed like a typical office worker.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let me introduce you, this is Mr. A." Reiko Tamura introduced.
Mr. A's gaze turned towards the two of them, then he noticed their abnormality. He first spoke to Shinichi Izumi, "What's going on? Can this guy be considered a kindred? Also, why is there a normal human here?"
"A, don't worry, I'll explain the situation to you."
Reiko Tamura then sat across from Xia Shang and Shinichi Izumi with Mr. A.
"This is the information you wanted." Saying this, Reiko Tamura took out a folder and handed it to Xia Shang.
Xia Shang took it, immediately opened the folder, and looked at the information inside. The information inside contained text and pictures, but the quantity wasn't large. It seemed Reiko Tamura hadn't given him all the information.
Looking at the autopsy images of parasytes within it, the progress bar on the Panel in front of Xia Shang's eyes advanced in leaps and bounds.
"This shouldn't be everything, right?" Xia Shang raised his head and asked with a smile.
"Since we are in cooperation, it's impossible for me to give you all the chips I have."
"This stuff is pretty good." Xia Shang put the information back into the folder and then put it into his schoolbag. "Alright, what is the content of the cooperation?"
Reiko Tamura then took out a stack of photocopies with character profiles printed on them.
"This parasyte is not under the control of our Organization and has caused multiple incidents in Tokyo, attracting the attention of society and the Police. I need you to get rid of her for us."
Xia Shang took the photocopy. On it was a picture of a woman and a map of the area where she had recently appeared.
Are you trying to probe my strength? Xia Shang put away the photocopy, his lips splitting to his ears, revealing sharp teeth, and said, "No problem, I'll deal with her as soon as possible."
"You're also a parasyte?" Mr. A furrowed his brows.
The smile on Xia Shang's face at this moment was extremely terrifying. "What? Does it not look like it?"
Mr. A didn't continue speaking. Instead, Reiko Tamura, who was beside him, spoke. "Since our cooperation has been reached, it's time to discuss other issues."
"Izumi, what exactly are we in your eyes?"
"Man-eating monsters." Shinichi Izumi hesitated slightly. "Actually, I don't know what to call you."
But Reiko Tamura's next words startled Shinichi Izumi.
"Actually, I'm already pregnant, with this Mr. A."
Even the approaching waiter was so startled that they dropped and broke a coffee cup.
"What a shame about two good cups of coffee." Xia Shang had long since returned to his normal appearance. He wiped the corner of his mouth with a tissue and said regretfully.
"So, Shinichi Izumi, is the child in my belly a human or a parasyte?"
(End of Chapter)