No. 6 Volume 3 by Atsuko Asano

Author:Atsuko Asano [Asano, Atsuko]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-01-02T16:00:00+00:00

Don't know what waits for me tomorrow. But at least I've lived through today.

So I'll eat. So I'll drink. Here, it's everything we've got.

All the things I've said, can't enjoy 'em once I'm dead

So I'm alive an' enjoyin' 'em today.

That's everything. Here, it's everything. My everything.

Someone was singing off-key. Shion paused, and tilted an ear to the voice. He hugged the parcel of dried meat and bread that he had just bought close to his chest. This clamour that seemed to rush at him and overwhelm him ― this clamour, this jumble of noises that seemed to burst out of the ground itself ―

It was all connected to those who had a strong attachment to life, and the energy that they radiated. Here, everyone clung fast to life. They greedily latched onto survival. Because nothing insured a tomorrow for them, these people lived with even more desperation. This energy, this clamour. It was something that didn't exist, wasn't allowed to exist, in No. 6.

What feelings did Nezumi have as he walked through these streets?

"Brother."

A feeble voice called out to him. He turned to see a thin child robed in faded cloth. He had long, matted hair, and a dirty face. Shion couldn't tell whether it was a boy or a girl.

"Spare some bread for me," the child pleaded weakly, in a voice that was barely a whisper. "I haven't eaten for three days. Please, just a morsel."

The child's countenance reminded him of a little girl he got along with back in Lost Town. Her name was Lili.

"A morsel..."

A pair of tiny hands stretched toward him. Almost without a thought, Shion was putting his hand into his parcel. As soon as he pulled out a round roll, an impact slammed into his back. He had been shoved. He staggered. As Shion lost his balance, a pair of small hands snatched the parcel from Shion's arms. At the same time, he was shoved violently in the back once more, and he fell to his knees.

"Run!"

The child shouted energetically, almost unrecognizable from the whisper moments before. Several children yelled after him as they stormed past Shion. The dog leapt forward swiftly and silently. He attacked the child who had stolen the parcel. Screams rose from the group.

Still hugging the package of dried meat and bread in both hands, the child crumpled to the ground. A few strips of meat and a piece of bread fell out and scattered on the ground. The dog pinned the child down with its legs, and bared its teeth.

"Stop it! Heel!" Shion had shouted without thinking. The dog obeyed, closed its mouth, and looked up at Shion reproachfully. The child didn't miss his chance. He sprang up, and broke into a sprint with the package in his arms. He moved with the swiftness and agility of a wild animal. In moments, his small back had disappeared into the throng. The other children had also melted into the crowd, out of sight.

"Amazing..."

Shion couldn't help but murmur at their cunning ways.

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