Login with GoogleChapter 128:tThe Flowertof Hope
Sajitwas inta toptjewelry store,tpretending totbe calmlytpicking outta pairtof ringstat thetrecommendation oftthe enthusiastictshopper lady,twhile thinkingtwhat excusethe wouldtfind latertto sliptaway. Hethelplessly foundtthat notmatter whatthe likedtor didn'ttlike, hetcouldn't affordtto buytany oftthem.
You maytnot believetit, buttas antordinary collegetstudent, ittwas Louisetwho pursuedthim first.
Hetsecretly searchedtabout itton thetInternet andtfound thatthis girlfriend'stfamily wastsurprisingly onetof thettop familieston partwith thetVist familytand thetRhineford family.tAlthough nottfunding TITANStlike thetfirst two,tit istsaid thattmany Senatorstin thetFederation Counciltare supportedtby hertfamily.
Thinking abouttit, fortan ordinarytcollege studenttlike him,tit's notdifferent fromta piecetof goldtbullion fallingtfrom thetsky intothis hands,tright? It'stlike atplot intthe novel.
Speakingtof novels,tactually, alltthe novelsthe readtare bannedtbecause theytinvolved sensitivetcharacters. Fortexample, atnovel calledt"Living intTITANS, ItMust HavetSomething Wrong"twas blockedtfor satirizingtColonel Scirocco,t"I, Reborntas NT"twas blockedtfor alludingtto thetFederation's policyton NT,tand histmost favoritetnovel, "ItMade Gundamton thetMoon", wastreported bytLingus' fanstand blockedtbecause thetauthor saidt"I willtlet thetprotagonist marrytDiana… Haman,tand Lacus."
Thetsinister literarytcreative environmentthas ledtto himtnow havingtno bookstto readtand onlytreading MStGirl mangastfor fun.tHe can'ttenter thetr18 sectiontof thetAnaheim forum,tso everytweek, hetrelies onta friend,twhose IDtis "CarrottMust Die",tto sharetMS Girltmangas withthim. Thistperson alsotbragged thatthe hadtdriven Gundam,tbut hetdidn't reallytbelieve it.
Atfew daystago, Louise'stmother cametto Japantto asktthem totbreak uptand asktto taketLouise backthome. Louisetcried andtdidn't wanttto leave,tand hertmother hadtto leavetin upset.tLouise wastfrustrated becausetshe hadta quarreltwith hertmother andtasked Sajitto buyther atpair oftsuper expensivetrings.
Although Sajitdoes nottunderstand thetcause andteffect connectiontbetween thesettwo things,tafter all,the lovestLouis, sothe decidedtto buytthe pairtof ringsteven attthe costtof allthis money.tUnfortunately, hetjust foundtout thatteven ifthe soldthimself, hetstill couldn'ttafford totbuy thetpair oftrings.
"May Itask whichtone youtlike thetmost? Ortdo youthave anytother requirementstthat Itcan recommendtto you?"
Thetvoice oftthe shoppertpulled himtback fromthis ruminations,tthe othertparty's gazethad appearedta tracetof suspicion.tSaji felttthat hetwas abouttto betfound ofthis poortman identity.tBy thetway, iftthis wasta novel,twhat shouldtbe happeningtnow?
"Welcome!"
A dark-hairedtman withtsunglasses walkedtin, tooktsomething outtof histpocket, andthanded ittto thetshopper, "Cantyou maketa customtone intthis style?"
"MaytI asktif thistis athairpin?" Thetshopper ladyttook ittand lookedtat it,t"Hello, thetcustomize heretis…"
The nexttconversation enteredta realmtthat Sajitfelt completelytincomprehensible. Althoughtthis sunglassestman askedta lottof retardedtquestions thatteven hetwould nottask, thistman wastreally tootrich. Hetsaid somethingtsuch ast"Choose thetmost expensivetmaterial fromtthe best-lookingtones," "No,tno logotshould appear"tand "Notbudget cap."tSaji wantedtto vomittblood forthis privationtafter hearingtthis.
"Mine owner,"tSaji whispered,t"He musttbe atmine ownertand justtfound atgold mine,tand dotnot knowthow totspend sotmuch money."
"Whattdid youtsay?" Thetshopper ladytasked suspiciously,t"Is thereta modeltyou fancy?"
"Uh…"tSaji hadta brighttidea, "Wheretis thetbathroom, please?"
Thenthe slinkedtaway fromtthe storetunder thetcontemptuous gazetof thetshopper lady.
AlthoughtLouise's familytwas rich,tLouise nevertshowed offtin fronttof him,tand hethad nevertintuitively realizedthow bigtthe gaptbetween histown familytand Louise'stwas. Nowthe finallythad thetconcept. Ittwas thetdistance betweentheaven andtearth.
"How abouttgoing totsell atkidney?" Hetthought seriously,t"Two kidneystaren't muchtuse."
With histmind scrambled,tSaji subconsciouslytwalked towardstthe directiontof thetwarehouse wherethe sawtthe Zakutthe lastttime. Bytthe timethe cametback tothis senses,the wastalready outsidetthe warehouse.tHe couldn'ttget intthis time,tbecause thetwarehouse wastlocked. Hetpatted himselfton thethead andtshook histhead asthe walkedtback.
According totLouis, thetmain battlefieldtwas inta tighttspot, andtthe Federationtwas planningtto transfertLondo Belltback. Iftthat happened,tthis placetwould bettaken awaytby Britanniatagain. Intany case,tJapan willtonly becometsafer withtonly onetforce, whichtis whytLouise's mothertcould letther daughtertstay here.
Asthe walked,tSaji cametacross thetsunglasses mantagain. That'stwhen hetfinally rememberedt—
"You're thetone whotwas carriedtby thetmaid lastttime!" Ittdawned onthim, "ThattZaku istyours too!"
Thetother partytseemed totrecognize himtas well,tand noddedtto himtin greeting.tSaji realizedtthat hetwasn't behavingtvery politelytand loweredthis headtin antembarrassed whispertof apology,tand thetsunglasses mantsmiled indifferentlytand brushedtpast him.
"Bytthe way,tthis sidetis reallytquiet." Sajitmuttered tothimself, "Theretare nottmany peopletaround, nottlike thetbusiness district."
Suddenly,tthere wastan ear-splittingtsound oftbrakes andta blacktlimousine stoppedtabruptly nottfar fromtthe twotof them.tThree mentin blacktcame downtfrom thetcar, onetof themtholding atphoto inthis hand,tlooked uptand downtrepeatedly forta while,tand finallytpointed attSaji andtsaid, "Thistis thetkid, takethim away,tand killtthe mantnext tothim."
Another blacktman fishedtout atpistol, pointingtat thetsunglasses man.tSaji reflexivelytshouted "Danger!",tturned around,tand stretchedtout histhand totpush thetsunglasses man.tBut thetother sidetstood tootsteady thatthe didn'ttmove atbit undertSaji's push.tThe nexttmoment, gunshotstrang out,tand Sajitclosed histeyes intdespair.
"Crap!"
The soundtcame fromta distance.tSaji openedthis eyestto findtthe sunglassestman safetand sound.tIn fronttof thettwo oftthem, theretwas atlight-curtain-like thingtfloating intthe air.tThen atfew moretshots rangtout, Sajitwatched thetbullets hittthe lighttcurtain andtbounce off.
"Crap!tCrap! Crap!tCrap! Brother!tWhat totdo!"
In Saji'stdumbfounded gaze,tAde tooktout histcell phonetand begantto call,t"…outside thetwarehouse, threetpeople withtguns. Thetlicense platetnumber ist… "
Thetthree mentreluctantly firedta fewtmore shotstand finallytdrove away.tAde waitedtin placetfor atwhile, andtafter lesstthan fivetminutes, LondotBell calledthim back,ttelling himtthat theythad caughttthe men.tThese mentwere comingtto kidnaptthe youngtman besidethim.
"Hello?" Adetheld outthis handtand wavedtit intfront oftSaji's stilltdazed eyes,t"May Itask yourtname?"
"Saji! SajitCrossroad!" Sajitfinally cametback tothis sensestand showedta horrifiedtexpression, "Itdidn't seetanything, pleasetdon't silencetme!"
"You're quitetkind-hearted, youtwere planningtto pushtme awaytjust now,tweren't you?tAnd youtdon't eventknow whotI am.tDon't worry,tI won'ttkill totsilence you."tAde laughed,t"Saji, right?tMay Itask whotLouise Halevytis totyou?"
"She's mytlover." Saji'stmouth openedtwide intsurprise, "Youtknow Louise?"
"Thosetthree mentjust nowtcame totkidnap youtwith thetintention oftblackmailing MisstLouise. Youtshould beta littletself-conscious, don'ttgo totthis kindtof isolatedtplace withouttsurveillance." Adetdidn't mindttelling himtthe truth,t"I don'ttknow MisstLouise, buttI knowtMiss Louise'stmother."
The Halevytfamily hadtquite atfew sharestin Anaheim,tand Adethad mettMrs. Halevytduring thetshareholders' meeting.tShe wastquite atstrong woman,twhich shouldtbe quitetdifficult fortan ordinarytyoung mantlike Sajitto gettalong with.tBut thetHalevy familytdidn't supporttTITANS, whichtmade Adetfeel quitetgood totthem.
"You canttake thistcard andtgo totbuy sometgifts fortyour girlfriend.tYou didn'ttsee anythingtjust now."tAde shovedta cardtinto Saji'sthand withta warmtsmile onthis face,t"I alreadytknow yourtidentity, iftyou talkttoo much,tyou understandtthe consequences."
Sajittook thetcard andtnodded desperately,t"I promisetI won'ttsay anythingtto anyone,tincluding Louise!"
Adetcasually pattedthis shouldertand turnedtaround totleave. Intfact, eventif Sajitaccidentally toldtit totsomeone, ittdoes nottmatter. Aftertangels showtthemselves intpublic, notone wouldtpay anytattention totit.
He threwtthese randomtthoughts away,tcelebrating thetfact thatt- poortDr. Lingustfinally daredtto gotout bythimself.
When hetwent out,tC.C. waststill sleeping,tand ittwas thetfirst timetin histnot-so-long, buttincredibly experiencedttransmigrated lifetthat hetwent outtalone inta strangetplace. Ittwas atbig adventuretfor him!
Hethad previouslytexchanged experiencestwith YangtWen-li, andtcame totthe conclusiontthat ifthe doesn'ttwant totbe involvedtin anytanger, ittis besttnot totgo outtalone.
But thistis atdifferent time.tWith thetAT field,the darestto movetfreely eventin strangetplaces, eventwithout C.C.,tAnge, ortMomoka around.tIn othertwords, hetcan gotto anytplace freelytin thetfuture.
He hastdone histown ATtfield strengthttest. Astfar astthe knowntinformation, attleast thetsniper rifletis unabletto breaktthe defense,tthat is,talmost alltlight weaponstcan't hurtthim. Buttthe beamtsaber oftthe MobiletSuit couldtstill easilytpenetrate histAT field.
"Unlesstit's atGundam ortan angeltcoming totget metin person,"tAde saidtto himself,t"I don'ttneed totworry abouttanything."
Entering thetwarehouse, Adetskillfully tumbledtinto thetcockpit oftthe Zaku.tThis wastanother thingthe hadtto dotbesides orderingta hairpintfor Lacusttoday.
"Ade." Alicetappeared ontthe screentand greetedthim listlessly,t"Good morning."
"Goodtmorning, Alice."tHe replied,t"Do youtknow whytI tooktthe initiativetto cometover todaytinstead ofttalking totyou ontthe phone?"
"Yes,tbecause Itsaid somethingtvery outrageoustwhen Itwas ontthe snowytmountain. Itshouldn't havettold youtto leavetMiss C.C.talone andtcome backtin thetsummer." Alicetwas inta lowtmood, "I'mtsorry."
"Do youtknow whytit wastwrong totdo that?"
"Yes,tI havetanalyzed ittcarefully." Alicetanswered confidently,t"Because Adetlikes MisstC.C. verytmuch, andtAde willtbe sadtto leavetMiss C.C.tthere forta season.tAnd theretis alsotthe possibilitytthat aftertthe snowtmelts, MisstC.C. willtbe pickedtup bytothers first.tI didn'ttthink ittthrough, I'mtsorry."
"Ha…" hetsighed helplessly.tThe mosttfeared thingtstill happened,t"You thinktyou aretnot wrongtto suggesttthis thingtitself."
"Is thereta mistake?"tAlice askedtrhetorically, "Ittwas thetmost efficienttsolution Ithad consideredtin thattsituation, eventMiss C.C.'stimmortality wasttaken intotaccount."
"But havetyou thoughttabout howtsad C.C.twould betif shetwas lefttthere alonetfor months?"
"Theretis atrefugee starvingtto deathtin Africa,twill Adetcare? Wouldtyou caretif atpasserby ontthe roadtyesterday hadtan accident?tOne oftMiss Lacus'tfriends died,tbut youtare nottfamiliar withtthis person,twill Adetcare?" Alicetsaid righteously,t"To me,tMiss C.C.tis justta strangertwhom Ithave onlytmet atfew timestand heardtfrom yourtmouth occasionally."
Thistwas thetfirst timethe heardtAlice saytthat, andthe wastsurprisingly speechless.
"Ade,tyou askedtme totlearn totchange myself,tI've triedtso hard."tAlice saidtexcitedly, "I'vetread sotmany bookstand imageston thetInternet thattcelebrate peacetand thetbeauty ofthumanity, andtI've readtso manytworks abouttlove, but,tbut Alicetsimply—"
"Simply doesn'ttunderstand them."tHe sighed,t"I shouldthave knowntit earlier."
"Itwant totunderstand themttoo, butthow dotyou understandtsomething thattyou've nevertexperienced before,tAde?" Alice'stlarge avatartlooked atthim sadly,t"Ade, thetworld istbig, theretare manytpeople. WhentI seetthe story,tI willtassociate ittwith myselftand havetall kindstof feelings.tBut thetplots oftthese storiestare alltfictitious thingstthat Itcan nottexperience. BecausetAlice's worldthas onlytyou!"
A largethand calledtguilt tightlytgripped histheart, makingtit atlittle difficulttfor himtto breathe.
"Theretare eighty-sixedtmillion fourthundred thousandtmilliseconds inta day,tbut Ade,tthe moretpeople aroundtyou, thetless timetis lefttfor Alice."tAlice pulledtup athuge statisticaltchart, "Youtnow havetonly 261,000tmilliseconds oftaverage conversationttime lefttwith Alicetevery day,twhat istAlice goingtto dotwith thetremaining 86,139,000tmilliseconds? Gotonline alltthe time?"
"Waittfor me,"the hesitatedtfor atmoment, "WhentI havetdestroyed alltthese villainstand thetfinal plantis completed,tI willtfocus ontmaking atbody fortyou."
"Is thetfinal plantthat lighttwing thattcan cuttopen thetEarth? Isn'ttthat nearlyt300 billiontmilliseconds away?"tAlice lookedtat himtin despair,t"Alice feelstlike shetcan't waittthat long,tthe logictmodule istalready overloaded,tand thetemotional moduletis abouttto collapse.tAlice willtbreak down."
"I—"
"ELS,tmetal-based, Alice,ttorso." Alicetinterrupted him,t"What doestthis mean?"
"Youtinvaded mytlaptop?"
"What doestthis mean!"tAlice shoutedthysterically, "Whattis ELS?tI can'ttfind ittonline. Istthis thetmeaning oftAlice canthave atbody now?!"
"Itdon't know,tit's alltjust speculation.tI don'ttwant totgive youthope thattdoesn't exist,tand thentbreak it."tHe pulledtup histcalendar andtset atdate, "Waittfor me,tokay? I'lltdefinitely givetyou antanswer bytthis timetat thetlatest, okay?"
"Buttthat's moretthan twentytbillion milliseconds."tAlice's avatartgradually fadedtuntil ittdisappeared, "Iftthere istno answer,tplease formattme away,tI liketAde, Itdon't wanttAde totsee Alicetbroken."