Story Reader / Floating Record / ER08 The Long Goodbye / Story
As the volunteer gently urges Wanshi forward for self-introductions, his eyes immediately catch sight of the blue-purple hair among the crowd.
Evidently, he noticed Wanshi, too.
More obvious still is how clearly unwelcome Wanshi appears to be.
During Wanshi's first "group activity" session and communal lunch, the boy with blue-purple hair speaks his first words to Wanshi since their second meeting.
Get lost and go back to where you belong.
...
Having "nowhere else to go", Wanshi ignores the boy's comment and scoops up food from his plate.
In an instant, the boy reaches out and snatches away Wanshi's spoon as well.
Pelo!
A volunteer nearby notices the commotion at the table and approaches, calling out the boy's name. They retrieve the spoon and place it back in Wanshi's palm.
If it weren't for you, my mom would've woken up by now!
Woken up?
Wanshi recalls the doctor's lie to Pelo, but this time, he decides to keep the truth to himself.
Pelo, you've broken the rules twice today. If it happens again, there will be consequences.
But he was the one who started it!
What could Wanshi have possibly done to you? He's only been here for a day.
Not here, but at the hospital! The doctors said Mom just needed to rest, but he kept insisting... he just had to say that...!
The volunteer seems to understand what Pelo wants to say and leads him away.
For the rest of the day, Wanshi doesn't see Pelo again.
Wanshi and the other children his age are encouragingly ushered into a room filled with toys. The floor is soft, and there are many things he has only ever seen through Freckle's terminal but never in person.
As Wanshi sits beside the safety slide watching the other children line up for their turn, he can't help but think these activities pale in comparison to being Melvie's little assistant.
Even as the artificial sky outside grows completely dark, Wanshi never once climbs up the slide.
On this quiet night, Wanshi silently slips under the covers.
As the first child taken in by the Youth Center after Pelo, Wanshi happens to be assigned to the same dormitory room as him.
The room assignment doesn't bother him as he becomes completely absorbed in examining everything in the dormitory. Everything except the night light on the desk captures his curiosity.
Pelo finally returns, completely ignoring Wanshi on the upper bunk as he goes straight to sleep.
...
A faint creak of the door wakes Pelo. Against the glow of the night light, a silhouette stands by the doorway.
Huh?
Pelo snaps awake and shouts at Wanshi in a whisper.
What are you doing??
I don't want to sleep. I want to go outside.
Are you crazy? Haven't they told you that you can't leave after the lights are out?
No.
Fine, do whatever you want. Just don't drag me into it when you get caught, you pest.
...What did the volunteer lady talk to you about? Did she give you a piece of her mind?
No, she just told me I could refuse to share a room with you. The Youth Center has empty dormitories—we could each have our own room.
And you didn't say yes to that?
She also said that I'm older than you, that you still have nightmares and never slept alone back at the hospital, and that you're really timid.
I'm not timid... Yaaawn...
Wanshi lets out a yawn.
Why aren't you sleeping? You're yawning.
...Because I have nightmares when I sleep.
...Oh, so what they said is true.
Pelo flops back onto his pillow, still as grumpy as ever.
I have nothing to say to you. Just go back to sleep. Today's a rest day—you've probably been playing with them all day, right? Things aren't gonna be easy starting tomorrow.
What's happening tomorrow?
A lot of things.
Wanshi shudders.
Getting shots and medicine before dawn, not being allowed to eat or sleep, and there's even a mean old witch who punishes people?
?
What are you talking about? It's just classes and activities at the Basic Education Center. They simply group children of similar ages from the Youth Center together for lessons.
You're the youngest in our group, and I'm the oldest.
Once you reach 13 or 14 here, you can start thinking about your career path.
I'm a bit older, but I'm still grouped with all of you. I'll probably... have to leave this place when I turn 16.
What are you going to do after you leave?
None of your business.
What's a Basic Education Center? Is it just a place for classes? What's basic education?
Woah, you sure are full of questions, huh?
Like a fledgling that has accidentally flown into human society, Wanshi remains curious yet cautious, carefully absorbing every new word encountered.
Well...
Are you always this slow? Don't you find it annoying?
Pelo's voice keeps rising.
During their brief exchange, Wanshi gets pelted with various labels—none of which, he feels, are particularly flattering.
The doctors never said that about me.
I'm not stupid, I'm not a "pest", I'm not slow, and I won't "get lost". It's wrong of you to talk about me like that.
Go away! I'm trying to sleep! This is your last warning!
Why do you always talk to me like this?
Wanshi's expression tightens as well.
Doctors, doctors... That's all you ever talk about. But weren't you also dumped here by doctors? Did any of them ever adopt you, even when you love them all this much?
...
How are you any different from me? Everyone abandoned you—they sent you away! Tossed you aside like garbage—Ah!
Before Pelo can finish his insults, he's violently interrupted—Wanshi slams into him, ramming straight into his chin and sending him reeling backward, nearly causing him to crack his head.
Pelo freezes for three seconds—just three seconds—before leaping from his bed as if mortally offended, retaliating without a moment's hesitation.
The two end up in a scuffle. Fortunately, the rapid footsteps of the staff on duty soon echo through the hall, bringing this little drama to an end within minutes.
On only his second day at the Youth Center, Wanshi receives punishment.
Today was supposed to be their batch's enrollment ceremony. According to the other children, the boarding students like them would attend the same classes as the commuting students from outside, learning the same subjects.
According to Pelo, the difference is simple: commuting students have parents, and boarding students are orphans. Wanshi hasn't met any of the commuting students from outside yet, so he's quite curious about them.
If you hadn't bumped into me, we could've attended the enrollment ceremony... It's already noon. Why aren't they back yet?
...
Noisy chatter echoes from the other end of the corridor as the new students finally return from their entrance ceremony.
Following their teachers' guidance, the students file into classrooms on both sides of the corridor. The group of new students gradually thins out until only the boarding students from the same batch remain at the corridor's end.
As the children pass by Pelo and Wanshi, they stare curiously at the two hanging their heads in shame. Some who understand what the pair did wrong begin to snicker.
Looks like the new kid has gone bad with Pelo!
What do you mean by "gone bad with Pelo"?
...I'm not bad.
Yeah, right! Why else would the dorm supervisor punish you?
Natalie makes a face.
Alright, quiet down everyone!
Seeing Pelo infuriated, the volunteer gives him a warning as well.
Pelo, stop causing trouble.
I wasn't the one who started it!
Weren't you the one who started insulting others?
I...
That's enough stubbornness for now. It's almost lunchtime anyway. Thank goodness neither of you got hurt... Don't let this happen again, Pelo. Go on inside.
The Youth Center volunteer exchanges a few words with the supervising teacher before waving to Pelo.
Wanshi tries to follow Pelo to the classroom, but a volunteer gently holds him back.
Wanshi, come with me.
Wanshi sits in the chair, wringing his hands.
As Melvie's distinctive footsteps approach from behind, Wanshi turns around to greet her, barely containing his excitement—
Though they've only been apart for a short while, he already misses her deeply.
But the moment he sees Melvie's face, Wanshi freezes.
I heard you got into a fight? And you started it?
Melvie questions Wanshi with a stern expression—she has clearly rushed here from the Star of Life, still in her work uniform.
Wanshi apologizes instinctively.
I'm sorry... Please don't be mad at me...
Was there a fight? Are you hurt?
...?
He's fine, he's fine! We checked and they are both okay. Neither of them went all out.
Before Wanshi can say a word, Melvie pulls him up from his chair, lifts his arms and legs for inspection, and begins examining him thoroughly.
Do you have your portable respirator with you? If you're having trouble breathing, put it on right away.
Your hair's getting a bit long... I should have given you a trim back at the department...
Instead of scolding, Melvie frantically checks on Wanshi and takes out a sky-blue lunchbox. When she's done checking him and sees that he's unharmed, she sets the lunchbox on the table with a hint of anger.
Fresh out of the Star of Life and already picking fights? Quite the troublemaker, aren't you... Well, never mind. Let's get some food in you first.
Merv opens the lunchbox to reveal a pitch-black mass of chaos that emanates a terrifying smell.
It might not look like much, but it should taste good. I cook like this at home sometimes, too, so don't worry about it.
Wanshi sits at the table and takes a few bites before hanging his head low.
I'm full.
Full already? You've only been here a day, and you're eating even less than during your rehabilitation?
...
Wanshi?
Wanshi's tears crash onto the dining table.
...Is the food that bad?
No... Pelo started it. He said none of you wanted me anymore, that you all wanted to throw me away.
Mom insisted on sending me to Eden. I did everything she said—I ate my meals properly, I slept quietly—but you all threw me away anyway.
That's not true. No one wanted to throw you away—you just couldn't stay at the hospital anymore. You need more people looking after you: volunteers, caring individuals, teachers... This is the best place for you. Besides, only with proper education can you qualify to be an "ordinary citizen" of Babylonia.
You're the smartest child I've ever met. Even if you're a bit younger than the others, you'll excel in your studies. Babylonia is where you'll have a future...
There's—there's still a way! You could adopt me... If you adopt me, I can be a commuting student. I'll study hard, I promise!
I'm not qualified to adopt... I shouldn't even be visiting you.
I know it doesn't make sense to you, but this is the only thing I can do.
Melvie is a busy person. Her visit today seems to be merely to check if Wanshi is hurt, and she's quickly called back to the Star of Life by an incoming call.
Having failed to secure adoption, Wanshi trudges back with his lunchbox, shoulders slumped. No sooner does he sit at the boarding students' table than he notices Pelo glaring at him once again.
Having been caught staring, Pelo quickly looks away and lets out a contemptuous snort.
What is it this time?
Pelo takes a spoonful of soup, acting as if Wanshi hadn't spoken at all.
Wanshi opens the lunchbox and takes a moment to brace himself. Despite being a brilliant doctor, she's a terrible cook—but he decides to eat it anyway.
Whatever Melvie gives him, he treasures deeply.
Just as he steels himself to dig up an unidentified object, Pelo finally breaks their silence.
Well, well. Didn't think you'd have someone watching your back.
What?
You don't get it... Look, she wants to adopt you, right?
The light in Wanshi's eyes dims.
No, she's my doctor. She's the one who brought me here.
But she still comes to see you—that's what having someone watching your back means.
Besides, she's a doctor—that's the best profession there is. When I grow up, I want to be a doctor, too, so I can save my mom.
Wanshi knows which topics to avoid around Pelo now, quietly wolfing down the meal Melvie prepared... barely even chewing.
But the envy in Pelo's eyes is impossible to miss.
Remembering how Pelo broke down crying at the emergency center that day, Wanshi swallows a mouthful, steels himself, and pushes his lunchbox forward.
...What?
Want some?
I don't want any! What makes you think I want that stuff?
It's okay, you can have some.
Exhibition Hall
Everyone, this way! Our next stop is the "Earth" Hall. Remember what your teacher told you before we left?
Stay quiet now, and reach out with care to touch our home.
The children line up and file through the door, barely containing their excitement.
In the center of the hall, a projection of the blue planet slowly rotates, revealing her beauty and serenity to a new generation that has never set foot on Earth.
Go ahead, you can reach out and touch it.
At their teacher's encouragement, the children gently touch the Earth's surface, creating ripples of aqua-blue light.
After a brief silence, white seagulls suddenly emerge from the surrounding darkness. The ground beneath transforms into coastal sand, and a hermit crab crawls past the children's feet, carrying its shell.
Whoa—
Babylonia recreates many of Earth's original ecosystems. The sunlight, the vegetation, every breeze... Everything you see here originated from Earth.
Humanity shares an unbreakable bond with Earth. One day, we are all going to return to our homeland.
The children reach out to touch "Earth", their eyes filled with wonder at the beautiful yet unfamiliar sights.
Alright, you have 30 minutes to explore this place. Make sure to assemble back here on time—we still have many other halls to visit...
You haven't mentioned the most important part.
Huh...?
The Punishing destroyed everything. In mere decades, it left Earth in ruins.
A middle-aged volunteer from the Youth Center waves his hand, manipulating the virtual Earth. As it completes its rotation, a dark crimson spreads across its blue surface. The lights of civilization fade away as black smoke rises from the craters.
Wait, don't tell them these things...
The volunteer gives Meka a brief glance before continuing anyway.
Your peaceful life here in Babylonia, your education, your very future—all of this exists because people have sacrificed themselves for you.
They faced the enemies on the frontlines without fear, fighting with mortal flesh to reclaim Earth's soil inch by inch.
You're different from your classmates. Most of your parents sacrificed their lives on the frontlines. Their comrades and Babylonia entrusted you to us, allowing you to grow up under public care.
You must always remember why your parents gave their lives. Never stop asking yourself: will you follow in their footsteps and continue their noble cause, or spend your life as mediocre beings in Babylonia's greenhouse?
The children stare at the volunteer, completely lost.
That's enough! They can barely understand what it means to lose their parents. Why are you forcing their predecessors' fate upon them?
I'm going to report today's incident to the Youth Center. If you can't take responsibility for their future, then stop giving them such irresponsible guidance.
...
Once again, the children turn to Meka with bewildered looks.
Alright, everyone, let's head to the next exhibition hall. The next one houses the Gestalt...
Meka cuts the free period short, herding the children at the front toward the exit instead of letting them explore the "Earth" pavilion as planned.
At the back of the line, Wanshi whispers to Pelo.
My mom didn't "sacrifice" herself.
Yeah, yeah, you're right about everything. My mom's in stasis, too.
...Let's not talk about that. What does "mediocre" mean?
"Ordinary"?
So Aunt Melvie wants me to be mediocre.
Useless?
Well, I don't want to be mediocre.
...Tch, I couldn't care less.
After returning from the exhibition hall, the children from the Youth Center gather for dinner as usual. The volunteer who gave the emotional speech at the exhibition is nowhere to be seen.
Wanshi chews slowly as he recalls the sights from earlier today: birds, soil, the beach... Everything seemed so real—if not for the exhibition hall's hard floor beneath his feet.
He knows that both day and night outside are merely simulations of Earth's ecosystem, with weather limited to either sunny or cloudy. He has experienced so much more on Earth.
An adult and a child sit atop a hill, sheltered from the wind and rain by a massive oak tree.
The rain subsides, with leftover droplets trickling down from the leaves. Only when the sky completely clears does the woman turn to the boy sitting beside her, giving him a slight nod.
The rain's stopped. You can go and play now, Wanshi.
I want to play in the wheat field.
No, you can't. The wheat awns are gonna prick your hands.
Wanshi looks at one of his fingers, where a small cut remains—a reminder of when he secretly snuck into the wheat field to touch the wheat heads.
What about the beach? It should be safe now since the tide is out.
It's dangerous. That sea has always been, and will always be, dangerous.
...
Mom, do I have to stay under the tree today, too?
...Never mind. Go play by the sea.
Alright!
Having gotten permission, the excited child dashes out from beneath the sheltering tree. He runs across the damp, soft earth, carefully avoiding blooming wildflowers as he makes his way down the slope toward the beach.
He lived beneath a tree with a silent woman he called "Mother". When the rain cleared, Mother would speak to him, teaching him how to read and telling him about the various creatures of Earth.
Mother doesn't like the sunlight on clear days, but he does. The sun warms the sand just right, making it pleasant to walk along the beach.
Aargh!
A stone rolls out of nowhere and trips him, causing him to fall hard onto the grass and scrap his knee.
What the... Who are you?
...
A child in white lies hidden among the grass, scrutinizing the fallen Wanshi with intense curiosity.
You look just like her... So you're her real child.
Who are you? Why are you crouching here in the grass?
I've been hiding in the grass... I didn't want you to see me, so you wouldn't know what I'm up to.
Have you been in my and Mom's world all this time?
The child hiding in the grass grows visibly upset at these words.
This is MY world! You're the one who is connected to here from the outside. Yet I'm the one who has to hide from you!
Wanshi?
His mother's voice echoes from nearby. Wanshi gets to his feet and sees her searching for him.
Don't tell her you saw me!
The child shoves Wanshi, sending him tumbling down the slope.
For the first time, Wanshi sees everything from a tumbling perspective—the sky spins above him, the flower petals reveal their varied hues, and the grass blades show their tiny serrated edges...
Rather than feeling angry about being pushed, he focuses on committing everything before him to memory.
You're being silly again... Haven't you been spacing out for too long?
Wanshi stops chewing, puts down his spoon, and exchanges an uncomfortable stare with Pelo.
...If you start trouble again, I swear I'm gonna...
That's not what the surface is really like.
Their conversation catches the attention of the other children who, too, are refusing to eat their meals properly.
The surface isn't just beaches and seagulls—there are so many beautiful things down there.
How do you know all this? Don't tell me you've been to the surface?
I saw it from... I mean, I've never been there... I saw it on some grown-up's terminal.
Halfway through his sentence, Wanshi remembers Melvie's stern warning and cuts himself off. Stifled giggles ripple across the dining table.
I know... there's the Punishing down on Earth.
A boy with a quiet voice slowly raises his hand.
My... my parents died in battle. Their sacrifice earned me permission to come to Babylonia...
Haven't you seen the machines glowing red? Haven't you seen people's limbs blown off?
Wanshi recalls his own nightmares, which also feature machines glowing with that same red light.
The boy turns his clouded eyes toward Wanshi.
Wanshi, is the surface world you see in the terminal really as wonderful as you think?
...
Mustering his courage, Wanshi stands up from his chair. As his feet press against the padded floor, he tries to imagine the feeling of real soil beneath.
Mm-hmm, yes, there must be many good things left on Earth besides the Punishing.
The child begins to speak, stumbling over his words.
He begins with the seascape he glimpsed today—beyond the shells, fish swim in the briny waters... The sand isn't all soft and fine as one might think; some mudflats are too dangerous to walk on barefoot.
They tell us about eternally golden wheat fields and warn us never to touch their sharp awns.
They speak of towering trees with thick canopies, of deep beds of fallen leaves. Beneath these trees grow not just the same vegetables as in our greenhouses, but also morning dew, wildflowers, wild grass, and ladybugs with seven spots on their backs.
And there's rain, and when the rain stops, birds fly through the trees. Not seagulls—these birds have grey-tipped wings and beautiful patterns on their bodies...
Do they shed their feathers?
Yes, I heard that feathers feel... soft and light to the touch.
More and more children turn to Wanshi to listen to him describe landscapes they have never truly experienced.
Do feathers have a smell? Why would anyone press their face against them to find out...
N-no, of course not!
The children burst into laughter. Artificial sunlight streams in from outside the Youth Center, illuminating a frail child at the dining table as they eagerly discuss the sky, the earth, and what real sunlight and moonlight must be like.
Are we ever going to see what Earth is like with our own eyes? I think my mom and dad are down there.
Of course! I'm definitely going down there. I'm gonna need to find...
Remembering Melvie's words of caution, Wanshi holds his tongue.
He gazes at the artificial sky beyond the Youth Center, wondering once again if his mother—whom Melvie sees as a terrible threat—is still waiting for him somewhere on Earth.
