Attack Of Parasites

"This requires training... If I split into two, we can both think and talk," Migi said. He formed one half with Dobby-like eyes and a mouth, and the other half with the same features, essentially creating two bodies of Migi.

"How is this possible?" Izumi asked, astonished by what he was hearing.

"But if I split into smaller parts..." Migi said as he divided into several copies on the table.

"Our intelligence would dwindle to the point where we wouldn't be able to think, nor fight effectively. Eventually, we would wither and die quickly," Migi added.

"When I divide into several units, I send mental commands in advance, a verbal formula, meaning a type of order to perform a task. Let me clarify this better..." Migi explained.

"Unite!" Migi commanded. Immediately after issuing the order, the copies on the table merged with the original.

"Okay, I understand!" Izumi said, though his expression suggested otherwise.

"They all united, but if I created 50 copies, not all of them would succeed in merging. What I want to convey is that there are places where my smallest parts can survive, a place with a constant flow of fresh blood, anywhere in your body," Migi said.

"What!!! My body?" Izumi finally grasped what Migi was saying.

"Wait, Migi, you..." Izumi approached Migi and said loudly.

"That's right. The Migi speaking with you now is only 70% of the original self. When I closed the hole you suffered in your heart, I separated from your right hand and sent commands to return through the blood. But the plan didn't go as I intended; my smaller parts couldn't catch up with me and scattered throughout your body," Migi explained.

Izumi didn't utter a word after hearing everything, but his breathing was abnormal, labored as if he had just run a long distance. He seemed tense and shocked by what Migi had revealed, eventually lying back down on the bed, signaling his fatigue.

"The particles have become so small that I can't communicate with them," Migi added.

"What is happening!!! I thought nothing could surprise me anymore," Izumi said coldly, staring at the ceiling.

"If you hadn't shown any signs of change, I would have kept it to myself. On the other hand, I think it's a positive thing for you to gain some of my abilities; you can utilize them while I'm asleep," Migi said.

It seemed this didn't relieve Izumi at all, and he remained silent for a long time.

He turned his gaze to Migi and asked, "Migi, you said through my body—does this include my mind?"

"Well, what I know is that the parts are not conscious; they can seep through the capillaries. Is there something worrying you?" Migi replied.

"No, it's nothing obvious," Izumi said, returning to stare at the ceiling.

Izumi's memory took him back to the first day he visited his father in the hospital, their first meeting and the talk about his mother's death. "At that time, I felt as if my heart would explode from the pent-up emotions inside me—my mother's death, seeing my father in that state. But despite all this misery, I couldn't cry. The same thing happened today; Uda cried like a child when I shared my story and met someone like him, yet I couldn't shed a single tear. If crying is something unique to humans, then why is it possible that I no longer belong to the human race?!" Izumi pondered aloud.

Morning came, and as usual, Izumi woke up early and left the hotel. This time, his destination was not directly the hospital but rather a nearby river where he could be alone for a while to clear his mind and adapt to the new situation.

"All of this was caused by the hole in my heart," Izumi said, sadness etched across his face.

After a while, Maki walked by and spotted Izumi alone.

"Maki," Izumi said loudly as she stealthily approached from behind, recognizing her without seeing her.

"How did you notice I was here?" Maki asked, a smile lighting up her face.

Izumi turned to face her and replied, "Do I seem like an ordinary human to you?"

Maki was taken aback by the question and hesitated. "Of course, why?"

He didn't say anything, just smiled at her and turned his gaze back to the river.

Izumi's behavior unsettled Maki, and she exclaimed, "Wow, what's wrong with you? Are you just going to get an answer and leave it at that?"

"You didn't tell me anything!" Maki said, her voice tinged with sadness.

Izumi looked back at her, showing interest in what she wanted to know.

"On the ship and now... there's sometimes a terrible look in your eyes, as if you're... crying inside!" Maki's thoughts were scattered and disjointed.

Izumi received this with surprise and a sense of satisfaction, realizing that even if he didn't shed tears, his sad feelings could still be perceived by others.

"It makes me worried about you," Maki said shyly, expressing her concern.

"I'm sorry," Izumi replied.

"Forget it," Maki said, dissatisfied with Izumi's response, then ran off, leaving the place.

The phone rang...

Izumi took his phone out of his coat. The caller on the screen was Uda.

"Hello!" Izumi said.

"She came! Your mother—the parasite you showed me in the picture, we think it might be your enemy!" Uda said, sounding anxious.

The parasite that killed Izumi's mother was spotted wandering in the nearby city where Uda lived. On its way to work, Uda encountered Izumi's mother after receiving the photo that Izumi had sent him. Uda decided to follow her, sneaking between cars, houses, and stalls as she moved from one residential block to another.

"Is she about to get on a transport?" Izumi asked over the phone.

"No, she's just walking around the city center. Wait, she stopped moving; it looks like she realized we're here," Uda replied.

"She changed direction; she's walking toward us. We'll do everything we can to keep her here until you arrive," Uda added, with his parasite watching over Izumi's mother.

"What are you saying? If she knows you still have your human brain, she'll attack you to kill you. What you told me the day we met won't change anything if you repeat it to her. Get out of there immediately!" Izumi urged.

Nervously and hesitantly, Uda said, "What?"

"She's a hundred meters away. Make your decision!" Uda's parasite chimed in.

"Run! Get out of there fast!" Izumi shouted.

"I understand; I'll take the Gulf path and head toward the city you're in now," Uda said, then took off running.

Izumi took the route leading to where he would meet his colleague Uda, as he had said over the phone. His speed was remarkable, catching everyone's attention—even the cars moving at moderate speeds couldn't keep up, prompting conversations among passersby. "Did you see that fast guy on the road?"

In front of them, Izumi saw the parasite that had taken over his mother's body as it spotted Uda fleeing.

"Hey! I'm not hungry, but let's have some fun; there's not much for me to do in this city," the parasite said, then began chasing after Uda.

After a while...

"Izumi, I sense a parasite," Migi said.

"One? It must be Uda," Izumi replied, running while opening his right palm.

Uda entered a dense green area filled with trees after feeling fatigued. He put his hands on his knees, breathing heavily, while the parasite dangled from his neck, glaring at him in displeasure at his host's halt.