Chapter 157 - What makes us human?

Setsura recalls it clearly what she chose alongside art in high school, psychology. Social psychology, to be precise.

How the human mind functioned, how it worked, and every detail about it fascinated her.

While things like psychopathology and criminology attracted many people like herself, year by year, the classes for it grew smaller and smaller people. More people chose topics where they wouldn't have to think so much. They all chose the safe path. It didn't help how the current society doesn't encourage people to think outside of the norm.

The moment something is deemed as abnormal by society - that's the moment progress is halted. Setsura didn't realize that the existence of supernatural powers would burden

She snapped out of her thoughts when she felt Akito's hand reach up to her hair," Its longer than before. But in the end, this style suits you too."

Setsura flushed a bright shade of red at this notion, "Akito-san, you shouldn't do that to a girl so easily," she murmured. She thought so from the start. But, Akito does not understand personal space.

Akito laughed. "Perhaps, but to me, you're not just any girl, you know?" That was....probably the truth to him. Even though Setsura kept telling herself that it was a lie, she kept telling herself that it was a lie. That he had only been joking and messing around with her. Whenever she thought back to that day, Setsura knew she wouldn't be able to deny it any longer.

"Akito, but I'm...."

She still can't make a vow to be with him forever. He has done so much for her, but she still can't commit to marriage. Though she told him she was dating him with marriage in mind. The truth is she isn't sure yet.

"I get it, right? It's that thing. That you can't fall in love with someone who isn't willing to catch you."

That's, how did he know?

'To fall in love, you have to be honest with your feelings. You have to have known there for a while, even though you don't exactly get along. Love can overpower hatred. Even if that person never loved you back. Even though it's painful to endure, you will eventually get over it and move on with the rest of your life. It's better to have loved than never to have loved at all. If you were loved back, that's great. Happiness can only come to the ones who truly deserve it. So..I won't ever fall in love with someone who won't catch me, someone who can't even understand me at all .'

So he remembers something like that. It's only natural that he would. After all, he always declared his love for her every single day. It was something he did so often.

'There are more things in heaven and earth than your philosophy Horatio.'

'I don't want to let you go.'

'It's fine as long as I'm with you.'

Setsura shook her head; she can't go any further than this. If she does, it will end up being too dangerous. "By the way, did you see that report?"

"I just skimmed it, but everything seems fine. Good work." She watched as Akito turned back to his bag to fish out a cigarette from the packet before reaching out for his lighter. Her lips curved to a smile when she watched him empty the contents of his bag, puzzled.

"Looking for this?" Setsura questioned innocently as she tapped the perplexed man on the back. She held out her hands, dangling his beloved lighter just out of arms reach.

"Did you ask me that question just now to distract me? And here I thought you valued my input…"

Setsura chuckled, "Of course I do. Do you think I would ask you for your opinion if I didn't care?"

"Well, since this is you. It's hard to tell what your thinking. Next thing you know, you'll tell me you have another lover."

"I don't want to hear that from you."

Akito bursts into a fit of laughter, and she rolled her eyes. What's so funny about what she just said? "Do you know what makes us human, Setsura?"

His question surprised her, and she glanced down at the ground nervously. She purses her lips as she thought for a moment. "Human thoughts? Our minds?"

Akito nodded, "A common answer, but no."

"But is it wrong?"

"No, it isn't. But what makes us human is our bodies. Our DNA and our skeletons."

"The body can't function without the mind, though," Setsura pointed out.

"That's true, but realistically the only thing that separates us from animals is our DNA and skeleton. We differ from them. Our mind is a product of our body's functions. Eating, sleeping, breathing, and even screwing around."

Setsura only sighed at his comment, "I wondered why you were sulking. You wanted to do it?"

He laughed, "Well, I can't say your earlier rejection doesn't hurt."

"Don't you understand the current situation? There are hostages.."

"This case isn't related to the shard case. I didn't think you'd invest so much in it."

"I won't turn a blind eye to such things, besides," Setsura thought back to the case file she read recently. "I feel like this is related with the case with those students."

"You think so too? As expected. Why do you feel like it is connected?"

"Why, you ask, didn't you notice? That tower resembles the one from the drawing."

At that comment, Akito raised his eyebrows, "That wasn't my reasoning. But, now that you mention it," he pulled something out from his pocket. It was a copy of the drawing.

"You carry that around with you?"

"Well, you never know when it will come in hand. It seems like your right this time," Akito scanned the room. "We've somehow ended up in the same place as them."

"But didn't the reports say it was a sewer? This is a normal building."

"That's what they made us to think. The thing is, we discovered none of the victims near the sewers at all. We found them in the middle of an abandoned district."