Shin and Ayaka laid together in bed for an hour or so.
They both took a nap. Once they awoke, Ayaka left to finish some of her own work.
Shin waved goodbye as he got dressed and walked outside of his room.
He headed toward the big laboratory where everybody mostly was at the moment.
Shin stepped into the main laboratory, the hum of machinery and the soft glow of monitors greeting him. Doctor Yuna and Maria Kuroda were engrossed in their research, while Rei and Misaki assisted, their focus evident as they seemed to not notice him for a moment.
"Hey, Shin," Yuna greeted without looking up.
"Hey," he replied, approaching the group with curious eyes.
Maria, her eyes scanning a series of complex data streams, spoke up. "We've made significant progress overnight. The latest simulations show a 70% efficacy rate in neutralizing the MK Virus in controlled environments."
Rei leaned over, pointing to a particular graph. "If we can stabilize the viral suppression beyond 72 hours, we might have a viable prototype for field testing."
Misaki added, "But the challenge remains in ensuring the cure's adaptability across diverse genetic profiles. The virus mutates rapidly, and a one-size-fits-all solution might not be feasible."
Shin absorbed the information, the weight of their task pressing heavily upon him.
"Even if we perfect the cure, distributing it without alerting the World Headquarters poses another challenge. Besides the Code Numbers, the cure is the most valuable thing in the world. Somebody would surely leak it. I doubt we can trust test subjects even if we have them sign an NDA or something similar."
Maria sighed, "Exactly. We can't risk them discovering our progress. If they perceive us as a threat, they might act to suppress or control the cure's dissemination."
At that moment, Akane entered the lab, her presence commanding attention as she took a drink from her bottle. "Hey, everyone. How's the research progressing?"
Yuna briefed her on the latest developments, emphasizing both the advancements and the hurdles.
Akane nodded thoughtfully. "We need to strategize not just the creation of the cure but also its covert distribution. Perhaps establishing a network of trusted contacts outside the World Headquarters would be a good starting point. As well as finding any potential people within the inner circle of World Headquarters to betray them."
Suddenly, the lab's entrance opened, and Sui stepped in, her expression one of excitement.
Her sudden entrance caused everybody to freeze in shock for a moment.
Everyone was worried until Akane spoke up.
Akane's eyes widened in surprise. "Sui? What brings you here?"
Before Sui could respond, another figure entered behind her. It was Reito.
It was Shin's turn to be even more surprised than the rest of them.
"I finished preparations for my next filming episode earlier than expected," Reito explained, his demeanor calm yet purposeful. "The World Headquarters is preoccupied with other matters, granting me a brief window of freedom."
Reito's voice trailed off as he noticed Shin. His eyes widened before he smiled.
He walked up to Shin and hugged him. Shin hugged him back.
For a moment, nobody said anything.
Shin smiled slightly even though he tried to pretend he didn't care too much. Shin may not agree with Reito's viewpoint on how to operate as a Code Number, but he was still his friend. He didn't expect Reito to remember him.
"Shin! I never expected to see you this early on. When I found out you awakened as a Code Number, I was super happy to hear that. It's great to see you again," Reito said as he started to tear up a bit. Reito was quite the softy.
After all, Shin and Reito used to work at the same research facility for medicine before the MK Virus outbreak. They used to do a lot of projects together, but Reito was the one who was always more invested. After the MK Virus happened and he woke up, he had other things on his mind. Out of the two, Reito was the smarter one when it came to academics.
Akane was the first one to try to break the confusion. "Wait, you know each other?"
"Yeah," Reito laughed. "We used to be friends at the same laboratory before the outbreak."
They were shocked.
"You used to do research? Why didn't you say anything?" Yuna asked, surprised.
"I never felt the need to say anything. Plus, you all are smarter when it comes to that, and I believe in the work you all do. I believe I have my own role in this world to play. Such as focusing on fulfilling quota for the breeding program." Shin smirked while patting Reito on the back. "I trust this guy to find the cure as well."
Riku came into the room and raised an eyebrow at all the confusion. His mouth opened wide in shock as he noticed Reito. Code Number 2, Reito, was a famous Code Number. No wonder he would be surprised.
Riku and Reito introduced themselves to each other.
"I've seen you on the UW network broadcasts," Riku admitted as he shook Reito's hand. "It's strange seeing you in person, though. You seem... taller in person."
Reito laughed softly, "The cameras always cut me off below the chest. It's part of their image control. But yeah, it's nice to finally meet you both under better circumstances."
Reito glanced at the various data clusters on the wall. "You've made a lot of progress," he said to Maria, Yuna, and the others. "I've seen only glimpses of what Akane's sent me, but this is beyond what I expected."
Maria, still giddy from the earlier breakthrough, beamed. "It helps having people who aren't afraid to bend the rules. Or break them entirely," she added, nodding at Yuna and Akane, who smirked back.
After a few more minutes of conversation, Shin glanced toward the far side of the room.
A makeshift lounge-turned-lab area used for off-duty research or quiet moments. It was unoccupied now, and the noise in the main lab made it hard to have a deeper conversation.
"Reito," Shin said, raising his voice just enough. "Why don't we go somewhere quieter? I've got a few things I've been meaning to ask you."
Reito caught the tone and nodded immediately. "Sure. Riku, you coming?"
Riku gave a half-smile. "Yeah. I'd like to hear more about your perspective. I mean, you're Code Number 2. You're practically the poster boy for our kind."
Yuna waved them off with a chuckle. "We'll hold the lab down. Don't let them rope you into anything too serious."
Shin chuckled and waved goodbye.
They walked quietly through the old hospital hallways, the gentle hum of power generators and distant echoes filling the silence between them. For a place hidden from the world, it was scary how peaceful it felt.
Eventually, they stepped into the smaller lab-lounge area. It was less formal than the main research wing, filled with more lived-in items: mugs, worn chairs, small bookshelves, and even a coffee machine blinking lazily in the corner.
They each took a seat, forming a loose triangle. Shin leaned back in his chair and studied Reito for a moment. Riku poured himself some water from the nearby station and took a slow sip.
"I've been thinking about this for a while," Shin said, his voice low, serious now. "There's something I need to ask you."
Reito nodded, folding his hands in his lap. "Go on."
Shin's gaze didn't waver.
"What do you know about Code Number 3?"