Zhao Xuan invites Shinichi Izumi into his room. After a brief period of awkward silence, Izumi starts the conversation.
"Zhao Xuan-kun... did you... see anything suspicious just now?"
Zhao Xuan shakes his head: "No. I haven't left since I got back. The only person I saw from the window was you coming over."
Izumi falls silent, communicating mentally with Migi: "No sign of Shimada's presence. And this Zhao Xuan is a normal human." Relieved, Izumi is reassured.
Zhao Xuan breaks the silence, asking Izumi why he came.
Izumi decides to be direct: "Zhao Xuan-kun, do you remember what happened the day before yesterday?"
Zhao Xuan nods.
"Then... don't you have anything you want to ask me? You must have seen my fight with Shimada, right?" Izumi asks anxiously.
"So you came to ask me that?" Zhao Xuan looks him straight in the eye. "You're a monster, just like Shimada, aren't you?"
"No, no, no!" Izumi frantically waves his hands. "I'm not! Don't say that! I'm just... just..."
Migi interrupts, displaying its eye and mouth on Izumi's hand: "Shinichi, he saw everything and remembers. Denying it is pointless."
Seeing Migi and seeing Zhao Xuan remain calm, Izumi is relieved but quickly adds, "I'm really not a monster! I just... suddenly got 'Migi'! And I have never hurt any human! Can you trust me?"
"I trust you!"
"I know you don't... Huh? You really trust me?"
Zhao Xuan nods: "Of course, I trust you! You saved my life! That's why when the police questioned me in the hospital, I only said I was knocked out and saw nothing! Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret."
Izumi breathes a sigh of relief.
The Rejected Alliance
"So, did you come here just for this? Afraid your secret would be exposed?" Zhao Xuan probes.
"No, not entirely," Izumi says, scratching the back of his head. "There's something else... but, you know, with the Parasytes appearing, everyone's on edge. And there are many merciless Parasytes like Shimada. So... I'm afraid if people knew... Anyway, you must believe me! I never have, and never will, harm anyone!"
Zhao Xuan nods again: "Rest assured, I won't tell anyone your secret. However... I have a request!"
"A request...?"
Zhao Xuan speaks sincerely: "I know you're a kind person, not a brutal monster! And I saw you fight. So, I want to join you, fight alongside you to hunt down the other monsters and avenge my deceased friend! Please!"
Izumi's expression turns grave: "I'm sorry! I can't agree to that request! It's simply too dangerous! As an ordinary human, for your own safety, I must refuse. But don't worry, I will continue to hunt the other monsters alone, because..."
"...Because they took the person closest to me too!" Izumi's face clouds with sadness, referencing his mother.
"Is that so? Then my request was too much. In that case... I can only rely on you..." Zhao Xuan lowers his head, his body trembling slightly.
Izumi feels deep empathy, assuming Zhao Xuan's distress is solely for Yūko. Izumi was already resolved to hunt the Parasytes because of his mother's death.
The Farewell and Migi's Doubt
Izumi changes the topic: "Actually, I came to tell you something after hearing you were discharged. Yūko-kun's funeral is tomorrow. Here's the address..." Izumi places a slip of paper on the table. "Please accept my condolences."
Zhao Xuan looks down, stating flatly, "Thank you. But... I won't be going."
"If there's nothing else... it's getting late."
With Zhao Xuan essentially asking him to leave, Izumi silently gets up and departs. Walking away, he clenches his fist, vowing to hunt more Parasytes to prevent tragedies like the one that befell Zhao Xuan and Yūko.
"Shinichi, I think there's something wrong with this Zhao Xuan," Migi suddenly says.
"What's wrong?"
"He was too calm. When you brought up the incident, and when I showed myself... his reaction was too controlled! A normal human's emotions would be unstable—panic, anxiety, fear, wanting to flee... all sorts of reactions. Yet he continued to talk calmly. It's highly abnormal!"
Izumi defends Zhao Xuan: "I don't think there's an issue. Remember, he killed Shimada with his own hands! He bravely rushed in after his girlfriend was killed. He saw you and Shimada fight, and still had the courage to finish Shimada off. Even you thought he was amazing at the time! So his current calmness is probably because he's brave, has already seen you, and has killed a Parasyte. It's not abnormal, you're just overthinking it!"
Migi is silent for a moment: "Fine. Perhaps I don't understand you humans well enough. You humans are strange creatures! Most of you are weak and cowardly, yet exceptions like him appear."
Izumi flares up: "Humans are not for an alien creature like you to judge! We have produced countless brave and powerful people who push forward despite danger! You simply don't understand humanity!"
Migi sighs: "You humans are strange indeed; I find it hard to comprehend. Furthermore, I was merely stating a fact. Shinichi, your heart rate is accelerating, and your emotions are high, which is not good. Just pretend I didn't say anything."
"Hmph!"
Left Alone
Back in his room, Zhao Xuan had initially swept the paper with Yūko Tachikawa's funeral address into the trash can.
But for some reason, he compulsively retrieves it.
"Yūko Tachikawa..."
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