2157年6月10日,晚上十二點,仙境大樓,七樓598Please respect copyright.PENANAMlUwZP5Igx
598Please respect copyright.PENANA3e4z0fARON
598Please respect copyright.PENANANbmQlKuSeZ
回仙境大樓,尼可拉斯直奔七樓,同時,他也在七樓的走廊上,遇見意想不到的人。598Please respect copyright.PENANAafsKlkSXwf
598Please respect copyright.PENANAOUUxtFWG6K
「MIO?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAYQxMWYvbPF
598Please respect copyright.PENANAfdFKH6ipU9
小女孩坐在走廊地板上,背靠著尼可拉斯的房門。看到尼可拉斯回來,MIO露出燦爛的笑容,朝他跑來。598Please respect copyright.PENANAmEdqurzWSh
598Please respect copyright.PENANALL0yCK2jYV
「尼可!你看,你看!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAQIfHdSKpIQ
598Please respect copyright.PENANAd5aGQ09FPG
按照慣例,由資歷最淺的成員作新人的嚮導,但李晴煬加入時,他的嚮導由哥哥李博洋擔任,不是當時資歷最淺的MIO。598Please respect copyright.PENANAJucw9cVPUQ
598Please respect copyright.PENANAwEjibv2bix
輪到尼可拉斯,因為李晴煬也是新人,尼可拉斯的嚮導便由MIO代替。意外地,他和MIO處得很好──至少比那對兄弟好。598Please respect copyright.PENANALMycaJjeeR
598Please respect copyright.PENANAn02cFcPKCj
「MIO今天在廚房,做了這些喲!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAYY2mzOpSgq
598Please respect copyright.PENANAnFS5beDrBK
MIO手裡拿著便當盒,裡面裝著三顆飯糰,形狀很漂亮,全是MIO親手捏的。598Please respect copyright.PENANAh5wiFIy3kn
598Please respect copyright.PENANAyGk4qyM9Ho
「真厲害。」598Please respect copyright.PENANA7236RKM4xv
598Please respect copyright.PENANA9QZTSwbt9v
尼可拉斯收起剛才在夜店的苦瓜臉,伸手摸了摸MIO的頭,表情柔和地說:「看起來很好吃。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAgVyi1wz2dj
598Please respect copyright.PENANAHMnbK0DuUZ
「嘻嘻!左邊是鮪魚,中間是梅子,右邊這個最厲害,是明太子口味的喔!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAket091asqc
598Please respect copyright.PENANA6AhUhkI5gO
MIO將便當盒遞到尼可拉斯面前,笑著說:「送你!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAdzXd6BAnoF
598Please respect copyright.PENANAEfDcsSslG3
尼可拉斯微愣,「妳不自己吃嗎?或給李博洋?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAxR0z85wgpy
598Please respect copyright.PENANAq5wglk1ktg
「我們剛剛吃過了!赫密士在睡覺,晴煬跑出去玩,不理他們!」MIO說:「所以全部留給尼可了,嘿嘿!」598Please respect copyright.PENANADUTYbsBtaG
598Please respect copyright.PENANAXAoRxoFFBG
尼可拉斯莞爾一笑,回了句「一起吃吧」,招待MIO來自己房間。他房間的色系是淺灰色,東西很少,比其他人的房間都要空。他大部分時間都在醫務室,房間不用多豪華,能洗澡睡覺就行。598Please respect copyright.PENANAudd9umbwil
598Please respect copyright.PENANA5PRYROKJVf
身上都是菸味,尼可拉斯先讓坐在MIO沙發,自己則去洗澡。出浴後,MIO不在原位,人跑到尼可拉斯的床頭櫃前,盯著相框裡的照片發呆。598Please respect copyright.PENANArgo0cfCCre
598Please respect copyright.PENANAyJ9EM7Jlur
「怎麼了?」尼可拉斯走到MIO身後,他連居家服都是灰色的短袖T恤。598Please respect copyright.PENANASQK2dXWdok
598Please respect copyright.PENANADD8k2ee1Gs
「這是尼可嗎?好可愛喔!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAd8O0IuCcCl
598Please respect copyright.PENANAN38wTXq8vQ
MIO指著照片裡,一名有著銀白色頭髮、表情彆扭的小孩。尼可拉斯從小就不喜歡拍照。598Please respect copyright.PENANAsVlvPsTjIb
598Please respect copyright.PENANA6tiWCyks7a
「後面這兩個人呢?」MIO再問。598Please respect copyright.PENANA1K3SYtYQv4
598Please respect copyright.PENANACFgCyz4mCk
「我爸媽。」尼可拉斯有點意外,「妳不認得我媽?」598Please respect copyright.PENANA8j5lhsGMBe
598Please respect copyright.PENANAAj44JRPlbQ
MIO搖頭,「只聽博洋提過。MIO來之前,葛蕾絲就不在了。」598Please respect copyright.PENANA6KA6EGTqfp
598Please respect copyright.PENANAT7HLNnRbie
不只MIO,整個神與畜,只有最早的赫密士與里奧見過葛蕾絲。母親在大家心中,就像上個世紀的人名一樣陌生。尼可拉斯的心情很複雜,一時不知該說什麼。598Please respect copyright.PENANALXXkXHLVKr
598Please respect copyright.PENANA5jHcbzkiLT
「尼可的媽媽,是什麼樣的人?」MIO突然抬頭,大大的黑色眼睛由下往上,看著尼可拉斯。598Please respect copyright.PENANAMIZaF3mC9l
598Please respect copyright.PENANAlc25jQvsxK
「我媽啊……很囉唆的人。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAqHNGfaDQat
598Please respect copyright.PENANA6GaxA8q6wi
尼可拉斯和MIO回到沙發。尼可拉斯拿起便當盒中的飯糰,開始吃起來。598Please respect copyright.PENANAcjqXXCXcrm
598Please respect copyright.PENANArAKGKrvtKu
「很囉唆?」MIO歪頭。598Please respect copyright.PENANAJXz4zHacUu
598Please respect copyright.PENANAVkh7T1X575
「她什麼都能唸。東西不歸位、天氣冷不穿外套、太晚洗澡、不吃小黃瓜、回到家不跟她打招呼……唉,太多了,數都數不清。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAEgQ4NoS0ZC
598Please respect copyright.PENANAI3yNAEBJc2
尼可拉斯咬到了鮪魚內陷,「嗯,好吃。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAgCQvbWT6J7
598Please respect copyright.PENANALRFw9TG2Ho
「嘿嘿,尼可喜歡就好!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAUQFJ1TxTo2
598Please respect copyright.PENANAQ7M89ZH3Sm
MIO兩手放在大腿、端正地坐在另一邊的沙發。她穿著一件黃底、上面有白色花朵的浴衣,看起來十分乖巧。598Please respect copyright.PENANAg81B9AWbI2
598Please respect copyright.PENANADLPpik4Ie2
「我媽跟我一樣,頭髮是銀白色的。她常跟我抱怨,說這種顏色的頭髮很難搭衣服,但她是家庭主婦,沒多少時候需要打扮……她食量很大,明明是易胖體質,卻喜歡吃雞腿,開口閉口說要減肥,往往一天就放棄……現在想起來,確實是很麻煩的人。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAEHbJUx2zvr
598Please respect copyright.PENANA5Cru3EIlG8
雖然是囉嗦、少根筋的母親,但提到她,尼可拉斯的臉部肌肉都放鬆下來,忍不住和MIO越說越多。598Please respect copyright.PENANARs9WsYheF1
598Please respect copyright.PENANAZPGgmPYr74
那是他這輩子最愛的女人。對他而言,母親代表快樂,葛蕾絲也帶給他好多回憶。尼可拉斯說著說著,眼淚不自覺掉下來。他用手背拭去眼淚,倔強地假裝自己沒有哭。598Please respect copyright.PENANAM5HaSZgBtj
598Please respect copyright.PENANAgc4klUWTRZ
「聽起來是很溫柔的人!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAEyYNjgKv7E
598Please respect copyright.PENANAXLnBAUUcYz
MIO很貼心,沒有把尼可拉斯哭的事情說出來,這讓尼可拉斯非常感激。598Please respect copyright.PENANAgefpayxqkw
598Please respect copyright.PENANA6omm9s4Khq
「嗯,溫柔過頭了。」尼可拉斯回應。598Please respect copyright.PENANAxHVX59O0RL
598Please respect copyright.PENANAn7Li5Hs9Qr
「也許媽媽都是那樣子吧。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAq74g9ZYgWY
598Please respect copyright.PENANAokNxLAer3z
MIO因為微笑,眼睛瞇成了兩條線。598Please respect copyright.PENANAnVujhNiuiI
598Please respect copyright.PENANAmxuXXwTALy
「MIO的媽媽,也是很溫柔的人喲。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAeXpuxm5gZR
598Please respect copyright.PENANAPynYDx8Qv1
「……?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAUqpl7NqCt9
598Please respect copyright.PENANAtdutcs9kde
神與畜的大家都不愛聊過往,其中,MIO的過往最為神秘。雖然很失禮,但尼可拉斯一直覺得,MIO的存在很「不正常」;像媽媽這樣「正常」的概念,竟然套在MIO身上,尼可拉斯很訝異。598Please respect copyright.PENANAP0zmDpDMP3
598Please respect copyright.PENANAVcsAgncfnw
「MIO,」598Please respect copyright.PENANAFEngf760eo
598Please respect copyright.PENANAaB9XhrrjgG
這是了解MIO的最佳良機,尼可拉斯坐直身子,試探性地問:「妳媽媽……還健在嗎?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAHNPfhaCND1
598Please respect copyright.PENANAuAbLVL0TIW
「沒有喔,她死很久了。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAZl5vI9Elrh
598Please respect copyright.PENANA2LMJbWSX5q
MIO試著回想,但她的表情很苦惱,似乎想不太起來。598Please respect copyright.PENANAJSchyH7nh7
598Please respect copyright.PENANAnjNo5wRWkp
「MIO只記得,媽媽很溫柔,總是穿著黑色的上衣、黑色的裙子,胸前綁一條可愛的帶子,常常和MIO一起吃咖哩飯。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAbebyhkAvxq
598Please respect copyright.PENANAjd1hjexawc
意識到MIO的母親是學生,尼可拉斯問:「爸爸呢?妳對爸爸有印象嗎?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAd8iYmtFuHh
598Please respect copyright.PENANAdKE1YeMcG7
「沒有,不知道是誰。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAW5aKMLzW56
598Please respect copyright.PENANAReorczZm9J
MIO一副無所謂。看來,MIO的母親除了未成年,還是未婚懷孕,恐怕……連小孩都不是自願生下的。598Please respect copyright.PENANAmfzRxxty0g
598Please respect copyright.PENANA7o11zqky7c
「雖然想不起來,但媽媽很愛MIO!」MIO炫耀自己的和服,「MIO一直想讓媽媽看,看博洋送MIO的衣服!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAaZoH9Aykjx
598Please respect copyright.PENANAvh7gXudvQJ
「說到衣服。」尼可拉斯突然問:「MIO,妳是E區來的吧?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAUsiFqM6ZoQ
598Please respect copyright.PENANAiX1TQ1pznY
「E區?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAsB4NlcVzkr
598Please respect copyright.PENANAZlEarGeb7R
「大眾媒體E區,東北亞。」尼可拉斯說:「二十一世紀,有個國家叫日本,妳的衣服是日本的傳統服飾。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAgGoWF4u6G1
598Please respect copyright.PENANAX7aqQEIdhR
「哇,好久沒聽到『日本』了,真懷念。」598Please respect copyright.PENANA36x3ZDWywR
598Please respect copyright.PENANA2IjZwstD5g
MIO感嘆地說:「一轉眼,日本就不見了,只剩下E區;大家都不會說自己的話,只會講中文和英文;大家都忘記了以前,只認得十大家族……一轉眼就這樣了,到底為什麼呢?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAOY8QAFcL7a
598Please respect copyright.PENANAXqsuv3dnsY
「……。」598Please respect copyright.PENANABOI3ZuEODO
598Please respect copyright.PENANA47x2UbGHLa
MIO不可能只有五歲,但萬萬沒想到,她竟然是上個世紀的人。尼可拉斯好奇,為什麼MIO都不會老、不會死?她到底是「什麼」?598Please respect copyright.PENANA83wKnmMhjY
598Please respect copyright.PENANAGepndmyJxS
「MIO,」598Please respect copyright.PENANA1lEAU47Q3k
598Please respect copyright.PENANAVN7eDRFRF6
尼可拉斯想起今天和李博洋的對話,「聽說上個月,李晴煬不是長這個樣子。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAAtoYcbwmCA
598Please respect copyright.PENANAbQDgPKZeNG
「嗯。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAmyoOaWxKK5
598Please respect copyright.PENANAAGxqoGLx1r
MIO瞇著眼睛笑,「他原本很小,跟豆芽菜一樣!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAgOfIbE5wXn
598Please respect copyright.PENANAM65ht8Qwbb
「那,為什麼豆芽突然長大了?」尼可拉斯說:「醫學上,這是絕對不可能的。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAAqQuxEHLwL
598Please respect copyright.PENANAUY1Mu8377F
「那不是醫學呀!」MIO澄清:「是MIO和晴煬的『交換』!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAspqmNaX3iL
598Please respect copyright.PENANAMoNaDqp2j0
「『交換』?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAYiN9Zz4Uxq
598Please respect copyright.PENANAvx86P3vn3e
「晴煬自己說的。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAIwRjm9y01r
598Please respect copyright.PENANASQs4za7JfI
記性不好的MIO,竟一字不漏地重複一遍:「『又高又帥、身材好、頭腦靈光、喜歡使壞……不管做什麼,都能因為長得帥被原諒』。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAvNJeu7YlQi
598Please respect copyright.PENANAmXkS8uvXOt
尼可拉斯不知道,因為那是歡迎會時,MIO問李晴煬想成為什麼樣的神與畜,李晴煬的回答。598Please respect copyright.PENANAFBhYeTywE6
598Please respect copyright.PENANA16g8eMHsPX
「所以,MIO實現了晴煬的願望!」598Please respect copyright.PENANAGEWNiJ7BEt
598Please respect copyright.PENANAqauoskulPM
MIO笑著說。尼可拉斯聽到這,忍不住問:「MIO,妳的天賦是什麼?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAPsqrGx7oeX
598Please respect copyright.PENANAWrLmEEVJDC
「不知道。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAvdrPGJLGpu
598Please respect copyright.PENANAoI7WE4QdLm
「不知道?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAlOMMgSFYvK
598Please respect copyright.PENANAsjElgRnvKs
尼可拉斯沒料到這個答案,但MIO的表情不像說謊。598Please respect copyright.PENANAJZC1AoFMLr
598Please respect copyright.PENANA6yUnOUC019
「MIO只有聽宇維少爺說過。」MIO表示:「他說我是『假海龜』,很厲害,但MIO試來試去,只用得出『交換』──MIO可以幫大家實現願望,相對地,他們必須付出對等的代價。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAaarYXpYKnM
598Please respect copyright.PENANAGPZ0jVFTPB
就像和朋友介紹玩具,MIO用平常的口氣說,絲毫沒發現自己的話,在尼可拉斯聽來有多震驚。598Please respect copyright.PENANAPTy2Cu5vJs
598Please respect copyright.PENANAMhfwi4Df3B
「就像她們,希望MIO幫她們復仇,以『自由』為代價,靈魂被鎖在MIO的娃娃,從此都要聽MIO的話;晴煬想改變外表,以『暫時沉睡』為代價,變成現在的模樣。」598Please respect copyright.PENANADDhfOWxf0M
598Please respect copyright.PENANAX6ctNaK1um
「李博洋呢?」尼可拉斯問:「聽說他以前,無法獨自生活。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAdaMdRC9R9w
598Please respect copyright.PENANABCdrSbUE46
「所以他付出了代價。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAFE9ie8a9wH
598Please respect copyright.PENANAwXbpXO3ndb
「是什麼?」598Please respect copyright.PENANA5UW2BXXeIl
598Please respect copyright.PENANA97Nkrbyflj
「『忘記爸爸』。」598Please respect copyright.PENANALe7S7iL2ys
598Please respect copyright.PENANArOxgJOzFbd
「……!」598Please respect copyright.PENANA8feHMguhHm
598Please respect copyright.PENANAAF9REkDlwo
尼可拉斯瞪大眼睛。在監獄時,李博洋曾經提過父親。當時尼可拉斯覺得奇怪,明明是很重要的人,為什麼李博洋可以這麼冷靜,彷彿在說別人的故事,原來是因為MIO。598Please respect copyright.PENANApt9UNoXomG
598Please respect copyright.PENANAElC9BeUj1P
「博洋不是失憶喔!他還是記得他的爸爸,只是,他把『對爸爸的情感』當成代價,實現『擺脫過去、獨當一面』的願望。只是,沒想到不只爸爸,博洋也變得不在乎其他家人,叫他回李門都不要。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAwZMLohC5te
598Please respect copyright.PENANAMyPKmDnwKE
或許,這也能解釋李博洋對身邊的人,都只有表面友善,對方死了也不在乎。他把自己簡化成「only高宇維」的新型人種,多餘的情感全被割捨掉。598Please respect copyright.PENANAMeAIaMLsx4
598Please respect copyright.PENANARcIofQm5bX
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這樣好嗎?598Please respect copyright.PENANA731ybrm4pZ
598Please respect copyright.PENANAxCSXbGnDKm
在尼可拉斯看來,這不是解決,而是逃避。598Please respect copyright.PENANApmVUvhjciw
598Please respect copyright.PENANAkSuBpPUxlS
598Please respect copyright.PENANAbvybKzIeVv
不過,李博洋也好,李晴煬也好。MIO的「交換」,明明能用在更用意義的地方。一個念頭閃過尼可拉斯腦中,他壓低聲音:「MIO。」598Please respect copyright.PENANAJn4poku27L
598Please respect copyright.PENANA8T9yK2CAAE
「……?」598Please respect copyright.PENANAbHAeNVdWyL
598Please respect copyright.PENANAXCjqNP9P5D
「如果,我也有想實現的願望。」598Please respect copyright.PENANA6LQh6sg9yD
598Please respect copyright.PENANA6xFd6wIPJA
尼可拉斯吞口水,「妳會,幫我保密嗎?」