(Hana POV)
"Take a seat, Ito-san. Would you like something to drink?" I ask, guiding the government official, Keiko Ito, to sit down at my dining table. The same table me and Andy eat on, together.
In response, Ito-san lightly shook her head. Her brown hair tied into a neat bun swaying ever so slightly. "Just a glass of water will do. I'm sure Tsukishiro-san would like to hear what I have to say, as soon as possible." she replied, a polite small on her lips. Yet, her eyes held something different when they look at me.
'Respect? And... envy?' I assessed, yet I found it strange. Why would a government official feel that way towards me?
I nod. "Alright. I'll be right back with your water." I reply, stepping into the kitchen. Grabbing two glasses, I fill them each with tap water.
"Here you are." I say, placing a glass of water in front of Ito-san. The glass producing a faint thud as it made contact with the wood table.
"Thank you." Keiko says instinctively, reaching for the water and gulping half of it down.
I take my seat across from her, My own glass left untouched in front of me.
"Do you have the results for the compatibility test?" I ask, directly to the point of her visit.
And in response, her smile widened further, reaching her eyes. "Yes. I have them right here." she says, reaching into her bag and taking out an unmarked white folder.
She then placed it on the table, sliding it to me.
'This is it...' my throat flexed. I swallow my spit before reaching for the folder.
Staring at the blank cover, my hands started to shake.
The doubts in my mind began whispering to me.
What if I was wrong?
What if me and Andy aren't genetically compatible?
Could I still convince him?
What if everything was an illusion my brain conjured up?
What if Andy can't see me as a woman?
"Tsukishiro-san." Ito-san called out, snapping me out of thought.
I look up and see her smiling, a faint sparkle in her eyes that I wouldn't expect to see from a woman of her position.
"Open it." she says calmly, glancing between the folder and me.
'... Have I ever been this nervous before? No, I wasn't. Not even when I handled my first case as a prosecutor.' with that thought, I take a deep breath, relaxing my nerves. 'Regardless of the results, I will convince Andy. I will make him happy. No, I'll make him even happier.'
Taking hold of myself again, I finally open the folder.
And what caught my attention are the words "Genetic Compatibility for Reproduction Test Results" in a bold, large font.
I scan the contents, searching for the sentence, for the words that I want to see.
And there it was, at the bottom of the paper is what I was waiting for all this time. The confirmation I needed.
[CONCLUSION: The mother, Hana Tsukishiro, and the son, Andy Tsukishiro, have a very high genetic compatibility to reproduce with each other. Their offspring are guaranteed to be strong and healthy with an equal chance of being male or female.]
It felt like the world stopped. I read the passage over, and over again. As if ingraining it into memory. I wanted to be certain I didn't misread it.
After the 10th time, I finally accepted it.
"Me and Andy... Are made for each other." the words, the realization escaped my lips. My shaking lips curling into a wide smile.
As I'm savoring the moment, my ears picked up the sound of clapping. I look up and see Ito-san, that same smile on her face as she clapped her hands.
"Congratulations, Tsukishiro-san." she says, genuine happiness in her voice. Yet, her eyes still held that tinge of envy.
'Could she...'
"... Ito-san, do you also have a son?" I ask, my instincts telling me she's the same as me, a kindred spirit.
Immediately, Ito-san stopped. Her eyes blowing wide with shock. Her pupils shaking.
Ito-san exhaled, putting her hands down as her expression deflated. "Was it obvious?" she asked back, a defeated smile on her lips.
I shift in my seat, leaning back. "It was just a hunch. You were oddly happy for me, like the results were for you." I explained, closing the folder and resting it back on the table.
"Hahah.. You're completely right. I have a son of my own. He turned 19 this September. And... I love him. Not just as my son, but as a man. I don't know when it started, nor can I pinpoint the cause. It just... happened." she confessed. And what sits before isn't the dignified government official from earlier, but a woman in love, yet she can't pursue it. Or rather, she's forcing herself not to.
'If the document said I wasn't compatible with Andy, would I be downtrodden like her?'
"... Ito-san, about that offer you mentioned. Could you tell me about it?" I ask, moving the conversation.
Ito-san perked up, perhaps remembering that she's on the job
"Ah- Yes, yes. The offer came from my superiors. We would like to have your permission to use your case as a driving factor to-"
"To abolish the incest law, right?"
"! How did you-"
"You have my permission. Or rather, please use my case."
Ito-san's lips parted, gaping for a moment as she looks at me with wide eyes. "Tsukishiro-san..." she muttered.
Ito-san pushed back her seat, the legs skidding against the floor. She moved over to my side and bowed her head. "Thank you, Tsukishiro-san! I- We are thankful for your cooperation!" she yelled, deep, heartfelt emotion in her voice.
I get up from my own seat and place my hands on Ito-san's shoulders. "Ito-san, please, there's no need to thank me. We both want the same thing, don't we? We are sisters after the same goal."
Ito-san raised her head, teary eyes meeting mine. "Tsukishiro-san..!"
'If the incest law gets abolished, then I can legally marry Andy. We won't just be mother and son then, but husband and wife, as well... What a wonderful idea. ♥'
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