Amado's Choice

After leaving the laboratory that was like a massive cage for human bodies, Amado followed the silent corridor back to the upper level, to the bedroom that belonged to him alone.

The furnishings here were simple: only the most basic bed, desk, wardrobe, and a huge bookshelf that took up an entire wall, crammed with all kinds of obscure tomes on biology, genetics, physics, and even some touching on mysticism.

He locked the door behind him, walked to the desk, and slowly sat down.

The desk was very tidy. On it were only a computer in sleep mode, a few pens, and a plain wooden photo frame.

Amado reached out and picked up the frame.

Inside the frame was an old photograph.

The photo showed a certain sunlit park, with swings and a slide in the distance.

A little girl with brilliant golden hair, pale purple eyes, and a smile as warm as sunshine was nestled in the arms of a young man whose face carried a gentle smile.

That was his daughter, Akebi.

His fingertips brushed over his daughter's smiling face in the photograph with extreme gentleness. Even the cold lenses could not fully block the pain and longing that showed in his eyes.

The only trace of warmth in this cold room seemed to come from this old photograph.

He held that posture for a long, long time.

In the end, as if he had made some kind of decision, he gently placed the frame back on the desk, facing upward, so that his daughter's smile could still be seen by him.

Then, with utmost solemnity, he slowly took off the white laboratory glove he had always worn on his right hand.

Beneath the glove was a hand with slightly pale skin, yet one that had been well