"The 'Mu' in the Giantwood Alliance's name is the same character as the one in my brother's name," Number Seven remarked.
Chu Mu, Chu Mu.
A difference of a single written character, yet it was enough to catch Kafka's attention.
Could it be A-Mu?
Though Kafka's thoughts churned, she kept her expression unchanged.
She asked Number Seven:
"Seven sisters and one brother in your family?"
"There was also a younger sister, the youngest of us all. Everyone in the family adored her." Number Seven's expression dimmed. "Then, when she was five, she fell seriously ill and died."
"I'm sorry for your loss," Kafka said with a sigh.
"It's all right. You can hear at least a hundred versions of our family's story in the Alliance." Number Seven shrugged. "If you're interested, I'd be happy to tell you. Better than letting you listen to all those ridiculous stories out there."
"A hundred versions... Who exactly is your family?" Kafka hesitated.
"My father founded the Giantwood Alliance," Number Seven said evenly. "He was a great scientist from the Pre-War Era. He spent centuries in hibernation, escaping the nuclear war, and only woke when radiation had fallen to safe levels. He single-handedly brought about the north's revival."
After a pause, she said:
"My father had nine children, but none of us had the same mother. In fact, we don't even know who our mothers were. Perhaps they were disposed of once they'd fulfilled their task of giving birth. To my father, they were nothing but tools. All he wanted was a boy."
"Your father had a pretty serious preference for sons over daughters," Kafka remarked. "I would have thought a great scientist would be more open-minded."
"It wasn't really about favoring boys over girls." Number Seven shook her head. "My father had a