# Chapter 59
It was when I was walking through the quiet lobby. That’s when I spotted a figure I couldn’t just pass by.
“Mr. Ben?”
It was Ben, sitting on a chair that had appeared from somewhere beside the reception desk. He immediately noticed me and greeted me.
“Are you heading home?”
He got up happily and walked over to me.
“Yes, and you, Mr. Ben?”
“As always, I’m just being bored.”
Now I could understand the meaning behind words I would have previously dismissed. Ben, who had lived in the laboratory, wouldn’t have gone to other places often. For him, this building was his entire world. A small and futile world compared to the outside.
“Why don’t you go on a trip? Mr. Ben… have you ever been outside this place?”
“I’ve been out for missions, but never for personal reasons.”
“Why not?”
“You know. This is the only place for someone like me.”
A bitter smile spread across his face. It was what I expected. Even if Peace didn’t directly restrict him, someone who had never learned about the outside world wouldn’t be able to go out on their own.
“…Could you help me with something?”
“What?”
Ben widened his eyes in surprise at my sudden request. It’s understandable why he’d be shocked. Kane probably never made such requests before. That’s why I shouldn’t have said such things.
“I wanted to buy a gift for Alice.”
But I had given up on being Kane.
“I need someone to help me choose.”
No matter what, I couldn’t become Kane. Without realizing it, my true self would emerge. As evidence, I had long forgotten Kane’s speech patterns.
So I’ll live Kane’s life as Kay. This was the first step toward that.
From the beginning, with memories of being Kay, it was impossible to bury everything. I realized that while I had wanted to avoid getting involved, I actually wanted to be involved.
This decision would harm Kane. But it was my last chance. I couldn’t let it slip away without even trying.
I wanted to repay those who remembered me as a good person during my remaining time. That was my current wish.
“…Would I be allowed to go out?”
Ben, one of those precious people, thought deeply. He seemed lost in thought for a long time, wondering if it was acceptable for him to leave, before finally speaking with a trembling voice.
Though nothing was physically blocking him from the exit, he seemed anxious, as if a huge wall stood in his way.
I smiled at him reassuringly.
“You’re helping me, right?”
Ben wasn’t going out because he wanted to—he was simply helping me. When I asked in a pleading tone, he smiled as if he had no choice.
“…Yes.”
“Shall we go then?”
As I subtly moved my feet, he hesitated behind me before following. Shortly after walking, the doors that had blocked the wind finally opened, and cold air began to flow inside.
“This is amazing.”
Ben murmured quietly as he faced the chilly breeze. He looked like he couldn’t believe he was outside. If it had been for a mission, he would’ve been surrounded by people and wouldn’t have had time to feel this way.
“You should pull your hat down more.”
Being an S-class hero, he was a celebrity, and people would recognize him. Ben pulled his hat down further. The brief glimpse of his expression showed that his fear had disappeared, replaced with excitement.
At first, Ben looked around curiously, but as time passed, he seemed to adapt and spoke to me.
“I’ve been wondering for a while, why does Kane grow his bangs so long?”
“Like… this?”
I guessed he grew his bangs to avoid making eye contact with others, though I wasn’t certain. Still, it didn’t feel particularly uncomfortable. Perhaps my eyes had grown accustomed to it.
I glanced up and touched my bangs. When I pulled slightly, long black hair came into view. It was definitely long.
Ben, who had been staring at me intently, reached out his hand. As I let him be, my forehead felt refreshingly cool, and my surroundings became clearer.
“This definitely suits you better.”
Ben had tucked my bangs behind my ear. Though he couldn’t push all of it back, even this much significantly improved my field of vision.
“Thank you.”
The clear view felt somehow unfamiliar. As I turned my head from side to side, Ben smiled. I’m not sure what was so amusing, but I’m glad he seemed to be in a good mood.
“What kind of gift are you planning to buy? As you know, I probably won’t be much help…”
After staring at me for a while, he seemed to come to his senses and spoke hastily. Confused by his flustered behavior, I scratched my cheek while observing him.
“…Good question.”
I had only thought of a gift, but there was no actual plan. However, I couldn’t take back my words now.
I thoroughly searched my past memories. The only gifts I had ever received were from Boss. But those were necessities like clothes, shoes, or housing, so they could hardly be called gifts.
Clothes or shoes wouldn’t work since they wouldn’t be used. It would be nice to find something that anyone could receive without burden while still feeling like a gift.
I walked through the bustling streets, scanning everything. Cakes, clothing, appliances, and various other items were displayed outside, but nothing seemed appropriate as a gift.
I was considering maybe getting a doll if nothing else worked, when it happened.
“That’s… pretty.”
Something caught my eye. I walked toward it as if entranced. Inside a round sphere, snow was slowly falling. It seemed to be modeled after a night view, with miniature buildings emitting light from tiny windows, catching the falling snow.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Ben, curious as well, approached and began examining it intently. His purple eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“It’s called a snow globe. It lights up and also has a music box function.”
As we were looking at it carefully, someone who appeared to be a clerk came over. After hearing the explanation, it seemed like a good gift option.
Fenil had once said that the key to gifts is buying pretty junk. I hadn’t understood what she meant at the time, but now I could grasp it perfectly.
It was certainly pretty, but had no practical use.
“Do people often buy these as gifts?”
“Yes, they’re mostly purchased as gifts.”
Fenil was right after all. Pretty junk was indeed meant for gifts. With the clerk’s helpful answer, I was leaning toward the snow globe.
“How old is Alice?”
“Ah… Mr. Ben would know her too. She’s the child I’m in charge of.”
“Your current charge is… A-11, right? Did she have a name?”
Ben asked with a puzzled tone. Indeed, there would be no one to give names to test subjects. While there was no rule against naming them, there was also no reason to call test subjects by name.
This was probably something Kane hadn’t thought about either. If it weren’t for Boss, I wouldn’t have given her a name either.
“I gave her the name recently.”
“It’s a… good name.”
Ben’s lips curled into a smile as he repeatedly said Alice’s name.
“It seems to suit her well.”
It seemed Ben knew Alice too. He nodded as if picturing her in his mind. Since I also thought the name suited Alice well, I didn’t hesitate any further.
“I’ll take this.”
“Yes, I’ll help you with the payment inside.”
As I was about to follow the clerk inside the store, my foot stopped. There was no presence behind me. When I turned around, Ben stood there with no intention of entering.
“I’ll wait here.”
He seemed content just looking at the displayed items. There was no reason to force him inside, so I moved my feet again.
“I’ll be quick.”
Following the clerk inside, she quickly wrapped the gift and handed me the snow globe in a bag.
“Here you are.”
After finishing the payment, I was about to go outside when I noticed Ben through the window. He was staring intently at something. At the end of his gaze was a music box. The kind that plays music when you open a small box.
“Could I also purchase that music box?”
I stopped on my way out and called the clerk again. Following my pointing finger, she seemed to understand which item I meant and smiled.
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
Shortly after, I was holding two bags in my hands. When I left the store, dusk had settled over the streets. After buying the gifts, we walked around for a while.
We admired Christmas trees that hadn’t yet been taken down and listened to songs playing from stores. Time passed quickly.
Ben, sensing it was getting late, gave a troubled smile.
“I think I should head back now.”
As he glanced at his watch, I opened my mouth in understanding.
“I had fun today.”
“Me too. I’ve always seen this scenery from afar… it was nice to see it up close.”
Ben smiled brightly, genuinely happy.
It was just a walk through the streets, but I could relate to his joy. I hadn’t had such a leisurely time outside either. It was strange and refreshing, reminding me that I too was just an ordinary person.
“I’m glad. Here you go.”
It was worth asking Ben for help today. Following his gentle smile, I handed him the music box I had been carrying in my left hand.
“This is…”
“It’s a thank you for accompanying me today.”
Ben’s expression, briefly frozen in surprise, soon melted. His smile deepened incomparably as he examined the contents.
“Thank you, Kane.”
I’m glad he liked it. It was my first time giving someone a gift, so I had been nervous. Ben’s smile wrapped around me with a gentle, tingling sensation.
Ben gazed at the music box for a long time before finally taking steps to leave. I quietly watched as he walked back toward Peace.
But after a few steps, his feet stopped again. Ben turned slightly and hesitantly opened his mouth.
“I definitely prefer the current Kane.”
After saying those words, he started walking again. In that brief moment when I saw Ben’s face, his ears were bright red, and a deep blush had risen visibly on his face.
