The Ideal Human Project had been going on for a few years at this point.
The other children have come and gone, but a few familiar faces remain. Well, these faces were only as familiar as the strangers on the street—I took notice of them, but no further than that. It was not worth my effort trying to form a real bond with any of them, lest they be expelled from the project soon after.
Well, it wasn't only just that. In this project, friends were only liabilities. The number of children who have sacrificed themselves to 'protect' their friends was unjustifiably high, especially for the poor results.
"Ayato-chan, do you want to play with us?"
I didn't realise it at first, but the girl who had always been around the Outcomes was none other than Tachibana's daughter. Whilst she was not technically part of the project, she constantly stuck around us. I had the feeling that she didn't seem to have many friends outside of the Outcomes.
"Sorry, I'm reading at the moment."