Free Paprika by Yasutaka Tsutsui

to make it infinitely compact. The other day I was hacking into computers to see what other people had invented, when I accidentally accessed the biology department of some university. There I pocketed some samples that were being researched by some bloke doing bionics. I was amazed to see all that stuff, so I applied it to make a basic element that can process practically anything! If we used it for our devices, we could make them as small as we liked!”
    “By which I suppose you mean biological elements? The ones that permit self-assembly of proteins? And how much smaller are they than the silicon chips currently being used?”
    “Well, they’re a hundred ångström each, so, er, their memory capacity would be ten million times that of a silicon chip. I should think.”
    Atsuko gazed at Tokita. “You’re a genius. That’s what you are. Think of the stir this’ll cause when it’s announced!”
    Bashful as ever, Tokita looked out at the gardens once more. “Actually, I hope it won’t be announced. I mean, of course I’m glad you’re surprised, but I’m not interested in what the rest of the world thinks. Some people yak on about nothing else once their work has been recognized. And usually that’s the end of the road for them.”
    Atsuko went to hug Tokita from behind again. “That’s exactly what a genius would say.”
    They remained in that pose for some time, until Atsuko could feel Tokita’s body stiffen with tension through her breasts. He obviously wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words to express it.
    “What is it?” asked Atsuko.
    “Well … You remember when I was just an assistant, when we were developing these things, and you came into my dream? And I thought, well, it’s just a dream after all, so I could easily, you know, make love to you?”
    Atsuko laughed. “I remember. But you only thought it, didn’t you.”
    “I’ve often had that dream since then.”
    “And do you make love to me every time?”
    “I can’t. Even though I know it’s a dream, I just can’t. What’s it called? That kind of resistance. ‘Reason within a dream,’ wasn’t it?”
    “No. ‘Reason within a dream’ means thinking you can do something just because it’s a dream. The inhibition that prevents you from doing it is what I call ‘ dreason ’ – dream reason.”
    “Do you think it’s because I love you?”
    Atsuko embraced Tokita so firmly that her arms sank into the soft flesh of his belly. “Yes. So why don’t you just come out and say it? Say you love me!”
    “I can’t. Whenever I try, all I can think of is Beauty and the Beast. Like earlier today.”
    “Well, we know each other’s feelings. We don’t have to say anything. But if we did say it, would it have to come from me? It could, if you liked. On a rational level I want to deny you, despise you for your obesity, your lack of self-control. And your face is no oil painting. I often think that, if we were to marry, the incongruity of our looks would be just too awful. But I love you so much I can’t help it. You know that, don’t you?”
    As Atsuko spoke, Tokita continued to moan feebly as if he were about to cry. Now, at last, he slowly turned to face her. “I know. But it’s the first time you’ve said it.”
    Atsuko grasped his cheeks with both hands and brought her face close to his. Tokita timidly put his hands around her waist. And they kissed. Those thick lips of his, always glistening, always moist with dribble like those of a small child, yielded so softly to hers.
    Tokita pulled himself away and turned to look out of the window once more, almost apologetically this time. “It’s only because it’s dark, isn’t it. You could never have kissed me otherwise.”

9
    Tatsuo Noda managed to extricate himself from the party and find the toilet, where he splashed his face with cold water from the tap. That made him feel slightly better, but did nothing to improve the pallor of his face in the mirror.
    The