Three weeks later. At the sky restaurant in Tokyo Bay Hotel.

Keiko and Kazuki met again for dinner after very busy weeks. Keiko answered to many inquiries from various people and Kazuki ran about for collecting information.

“It’s my big surprise you are responsible for that report. It was my fault not knowing.”

Kazuki sighed with holding his glass.

“Me too. I am very sorry I didn’t know you had a big problem.”

“No, it’s OK. I would rather say thank you for telling such problem. It was three years ago I was sentenced to male infertility. From that time I had been annoying all the time. Why me and what is the reason? But today I know there are much more people annoying like me in Japan. It’s not only my problem.”

Keiko felt like realizing the reason of Kazuki’s recent exhausted looks.

“Then, have you already found a cause?”

“No, not yet. We estimate some Environmental Hormone would be related.”

“Environmental Hormone?”

“Yes. In technical term, we call it Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. A little difficult naming. Chemical substances functioning similar to human hormone. You may know the name of Dioxin. It was emitted from burned plastic. It has no color and no smell. Usually it was measured by picogram unit. Very small unit, one trillionth gram. But if we continue to take such small level, in the long period it can be accumulated in a human body and cause various diseases like cancer, nerve disorder and infertility.”

“That’s it. That maybe the cause of my infertility. But why dose not the Government prohibit such dangerous substances?”

“Because there are too many doubtful chemicals in this world. Some specialist says there may be more than several thousands. Drug, soap, seasoning, food, even this water can be a candidate.”

Keiko touched a glass of water.

“This water? Incredible.”

Kazuki looked at the glass with puzzled expression. The water is very clean and completely transparent. There is no contaminant in it.

“But to make matters worse, even if we hit at a doubtful chemicals, it may be too late to regain human health. We are now living in such society.”

Kazuki could not help considering social contradiction. Delicious meet, fresh vegetables, clean water, everything is based on the unsteady balance with modern scientific technology.

“Thank you for meeting today. I am very interested in your talking. Can we see again…?”

When they got out of the restaurant and said good-by, they passed by a woman wearing a maternity dress at the entrance. She was walking slowly with her hands on her belly. When Kazuki looked at this woman, he was suddenly attacked by terrible throb and dizziness. Kazuki squatted down on the floor and held his head with his both hands.

“Kazuki, what happened? Are you all right?”

Keiko looked into Kazuki anxiously. Kazuki was trembling for a while but he was calm down gradually within few minutes. Then Kazuki stood up slowly as though nothing had happened.

“Sorry. Don’t worry. It’s sometimes happened. No problem.”

Kazuki smiled. Keiko felt something bad but did not ask furthermore.

Keiko returned home by herself with cloudy feeling. It was a happy news to meet Kazuki again but had another anxiety with his big changes. She turned on TV.

“It is really a terrible story.”

On the screen she saw the Newscaster Koike.

“What will happen from now on? In this case 1 million yen for 1 cc. The price is still going up.”

Since that report announcement “Buy-Sell of sperm on SNS” has been increasing. The panic of infertile couples set fire to sperm transactions.

“Mr. Tanaka, is this legally no problem?”

Newscaster Koike asked the guest commentator, Mr. Tanaka who was a lawyer specialized in infertility issues.

“I think it a terrible thing. Legally sperms trading has no problem if it is agreed with related persons. But usually it should be done by donation basis from the ethical reasons. If we permit the onerous contract, it will lead to the genetic discrimination like this. I had warned such cases from long ago, the Government had not prepared the legal development.”

TV focused on the SNS page which said “Call now and get sperm you like.”

When Keiko sighed and turn off the TV, the alarm was chimed.

“Breaking news has just come in. Breaking news. A baby who had been kid napped three days ago from Sinjuyku was found in Saitama. Repeating. A kidnapped baby was found in Saitama safely. According to the police, a kid napping suspect is a couple of infertility. They…”

Gene trading, Kid napping…, people’s desire wanting a baby have led to unethical or criminal paths all over the country.

Two weeks have passed. At Keiko’s research Laboratory.

“Miss Tsuyama. Have you already heard that? Company will hold an extraordinary shareholders meeting soon.”

Her boss, Mr. Aoki told her.

“What is the agenda?”

This is the first time for Keiko since her joining this company. For a conservative company like Takezawa, it is rare to hold an extraordinary shareholders meeting.

“I don’t know the detail, but somebody says an executive reshuffle will be proposed. Mr. Okada, Chief Research Officer, might resign.”

“Incredible. Mr. Okada is the top officer of our project. Why?”

“That article. The rumor says he leaked the content in spite of strictly confidential. The company was strictly accused by the Ministry of Health. The company was forced to kick out some responsible person.”

“Then what will become of us?”

“I don’t know some personnel changes will be announced.

Two weeks later. At a café near Hounichi Newspaper.

“I am sorry. Are you waiting?”

“No, I also came here just now.”

Kazuki told a lie. He was waiting more than half an hour. After that date of dinner this was a second time meeting. Kazuki wanted to support Keiko about this problem, because it is not only for himself but all the infertile people in Japan.

Keiko had a seat and rushed into talking.

“That infertility research project was forced to be dismissed. The top of this project, Mr. Okada, was on loan to a subsidiary and my boss, Mr. Aoki was transferred to the Sizuoka Factory.”

“Why? Why did Takezawa give up such important project?”

“Government. The company was accused by the Ministry of Health because of that article. Then the company did unwillingly give up the project.”

“Damn! Dull Government again. They are always as such. Then how about you?”

“I was also transferred to a marketing section. It’s completely unfamiliar job.”

Kazuki disappointed at the news. Actually he expected Keiko’s study to discover the cause of his infertility, but failed.

“Then I have ask a favor of you, Kazuki. So far our study mainly relied on hospitals near Tokyo. They supplied samples got from their patients. Therefore the result might be biased. We need much more samples of semen to specify the cause. Not only from infertile people but from healthy people. If we classified those samples by ages, by regions or other various angles, we will be able to clarify unexpected causes.”

“OK, I understood. To collect samples you will use the newspaper.”

“Yes, that right. Is it possible?”

“Maybe, no, surely I promise. I will ask and persuade a chief editor. It is really the very mission of mass communications.”

Keiko felt previous and energetic Kazuki in his tone.

One week later at the General Manager’s room of the Pharmaceutical Research Institution.

“You did it at last.”

Dr. Shinohara smiled. Keiko had decided to join the Institution. There is nothing to do even if she remained in Takezawa. Furthermore she wanted to continue her study of infertility.

“I am very sorry I had refused your offer one year before.”

“Don’t mind. As I said you are welcome at any time.”

“I must say sorry again but I need infertility test kits, at least 10 thousands units. Can you arrange…”

“No problem. There are too many test kits in the Laboratory because of this recent riot. Already ordered one million. You may freely use them. And if you need, ask laboratory assistants for help.”

“Thank you so much for everything.”

“You are welcome. Instead you must stay overnights the Laboratory for a while. You must not get out of the Labo. Are you OK?”

“Off course, I remembered my school age.”

Keiko and Dr. Shinohara burst out laughing.

Next morning in Hounich Newspaper an advertisement to collect the volunteers for infertility test was printed and delivered to all over Japan.

To be continued