In fact, I had long gotten used to the ritual known as ‘dates,’ something that lovers commonly enjoy.
The reason was simpler than I thought.
I didn’t have just one partner I could call ‘lover’; I had as many as seven.
This fact was evident just by looking at the assassination threats that popped up daily on the bulletin board in the Net Space.
And those seven didn’t even live separately. They all spent their daily lives under one roof, naturally overlapping their living spaces.
It was no surprise that I had become numb to Eve’s bunny girl outfit (or her very short NCPD costume), which would have shocked me in the past.
It was now natural for me not to scream and unleash my magic when the chairman suddenly entered the shower while I was washing.
There were various other episodes, but that wasn’t what was important right now.
What I wanted to convey was just how accustomed I had become to ’emergencies’ or ‘variables.’
However…
Even I, who had become a specialist in octopus-limb relationships (garbage), couldn’t help but be startled now.
I doubted my ears and asked them again.
“…What did you say?”
If I had heard news that a tactical nuclear bomb was installed in the city, I would have just brushed it off.
After hearing something completely unexpected, I could not help but ask for clarification.
My auditory organs, however, were perfectly fine.
Catherine and Eve looked at me and repeated what they had just said.
“…I’ll just head back first.”
“Same goes for the AI.”
…….
Is this a dream?
I tugged at my cheek slyly.
Of course it wasn’t a dream.
*
To be honest, I never imagined Catherine and Eve would say they were heading home first.
“Why?”
I asked Catherine and Eve for the reason.
They were the type of people who would come even if I told them not to (they had, in fact, gone out today for that reason).
Now, the moment they had been aiming for—the chance to date—had arrived, yet I found it hard to understand their response.
Catherine was the first to answer my question.
She scratched her head and looked away.
“…Well, there’s nothing special. I just need to think about some things at home.”
“…Catherine, thinking?!”
“……I’m dead.”
I blurted out without realizing it.
Anyway, it was that nonsensical.
The best mercenary in Neon City.
I could handle being an all-purpose problem-solver with my bare hands, dropping even bullets and useless equipment (like tanks).
That’s who Catherine was.
…….
Well, I guess that made sense.
It was just that Catherine hadn’t shown any presence today.
But that wasn’t her fault.
If only the location weren’t in the ‘landmine-filled underground.’
If the intruder hadn’t threatened us with ‘magic.’
…No, that doesn’t matter.
If ‘I’ hadn’t been there, Catherine could’ve certainly resolved it on her own.
But my presence must have weighed on her mind.
After all, I’m the one in danger if an explosion does happen.
I understood Catherine’s feelings completely.
It seemed that awkwardly trying to comfort her would do more harm than good.
I nodded silently.
This time, I turned my gaze toward Eve.
“Eve, why about you?”
Now that it had come to this, I felt like I could indirectly understand how ‘E’ felt when someone tried to stop them from going home.
Usually, I’d be the one saying I was heading home while others would stop me.
But now, as others declared they were going home first, I was left speechless.
It felt oddly nostalgic…
Anyway.
Eve’s complexion was a bit darker than usual, just like Catherine.
It was never easy to read Eve’s expression, which was typically blank. But to me, an ‘Eve expert,’ it wasn’t too difficult.
Of course, this was partly because Eve’s emotional expressions had become more enriched than before.
Eve stood there with her hands neatly clasped, looking rather composed, but upon closer inspection, she was subtly clutching the hem of her skirt.
Slowly, Eve began to speak.
“…I have something to investigate for a moment. Also, under the current circumstances, I judged that I wouldn’t be able to focus on a date with ‘Siwoon.’”
Eve’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
I asked her again.
“What do you need to investigate? If it’s about the master, you can just ask Drekk after he checks you later.”
Eve shook her head gently.
“…No, what I need to investigate is that ‘entity’ I couldn’t detect the biological signal from.”
“…Hmm.”
That was a bit strange.
Catherine, who had been lost in thought at Eve’s words, turned to look at her.
“That ‘entity’ didn’t show up in the city’s identification database. What’s more, there were no traces of basic cyberware in its body.”
“…Not even a trace?”
“I sensed nothing.”
What this meant was that the woman who had threatened us and taken Teddy was biologically composed only.
It indicated that even the ‘neural computer chip’ that ordinary vagabonds had was absent.
I felt like I was hearing that someone had no smartphone, let alone a feature phone.
In that case, Eve couldn’t help but be stumped.
There weren’t any surveillance cameras in the underground level, and with no biological signals detectable through cyberware, it was physically impossible.
But it seemed that even the AI, who had faced no failures before, found this fact shocking.
At Eve’s explanation, Catherine added,
“…And I could barely hear a heartbeat.”
“……”
Conversely, it was even more surprising that Catherine could hear a heartbeat clearly if someone were close by.
Well, anyway.
I nodded at both of them.
Both made sense.
After all, Catherine and Eve, who had almost never experienced failure, would understand.
“Still, don’t worry too much. After all, we did manage to come out alive, right?”
In the end, all I could offer them was a sly word of encouragement.
*
But.
The show doesn’t end…
No, the date doesn’t.
The promise I made with Julia was still pending.
– ‘…There’s still plenty of time, but are you perhaps… thinking of going back right now…?’
Thanks to cyberware, even as I was avoiding and slicking up, declining that request was tough.
Those sparkling eyes were cheating…
Ahem, I lightly cleared my throat and scanned around.
It was still drizzling lightly on the streets.
Maybe it was because Cloud Park was nearby.
The color of the snow looked faintly gray.
Though it was a cold day that required proper clothing, it was a relief that there weren’t many people on the street.
I turned toward Julia.
Julia was still hugging the large white rabbit plushie tightly.
Given that Julia still maintained her status as a wanted criminal, the presence of the rabbit plush that distorted camera signals was essential.
…….
So maybe that’s why it was hard to find traces of romance in her appearance, all cuddly and hugging the large doll.
Since it was winter, Julia wore a suit-like long underwear under her hooded shirt.
Of course, she looked cold.
But she’d probably be okay.
She may not have the performance of Catherine, but she likely had temperature-regulating cyberware attached to her physique.
Julia didn’t have much experience going out.
Even now, she seemed busy appreciating the snow-covered scenery around her.
Hmm.
Where can we go to get the rumors started about our successful date (inside the house)….
I should start by asking for her opinion.
“Aren’t you cold?”
“……”
Before that, a light chat would suffice.
Nodding lightly, Julia handed me the rabbit plush.
…But I only asked if she’s cold.
Why hand this over?
By the way, the plush was warm.
With signal jamming, heating, and weapon storage functions…
This plushie was incredibly multifunctional.
Without realizing it, I hugged the rabbit plush tightly that Julia had passed to me while looking down at her.
Julia, having given me the rabbit plush, squatted down to look up at me.
I lightly bent my knees to match her gaze as we faced each other.
“Is there anywhere you want to go?”
“……”
Julia rested her chin on her hand.
The fingers of Julia’s cyberware, visible between her long sleeves, seemed to waggle as if deep in thought.
Being an ‘Eve expert’ and having graduated with a master’s degree showcased that I quickly caught on to Julia’s response—she had somewhere she wanted to go.
As I guessed, Julia cautiously continued speaking.
“…Well, um… that…”
It seemed she had used up her quota of courage for today due to earlier.
Julia seemed flustered, burying her head lower.
Among my seven cohabitants, she’d probably be the one who glances at me the most.
Thinking back, even the first kiss we had was just a simple peck.
I fought the urge to ruffle Julia’s hair and brushed the snow off the rabbit plush.
“It’s okay to speak comfortably. After all, this is a date just for the two of us. If you don’t say what you want, what’s the point?”
“……!”
I spoke softly like I was soothing a child.
Julia cautiously lifted her head.
I wondered if she would mention an amusement park or a zoo.
Searching for her options, an aquarium might also be on the list.
I recalled the top three preferred outing spots for kids as I waited for Julia’s response.
“…Of course.”
“Yeah.”
Please let me know what you desire, sister.
Soon, Julia continued speaking.
…….
Um.
I should have just suggested going to an amusement park.
*
For that reason, we arrived at the ‘Fusion-Japanese Restaurant’ where Maya was working part-time and was thriving.
“Welcome─, oh? What brings you here?”
“Hmm.”
Maya greeted me with a bright smile.
Just as I was about to open my mouth, Julia peeked out from behind me timidly.
“…Hello, Mai.”
She waved her hand shyly.
“Oh, Julie!”
I had mentioned this last time, but these two seemed quite close even without any special connection.
Seeing them call each other by nicknames shows they have really become good friends.
Julia skipped over to Maya quickly, almost running.
“…I did say I’d come last time, but coming alone was still a bit… so I came with someone this time.”
“Thanks for coming! I’ll ask Dad to prepare some traditional Neo-Japan food! …Dad!”
By the way, since Maya was attacked by a transhumanist group last time, I hadn’t visited the Fusion-Japanese Restaurant.
Multiple reasons led to that decision, but the most significant one was the ‘engagement ceremony’ we had last time.
Right, the engagement ceremony.
A middle-aged man with impressive arm muscles gradually revealed himself from behind the kitchen.
“…Hmm.”
As a result.
An unusual incident occurred where the father-in-law learned about the engagement ceremony through the news, and the son-in-law, who had conducted the ceremony without permission, met face to face.
I’m sure saying that I didn’t expect to get engaged would sound like an excuse.
…….
Well, it was true.
I gulped as I looked at the father-in-law’s clearly bulging arm muscles.
It was winter.
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