While I was out and about, failing to keep my duties as ‘I’.
It seemed that in the ‘Net Space’, where no one could bear even a moment of silence, chaos was breaking out while searching for a new topic.
Everyone there was riding the waves of issues, enjoying the surfing.
[Singer ‘A’, fatal scandal controversy]
[Breaking news, famous singer’s question on ‘bigamy’]
[Agency official, “We will respond strongly to the rumors”]
It was the same on net news.
[Lol, who believes this?]
(croaky frog image)
Loved you forever…
– Seriously, is this real? Lol…
– What the hell, just because one singer is in controversy, so many ridiculous posts pop up?
– Do you even know what love is? (Author)
– What you’re doing isn’t love…
– … (Author)
[Lol, if you like ‘that singer’, give a thumbs up, lol]
How did the issue turn into a bigamy question post, lol?
If it were me, I’d probably get plastic surgery and make a comeback, lol.
– Is it confirmed whether it’s true or a lie yet?
– Lol, not my problem, lol (Author)
– Oh man, the net is haunted.
[Just heard the song for the first time]
The song is good, yeah.
But isn’t there nothing to spark a controversy?
Other female singers live with like five guys.
– It’s a rumor, but the post was related to bigamy or polygamy, apparently.
– Oh, lol, then that makes sense (Author)
Or so it went on the net bulletin board.
With Andrea’s fame being significant.
In this cyberpunk world, all kinds of people banded together.
Fully energized, they were chewing, tearing, tasting, and enjoying the stories about her.
I checked a few more posts.
However, most of them were pretty much the same content.
I closed my view interface and turned off the screen.
Then, I looked at Andrea.
Before I looked, she was bouncing up and down, testing the bed’s elasticity with her whole body.
But as soon as my gaze landed on her, she placed her hands on her knees and pretended to be innocent.
The bed was indeed soft.
I opened my mouth to Andrea.
“So.”
“…Yeah.”
Andrea carefully looked at me.
Just like a guilty prisoner waiting for my question.
I asked in a lackluster voice.
“…What the heck is going on?”
Anyway, since things had drifted this way.
I wanted to hear how everything had progressed while I was oblivious.
—
19. I’m just an ordinary person (2)
Andrea bowed her head deeply. Her long hair tied on both sides brushed the floor.
It seemed to carry a sense of apology.
And she looked a bit shy, like she couldn’t lift her face.
Eventually, when she raised her face, a deep blush was evident, but the emotion in her eyes suggested the former was more significant.
“That is, well.”
Andrea interrupted, expressing her anxiety with her whole body.
“Should I bring you something to drink?”
“…No, that’s okay.”
She didn’t need to apologize so much.
Andrea took a deep breath again.
Inhale once, exhale once.
Even with the garbage-like air in Neon City, taking a breath of fresh air seemed to help, as Andrea spoke again with a slightly better complexion.
“…First of all, it’s true that I posted that problematic post.”
Andrea explained as follows.
She posted the question out of pure ‘curiosity’.
A malicious fan hacked and took information.
The controversy lacked clear evidence, so if everything had gone as usual, it would have been a topic that fizzled out quickly.
“Is it true that it was captured while you were with me?”
“……Yeah.”
So that’s what happened.
With my question, Andrea looked as if she wanted to crawl into a mousehole.
With each passing explanation, her already red face turned into an apple.
“…So I’m asking you. Could you come with me on NCB24 broadcast…?”
Hmm.
“…Uh.”
“Is that okay?”
“No.”
It was one of those vocal expressions of redundancy.
I was starting to roughly grasp how things were flowing.
That photo was probably taken back then.
Perhaps after the concert when we went to eat.
Or when we were driving searching for Maya.
In fact, there was no end to possibilities.
In this cyberpunk world, the data from surveillance cameras could have been leaked due to hacking.
The probability for this was very high as well.
As I followed these thoughts, Andrea spoke again with an apologetic tone.
“…Please, just once more.”
“……”
I pondered briefly.
Should I confidently appear on the broadcast to declare it’s not true and break free from the controversy in one fell swoop?
Or just remain unresponsive, indifferent, and let time handle everything?
I lifted my head to look at Andrea.
Her expression fully conveyed her feelings of guilt.
This was the first time I had seen Andrea looking so regretful.
In fact, she had never had a reason to apologize to me up to this point.
Seeing her like this made me think it was strange for me to be contemplating my decision.
Andrea had always helped me.
Even when rescuing Maya.
She accepted the absurd request of kidnapping the vice president of a megacorp without hesitation.
But if I were to refuse her request here, it would no longer be a relationship I could call ‘friend’.
“Alright, I’ll help you.”
I replied to Andrea.
I sensed Eve’s surprise from behind.
Knowing well that I dislike going outside, perhaps she expected me to refuse.
However, having already received help from her.
Refusing her request wouldn’t sit well with my inner ‘Confucian societal values’.
I was secretly worried about being rejected.
“Thank you!”
Overwhelmed by her feelings, Andrea rushed to me.
Wait.
My chest…
Caught off guard by that soft sensation, I lost my senses.
Not knowing where to put my hands, I just grabbed at empty air.
It was as if time, filled with clouds, came to an end due to a third party.
“……”
A cold, ruthless grip from artificial intelligence separated Andrea and me.
“Ah.”
Realizing her actions, Andrea started to grin sheepishly.
“…I didn’t mean to.”
Her face was even redder than when she asked me with a tone of apology earlier.
I still hadn’t regained my senses by then.
No matter how much of a ‘Wizard’ I was, I wasn’t completely immune to female chests.
Still.
That dignified and magnificent size.
And the unexpected timing.
All of it overwhelmed me.
I could only be flustered for a while.
Then, I was swept away by another touch right after that.
“Ugh.”
I almost lost my neck in an instant.
Someone pulled me from the side and hugged me.
I tried to look around to comprehend the situation, but I couldn’t move my neck because someone was gripping me tight.
I only rolled my eyes to see.
A familiar design of a white maid outfit was right up close to me.
I calmly assessed the situation.
To summarize what was happening.
Eve was holding my head, looking like I was buried in her (large) chest.
“……”
A voice came from above my head.
Of course, it was Eve.
“This is the reward I didn’t receive last time.”
The squeezing grip intensified.
It wasn’t an impossible situation to break free from.
But I pretended to struggle, succumbing to the sensation.
As a guy, there was no escaping it.
I thought an android would be firm, but…
…This was even softer than the bed; I couldn’t even compare it to Andrea’s.
How long had passed?
After a little while, Eve released me.
I stared at Eve’s expressionless face.
Due to her blank expression, it might just be my imagination, but somehow I felt she was rather satisfied.
I shook my head to regain my senses.
Just a moment ago, Andrea had been smiling happily, but now she was looking at the two of us with something like dissatisfaction.
It felt oddly embarrassing.
Trying to forget that embarrassment, I spoke to Andrea.
“Anyway, since I’ve decided, we just need to prepare.”
I could still feel the sensation of both of their chests lingering on my cheeks.
“How long do I have to prepare?”
To my question.
“Tomorrow.”
“Hmm?”
“Without companions.”
Andrea replied with a smile.
“That’s the broadcasting station’s regulations.”
She shrugged her shoulders as if it couldn’t be helped.
Though she kept smiling, she looked mechanical, unlike before.
At Andrea’s words that companions couldn’t join, Eve flinched.
“The main entity, as an artificial intelligence, can transcend general regulations—”
“But that’s the broadcasting station’s rule, so it has nothing to do with city laws, right?”
“……”
Eve looked at me with a plea in her eyes. But I turned my head to casually avoid her gaze.
I didn’t want to either.
It was to prevent a violent incident with a beautiful woman in a maid outfit following me from the broadcasting station.
…Later, I’d have to buy her something other than a maid outfit.
Seeing my reaction, Eve remained silent for a bit before speaking.
“Understood.”
Slowly, Eve moved to the corner.
She sat down in her place and closed her eyes.
“Then I’ll support you like this.”
[Then I’ll support you like this.]
Along with Eve’s voice, the same voice echoed in my head.
Ah, so this was an option.
This meant I was in a good position.
While I was nodding to myself.
I heard Andrea’s puzzled voice.
“…Is it just me, or does it sound strange?”
[It’s not strange.]
“……Again.”
It seemed Eve had set it up so Andrea could hear the voice as well.
Considering how she easily hacked into the city’s neural network, it wouldn’t be hard to transmit the voice to Andrea through signals.
If it was just me and Eve chatting, I presumed it was a gesture born from the desire to prevent Andrea from feeling left out.
[Are you a fool? I ask you.]
“What does that even mean?”
[The voice output and data are identical to the ‘me’ you have heard before, yet you describe it as a strange voice.]
“…Well, if suddenly a voice pops up in my head, I could easily freak out.”
[Ha ha ha.]
“Hmm?”
[I was laughing with amusement.]
…….
It seemed indeed to be a thoughtfulness in an actual sense.
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