As Happy becomes increasingly invested in the existence of "living," he begins to pick up some important lessons and undergo some significant emotional shifts—becoming in many ways a genuine little brother.
He asks questions to clarify or understand.
He laughs at Souta's jokes.
He is crying as Ai reads a story at bedtime about a bear who gets lost but is ultimately able to find his way home again.
But at that time—he starts to ask about what is outside, particularly the world outside.
Why is it that nobody is able to feel my presence?
Why is it that I do not possess a name that people outside can pronounce and enunciate?
Souta glances down, and that same chilling and creepy sense of fear washes over him once more.
He does not yet know the right answer.
I created you for my own use," he concedes. "I never had a clue that I was imprisoning you.".
"Not you, you didn't catch me," Happy asserts firmly. "But if I am really alive, really living life to the fullest degree…
Don't I have the right to be someone too?
Happy also wants to be with them outdoors as well.
They bring him to a secluded park at night.
He runs, rolls on the grass, gazes at the moon, takes Ai's hand.
And finally, at dusk, under the stars, Happy speaks:
"I have a desire to have a dream."
"Are you saying that it has something to do with becoming a hero or something like that?" Ruby asks.
No… I want to grow up. I want to go to school. I want to eat curry.".
I wish to cry whenever I lose and smile whenever I win.
Souta swallows.
"But you don't age. You don't even have a heartbeat."
"I see what you mean," Happy responds, his voice trembling with emotion. "But even with that, I still feel compelled to try it."
I don't want to be a plaything forever.
And for the first time in history in this instance.
Souta is conflicted, wondering whether he really has the power or capability of making that specific desire come true.
Ai runs into Souta on the balcony that evening.
He's crying, again. Softly.
"I created an individual who possesses an intense desire to embrace life far more passionately than I ever did myself."
But he cannot live anymore. I am the one who caused him this suffering.
Ai hugs him from behind.
No, my love. You gave him something that you were never lucky enough to receive yourself:
A chance to want life."
Souta leans in towards her.
"What do I do next in this scenario?"
Ask him yourself. And if he says yes. then you help him try.
The next day, the triplets meet to come up with a whole strategy.
They go on and get Happy enrolled in school—not officially, naturally, but by virtue of Souta's special privilege.
A tiny universe within notebook pages, building a pocket world.
To everyone else, it's just an everyday sketchpad.
To reach ultimate happiness?
In this small and apparently insignificant world, time continues to pass without cease, teachers labor diligently to instruct, and he is fortunate enough to sit at a desk right next to Souta.
Happy goes to class.
He lifts his paw to respond to questions.
He eats a bento made with utmost care by Ai, which to him is more than a mere food, but an experience of the senses that is a mixture of scents and memories. The act of consideration still wraps him in the warmth and comfort.
For the first time in his life, Happy is thrilled to be given a name that belongs to him, along with a school ID lovingly hand-drawn by Ruby. Furthermore, he has been given a report card filled with all stars and hearts that describe his achievement.
He is not a toy anymore.
He's a little brother.
One evening, while Happy gently sleeps next to Souta, warmly and gently radiating from the inside out, Ai stands in the doorway and observes them with a contemplative face.
With tears shining in her eyes, she whispers:
"You gave him a soul." And in a really incredible manner… he provided us with so much more than we ever even realized we actually needed in life." Souta, at last at rest, answers: "He made me feel like I really did deserve to be loved back, and that was a very empowering thing for me to see."