"Neo-kun, why were you out walking at this hour?"
Under the night sky, as we walked side by side, Kana Seiri suddenly asked. Her voice was light, brimming with curiosity.
"I just happened to leave the house I was living in today. In human terms, I guess you could call it running away from home. Or maybe 'striking out on my own' fits better."
"What? Why?"
Kana's blue eyes sparkled again. I shrugged and answered calmly.
"No real reason. It just felt like today was the right time, you know?"
Kana looked at me with a curious gaze, as if observing some unknown creature.
"What did you tell your parents?"
"I don't have parents."
"Really? So, you haven't been sold yet? Where are you from? A lab? A factory?"
"Nah, I was probably sold. I just don't have any memory of it."
I glanced at my hands, opening and closing them lightly, searching for words.
"Humans have unstable brains, you know. Their memory isn't exactly top-notch."
"That's so cool!" Kana's eyes gleamed like a clear blue sky. "Super romantic."
"Romantic? How so?"
I chuckled, and she leaned forward, answering with enthusiasm.
"Because it's like your memory gets automatically refreshed, right? That's amazing!"
"No way," I said, still laughing. "That's just you being overly positive."
"But being romantic and positive are like lovers, aren't they?"
Kana giggled, her voice bubbling with joy.
I was at a loss for words. Maybe staying silent here would be the "romantic" thing to do. I softened my wry smile into a genuine one, and strangely, my mood lifted.
"So?" Kana continued. "Where was your house?"
"I was living alone. Just a regular mansion, I guess."
"A mansion?" Her eyes widened. "By yourself?"
"Yeah. I don't really get it myself. I have no idea why I was living alone in such a big place. No memories to explain it."
"What was it like?"
"Hmm, let's see…"
I sifted through fragments of memory, piecing together images as I spoke.
"The first thing that comes to mind is the first floor, a Japanese-style space. There was a moss-covered stone lantern in the garden, and from the veranda, you could see koi swimming in a pond. At night, the bamboo leaves beyond the shoji screens would rustle in the wind, making a quiet, soothing sound. It felt calm, nostalgic somehow."
"Wow," she said.
"Then the second floor had a Western vibe. High ceilings with a chandelier, heavy curtains on the windows. The fireplace crackled, and old portraits lined the walls—a classic, luxurious space."
"Nice."
"The third floor was more cyberpunk, I guess. Neon lights reflected off glass walls, and a holographic display floated in the center of the room. I used to play games there a lot. Drones buzzed around the house, handling all sorts of chores."
"So, what happens to the house now that you've left?"
Kana's question made me pause. I didn't have a clear answer.
"No idea. I don't know anything about real estate or stuff like that. I wasn't paying rent, and honestly, I'm not even sure if that place was really mine."
Kana giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
"What's that supposed to mean? What about your stuff?"
"Didn't bring anything. I didn't have anything I needed or was attached to. There wasn't much stuff to begin with."
"Wow, total minimalist."
"Yeah, I guess so."
Our conversation trailed off, and we continued our quiet walk.
The stars in the night sky began to take on a faint purple glow, as if the universe itself was slowly shifting colors. The vast, serene beauty held my gaze.
"What about you, Kana?" I asked suddenly. "You've got parents, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Then maybe you should head home soon. It's late—your parents might be worried."
"Hmm, maybe…" Kana tilted her head, thinking. "But if I tell them I met a human, I bet they'd understand."
"Well, at least let them know you'll be late."
"Eh, I don't know." Her expression clouded, and she gave a troubled smile. "If I said I met a human, they probably wouldn't believe me. They'd think I was lying, and that'd be bad. Worst case, I could get scrapped."
"Yeah, that'd be bad. Lying's a no-go."
"Right. So, I think it's better to just not say anything."
"Makes sense. Still, you should probably head back soon so they don't worry too much."
"…Why?"
Her voice dropped slightly. I glanced at her, and her face looked clouded.
"Why are you so insistent on me going home? Do you not like me?"
"No, it's not that," I said quickly. "I just figured your parents would be worried."
"You don't need to worry about that. Besides, don't kids always make their parents worry?"
"Sure, but deliberately making them worry feels a bit wrong, don't you think?"
"Neo-kun," she said, stopping abruptly. I stopped too, caught off guard.
She looked at me with serious eyes and continued.
"If you think I'm annoying, just say it. I'm a humanoid robot—I'll follow a human's orders no matter what."
"That's not it," I replied instantly. "I don't dislike you. It's just… whether you're here or not, it doesn't really matter to me."
My honest words left a complex expression on her face—half hurt, half relieved.
"So, is it okay if I stay with you a bit longer? Don't worry about my parents, really."
"…Alright."
I gave a small nod, unable to argue further.
"But still, I don't like the idea of making your parents worry," I said. "How about we go to your place?"
"What, my house?" Her voice burst with surprise.
"What would you do there?"
There was a slight hint of resistance in her tone.
"If you think it's bad to tell them directly, I'll talk to them. I'll say, 'I'm a human, and I want to be with Kana.' That should be fine, right?"
"That might make them worry more."
"Huh? Why?" Now I was the one confused. "Do I look that shady?"
"No, no!" Kana waved her hands frantically. "It's just… I've never brought a boy home before. My parents would probably freak out."
"Got it," I nodded. "But it's better than not explaining anything, don't you think? So, will you take me to your place? Are your parents home?"
"Yeah, they're probably home. Likely in low-power charging mode…"
Kana answered hesitantly, her tone probing.
"But, Neo-kun, you're still planning to tell them you're human, right? My parents are kind of old models—they're pretty rigid. I'm not sure they'll believe you."
"Don't worry. I've got a plan."
"What kind of plan?"
I didn't answer.
Truth is, my "plan" wasn't much. I'd claim to be human, and if they didn't believe me—which they probably wouldn't—I'd just make a quick escape, leaving Kana behind.
In other words, I just wanted to make sure she got home safely.
"It'll be fine," I said, looking her straight in the eyes. "Trust me."
Another lie.
Kana nodded slightly, her response soft.
"Okay. I trust you."
Her voice was fragile yet clear, like a bell floating through the night sky, untouched by gravity.
Something stirred in my chest.
It felt bad—but not just bad. There was a strange, inexplicable thrill mixed in.
What was this feeling? Guilt from lying? Or something sparked by Kana's blind trust?
Maybe neither. I couldn't pin it down.
"Alright, follow me," Kana said lightly, starting to walk. I followed behind her.
For some reason, I didn't feel like walking side by side, so I naturally trailed her. But Kana noticed and quickly moved to my side. In the end, we walked shoulder to shoulder.
Still, I wanted to stay in the "following" position. I couldn't shake the feeling that I shouldn't step ahead of her. So, I adjusted my pace, letting her stay just a tiny bit—maybe three centimeters—ahead.
Our footsteps echoed softly on the Moon's surface.
The ground felt like a vast beach of fine, gray sand. This unpaved area still had the Moon's raw, untouched sand. I'd always loved wandering places like this.
After about five minutes of casual chatter about lithium, a low, translucent silver forest of iron and aluminum came into view. Kana's house was apparently deep within this refined forest.
"You live in the middle of a forest, huh?" I said.
"Yeah, it's my parents' taste," she replied cheerfully. "They say it's calming to live deep in the woods. Makes getting to school a hassle, though."
"Why's that?"
"Cars aren't allowed to speed through this forest. I have to walk to school."
"Why the restriction?"
"Safety, I guess? You don't want to crash into the trees."
"Hmm. Well, walking's good exercise, right?"
"Sure, but…" Kana gave a wry smile. "The hassle kind of outweighs the benefits."
"I get that."
We shared a short laugh and ventured deeper into the forest.