Ficool

Chapter 237 - Chapter 238: I Mustn't Run Away, I Mustn't Run Away, I Mustn't Run Away!

[What kind of outrageous line is that]

[My Robot Girlfriend?]

[Hear me out—what if it's like this]

[?]

[Like what? Spit it out!]

[I hate people who stop mid-sentence!]

[Accidentally hit enter. So earlier they said the MV was from a long time ago, right? What if she's an android who doesn't age, and that's how she still looks young]

[I actually think the MV is the real person, and the current one is the fake]

Not only was the audience stunned—Kira was even more "terrified."

"I, um..."

"If you don't have the resolve, Kira, please let me go. There isn't much time left." Inori stared at Kira, her expression blank.

"I just want to save you, Inori-chan!"

Kira stepped forward. Her hat tumbled to the ground, and her long hair cascaded down.

She seized Inori's hand.

"But if you don't want to become my master, Kira—why would you do something like this? We've barely just met."

"Who knows the answer to that?! I just want to help you! Saving someone—you do it on instinct! What kind of reason do you need?!"

Kira shouted.

(There actually are related character designs)

(From a different artist)

[Long hair!]

[She really is a girl!]

[Show her face! Give us the long-hair face reveal already!]

[So the Production Team's playing it like this, huh?]

[Great dialogue though]

[Am I the only one getting a vibe of insecurity from Kira's earlier behavior?]

[Bocchi energy...]

[A relative of Gotoh Hitori—Gotoh Kira, lol]

[Nah, I think she's more like Takamatsu Tomori]

[Getting more ridiculous by the second. She's been on screen for less than half an episode and you already know her whole personality?]

[I'm not worried about the personality. I'm worried they'll pull a Witch from Mercury bait-and-switch—Episode Zero's character gets ghosted once the main series starts]

[I think Witch from Mercury's problems were in the back half. The early parts were fine, but the scope never expanded]

[Only the UC series has true grand-scale storytelling. Everything else falls short. Iron-Blooded Orphans felt small-time too]

[Bael! My Bael!]

The danmaku was going berserk. Popularity Points were skyrocketing.

This sequence from Kira had sent Inori's follower count straight past ten thousand, and her Popularity Points jumped by over ten thousand as well.

The show's trending heat was climbing.

"In that case—it doesn't matter at all." Inori lifted her gaze. "Because I am not human."

"Huh?"

"I am not human. I am a machine that was manufactured."

While Kira stood there in shock, Inori pulled free from her grip, went to the window, and leaped out.

"Wait!"

Kira rushed to the windowsill.

And at that moment, the GINN overhead was getting closer and closer.

Inori was running farther away, and the GINN was being drawn after her.

"But... but still! How can I just stand here and do nothing?!"

Kira was shouting when something tugged at the cuff of her pants.

It was Inori's little robot.

"Let's go find her!"

Kira scooped up the little robot and jumped out as well.

[Grass (a type of exclamation), they're both superhuman—that's at least ten meters]

[They're in outer space, dude. Gravity's definitely different from Earth]

[Feels like pure physical ability though]

[Guess the person earlier was right—she really is an android]

[So it's a mecha-girl show?]

[Gundam doing this? Total gimmick]

[You BanG Dream people did an Iron Man arc too, didn't you?]

[The previous series has nothing to do with MyGO!]

The audience was in full uproar by now.

Setting everything else aside—this round had absolutely maxed out the hype and discourse.

"Inori-chan!"

The massive robot had thundered down to the ground.

"Huh...?"

The war machine's enormous mono-eye swiveled to lock onto Kira.

That icy sensation pierced through her in an instant.

"Watch out!"

Kira was a Coordinator—fast reflexes, fast instincts.

But right now, she clearly felt she couldn't dodge.

Except that in that instant, Inori at her side yanked her away.

"BOOM!"

The round slammed into the ground, and the resulting shockwave surged toward them like a tidal wave.

Kira was tackled to the ground by Inori, and the little robot went tumbling away.

"I'm saved... huh?"

Kira felt something warm on her face.

Blood.

Inori's... blood?!

Kira's eyes went wide.

[Grass (a type of exclamation)—what, the android?!]

[This is bait too?!]

[She's actually a real person?!]

"Inori-chan—so you are a Coordinator!" Kira had already suspected it when she saw Inori jump from the building.

And now, she was certain of what was going on.

"Negative. Coordinators are gene-modified humans. I am fundamentally different."

But Inori still denied it.

That fragile appearance—it was enough to break anyone's heart.

"I mustn't run away... I mustn't run away... I mustn't run away..."

Kira murmured.

Compared to the "original," this Kira seemed to be a girl—but personality-wise, there was something like a small, skittish animal about her. And a subtle... timidity?

Yes, especially those eyes. Unlike the original version's clear-eyed, guileless college-student gaze, this Kira's eyes carried an undercurrent of something gloomy, almost oppressive.

The cause of Kira's change was undoubtedly Inori herself, but why had Kira changed in this particular way?

That was something Inori found intriguing.

One thing was beyond doubt, though: Kira was still the Ultimate Coordinator.

Kira's gender didn't matter—in fact, "Kira" was a name used more often for women than men.

But a foundational setting like "Ultimate Coordinator" wouldn't be eroded by the butterfly effect.

Unless Inori herself went further and became the "protagonist."

In a sense, narrative weight could determine the scale of butterfly effects.

"Kira, why did you follow me?"

Inori showed no concern whatsoever for her own wound.

"Because I want to save you! It's that simple!" Kira cried out.

"I've been locked on. I can't escape," Inori said.

"What?!"

"But, Kira—there's still something that can be done." Inori fixed her gaze on Kira.

"What?"

"Kira—can you fight?"

"I don't like fighting. But... I can fight!"

Inori nodded, then said: "Then make a contract with me. Become my master—authorize me."

"This again..." The controlled GINN had stopped firing and seemed to be marching toward them.

Kira was getting anxious.

"Because my very existence was never permitted. That's why the Doctor sealed me away. My functions can't fully deploy. So, Kira—will you become my master?"

"You..." Kira looked at Inori. She was serious now—no longer running. "If it means saving you."

"I am an artificial being. In my analysis, only you, Kira, are capable of becoming my master." Inori said. "Kira—can I trust you?"

"Yes." Kira answered, calm and solemn.

"I am a tool. I cannot bear any responsibility. So please—bear the responsibility for me."

"I understand."

"Then—Extra-Domain Artificial Life Intelligence AI, code name Inori-Yuzuriha, hereby enters into contract with Kira Yamato. Kira, you will be responsible for my actions and bear all consequences. Do you consent?"

"Of course!"

"Then." Inori took Kira's hand and bit into it. "Next is the life-sign sampling."

Well... it was basically just drawing blood...

(Inori!)

More Chapters