A True Human

by Windrises

Gunzou's lessons about humanity inspire Iona to become a real person.

Note: Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Aris Nova is a anime made by the studio Sanzigen and is based on a magna called Arpeggio of Blue Steel.

Captain Gunzou went back to his ship. He and his crew had been on land for half a week, because they had been collecting devices to use against any future enemies.

Gunzou returned before anybody else did. He worried about Iona, the ship's mental model and the one who controlled the ship. Although Iona wasn't technically a human she looked like one and Gunzou had been spending his free time teaching Iona about how to act more human.

Gunzou said, "I'm sorry that I've been gone for a few times. I've been collecting materials that we can use in case enemies attack."

Iona replied, "I missed you Captain."

Gunzou said, "Please call me by my real name."

Iona replied, "But it's disrespectful for a member of the crew to call the Captain by their real name."

Gunzou said, "You're not a member of the crew. You're something else."

Iona asked, "What am I?"

Gunzou moved around the ship while saying, "There's no proper way to word it. I wish that I could find the magical words to would you smile, but I can't."

Iona replied, "I respectfully disagree Gunzou. Before I met you I didn't smile even once. You taught me emotions and made me feel more real than I had ever been."

Gunzou spent a minute trying to think about what to say to Iona. He said, "You're my closest ally and the person I trust above anybody else."

Iona responded, "But I'm not a person."

Gunzou said, "You're a person to me."

Iona responded, "Wether or not someone is a person or not is an objective fact, not a subjective opinion."

Gunzou said, "You mean more to me than any person. If anybody else heard me say that they'd laugh."

Iona replied, "I wouldn't laugh at you unless you made a joke."

Gunzou asked, "How were you without me and the crew?"

Iona thought about it and said, "It wasn't a very good time. I was alone."

Gunzou looked ashamed of himself while saying, "I shouldn't of left you by yourself, but I didn't feel like I could take you with me because you're a mental model of my ship. Iona, may I ask you something?"

Iona answered, "Feel free to give me a question anytime."

Gunzou asked, "Have you ever felt the desire to be a fully real person? Do you want to live in a house instead of a ship?"

Iona answered, "Yes. I was indifferent to everything, until you taught me the magic of humanity."

Gunzou chuckled and said, "Humanity tends to be hit or miss."

Iona replied, "It's always a hit when it comes to you."

Gunzou asked, "What do you mean?"

Iona answered, "My life is better when you're around."

Gunzou said, "My life is better when I'm with you too."

Iona replied, "I feel weird."

Gunzou asked, "What's wrong?"

Iona answered, "I have a weird feeling going on in my heart?"

Gunzou asked, "Are you in pain?"

Iona said, "Even though it feels weird it I like it. I've heard of a saying about butterflies in the stomach. Although I've never had butterflies in me I feel like I have the metaphorical type of butterflies in me right now."

Gunzou facepalmed and said, "This isn't good."

Iona asked, "What's happening?"

Gunzou said, "I think you're developing feelings that mental models aren't supposed to have."

Iona replied, "Mental models aren't supposed to have any feelings other than being focused on the job. You're guilty of giving me feelings and I'm grateful for that Gunzou."

Gunzou stared at Iona for a long time. He was worried about what to tell her. He hadn't felt so confused about anything in a long time. Iona asked, "May I ask you a question Gunzou?"

Gunzou said, "Yes."

Iona asked, "Do you love me?"

Gunzou got wide eyed and said, "That's not a good thing to ask. I don't know how to answer that correctly."

Iona replied, "There's only two possible answers."

Gunzou said, "I'll give you a more detailed answer. Over the years I only had a small amount of family members and friends that I trusted and cared about. Allies came and went, but you've been my most loyal person ever since I met you. You're more human than anybody I've ever met and that's my objective fact for you."

Iona had never felt so many heartwarming emotions. She didn't waste time with a long speech. Instead of a speech she simply said, "I love you too Gunzou." Iona started kissing Gunzou.

So Oribe, one of Gunzou's crew members, arrived on the ship. He walked to the part of the ship that Gunzou and Iona were at. He saw Iona kissing Gunzou and said, "Um, I'm really sorry Captain."

Gunzou didn't know what to do. He was nervous and embarrassed. After Iona kissed Gunzou she passed out.

So Oribe asked, "Did you make her faint?"

Gunzou answered, "No." The ship started making noises.

So Oribe asked, "What's going on?"

Gunzou said, "I have to take Iona to the hospital. You're the temporary captain, until I come back."

So Oribe asked, "Why were you two kissing?"

Gunzou answered, "She kissed me. I can't talk about this now. I'm trusting you not to tell anybody about this."

So Oribe replied, "Okay, but I could an explanation sometime soon."

Instead of taking Iona to a regular hospital Gunzou took her to a doctor that has experience with ships and mental models. The doctor was having a slow day at work so he was a little excited when Gunzou came in with Iona. Gunzou said, "She badly needs your help."

The doctor asked, "Is she a person?"

Gunzou answered, "She's my ship's mental model."

The doctor replied, "How unique. What's going on?"

Gunzou said, "She suddenly past out. She's never done this before. She can usually stay awake twenty four hours a day. Do you know what's going on?"

The doctor replied, "I'll do some quick research. You can wait in the lobby."

Gunzou said, "Fine." Gunzou walked to the lobby and read some magazines.

An hour later the doctor went to the lobby and said, "I have big news."

Gunzou asked, "Is it good news or bad news?"

The doctor answered, "It could objectively be considered either one of those two things."

Gunzou said, "Tell me the news."

The doctor replied, "She's not a mental model anymore."

Gunzou nervously asked, "Is she broken?"

The doctor said, "It's better news than that. She's becoming a real human."

Gunzou asked, "What?"

The doctor answered, "You teaching her so much about human led to extremely weird results. She's the first mental model to ever gain human emotions, hobbies, and other stuff."

Gunzou said, "It appears I went too far when it came to making her act more like a human."

The doctor replied, "The reason she fell asleep is because she has to sleep as many hours a day as other people. She has to eat, drink, and everything else humans do."

Gunzou asked, "How could this happen?"

The doctor answered, "There's often been a theory that mental models could become one percent human if they forced themselves to learn everything there is about being human."

Gunzou asked, "Did Iona try to become human?"

The doctor said, "I believe so. What are you going to do about her?"

Gunzou said, "She's a real person so I'm going to treat her like one." Gunzou carried Iona back to the ship. Gunzou explained to So Oribe what happened.

So Oribe said, "That's insane."

Gunzou replied, "I agree."

So Oribe asked, "Will our ship still work?"

Gunzou said, "Yes, but the level of technology won't be as advanced and Iona won't be able to control the ship anymore."

So Oribe asked, "What will you do?"

Gunzou answered, "Give me a week to take care of this." Gunzou gently grabbed Iona and left.

When Iona woke up she was in Gunzou's house. It was a small, but nice and clean place. She asked, "What's going on?"

Gunzou answered, "Don't worry Iona." Gunzou handed Iona a cup of soda and said, "You'll have to about sixty four ounces of that stuff a day from now on."

Iona started drinking the soda and said, "I've never had a drink before."

Gunzou replied, "You're going to have your first attempt at eating after breakfast is ready."

Iona asked, "Where are we?"

Gunzou answered, "My house. Um, do you know about what happened?"

Iona said, "When I was sleeping I heard you screaming in a scared tone about how I became human."

Gunzou responded, "You're not a mental model anymore. You're as real as I am."

Iona said, "Thank goodness. However that means I won't be useful to you on the ship."

Gunzou replied, "The life of a ship captain is too risky. While you were asleep I scheduled a job interview as a lifeguard."

Iona said, "It's comforting to know that you'll be getting a safer job, but I don't know what I'll do or where I'll live."

Gunzou responded, "I want you to live with me."

Iona asked, "You gave up your ship captain job for me?"

Gunzou said, "You gave up being a mental model for me so what I did is hardly impressive."

Iona responded, "I'm grateful, but you've given me more than I deserve. I'm getting in the way of your life."

Gunzou said, "You're the one who makes my life better. I always want to be with you."

Iona asked, "Does that mean that you love me as much as I love you?"

Gunzou said, "I sure do." Gunzou and Iona kissed.

Iona responded, "I want a new answer to a question I asked you earlier: What am I?"

Gunzou said, "You're the most special woman in the world and the person I love the most."

Iona replied, "Thank you boyfriend."

Gunzou asked, "Aren't you rushing things?"

Iona said, "No."

Gunzou responded, "Okay girlfriend."

Iona smiled and said, "I agree to move in. I want to spend everyday with you. I've never been happier. This is the best day that I've ever had."

Gunzou responded, "This is the best day that I've ever had too." Although Gunzou lost his chances of ever being a captain again he was happy instead of mad. Thanks to Gunzou's sweetness Iona went from unemotional to one of the happiest women in the world.