Chapter 1
It has been about a month since the events of that fateful evening. At first glance, everything seems pretty much as it was before, but not quite. The most evident change is in Hideki. As much as Chii's awakening has changed her, it has changed him, too. He seems more mature now, surer of himself, and not as reactionary (although he still has his moments!). After almost losing Chii to Kojima, he realized the depth of his feelings for her, and has determined that he has to be more responsible. He is calmer now, and his grades have improved. Of course part of that has to do with Chii. Her awakening has created a greater awareness in her, both of herself, and of her surroundings. While she is still growing, both emotionally and intellectually, she is now able to express herself more clearly. Something of her sister has remained, she has memories now, and her understanding has grown. While she still has a ways to go, she is able to more fully interact with the people around her. As Hideki teaches her, she is able to understand more, and he is able to concentrate on his studies more, as well.
Hibiya is there, too. She explained to Hideki that she did not interfere in what had happened because it had to happen on it's own. When Hideki's confession of his feelings brought Chii back, Hibiya realized that it was Chii's own decision to return to him, and has promised to help as much as she can. Yes, she explained, she had put Chii in the trash pile for Hideki to find. It had been a risk, but she knew Hideki's character, and felt that it might work out. He had not known about the disk until she had explained everything, but it did not matter, she said. He and Chii had done well enough together that it was not really necessary. In fact it was probably better that way, in light of the situation with Chii's older sister. She never did explain about the switch's location (how did Dragonfly know?). Once, Hideki asked about it (almost getting a nosebleed in the process). Hibiya just smiled and said Chii would explain things when the time was right. She spends a lot of time with Chii now, teaching her cooking, taking her shopping, all the things that a mother would do, and gives her some more formal education, as well, although she leaves most of that to Hideki. She doesn't write any more picture books, although she still paints some.
Minoru still sees them, usually at his house, although they meet at the park, too. Yuzuki and Chii talk a lot, sometimes face to face, sometimes by link-up (Chii has learned to control her defensive programming), as they have a lot in common. Chi learns about manners and social graces, while Yuzuki is learning about being herself now, not a persocom based on Minoru's sister. She is a lot closer to being a Chobits than Minoru realizes. Minoru teaches Hideki about persocoms, and how to care for them, grateful for the company of someone who doesn't try to take advantage of his wealth (Hideki and Shinbo are possibly the only true friends he has). He even offered to re-model Chii's ears once, to make her look more like Yuzuki, but Hideki said No, they're part of who she is, and he loves her for that. Minoru understood, for his relationship with Yuzuki is changing, too.
Shinbo has come back to prep school, and Shimizu is back too. They are living together, but Shinbo won't say where. He doesn't want to cause a big scene. No one else seems to know about the two of them, and Hideki won't tell. Sumomo is still with Chii and Hideki, but Shinbo visits the three of them often, and the whole group still goes to Minoru's seaside house once in a while.
Ueda and Yumi are engaged! She went to work for Manager Ueda after Chii's experience, when Hideki wanted to spend some time with her. Yumi is now partners with Ueda at the bakery, and Chii works there a few days a week, while Hideki is at school. Chii is better able to take care of herself, but Hideki still walks her to work and back. He is grateful for Ueda's insight into his feelings for Chii. He is mostly over the loss of his wife, and wants Hideki and Chii to be as happy as he was with his persocom. Yumi's leaving the tavern means that Hideki has more responsibility (and more pay!), so Chii spends most evenings at home, some times with Hibiya-san.
Kojima is still around. He has straightened out and runs a shop for persocoms now. Hideki has, for the most part, forgiven him. He almost beat up Kojima again when he learn how Kojima had tried to re-boot Chii, but remembered what Chii had said about he being the only one allowed "there". It was then that he realized more fully how Chii felt about him, and decided that some good had come from this frightening event. Kotoko still stays with Chii and Hideki. She has decided that Hideki is not so strange after all.
It may be that Jima and Dita are still around, too. Kojima has been getting a lot of business lately from crackers he used to hang out with. It seems there's a new database they all want to crack. But they all show up with a persocom that's been erased, and the same story. The get to a certain point, and their persocom crashes, with just a single message on the monitor: I AM THE ONLY ONE FOR HIM; YOU CANNOT ENTER.
The end?
It has been about a month since the events of that fateful evening. At first glance, everything seems pretty much as it was before, but not quite. The most evident change is in Hideki. As much as Chii's awakening has changed her, it has changed him, too. He seems more mature now, surer of himself, and not as reactionary (although he still has his moments!). After almost losing Chii to Kojima, he realized the depth of his feelings for her, and has determined that he has to be more responsible. He is calmer now, and his grades have improved. Of course part of that has to do with Chii. Her awakening has created a greater awareness in her, both of herself, and of her surroundings. While she is still growing, both emotionally and intellectually, she is now able to express herself more clearly. Something of her sister has remained, she has memories now, and her understanding has grown. While she still has a ways to go, she is able to more fully interact with the people around her. As Hideki teaches her, she is able to understand more, and he is able to concentrate on his studies more, as well.
Hibiya is there, too. She explained to Hideki that she did not interfere in what had happened because it had to happen on it's own. When Hideki's confession of his feelings brought Chii back, Hibiya realized that it was Chii's own decision to return to him, and has promised to help as much as she can. Yes, she explained, she had put Chii in the trash pile for Hideki to find. It had been a risk, but she knew Hideki's character, and felt that it might work out. He had not known about the disk until she had explained everything, but it did not matter, she said. He and Chii had done well enough together that it was not really necessary. In fact it was probably better that way, in light of the situation with Chii's older sister. She never did explain about the switch's location (how did Dragonfly know?). Once, Hideki asked about it (almost getting a nosebleed in the process). Hibiya just smiled and said Chii would explain things when the time was right. She spends a lot of time with Chii now, teaching her cooking, taking her shopping, all the things that a mother would do, and gives her some more formal education, as well, although she leaves most of that to Hideki. She doesn't write any more picture books, although she still paints some.
Minoru still sees them, usually at his house, although they meet at the park, too. Yuzuki and Chii talk a lot, sometimes face to face, sometimes by link-up (Chii has learned to control her defensive programming), as they have a lot in common. Chi learns about manners and social graces, while Yuzuki is learning about being herself now, not a persocom based on Minoru's sister. She is a lot closer to being a Chobits than Minoru realizes. Minoru teaches Hideki about persocoms, and how to care for them, grateful for the company of someone who doesn't try to take advantage of his wealth (Hideki and Shinbo are possibly the only true friends he has). He even offered to re-model Chii's ears once, to make her look more like Yuzuki, but Hideki said No, they're part of who she is, and he loves her for that. Minoru understood, for his relationship with Yuzuki is changing, too.
Shinbo has come back to prep school, and Shimizu is back too. They are living together, but Shinbo won't say where. He doesn't want to cause a big scene. No one else seems to know about the two of them, and Hideki won't tell. Sumomo is still with Chii and Hideki, but Shinbo visits the three of them often, and the whole group still goes to Minoru's seaside house once in a while.
Ueda and Yumi are engaged! She went to work for Manager Ueda after Chii's experience, when Hideki wanted to spend some time with her. Yumi is now partners with Ueda at the bakery, and Chii works there a few days a week, while Hideki is at school. Chii is better able to take care of herself, but Hideki still walks her to work and back. He is grateful for Ueda's insight into his feelings for Chii. He is mostly over the loss of his wife, and wants Hideki and Chii to be as happy as he was with his persocom. Yumi's leaving the tavern means that Hideki has more responsibility (and more pay!), so Chii spends most evenings at home, some times with Hibiya-san.
Kojima is still around. He has straightened out and runs a shop for persocoms now. Hideki has, for the most part, forgiven him. He almost beat up Kojima again when he learn how Kojima had tried to re-boot Chii, but remembered what Chii had said about he being the only one allowed "there". It was then that he realized more fully how Chii felt about him, and decided that some good had come from this frightening event. Kotoko still stays with Chii and Hideki. She has decided that Hideki is not so strange after all.
It may be that Jima and Dita are still around, too. Kojima has been getting a lot of business lately from crackers he used to hang out with. It seems there's a new database they all want to crack. But they all show up with a persocom that's been erased, and the same story. The get to a certain point, and their persocom crashes, with just a single message on the monitor: I AM THE ONLY ONE FOR HIM; YOU CANNOT ENTER.
The end?