The bullet train pulled up to the station, and the doors slid open. People were piling to get out. One of them grabbed his bookbag and ran for it. He didn't care that he was shoving millions of strangers aside. He darted down the steps and out into the murky station.
"Excuse me, mister, but where's Sakurashinmachi?" he asked the receptionist.
"Easy. It's to the east of here."
"Got that."
He took off again, out of the station and into the streets, his bookbag scraping the sidewalks and sending gravel flying everywhere. The area was tranquil as lush green trees combined with the suburban buildings provided a mix of city and country. Suddenly, he stopped.
"WHAT THE?!" a Japanese woman yelled.
Some schoolchildren turned. "I think I've heard about those things on the news. Aren't they still testing them out though?"
A man was shocked. "They've finally made them sentient?"
"Huh?"
This was no ordinary human.
This was a robot.
