Chapter 4: The Learning Curve

Roughly a day later.

Astro's POV:

Currently, I'm showing Uran around Metro City. Dad and Dr. Elefun decided to take a break from training her, especially since Dad now has to focus on buying a new window (which is gonna be pricy).

Dad thought it would be a good idea if I try to train her a little. Since she seems more comfortable around me, it probably is. Honestly, I think that they want me to train her for a while because they know that she can't hurt me like she can hurt them. Dad suggested that I show her around Metro City, probably so I can get her out of the house for a while. Uran managed to learn how to speak more, but she's still uncomfortable around humans. However, she is starting to get used to Dad and Dr. Elefun, though.

Anyway, Uran seems very interested in Metro City. She's very curious, and she wants to explore literally everything. I took her to the park first. When we got there, a few kids asked Uran if she wanted to play with them. Uran looked at me, and I had to encourage her to play with them. I sat on a bench and just watched her. However, we had to leave roughly thirty seconds later.

Basically what happened was Uran and the other kids were playing tag. She almost tagged someone, but she missed and accidently hit the jungle gym. She must have hit it pretty hard, because it broke and crashed to the ground. The other kids' parents quickly got their kids away from the jungle gym.

Instantly, I went over to Uran. I apologized to the other kids' parents, then we quickly left. Honestly, I was hoping that Uran would develop her social skills if I took her to the park. I guess I was wrong. Anyway, I took Uran over to an abandoned area in Metro City, then decided to have a talk with her.

"Uran, you really gotta watch your strength." I told her. "You could kill someone if you're not careful!"

Uran looked at me. Then, she looked back in the direction of the park.

I sighed. "Uran, in comparison to robots, humans are much more delicate. They can't handle damage like we can."

Uran still didn't say anything. Instead, she just looked at her dress.

"Understand?" I asked.

"Understand?" She repeated.

"Do you understand?" I clarified.

"Yes." She replied.

"Do you really?" I asked.

"Yes." She repeated.

"Okay. I believe you." I told her. "Let's get something to eat. We may be robots, but we still need to eat."

"We do?" She asked.

"Well, we don't really have to." I admitted. "But, it can't hurt."

I took Uran to a diner, mostly because they have a variety of foods. That's good, because I'm honestly sick of pizza. With luck, Uran will be able to develop table manners.

After we were seated, the waitress handed us our menus. She gave me an adult menu even though I'm thirteen, and she gave Uran a kid's menu.

"Dad gave us a decent amount of money, so order what you want." I told her. "When you know what you want, put your menu down so the waitress knows we're ready to order."

I scanned the menu (not literally) to see what I wanted, and Uran was doing the same thing. After another two minutes, I decided what I wanted, so I closed my menu. Five minutes later, Uran was still looking over the menu, with a confused look on her face.

"Uran?" I said. Instantly, she looked up at me. "Do you know what you want?

"No." She replied.

"Why not?" I asked. She handed her menu to me. "What's the matter?"

"I don't know." She replied. We really need to develop her ability to talk.

Wait, maybe that's the problem. Her abilities, or should I say her inabilities.

"Uran, can you read?" I asked.

"No." She told me.

I sighed. No wonder she doesn't know what she wants. "Here, I'll read your menu to you."

I read her menu to her. Eventually, Uran settled on what she wanted. Finally, we were ready to order.

"What would you like?" The waitress asked after she came back.

"I'll have a hamburger with lettuce and bacon on it." I told her.

She nodded. "And what would you like, hon?"

Uran looked at me.

"She'll have the chicken fingers and fries." I told the waitress.

"Coming right up." She said, taking our menus.

"Thank you." I told her. I turned to Uran. "Uran, what do you say now?"

"Um... I don't know." She replied.

"Say thank you." I told her.

"Thank you." Uran repeated.

"You're welcome." The waitress said before leaving.

I sighed. This is gonna be a long process.

"Astro?" A voice that I recognized said.

Turning in the direction of the voice, I saw Cora, Sludge, Widget, and Zane.

"Hey, guys!" I greeted. "What are you doing here?"

"We were gonna get some lunch before we-" Widget started to say, but then she noticed Uran.

After a few seconds, Cora, Sludge, and Widget noticed her, too.

"Is-is this Uran?" Sludge asked.

"Yes, it is." I told him. "Say hi Uran."

"Hi Uran!" She repeated.

Cora, Zane, Widget, and Sludge frowned in confusion at her.

"Sorry guys." I told them. "Uran's social and speaking skills aren't completely developed yet."

Cora, Zane, and Sludge all looked disappointed, but not as disappointed as Widget, though.

"How long until they are?" Widget asked.

"I don't know." I admitted. "Hopefully soon. It may take time, though."

At that moment, Uran looked out of the window. She got all excited.

"Butterfly!" She exclaimed, jumping out of her seat. Before I had a chance to react, Uran went right through the window to chase after the butterfly.

I was too shocked to react. "You gotta be kidding me..."

Cora, Widget, Sludge, and Zane just stared at the broken window.

"Uh, what just happened?" Cora asked.

Before I had the chance to do anything, the manager came over. He wrote something on the check, then handed it to me. When I looked at it, I noticed that he wrote "+ broken window" on the bill.

"Well, that sucks." Zane said, eying the bill.

"I'm sorry about the window." I told the manager.

"Just so you know, I know who you are." The manger told me, clearly annoyed. "Just because you're a robot doesn't mean I'm gonna excuse this. I will be sending your 'father' the bill."

"I understand." I told him softly. "Here. Take the money for the food that we ordered. I gotta go find my sister."

I turned to Cora, Sludge, Widget, and Zane. "Sorry to cut this short, guys, but I really gotta go."

"We understand, Astro." Cora said.

"Thanks. See you guys." I told them.

With that, I rushed out of the restaurant. When I got outside, I activated my rocket boots and flew into the air. As a started to search for Uran, I decided to call Dad to tell him what happened.

"Hello?" Dad said.

"Hi, Dad." I said. "It's me."

"Astro, is this important?" Dad asked. "I'm very busy today at the Ministry of Science."

"I know you are, Dad." I told him. "But this is important. It's about Uran."

"What about her?" Dad asked.

"I can't find her." I told him.

"You lost her?!" Dad demanded.

"Not exactly." I replied. "We were eating at the diner, and she left to chase after a butterfly."

Dad seemed to calm down. "All right. Well, just try to find her. If you don't find her soon, I'll try to help out during my lunch break."

"Thanks, Dad." I said. "Also, there's another problem."

Dad sighed. "What is it?"

"When Uran chased after the butterfly, she ran right through the window." I told him. "The diner is gonna make us pay for it."

"WHAT?!" Dad yelled. "Are you-"

I decided that would be a good time for me to hang up. Especially since I could hear Dad cursing on the other end...

AN 1: I hoped you all liked chapter 4. Tell me what you think.

AN 2: Responses to certain reviews:

newguy.126548: thanks for the review. I really appreciate it.