Tomo: Maiden for Hire

Conclusion

"Wait, you mean, Yomi, your creator, created an armada of herself?" Tomo asked.

She looked down at Yomi, a robot version of her, lying in bed, motionless. Earlier, her battery died down and left Tomo, or Ayu Takano, in tears.

"Yes." The robot replied.

Tomo barked, "But why? Why didn't you tell me? Is Yomi a Maiden?"

"It's a long story why, but I should tell you…" the Maiden Tomo replied, "But promise me you cannot tell her about it at all. This information is highly classified."

Tomo promised, as her robot double explained the whole story, from her past, to Yomi's popularity:

As you may have known, the real Koyomi Mizuhara is currently living in Higashimurayama, Tokyo, Japan. When you left to obtain your popularity in England, Yomi started to abandon you. However, she missed you so. After she invested her money on the stock market, she moved out of Tokyo and resided in Higashimurayama. It was there that she started to create her franchise. And after several attempts, she was successful at patenting the robot maids you see today. I was the first one created, among twelve others. We were originally being used as rentals, but Yomi had other plans. After testing me and my fellow sisters, Yomi planned to increase production. However, she couldn't find any suitable suitors to help reconstruct her franchise, since her friends had no scientific endeavor."

"Scientific endeavor," Tomo asked, "Since when did Yomi-?"

"If you let me tell the story, I'd be glad to explain, Miss Takano!" Robot Tomo huffed, "Now, please…"

She continued:

Because of her scientific endeavors, she wanted to expand production. It was a dream of hers to become a corporate person to run a company, but not alone. However, NO ONE wanted to join because it's ridiculous. So, out of a sheer anger, she built android versions, NOT Maidens, of herself and carried them over to different cities in Japan: Osaka, Kobe, Okinawa, Nagano, Kyoto, Kawasaki, Nikko, and others. She produced over 20 different Yomis, which they all looked the same; the original named each android a CEO in their respective cities that help expand production. And afterwards, her dream had been shown a reality, when the popularity of Maidens for Hire hit sky high!

"So, this Yomi is an android?" Tomo thought.

She turned to Robot Tomo and asked, "Tell me, how did Yomi became such a creator of robots?"

"She told me so; ever since she was accepted to a college, she began studying like crazy," the robot spoke, "Following the finish of her college days, Tomo Takino and Yomi went their separate ways. Tomo left to achieve worldwide studies, including her dream of being a member of Interpol; while Yomi started her Maiden service. Days later, Yomi created me, but then named me… as Tomo Takino, in remembrance of her best friend."

She turned to the Yomi robot and stroked her hair.

"Oh Yomi, if only you'd see in person how much Tomo had become. Maybe then, she'll accept you again."

Tomo turned away and said, "I had a dream like Yomi's, too, but different."

"You did?"

She said in a cheerless voice, "All I wanted is to be a part of the world's greatest police organization, but I had to start at the bottom up. I thought maybe if I played my cards right, I should be a detective. But then, Miss Kurosawa told me about the dangers of being a detective. She stated that sometimes there are advantages to being one. Like they would have to be studying law and forensics; or sometimes they would have the honor of being a policeman and then quit to join future endeavors, like this one; or sometimes, they would try to solve the case in truth. Nyamo's word cut deep into me. So it was a choice: become a cop or someone else. And I chose to be an Idol, when I was discovered."

"I understand," the robot remarked, "And you made the right decision. Although, I feel sorry for Yomi, I mean, Miss Mizuhara."

She stood up and shouted in a cheerful voice, "But it's great! Yomi's an android and I am an Idol! When Yomi hears all this when she wakes up, she'll be jealous of me. She and I are made, no pun intended, to be famous! It couldn't be easier."

The robot Tomo got up and curled her lips. She then spoke under her breath.

"No…"

"Huh? No? I have to tell her! Yomi will be ecstatic!"

"Trust me, you can't, Miss Takano! The original Yomi created her duplicate CEOs to run the company as they are meant to. But, there are certain faults for the androids. If one of her clones met the other in person, or if they find out that they are robots, they'll shut down… permanently."

"What?"

"You see, she wanted to make sure that there were no doubles of Koyomi Mizuhara. Out of sheer genius and trickery, she made sure that each android appeared one at a time, every 6.2 days, in one movement, one memory, and one voice. The others would be deactivated and recharging their circuits, until it's their turn. But if at least one of them breaks down in suspicion, then ALL the Yomi robots will cease to function; and it'll affect the business and plummet rock bottom."

"Oh… so if I tell her, she'll die via the domino effect; and she'll be ruined. But, what about the real Yomi?" Tomo gasped.

"What do you mean?" The Maiden inquired, "Are you saying that the real Yomi is actually deceased?"

"Well, no… but…"

"Well, knowing that my personality is similar to yours," she stated, "She's not dead; she's busy at the original location. She's currently under isolation, since she collapsed from exhaustion six months ago."

"How is she now?"

"She's out cold; but please don't make it cruel. Yomi is still alive, but she's just in a coma."

Tomo was devastated. She learned of her best friend's sudden collapse and shook in fear.

"So, that's why she wasn't around." She said.

The robot explained why:

When Yomi finished production of the first thousand Maidens, she was feeling very fatigued. Weeks after the shipment and the creation of her doubles and my doubles, she collapsed in her office. The doctor said that she had been under malnutrition; all she could do was build, build, build. We're not sure how long it is until she wakes up, but she'll still be happy about her franchise… IF she wakes up, that is.

"I'm so sorry," the robot Tomo replied, "I should've told you sooner… but not in front of this Miss Mizuhara."

"Well, real or not, she's still my best friend!" Tomo sneered, "It's not like her to build replicas of herself and go off as its persona! WAY too creepy. Besides, I cannot accept you as a replacement for me, nor do I accept Yomi as a robot."

She held the robot and said, "But I see this is a bad time… how about one kiss for the road?"

"But, Miss Ayu," the maiden remarked, "What about Yomi? And didn't you say-?"

"I'm sure we'll think of something…" she sighed, "Besides, I'm sorry I yelled at you. Will you forgive me?"

"Miss Ayu…"

She and the robot went close to each other with their eyes closed. But as she was about to kiss her double, the robot stepped back and was shaking up.

"Tomo?" The real Tomo gasped.

The Robot Tomo looked down and was nervous. She started to spark a bit. She began to receive recurring memories of Koyomi.

"Yomi… Yomi… I… Error. System corrupted." She started to malfunction a bit.

"No! Tomo, snap out of it!" She screamed, as she held onto her.

"System failure. Must restart program. Malfunction detected." She cried in a robotic voice.

She started to shut down. Her eyes turned black, her body bent down slightly, and her arms flailed down.

"No! Not you, too!" Tomo yelled.

Suddenly, her systems began to restart herself. Her LED eyes flashed and her body was standing straight. However…

"System rebooted; fail-safe systems activated; restoring Maiden data," she spoke.

"Huh? What the hell is this?" Tomo thought.

"Maiden for Hire program restored; resuming previous function."

The Robot Tomo's face began to smile, but then let out a bloodcurdling scream.

"What's wrong?" Tomo cried.

"I… I remember everything! My past, my identity, my happiness; everything…" The Maiden sobbed.

She wept tears from her eyes.

"I… I'm Tomo… I'm Tomo Takino…" she whimpered with a smile, "I… I…"

"WHAT?" Tomo gasped.

She then remembered how she came to be:

Months ago, Yomi began creating her first Maiden, Tomo. She did it out of remembrance for her best friend leaving. She then dressed her in a pink maid uniform.

"How does it feel now, Tomo?" she whispered, "I always wanted you as a friend… like this."

She stroked her faux black hair and hugged her.

Even though she was constructed, her mannerisms were similar to the real Tomo's manners. She was wild and rambunctious, just like Tomo.

When Yomi started her company, she tested Tomo out on the field, where she would test her Maiden abilities. She ended up with a perfect score, but was penalized for her remarks.

"Enjoy your tea! Have fun with your cup! Drink to your heart's content!" She hollered.

Yomi started to grow crossed.

"I guess she's really like Tomo," she thought.

In a small room, Yomi talked with the Tomo robot.

"Miss Tomo Model," she said, "You're scores have shown perfection, but-."

"But what, Yomi?" She asked, "Should I improve on my genes? I wonder why you'd go through the trouble to make me like this."

Yomi then muttered, "Why is she oblivious?"

She then barked, "Tomo, you're going to have to be repaired for more details."

Tomo grinned, "Details! What am I, a car?"

Yomi was frustrated, "LISTEN TO ME! You need to improve on your social skills. Stop acting like… HER!"

The Maiden then barked, "Hey, Yomi! Why not take a jab at me?"

Yomi turned away and was huffing.

Tomo pranced around and cheered, "Stupid! Stupid! STUPID! Yomi is stupid enough to jab me!"

Later that evening, Yomi and the main foreman discussed with each other, concerning about Tomo's behavior program.

"Her systems proved to be flawless, but she needs some respect towards her social program." The foreman stated.

"Well, it seems she's just too loud and cheerful. Our Maidens need to be polite and well-mannered," Yomi suggested, "We cannot let a loud and annoying Maid be useful. That idiot talked back at me!"

She and the foreman left to the other room.

"Oh, well," she sighed, "Schedule an immediate dismantling; Tomo is too rude to be a Maiden."

"Yes, Ma'am," he responded.

As the door shut, Tomo activated herself, hearing everything that Yomi said. She held herself tight and was sad.

"So, that's why," she thought, "Yomi's stern about me. I… I don't want to… be junk."

She suddenly had feelings, even stronger than the real Tomo.

"I… I cannot be dismantled! NEVER!" She cringed, "It's got to end… now!"

She got up and went to the door. However, she took off her maid uniform and stripped down to her underwear.

Later that night, Yomi was sleeping in her chair. Tomo snuck in and stole some of her spare clothing. She put on her green shirt and white pants, which were a little baggy.

"I'm sorry, Yomi," she thought aloud, "I don't want to be dismantled…"

She went to the front gate, unseen, and climbed out from over the fence. She then dashed off from the factory and disappeared into the night.

Hours later, Yomi woke up and found that some of her clothes were pilfered.

"My… clothes? But security has been tightly packed!" She panicked.

"Miss Mizuhara! Bad news!" The main engineer shouted, "Model #86662426 has escaped!"

"Wha…? Tomo? No!" She sobbed, "Why? How?"

She ran out and saw where Tomo was sitting. All that was there was her pink uniform. She grabbed her uniform and sobbed a bit.

"Miss Mizuhara, what should we do? A Maiden like her shouldn't be hard to find," he suggested.

"Leave it. We'll worry about the rogue Maiden later; right now, we have to continue production."

He resumed with production, as Yomi left with Tomo's old tear-soaked uniform.

"Tomo… I'm sorry. I take it that you've heard me talking about your immediate disassembling last night," she cringed, "If you would've listened, I would've spared you!"

She cried on the uniform and was forlorn.

Meanwhile, Tomo went to Tokyo, by foot, and was extremely exhausted; after walking exactly 5,000 miles. Her eyes began to fade and her body started to slow down and ache.

"Battery low… must recharrrrge…" she groaned.

She dropped to her knees and collapsed.

"Yomi… I'm sorry… my battery is low… I should've never left you… but I… I…"

Her eyes went to black, as she shut down.

"Yomi… I need to… recharrrrrrrr..."

Her eyes clicked shut. She lied motionless in the middle of the street, smoking a bit from her body.

Hours later, her eyes opened and saw a shadowy figure in her sight.

"System restart," she said in a monotone voice, "Sight scan activate."

Her eyes saw Osaka, who was worried about Tomo.

"Tomo, are you okay?" She asked, "You must've walked here from England, or something."

"Huh?" Tomo gasped.

She got up and was dizzy.

"Where am I? Who am I?"

It seems that her very long walk crashed her circuits and restarted her system unexpectedly. She lost her memories of being a Maiden for Hire; it's like Tomo's forgetfulness, only it was serious.

"Hey, Tomo," Osaka cheered, "It's nice to see you again!"

"Tomo? My name is… Tomo?" She thought.

Osaka helped her up and carried her home.

"Poor girl's got amnesia!" Osaka thought, "Did she hit her head? She's surely a knucklehead."

When Tomo went home, and looked around and saw her house, clean and slightly dark. She then looked at a picture of Tomo's high school profile. She looked at her full name: Tomo Takino.

"Is that… me?" She thought, trying so hard to remember, "I don't know who I am… But, I think I could be her."

She sat on the bed and was lost in thought. Hours later, she finally admitted that she was Tomo Takino. She stayed in the house, and lived there, from here on out.

"Weeks later, I ran into Yomi, and sure enough, she already knew who or what I was," she continued, "So, to make sure that I am really Tomo, she added all of her recent memories into me. The rest was all a blur."

Tomo nodded and thought, "So, that's why Yomi made the Maiden Tomo act exactly like me."

"Miss Takano, I am so sorry I hid this from you," the Robot Tomo apologized.

"You're not Tomo… you're just a machine; a doll; a husk; a shell of your former self!" Tomo shouted, "Don't be ridiculous! You were created by Yomi to tend you the user's every need! You're not me, er, uh, her!"

"I… I wanted to remember… since Koyomi," she whimpered, "When I learned about who I really am from Koyomi, I remembered who I was; but in the process, she erased all of my memories. But she didn't erase my new identity."

Tomo then asked, "I see… but how would you remember who you are now?"

"That's because I was run on auxiliary power; and before you even ask, I was an older model, run by solar power, which explains my walk of pain. I even had back-up files installed in me: My Maiden for Hire programs, my Tomo Takino guise, and my ability to run really fast, for all the messy jobs."

"Oh, I see…" Tomo looked down and saw the android Yomi, motionless.

"Miss Takano, I wish I would meet her face-to-face, but my programming is for cooking, cleaning, and entertaining. However, my Pleasure Mode has been disabled, after the recent memory crash earlier."

Tomo held the Maiden tight and giggled, "Well, I take back what I said earlier. You seem to be a great replacement. You did make Yomi happy again."

"Yeah, so what?" The robot snuffed, "I'm just a stupid, useless fembot! My programming has failed me! All I did was please a pop idol for being friends with an android, and now she broke down! Would you even care for an ineffectual, dim-witted, noisy, and outdated gynoid?"

"No… but I am happy for you. You're not useless; in fact, you're a great Maiden for Hire. As you said, you are guaranteed to help me. And you did; you helped make amends with me and Yomi."

She hugged the robot and grinned. The robot stepped away and was a bit happy.

"Thank you for replacing me to cure Yomi's loneliness. And I'm sorry I yelled at you."

"Apology accepted. I am happy now. Thank you for thinking of me as useful."

Tomo then remembered about Yomi.

"What are we gonna do about Yomi now? We can't just leave her."

The robot suggested, "I know it sounds dangerous, but it is also true. We Maidens for Hire can also transfer a sliver of our energy to a worn out and immobile Maiden. But… once I transfer a part of my battery power, the android will increase her battery power, ten times more."

"So, at this rate, if you give her 10% of your energy…" Tomo asked.

"She'll be fully charged," the Maiden Tomo answered, "But there's a safer way."

"Safer?"

"I have to make the call to the Maidens for Hire Company to pick her up," she said, "Once she is rescued, she is to return to the factory and will be recharged, but it will only take three days to be at full capacity."

"Then I go with the fast choice! Connect Yomi and recharge her!"

"I will not. Miss Ayu, there's a problem to this motive: I will give her some of my power, which will take at least 3 minutes to perform. However, once it does, it could very well enduringly damage the Maiden who gives it to at a 99.8% chance."

The Robot Tomo apologized and said that she'll make the phone call. All Tomo can do is cry.

"I'm sorry, Ayu; Yomi will be fixed soon," she said, "I'll be back in ten minutes."

"No… please tell me it's not true…" she sobbed, "I leave in three days! By then, I'll be able to not see her awakened! Yomi and I promised something… if we were to say goodbye, we'd say it face-to-face. But now… now… I (sob) won't (hic) get… the chance!"

She wailed on Yomi's body and cried frantically. The Maiden stopped and looked at Tomo, who was crying non-stop. She then remembered what Koyomi said to her when she departed:

"Since then, your programming has improved. I couldn't stood by and see you get dismantled. So I called Yomi and she said that you've been improved in your behavioral circuits, which at first was a lie, but has been at least 97% true."

"Koyomi, is this what you wanted to tell me?" She thought, "I have improved, Koyomi… but I have failed to make the user happy. I am a Maiden for Hire. My main function is to cook, clean, and anything to their heart's content, including carnal pleasures (Currently Disabled). I am here for their guaranteed service."

She sighed and opened her waist panel, pulling out a cord.

"And damn it, I am gonna guarantee her to give Ayu Takano her friend back!"

"Miss Ayu…" she said to her, "Would you move please? I will attempt to revive her."

"Tomo… I cannot let you damage yourself!" Tomo shouted, holding onto Yomi.

The robot opened a USB charging port on the side of Yomi's neck. She began to plug in and was ready.

"Tomo… no! You… you can't!" She pleaded, "If you do, then you'll cease to function."

"I'm aware of that! It's a 99.8% chance that I'll die, but it's worth it. I must save Yomi and save our company."

Tomo then tried to disconnect her, but the robot suggested that to not touch.

"Ayu, I promise that she'll awaken again and she'll be back to being Miss Koyomi Mizuhara. But promise me you won't tell anyone, especially this Yomi and the other androids, about her."

"I promise." Tomo smiled, "And thank you."

"If I don't make it, tell Yomi… thank you for my life."

She turned to Yomi and began to activate her code:

"Maiden for Hire Model #86662426 to transfer to Yomi Model #02; Tomo's battery capacity to transfer: 70%; transfer to activate in 30 seconds; Password: K0Y6M1; initializing input code: M1Z8H171; transfer on standby…"

"70%?" Tomo asked, "Won't that be dangerous?"

The Robot Tomo nodded and said, "It's all I have left. I'm giving her ALL of my power. I finally have a use for me now; I will no longer live, but I did accomplish one thing: Guaranteed service as a Maiden for Hire."

She was about to transfer her data and power into Yomi, but then turned to Tomo again and asked, "I forgot. One last question: Given that you are Ayu Takano, the super pop idol, I want to know: are you really Tomo Takino?"

Tomo smiled and reacted, "Well, if you want to know… then, yes. I am Tomo Takino; the real Tomo Takino. There's no use hiding it anymore, since you're sacrificing yourself."

The Maiden smiled, as tears rolled down her cheeks. She then said to her in a calm tone:

"Never forget who you are. I have been played as you, and now I no longer have a function; and I'm… happy now, since I have found what I wanted: A purpose of life. I thank you for your rental in Maiden for Hire. I will leave you now, for my services are no longer needed. But I'll never forget you."

She then approached Tomo and kissed her on the cheek. She stood back up and said in a robotic voice, "Activate power transfer!"

As her power transferred to Yomi, she turned to Tomo and spoke in an inaudible voice. Tomo read her lips and understood what she said. Her cord began to spark, her eyes flashed on and off, and she made lots of noises. Minutes later, the transfer was complete. The Robot Tomo stood frozen in place and was unharmed. She, however, collapsed like a rag doll. The cord connected to Yomi snapped off. Tomo closed her neck panel, without Yomi ever knowing. Tomo approached the motionless Maiden Tomo and cradled her in her arms.

Her last words echoed through her ears, before shutting down completely:

"Goodbye… Tomo Takino."

Tomo began to cry and was heartbroken. She whimpered "Thank you" to Robot Tomo, many times.

Yomi woke up and found Tomo, crying.

"What happened to your Maiden?" Yomi asked.

Tomo said nothing. She let out a sob and hugged the robot. She told Yomi about her sacrifice and held Tomo by her shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Tomo…" she whispered, "I didn't know…"

"She saved you…" Tomo lied, "You were out cold and Tomo used all of her strength to revive you."

Yomi then stood up and went to the phone.

"At least she died a Maiden," she cringed.

She called her main engineer and said, "Hello, Main engineer Taylor, we found Model #86662426; she's completely immobilized... and broken."

They waited for the company to arrive to obtain the broken Maiden. Tomo was completely sad, but Yomi smiled and said that everything will be all right.

XXXXX

Three days later at the airport, despite losing Robot Tomo, the real Tomo said goodbye to Yomi.

"Well, this is where we part ways… again!" She gleamed.

"Yeah, listen, I'm really sorry your vacation ended badly." Yomi replied.

"Yeah; though, I wonder if it's right, saying goodbye to a duplicate Yomi." Tomo thought.

She then said, "Oh, it's okay! It's thanks to her, I got my friend back! And also, I got me some new lyrics to try!"

She sang some of her words to her new song:

My friend is so special; my friend is so cool.

My friend is sometimes a common fool.

No longer a burden, I wish to be had;

'Cause now I had the best friend a gal could ever had!

Yomi sang along:

I wished for the moment… the way we said goodbye.

I wished for the moment… the way you make me cry.

I wished for the moment, for everything to make us say…

Goodbye.

Tomo started to tear up, as Yomi giggled.

"I'll write to you, Tomo. I'll tell my friends that you, the REAL you, had to go travel overseas; and if you ever need anything, give me a call." Yomi said.

Tomo then asked, "Well, can you do me a favor?"

She asked Yomi for a Maiden for Hire to accompany her. She also explained to Yomi what she wanted, but a plane lifting off drowned out her words.

"I understand," Yomi smiled, "Have a safe journey, Ayu!"

Tomo left to her plane; she stopped by the plane door and waved goodbye. Yomi then called to her.

"Ayu! I promise I'll write to you! And if you see Chiyo-Chan, give me a shout-out! Goodbye!"

Tomo called back, "Yomi! I promise! I'll send you an autographed CD to remember me by! I'll miss you!"

They both called out, "Goodbye!"

The plane lifted off, as Yomi loses Tomo again. But this time, she'll meet her again real soon.

"Tomo, I am the CEO of Maidens for Hire; you're the famed idol, Ayu Takano! We do have a future together. And it's all thanks to you, Tomo."

She turned to the Robot Tomo, fully repaired and dressed in an officer's uniform.

"Yes, Miss Mizuhara," she said in glee, "Shall we depart back to HQ, boss?"

She grinned, "Yes, we will, Head of Security Takino."

They left to Yomi's limo, heading back to her main factory in Higashimurayama, Japan.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., the first stop in her World Tour, Tomo was finishing up her interview and returned to her hotel. As she arrived, she found a large package by her bed. The tag read, "From Yomi, To Ayu". She opened it up and found a Maiden that looked like Yomi, but with darker hair and no glasses. She was dressed in a dark red maid outfit with pink frills.

"Yomi… you know me well, do you?" She thought, "And I'm not sure if it's the android you."

As the fans outside cheered for Ayu, she attempted to activate her Maiden. Tomo then pressed her red button and turned her on. The Maiden made noises and opened her eyes. Her eyes lit up and bowed to Tomo.

"Hello, Ayu Takano," she said, "I am your Maiden for Hire; model #Y8R171. My name is Yomi. I am here for your guaranteed service!"

"Oh, hi! You know, you do resemble my friend, Yomi." Tomo stated.

"Of course I do, Miss Koyomi Mizuhara crafted me, par for your request, along with a few of my sisters," she continued.

"Well, does Yomi ever program you to take a jab at me?"

"Huh? Take… a… jab? Please elaborate."

She then taught Yomi to perform a double chop. Yomi agreed to do it and Tomo showed her.

She said to her, "So, if I ever like rip on you for being like big or something, you take a jab at me on the head."

Yomi nodded and asked, "You mean like this?"

She double chopped Tomo on the head really hard. Yomi realized that it was fun; she giggled.

"Oh, wow! That was fun, Miss Takano!" She cheered, "Miss Takano?"

Tomo was out cold, on the floor, with a lump on her head. Yomi panicked and tried to revive her. She held her up and tried to perform CPR. But…

"Ayu…" she whispered, "You look so cute…"

She then kissed her. She closed her eyes and continued kissing. Tomo didn't wake up for a while.

This is where our story ends… for now.

The End

Meanwhile, in Yomi's office, she and the robot Tomo sat together. Yomi was feeling sleepy, since she was an android version of Yomi.

"Wow, what a day," she yawned.

"Miss Mizuhara," the robot smiled, "I'm so glad that you met with Ayu Takano."

Yomi began to close her eyes, "What a day. Tomo… I miss you…"

She then spoke in a deep voice, winding down, "I… feel… sleeeeeepyyyyy…"

Her body bowed down and was shut down. Tomo then smiled and carried her body to the corridor. She placed her in a glass capsule and plugged her USB cord in, transferring to the other androids in Japan.

"Yomi Model #02; service finished," the robot Tomo said in a robotic voice, "Yomi programming transfer… transferring… transfer complete; Yomi Model #03 service to begin in Kobe…"

The android's capsule turned black. Tomo then unplugged her and sat back down. She was very sad.

"It was the hardest part… wasn't it, Koyomi?" She sighed.

She started to cry heavily. However, footsteps began to sound. It was a Maiden with long light brown hair, a black maid outfit, and glasses.

"Hello, Tomo, my fellow Maiden for Hire," she said, "It's me: Model #19862642."

"Koyomi?" The Maiden Tomo gasped.

It was Koyomi, the robot Tomo's friend.

"I heard about what you did," Koyomi said, "You were great, saving Miss Mizuhara. I'm glad you and I were created."

The Maiden got up and ran towards Koyomi with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face.

"Koyomi!"

Not sure why Koyomi returned, but that's another story for another time.

All will be explained in "Maiden Romance", the side-story to the Maiden for Hire series on Valentine's Day.