The Learning Curve

The Learning Curve

Chapter 5

Juunanagou

8 P.M.

Working on homework.

My sister was laying on the couch while I was tackling a logic problem in my philosophy text:

All humans are mortal.

George is not mortal.

Therefore...

I knew the answer was supposed to be "George is not human," but what did the author know? If I were truly human, was I supposed to die? If I couldn't die, which I knew, I wasn't human. What was I? Some damned intermediary? May Kami-sama damn you, Gero... Why do I live in this cursed body? Why are the fates so cruel to my sister and I? Why?

My insides are screaming for an answer, an answer far more complex than any textbook can give.

Usually I enjoy doing homework. Every calculus problem I solve, every essay I write, is a revolution against the son-of-a-bitch who made my sister and I who we are.

I don't understand why humans complain about homework so much. Maybe it's because it's their powers-that-be. But we, my sister and I, have higher authorities which we rebel against.

Now to put philosophy to rest for a while...

Ahh. Calculus.

Integrate 2x +1.

I snatch the controller away from his hand.

Integrate 3x2 +4x +36.

I smash it to bits.

Integrate 4x3 + 43x+ 22.

I kick off Gero's God-forsaken head and smash it.

This feels good.

A sigh of relief escapes my lips. Juuhachi hears me.

"What's the matter with you?"

"I'm just enjoying my homework."

"There's something more to that sigh..."

I couldn't hide it from her any longer, especially since she had felt love- I think it was love- longer than I had.

"Juuhachi, what does love feel like?"

"You mean between me and Kuririn? Why do you want to know... Ohhhh... there's a girl, isn't there? You lady-killer, you." She laughed, whether it was at her own comment or my misfortune, I don't know.

"Yes."

"Well, love is... love is... well, it's hard to explain. You have to feel it for yourself. Believe me, you know when it happens."

"How did you know that you were in love with Kuririn?"

"I knew it when I started being nice to the guy. I felt more...well, human around him. It felt like everything he did was for me."

Truer words had never been spoken.

I realized I was in love with Cipu.

"So, Juunana, who's the lucky girl?"

"Deida...Cipu."

My sister looked at me in horror.

"The one they call 'Mad-Scientist-Girl'? Oh, Kami-sama, Juunana, you can do better than her..."

"Popularity has gone to your head, Sis."

Juuhachi growled at me.

"Well, think of it this way... If the girls you hung out with were to find out about who you really were, you'd be in the same situation as Cipu and I. Nobodies."

Juuhachi's face began to soften.

"Sorry, I won't criticize her, if you don't criticize Kuririn. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

At least for now. I don't know if Kuririn is going to revert to his goody-goody Shaolin self, recognize that he used to think we were his enemy, and try to destroy us or something.

I just don't trust him.

Oh, God... now I know how my sister feels. About Kuririn. About my new interest. Although in reverse.

We are cast from the same goddamn mold, she and I. I see it when I look at her, born together, condemned together, stuck together for all eternity.

My sister.

I really need to cut her some slack, as she does me.

Maybe I should stop with her and Kuririn.

Now back to homework...

Is George human? Or does anyone in the Universe give a damn?

Cipu

Wow.

I can't believe it. I kissed a creation of Dr. Gero.

No, I have to stop thinking of him like that. I kissed a boy.

I'm beside myself with glee. A guy...would... actually be interested in me? The "Mad Scientist Nerd" of Green Meadows?

My mom noticed my exuberance upon walking home from her family-practice shift. "Cipu-sama, what are you so happy about?"

"Mom, promise you won't go ballistic?"

"Yes, dear."

"I met a boy!"

"Really..." She was giving me that "underhanded-Mom-look".

I gulped hard. "We kissed! It was wonderful!"

My mom scowled for a minute, then said, "Well...my little girl's growing up."

"Is it okay if I ask him out on a date tomorrow?"

"Where to?"

"The arcade, two blocks from here."

"That's not bad, sweetie. Do you two have any...ahem...plans other than that?"

Typical overprotective mom. "No, Mother."

"Good. I want you to be home by 9 PM tomorrow, that's when I have my ER shift."

"Okay, Mom."

"Have fun!"

I retired to my bedroom, changed into my pajamas, and stayed up half the night, doing homework and looking at #17's blueprints.

But I didn't see reactors and circuits and wires.

I saw a boy...and a realization of what I wanted to be.

I was sick of being in this weak body, so full of pain and torment, being mastered by fickle emotions. I was sick of being defenseless, alone.

I wanted desperately to make myself into a cyborg.

I'll start the blueprint-drawing tomorrow.