It was a week after that night on the roof, when so much had happened.
Hideki was not home yet, and Chii had not gone back to work yet, so she sat
in the apartment, thinking..
The three of them had gone back to Hibiya's lab after it was all over, to see if they could figure out what had happened. Chii was fine, but there were some changes that Hibiya couldn't explain. The most obvious were her eyes. They looked like real eyes now, with brown irises. Other things had changed, too. Chii could speak more naturally now, and didn't refer to herself in the third person. Chii's tears had puzzled Hibiya, too. That was not part of her design.
She had 'slept' for almost 2 days. She had gone through a lot, and had expended a lot of power, so Hibiya let her recharge in the lab. It gave Hibiya a chance to talk with Hideki about what had happened, and to explain why she had let things happen. "I hope you understand", she had said, "I had to let you do things yourself". She explained that she had placed Chii in the trash that night, knowing that Hideki would be the one to find her. She had tried to help as indirectly as possible, only slipping once, telling Chii that the clothes she had given her were actually Chii's. Hideki told her he had just passed that off, because Chii was still learning. "If I had let you know the truth, Chii and you might not have grown so close. I wrote those books to help Chii in her search. It was hard to make sure only Chii or you actually got the books". Hideki understood. Helping Chii had helped him as well.
Hibiya taught him basic facts about persocoms, and about Chii in particular; what made her special, and what, like other persocoms, she could not do. Hideki tried his best to learn. Cooking, for example, could be a problem. "Persocoms can't taste", said Hibiya, "so it is hard for them to cook new foods". "That's probably why she feeds me a lot of curry", Hideki said. "Yes, I helped her with that, so she knows how to make it properly. I can teach her other things as well. I knew her as a child before", Hibiya said; "I'd like to continue to help her now". "Of course", said Hideki; "you are her mother".
Hideki got quite a surprise when Chii finally came upstairs. She looked the same as before, but somehow a little older, too. When She saw Hideki she rushed at him, chirping "Hideki!" But then she stopped, held his face in her hands, smiled and said "I love you Hideki!" Then she reached up and kissed him. Hideki blushed a little, but was too surprised to do anything but kiss her back. Hibiya giggled. "It's ok, Hideki, she's a fully grown girl now. She has her own free will, and it looks like she's started using it already". She became serious for a moment. "We created Chii to love, and be loved. What you do in private is your own concern, but you must be careful in public. Most people would not approve of your relationship". Chii said "yes, mother", and turned back to Hideki. "Let's go back to the apartment. I have so much to tell you."
Chii sat thinking. That had been 5 days ago. She had had so much to say, and so much to think about. How she had been so afraid of the pain that love can bring, that she had retreated. How Hideki's words had brought her back. He had always been honest with her, and his words that night had touched her. She hadn't known if he could really love a persocom. But his words had been so painfully honest, that she knew she had finally found her 'dake no hito'. And she wondered if his love could be strong enough for both of them. Would he truly accept her for who she was? She wanted to know.
She got up and started to prepare for his return. Hibiya had taught her a new dish, so she carefully started to prepare it. She couldn't taste; that was one of her limitations. What of the others? Would Hideki care? Would he even know? He was always so shy around her, so proper. Yes, he kissed her occasionally now, and even put his arms around her, but he was always so gentle, like she would break. She smiled at that. It would take time to see how he felt towards her, but she would be patient.
"That was a great meal, Chii" Hideki said as he helped her clean the dishes. "Mother's been teaching me some new recipes" They went back into the other room, and sat down together. Chii leaned into Hideki's arms, and he wrapped them around her. They were talking about their plans for the weekend, when she decided to try something. She took his hands and placed them on her ears. "Hideki, do you like these?" "What?" "They're not real ears." "Yes, they are, they're just different." She moved his hands to her breasts "How about these, are they 'different' too?" "No, they're nice" Hideki said absently, before he noticed where his hands were "Chii! What are you doing?" "Just checking something", she said. "Well, give me a little warning before you do that!" he said and moved his hands back to her waist. Be patient, her mother had said. He may never have thought like that before, you must be gentle. I'll try, Chii thought.
Later, as they were lying on the futon, Chii asked "We've shared this futon since the first night you brought me home, and yet, you've always been so proper. Haven't you ever wanted to do anything with me?" Hideki turned his head towards her. "Why do you ask", he said, blushing a bit. Chii smiled at that. "I've got these feelings now, and I understand what I was going through before. I just want to know how you felt". "I've always felt that you were special, but I never realized how I felt about you until recently. I mean, you're a persocom, and I wasn't sure I should have feelings for you, but as time went by, I realized how much you meant to me. You became more than just a persocom; you were someone I could talk to. You became part of my life, and I felt terrible whenever something happened to you". "But what about now", Chii asked, "now that you know how you feel, and how I feel? I know you love me for who I am, but can you love what I am, too?" She took his hands, and guided them to her breasts. She smiled at the surprised look on his face; he hadn't noticed that she had gotten under the covers without her nightshirt on. She had never done that before.
"Is that why you did that earlier?" he asked. She noticed he hadn't moved his hands. He had never realized how warm and soft she was. "Yes. I know I'm not a human girl, but can you accept me the way I am?" she asked, a little mournfully. "Of course I can", he said, pulling her closer. "I just never thought you would want me to touch you". "Well, I do now", she said, snuggling into his arms, "I appreciate your feeling that way". "And perhaps someday."she moved his hand lower, briefly, then back again, "I might feel that way about other things. But this is all I'm ready for now. Is that alright?" "Yes", Hideki sighed, happily. He wasn't sure he was ready for more, either. He thought back to earlier times, when he'd get so embarrassed seeing her breasts, never mind feeling them press against him, but now he didn't feel so awkward about it. They were as nice as any he'd ever seen. The fact that she was a persocom didn't seem to matter. He held her as he drifted off to sleep. "I'm such a lucky guy", he said quietly. "I'm glad I found you". Chii turned around, and kissed him. "Me, too" Chii said, smiling. She felt lucky, too; and loved.
Chii was up early the next morning. She liked to sit in the window and think. She looked at Hideki, still sleeping on their futon. "Our bed", she thought. She felt like they were a couple now, not just two people sharing an apartment. He had accepted the fact that she did not have a human body. He had held her in his arms. He had touched her like he had never dared to before. She smiled. Her mind turned to other things. Hideki had wanted to visit Minoru this weekend. He was bound to notice the difference in her. How much could she say to him? And what of Yuzuki? Jima had said that what had happened to her would affect all persocoms. Did that include custom-built ones too? She'd have to wait and see. She thought of her life before that evening a week ago. She had mostly pleasant memories, but there were some painful ones, too. She cherished them all. They were part of who she was.
What are you thinking about now, beautiful? Hideki asked, sitting up. Our past, Chii answered. It must have been hard on you sometimes. Yeah, but there were lots of good times, too. Life was never boring after I found you. I just wish I could have done a better job of teaching you sometimes. "From what I can tell, you did fine" Chii said "I must have been quite a handful at times" "Your mother said she had no idea you were carrying Freya around inside you. It must have slowed you down somewhat." "Perhaps, but that's in the past. Now I can help you with your homework, instead of just cheering you on." "Hideki, I had a thought this morning. What are we going to tell Minoru when we see him? He's sure to notice some of the changes in me." "I don't know," Hideki said, "but right now I'm more interested in breakfast!" "You and your stomach! I'm glad I don't have that problem." She lifted her nightshirt. "I'll always be slim and trim!" He looked at her. He would have been embarrassed before, but things were different now, weren't they? She was right. She had a great figure. "Yeah, but think of the electric bill!" "Ooh! You're mean", she squealed, and threw herself at him, pulling his head to her chest. He struggled a bit, and then stopped. He had never been this close to her before. She let go of his head, but he left it there. "Hideki?" she asked, "what's the matter?" After a moment more he looked up at her. "It's amazing", he said, "Listening to you, I could swear I heard a heartbeat!" "You did", she said. "When you held me those times before, my ear was always at your chest. I could hear your heartbeat. It sounded nice, and comforting. So I asked mother if she could do that for me. Do you like it?" "Yes!" He exclaimed, putting his ear back to her chest, "and not just because of what's outside. You seem so real, and. "He stopped, blushing. "I'm sorry." "Don't worry", Chii said, "I know what you mean. I know I'm a persocom, and you love me despite that; it makes me very happy. I did it for you, because you're the only on who will ever hear it." They stayed that way for a while, then Chii said "this is nice, but we shouldn't waste such a beautiful day indoors. Let's go for a walk after breakfast." "OK" Hideki said, and they started preparing for the day.
The three of them had gone back to Hibiya's lab after it was all over, to see if they could figure out what had happened. Chii was fine, but there were some changes that Hibiya couldn't explain. The most obvious were her eyes. They looked like real eyes now, with brown irises. Other things had changed, too. Chii could speak more naturally now, and didn't refer to herself in the third person. Chii's tears had puzzled Hibiya, too. That was not part of her design.
She had 'slept' for almost 2 days. She had gone through a lot, and had expended a lot of power, so Hibiya let her recharge in the lab. It gave Hibiya a chance to talk with Hideki about what had happened, and to explain why she had let things happen. "I hope you understand", she had said, "I had to let you do things yourself". She explained that she had placed Chii in the trash that night, knowing that Hideki would be the one to find her. She had tried to help as indirectly as possible, only slipping once, telling Chii that the clothes she had given her were actually Chii's. Hideki told her he had just passed that off, because Chii was still learning. "If I had let you know the truth, Chii and you might not have grown so close. I wrote those books to help Chii in her search. It was hard to make sure only Chii or you actually got the books". Hideki understood. Helping Chii had helped him as well.
Hibiya taught him basic facts about persocoms, and about Chii in particular; what made her special, and what, like other persocoms, she could not do. Hideki tried his best to learn. Cooking, for example, could be a problem. "Persocoms can't taste", said Hibiya, "so it is hard for them to cook new foods". "That's probably why she feeds me a lot of curry", Hideki said. "Yes, I helped her with that, so she knows how to make it properly. I can teach her other things as well. I knew her as a child before", Hibiya said; "I'd like to continue to help her now". "Of course", said Hideki; "you are her mother".
Hideki got quite a surprise when Chii finally came upstairs. She looked the same as before, but somehow a little older, too. When She saw Hideki she rushed at him, chirping "Hideki!" But then she stopped, held his face in her hands, smiled and said "I love you Hideki!" Then she reached up and kissed him. Hideki blushed a little, but was too surprised to do anything but kiss her back. Hibiya giggled. "It's ok, Hideki, she's a fully grown girl now. She has her own free will, and it looks like she's started using it already". She became serious for a moment. "We created Chii to love, and be loved. What you do in private is your own concern, but you must be careful in public. Most people would not approve of your relationship". Chii said "yes, mother", and turned back to Hideki. "Let's go back to the apartment. I have so much to tell you."
Chii sat thinking. That had been 5 days ago. She had had so much to say, and so much to think about. How she had been so afraid of the pain that love can bring, that she had retreated. How Hideki's words had brought her back. He had always been honest with her, and his words that night had touched her. She hadn't known if he could really love a persocom. But his words had been so painfully honest, that she knew she had finally found her 'dake no hito'. And she wondered if his love could be strong enough for both of them. Would he truly accept her for who she was? She wanted to know.
She got up and started to prepare for his return. Hibiya had taught her a new dish, so she carefully started to prepare it. She couldn't taste; that was one of her limitations. What of the others? Would Hideki care? Would he even know? He was always so shy around her, so proper. Yes, he kissed her occasionally now, and even put his arms around her, but he was always so gentle, like she would break. She smiled at that. It would take time to see how he felt towards her, but she would be patient.
"That was a great meal, Chii" Hideki said as he helped her clean the dishes. "Mother's been teaching me some new recipes" They went back into the other room, and sat down together. Chii leaned into Hideki's arms, and he wrapped them around her. They were talking about their plans for the weekend, when she decided to try something. She took his hands and placed them on her ears. "Hideki, do you like these?" "What?" "They're not real ears." "Yes, they are, they're just different." She moved his hands to her breasts "How about these, are they 'different' too?" "No, they're nice" Hideki said absently, before he noticed where his hands were "Chii! What are you doing?" "Just checking something", she said. "Well, give me a little warning before you do that!" he said and moved his hands back to her waist. Be patient, her mother had said. He may never have thought like that before, you must be gentle. I'll try, Chii thought.
Later, as they were lying on the futon, Chii asked "We've shared this futon since the first night you brought me home, and yet, you've always been so proper. Haven't you ever wanted to do anything with me?" Hideki turned his head towards her. "Why do you ask", he said, blushing a bit. Chii smiled at that. "I've got these feelings now, and I understand what I was going through before. I just want to know how you felt". "I've always felt that you were special, but I never realized how I felt about you until recently. I mean, you're a persocom, and I wasn't sure I should have feelings for you, but as time went by, I realized how much you meant to me. You became more than just a persocom; you were someone I could talk to. You became part of my life, and I felt terrible whenever something happened to you". "But what about now", Chii asked, "now that you know how you feel, and how I feel? I know you love me for who I am, but can you love what I am, too?" She took his hands, and guided them to her breasts. She smiled at the surprised look on his face; he hadn't noticed that she had gotten under the covers without her nightshirt on. She had never done that before.
"Is that why you did that earlier?" he asked. She noticed he hadn't moved his hands. He had never realized how warm and soft she was. "Yes. I know I'm not a human girl, but can you accept me the way I am?" she asked, a little mournfully. "Of course I can", he said, pulling her closer. "I just never thought you would want me to touch you". "Well, I do now", she said, snuggling into his arms, "I appreciate your feeling that way". "And perhaps someday."she moved his hand lower, briefly, then back again, "I might feel that way about other things. But this is all I'm ready for now. Is that alright?" "Yes", Hideki sighed, happily. He wasn't sure he was ready for more, either. He thought back to earlier times, when he'd get so embarrassed seeing her breasts, never mind feeling them press against him, but now he didn't feel so awkward about it. They were as nice as any he'd ever seen. The fact that she was a persocom didn't seem to matter. He held her as he drifted off to sleep. "I'm such a lucky guy", he said quietly. "I'm glad I found you". Chii turned around, and kissed him. "Me, too" Chii said, smiling. She felt lucky, too; and loved.
Chii was up early the next morning. She liked to sit in the window and think. She looked at Hideki, still sleeping on their futon. "Our bed", she thought. She felt like they were a couple now, not just two people sharing an apartment. He had accepted the fact that she did not have a human body. He had held her in his arms. He had touched her like he had never dared to before. She smiled. Her mind turned to other things. Hideki had wanted to visit Minoru this weekend. He was bound to notice the difference in her. How much could she say to him? And what of Yuzuki? Jima had said that what had happened to her would affect all persocoms. Did that include custom-built ones too? She'd have to wait and see. She thought of her life before that evening a week ago. She had mostly pleasant memories, but there were some painful ones, too. She cherished them all. They were part of who she was.
What are you thinking about now, beautiful? Hideki asked, sitting up. Our past, Chii answered. It must have been hard on you sometimes. Yeah, but there were lots of good times, too. Life was never boring after I found you. I just wish I could have done a better job of teaching you sometimes. "From what I can tell, you did fine" Chii said "I must have been quite a handful at times" "Your mother said she had no idea you were carrying Freya around inside you. It must have slowed you down somewhat." "Perhaps, but that's in the past. Now I can help you with your homework, instead of just cheering you on." "Hideki, I had a thought this morning. What are we going to tell Minoru when we see him? He's sure to notice some of the changes in me." "I don't know," Hideki said, "but right now I'm more interested in breakfast!" "You and your stomach! I'm glad I don't have that problem." She lifted her nightshirt. "I'll always be slim and trim!" He looked at her. He would have been embarrassed before, but things were different now, weren't they? She was right. She had a great figure. "Yeah, but think of the electric bill!" "Ooh! You're mean", she squealed, and threw herself at him, pulling his head to her chest. He struggled a bit, and then stopped. He had never been this close to her before. She let go of his head, but he left it there. "Hideki?" she asked, "what's the matter?" After a moment more he looked up at her. "It's amazing", he said, "Listening to you, I could swear I heard a heartbeat!" "You did", she said. "When you held me those times before, my ear was always at your chest. I could hear your heartbeat. It sounded nice, and comforting. So I asked mother if she could do that for me. Do you like it?" "Yes!" He exclaimed, putting his ear back to her chest, "and not just because of what's outside. You seem so real, and. "He stopped, blushing. "I'm sorry." "Don't worry", Chii said, "I know what you mean. I know I'm a persocom, and you love me despite that; it makes me very happy. I did it for you, because you're the only on who will ever hear it." They stayed that way for a while, then Chii said "this is nice, but we shouldn't waste such a beautiful day indoors. Let's go for a walk after breakfast." "OK" Hideki said, and they started preparing for the day.