The next morning, Hideki woke up a little early. The two of them talked a little more about what she was going to say to Manager Ueda that afternoon. "We've got to tell the truth as much as possible." Chii said. "Don't worry, I'll figure it out. You've got the harder job." "Why?" asked Hideki. "Well, I can act appropriately easily, but you've got to remember to treat me like just a persocom, and not your girlfriend. That means no cute names, and no kissing." Hideki made a sad face, and Chii giggled. "I'll make it up to you tonight"
At school, Shinbo asked "Where were you this weekend? Shimizu and I wanted to come and visit, but you weren't home. Plus, I wanted to apologize. How is Chii doing?"
When Shinbo had asked Hideki how his talk with Chii had gone, Hideki had blurted out something about Chii staying with Hibiya for a few days. Shinbo had made a joke about Chii's reaction to what Hideki had said, but had regretted it when Hideki started acting moody. Shinbo thought it was because of his joke, but Hideki had just been worried about Chii, and everything that had happened to her. Besides, Hideki didn't know what to tell people about it then, but He and Chii had talked about that since.
"We were at Minoru's all weekend. We discovered a few things about Chii, and she seems to be doing much better now." Hideki Said. "She seems to understand how I feel. I think talking to Hibiya helped. Maybe Chii needed a girl to talk to.
"Maybe" Shinbo agreed "She's only had you for company, mostly, and without any software, she only knew what you told her. Maybe she needed another woman's point of view, and Hibiya seemed like someone she could talk to. "Yeah, probably" Hideki was relieved. It was close enough to the truth, and Shinbo had thought of it by himself. "Why don't you come along when I walk Chii to the bakery this afternoon? You can see for yourself.
That afternoon, they met Shinbo as they walked to the marketplace. Hideki let Chii do most of the talking. She told a surprised Shinbo almost everything, only omitting the activity on the roof that night, and the fact that Hibiya was, indeed, her mother. "It's partly due to you that I'm better," Chii explained. If you hadn't urged Hideki to tell me how he felt about me, I never would have changed."
"The difference in you is amazing" Shinbo said. "It's amazing" Sumomo echoed. Something about Sumomo caught Chii's attention, and she held out her hand. "Sumomo, will you come here a while?" Sumomo jumped onto Chii's open hand. Chii brought her up to eye level, looked at her a moment, then said "What beautiful eyes you have." She moved her hand up to her shoulder, and Sumomo sat on her shoulder. Shinbo spoke to Hideki "Chii's eyes are different, too. I wonder how that happened." "We don't know, either" Hideki said.
Chii continued "After Hideki talked to me, I spent some time with Hibiya. She helped me with a lot of things that Hideki was too shy, or embarrassed to talk about. As she explained what Hideki had been trying to tell me, it was like a switch had been turned on. I suddenly understood what Hideki was trying to tell me, and I found that I felt the same way. Minoru feels that's its further proof that I may be a 'Chobit'. I had to find the 'right person' to belong to. I guess that means that Hideki really is the right one for me. "Shinbo", she continued, "please don't tell anyone all about me. There might be more people like Kojima looking for me." Shinbo remembered the guy nicknamed 'dragonfly', and the trouble he had caused for Hideki and Chii. "No problem. Can I tell Shimizu?" Of course, Chii said I'd like to visit with her. I just don't want the 'Chobit' part known. Chobits is a legend, a rumor, and I would like to keep it that way. OK, Shinbo said.
They arrived at the bakery and said their goodbyes. Sumomo hopped back onto Shinbo's shoulder, and they headed back to their apartment. Chii and Hideki walked inside the bakery.
"Good afternoon," Yumi said as she finished with a customer. "You look nice," Hideki said. "I've never seen you in that outfit." "Thank you" Yumi said, then added "Ueda will be right out." She turned to Chii. "How are you, Chii? Hideki said you had a little problem, but you're better now." "Yes, I'm much better. Thank you for asking" Chii said. "You sound different" Ueda said, as he walked out from the kitchen. "I feel different, too" Chii said. "Good. I'm glad everything worked out. And thanks" he said standing next to Yumi, and putting his arm around her "for helping us. If it weren't for the two of you, well…" They stood in silence for a moment. "Manager Ueda" Chii said "I was wondering if I could come back to work now that I'm alright." "Why, yes," Ueda said, "In fact I was hoping that you would want to work here again." Chii smiled, and nodded. "We need someone to work in the store a few afternoons a week when we're busy in the kitchen. Do you think you could work behind the counter, and take phone orders, Chii?" "I'm sure I'll learn quickly, now" she replied. "Great! In fact, if you can start now, Yumi will show you to the back room, and your uniform." Ueda knew that Chii knew the way, but he sensed that Hideki wanted to talk to him for a moment.
The girls left for the changing room, and Ueda turned to Hideki. "She certainly seems more capable than before." "Yes" said Hideki "We've had a lot of time to talk lately, and, well, I need some advice, Ueda." Ueda smiled. He had suspected that this time would come. "You're in love with her, aren't you?" Hideki blushed. "Yes, and she seems to understand what I mean. She says she loves me, too." Ueda hadn't expected that. Was it possible? Perhaps, he thought, these newer model persocoms are more sophisticated than his wife had been. He thought of her for a moment, and he felt a touch of sadness. He had loved his persocom, Yumi, so much, that he had married her. No, he though, that wasn't right. He had loved Yumi for who she was so much that he had married her. Her tragic death was no less painful than if she had been human. Now he had a new love, also named Yumi.
Hideki noticed the changes in Ueda's expression, and said softly "You were thinking about Yumi." "Yes, and except for you and Chii, I might have lost Yumi Oumura, too. Hideki, both of them are special, each in their own way. Chii seems very special, too. Always love who she is and you'll be fine. You don't need to marry her, like I married Yumi, but if you do, let me know." Ueda went to help a customer, while Hideki waited.
The girls walked out a moment later, talking to each other. While Chii was changing into her uniform, she and Yumi had talked. "You don't mind me working here?" Chii had asked. "No, we need the help," Yumi replied, then realized what Chii had meant. "Chii, I don't feel that way anymore. Ueda loved his persocom for who she was, and he loves me for who I am. I used to be jealous of you; of all persocoms, but now I think I can be satisfied with who I am." "I'm glad," Chii said. "I think I was jealous of you, too. Hideki had a hard time with me before, and he was always happy to be going to see you that it made me…sad, I think. Now, I understand that Hideki really cares about everyone close to him. He liked you, but he helped you find the person you were meant to be with."
Yumi was surprised to hear Chii talking like that, and it showed on her face. Chii said "I know it seems strange that I can understand that, but I do. Perhaps Hideki and I are meant to be together, too. He really took the time to teach me and care for me. Not everyone would have done that." "Hideki is a lot like Ueda", Yumi said "he cares about people for who they are. I'm sure Ueda still thinks about his wife, but he still found room in his heart for me." "Hideki cares about you, too, I'm sure, in his own way" Chii said, adding "I hope we can be friends." Yumi smiled "I'd like that. Let's get going, shall we?" "With Pleasure!" Chii said, as they walked out the door. Yumi laughed "He told you about that?" "Yes, he liked working with you. I think I will, too"
"Well, you two look happy." Hideki said as the girls walked into the store. "We are" Yumi said. "We had a nice talk, and decided that we should be friends." Chii nodded and said "Hideki, I would like to do a little shopping after work, is that OK?" "I can go with her, and Ueda can walk us home" Yumi said "Just tell dad that I'll be home a little late tonight." "Ok, see you later. I'll eat at the tavern, Chii, so don't worry" Hideki said, and headed off to his job.
"So, did the two of you have fun shopping?" Hideki asked, as he prepared the room to go to bed. "Yes, we did. Would you like to see what I got?" She asked. "Sure" "Then turn around. I want it to be a surprise" He did, and heard the rustle of paper and cloth, then Chii said "OK, you can turn around." Hideki did, and his eyes widened. Chii was dressed in a pair of pants and a shirt. "That looks nice on you," he said. Yumi helped me pick it out. She says she gets bored of dresses all the time, and I thought it would be a good idea to get different clothes. My fancy dresses are nice, but they are rather distinctive. I thought it would be nice to dress like everyone else once in a while." "Anything else?" he asked. "I got a skirt, too. Would you like to see it?" "Sure," he replied. She took off her pants, and pulled on the skirt. "That looks nice, too. I like seeing you in your dresses, but you look nice in those."
Chii stepped out of her skirt, and unbuttoned the shirt. Hideki handed her the shirt she wore at night, and started undressing. Chii looked at him a moment, then dropped the nightshirt and walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. She put her head on his chest.
Hideki could feel her warm, soft breasts against his skin. They were a contrast to the cool, hard ear against his chest. He thought about that. She seemed so human sometimes, but her ears were a reminder that she was not. Did it really make a difference? He really did love her. He put a hand gently on her head, touching her other ear. No, he thought, it didn't matter. She was so much more than just a persocom. He kissed her on the forehead. Chii looked up and said "I really don't know if there are people looking for me, but I feel safe here, in your arms." He picked her up and carried her to their futon, laid her down gently. "I'll do my best to take care of you." he said, and lay down beside her. She pulled him close, and he could faintly hear Chii's heartbeat, meant only for him. They had each other, and a few close friends. Neither one knew what the future would bring, but they'd face it together. They held each other, and kissed a few times, as Hideki drifted off to sleep.
Chii thought of all that had happened in the past few weeks. She looked at Hideki, sleeping there beside her. He would do his best; she knew that, but what could she do for him? She was still learning what she could, and could not, do. She would think about it more tomorrow. As she went to sleep, she couldn't know that she would have to think about much sooner.
At school, Shinbo asked "Where were you this weekend? Shimizu and I wanted to come and visit, but you weren't home. Plus, I wanted to apologize. How is Chii doing?"
When Shinbo had asked Hideki how his talk with Chii had gone, Hideki had blurted out something about Chii staying with Hibiya for a few days. Shinbo had made a joke about Chii's reaction to what Hideki had said, but had regretted it when Hideki started acting moody. Shinbo thought it was because of his joke, but Hideki had just been worried about Chii, and everything that had happened to her. Besides, Hideki didn't know what to tell people about it then, but He and Chii had talked about that since.
"We were at Minoru's all weekend. We discovered a few things about Chii, and she seems to be doing much better now." Hideki Said. "She seems to understand how I feel. I think talking to Hibiya helped. Maybe Chii needed a girl to talk to.
"Maybe" Shinbo agreed "She's only had you for company, mostly, and without any software, she only knew what you told her. Maybe she needed another woman's point of view, and Hibiya seemed like someone she could talk to. "Yeah, probably" Hideki was relieved. It was close enough to the truth, and Shinbo had thought of it by himself. "Why don't you come along when I walk Chii to the bakery this afternoon? You can see for yourself.
That afternoon, they met Shinbo as they walked to the marketplace. Hideki let Chii do most of the talking. She told a surprised Shinbo almost everything, only omitting the activity on the roof that night, and the fact that Hibiya was, indeed, her mother. "It's partly due to you that I'm better," Chii explained. If you hadn't urged Hideki to tell me how he felt about me, I never would have changed."
"The difference in you is amazing" Shinbo said. "It's amazing" Sumomo echoed. Something about Sumomo caught Chii's attention, and she held out her hand. "Sumomo, will you come here a while?" Sumomo jumped onto Chii's open hand. Chii brought her up to eye level, looked at her a moment, then said "What beautiful eyes you have." She moved her hand up to her shoulder, and Sumomo sat on her shoulder. Shinbo spoke to Hideki "Chii's eyes are different, too. I wonder how that happened." "We don't know, either" Hideki said.
Chii continued "After Hideki talked to me, I spent some time with Hibiya. She helped me with a lot of things that Hideki was too shy, or embarrassed to talk about. As she explained what Hideki had been trying to tell me, it was like a switch had been turned on. I suddenly understood what Hideki was trying to tell me, and I found that I felt the same way. Minoru feels that's its further proof that I may be a 'Chobit'. I had to find the 'right person' to belong to. I guess that means that Hideki really is the right one for me. "Shinbo", she continued, "please don't tell anyone all about me. There might be more people like Kojima looking for me." Shinbo remembered the guy nicknamed 'dragonfly', and the trouble he had caused for Hideki and Chii. "No problem. Can I tell Shimizu?" Of course, Chii said I'd like to visit with her. I just don't want the 'Chobit' part known. Chobits is a legend, a rumor, and I would like to keep it that way. OK, Shinbo said.
They arrived at the bakery and said their goodbyes. Sumomo hopped back onto Shinbo's shoulder, and they headed back to their apartment. Chii and Hideki walked inside the bakery.
"Good afternoon," Yumi said as she finished with a customer. "You look nice," Hideki said. "I've never seen you in that outfit." "Thank you" Yumi said, then added "Ueda will be right out." She turned to Chii. "How are you, Chii? Hideki said you had a little problem, but you're better now." "Yes, I'm much better. Thank you for asking" Chii said. "You sound different" Ueda said, as he walked out from the kitchen. "I feel different, too" Chii said. "Good. I'm glad everything worked out. And thanks" he said standing next to Yumi, and putting his arm around her "for helping us. If it weren't for the two of you, well…" They stood in silence for a moment. "Manager Ueda" Chii said "I was wondering if I could come back to work now that I'm alright." "Why, yes," Ueda said, "In fact I was hoping that you would want to work here again." Chii smiled, and nodded. "We need someone to work in the store a few afternoons a week when we're busy in the kitchen. Do you think you could work behind the counter, and take phone orders, Chii?" "I'm sure I'll learn quickly, now" she replied. "Great! In fact, if you can start now, Yumi will show you to the back room, and your uniform." Ueda knew that Chii knew the way, but he sensed that Hideki wanted to talk to him for a moment.
The girls left for the changing room, and Ueda turned to Hideki. "She certainly seems more capable than before." "Yes" said Hideki "We've had a lot of time to talk lately, and, well, I need some advice, Ueda." Ueda smiled. He had suspected that this time would come. "You're in love with her, aren't you?" Hideki blushed. "Yes, and she seems to understand what I mean. She says she loves me, too." Ueda hadn't expected that. Was it possible? Perhaps, he thought, these newer model persocoms are more sophisticated than his wife had been. He thought of her for a moment, and he felt a touch of sadness. He had loved his persocom, Yumi, so much, that he had married her. No, he though, that wasn't right. He had loved Yumi for who she was so much that he had married her. Her tragic death was no less painful than if she had been human. Now he had a new love, also named Yumi.
Hideki noticed the changes in Ueda's expression, and said softly "You were thinking about Yumi." "Yes, and except for you and Chii, I might have lost Yumi Oumura, too. Hideki, both of them are special, each in their own way. Chii seems very special, too. Always love who she is and you'll be fine. You don't need to marry her, like I married Yumi, but if you do, let me know." Ueda went to help a customer, while Hideki waited.
The girls walked out a moment later, talking to each other. While Chii was changing into her uniform, she and Yumi had talked. "You don't mind me working here?" Chii had asked. "No, we need the help," Yumi replied, then realized what Chii had meant. "Chii, I don't feel that way anymore. Ueda loved his persocom for who she was, and he loves me for who I am. I used to be jealous of you; of all persocoms, but now I think I can be satisfied with who I am." "I'm glad," Chii said. "I think I was jealous of you, too. Hideki had a hard time with me before, and he was always happy to be going to see you that it made me…sad, I think. Now, I understand that Hideki really cares about everyone close to him. He liked you, but he helped you find the person you were meant to be with."
Yumi was surprised to hear Chii talking like that, and it showed on her face. Chii said "I know it seems strange that I can understand that, but I do. Perhaps Hideki and I are meant to be together, too. He really took the time to teach me and care for me. Not everyone would have done that." "Hideki is a lot like Ueda", Yumi said "he cares about people for who they are. I'm sure Ueda still thinks about his wife, but he still found room in his heart for me." "Hideki cares about you, too, I'm sure, in his own way" Chii said, adding "I hope we can be friends." Yumi smiled "I'd like that. Let's get going, shall we?" "With Pleasure!" Chii said, as they walked out the door. Yumi laughed "He told you about that?" "Yes, he liked working with you. I think I will, too"
"Well, you two look happy." Hideki said as the girls walked into the store. "We are" Yumi said. "We had a nice talk, and decided that we should be friends." Chii nodded and said "Hideki, I would like to do a little shopping after work, is that OK?" "I can go with her, and Ueda can walk us home" Yumi said "Just tell dad that I'll be home a little late tonight." "Ok, see you later. I'll eat at the tavern, Chii, so don't worry" Hideki said, and headed off to his job.
"So, did the two of you have fun shopping?" Hideki asked, as he prepared the room to go to bed. "Yes, we did. Would you like to see what I got?" She asked. "Sure" "Then turn around. I want it to be a surprise" He did, and heard the rustle of paper and cloth, then Chii said "OK, you can turn around." Hideki did, and his eyes widened. Chii was dressed in a pair of pants and a shirt. "That looks nice on you," he said. Yumi helped me pick it out. She says she gets bored of dresses all the time, and I thought it would be a good idea to get different clothes. My fancy dresses are nice, but they are rather distinctive. I thought it would be nice to dress like everyone else once in a while." "Anything else?" he asked. "I got a skirt, too. Would you like to see it?" "Sure," he replied. She took off her pants, and pulled on the skirt. "That looks nice, too. I like seeing you in your dresses, but you look nice in those."
Chii stepped out of her skirt, and unbuttoned the shirt. Hideki handed her the shirt she wore at night, and started undressing. Chii looked at him a moment, then dropped the nightshirt and walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. She put her head on his chest.
Hideki could feel her warm, soft breasts against his skin. They were a contrast to the cool, hard ear against his chest. He thought about that. She seemed so human sometimes, but her ears were a reminder that she was not. Did it really make a difference? He really did love her. He put a hand gently on her head, touching her other ear. No, he thought, it didn't matter. She was so much more than just a persocom. He kissed her on the forehead. Chii looked up and said "I really don't know if there are people looking for me, but I feel safe here, in your arms." He picked her up and carried her to their futon, laid her down gently. "I'll do my best to take care of you." he said, and lay down beside her. She pulled him close, and he could faintly hear Chii's heartbeat, meant only for him. They had each other, and a few close friends. Neither one knew what the future would bring, but they'd face it together. They held each other, and kissed a few times, as Hideki drifted off to sleep.
Chii thought of all that had happened in the past few weeks. She looked at Hideki, sleeping there beside her. He would do his best; she knew that, but what could she do for him? She was still learning what she could, and could not, do. She would think about it more tomorrow. As she went to sleep, she couldn't know that she would have to think about much sooner.