Chapter 3

"Shinbo... what's up with you?! Why'd you bring her here?" Hideki asked me. I sat firmly on my seat and looked at Sumomo without saying a word.

"Shall I take down notes mastah?" Sumomo asked me a little too loudly. I was only counting the minutes when Shimizu would approach us and inquire why was I bringing a persocom in the class. I racked my brain for a ready answer.

I let Sumomo write notes while I leaned over at Hideki.

"Motosuwa, I want you to tell Shimizu that Sumomo's yours"

Hideki's eyes bulged out of their sockets. "What do you mean? Shimizu knows how Sumomo look like... she's bound to notice that it's Sumomo!" he pointed out.

I held Sumomo's shoulder and faced her towards Hideki.

"Does she look like Sumomo to you? A thousand persocom's have pink hair! Just do it!" I snapped. Okay, I was panicking. Shimizu and I had this talk before about the importance of persocoms and just how much attention should one give it. And well.. because of her rotten past with that bastard husband she had, persocoms are taboo for her. Finding out that I actually bring human-sized Sumomo to cram school will most probably make her irritated. If not mad.

Shimizu came and greeted the class. My mind entertained thoughts of just pushing Sumomo on an empty chair and claiming that she's a new student. Hmm... no wait, bad idea. Sumomo might do something freaky and if Shimizu finds that out, I'd be in a much deeper crap. Stop it Shinbo... you're panicking...

"Hmm... haven't seen you here before" Shimizu stood beside our table and smiled warmly at Sumomo.

Hideki was about to open his mouth when Sumomo suddenly stood up, raised her right hand and jumped cheerful.

"Atashi wa Sumomo-chan desu!!!" She beamed. The whole class rocked with laughter. I looked at Hideki but he looked just as shocked as I am. What's the matter...? I didn't program Sumomo to reply without being asked. Shimizu didn't ask a question... why the heck did she answer?!

"Shinbo? This is Sumomo? Your persocom?" she looked at me in surprise. I smiled sheepishly and nodded. She looked at me with an expression that meant, "We'll talk later"

The day went on. Sumomo was acting pretty strangely the whole day. She did several things not included in her program. Almost as if she thought it herself. But I knew better. It was probably the sudden change of hardware. Wait a second... come to think of it, she hasn't told me about the results of her system check-up.

After classes, Sumomo hopped to one of the benches and sat there quietly. I sighed nervously and went back to the classroom to talk to Shimizu.

"Shinbo... you know persocoms aren't allowed in class" Shimizu said solemnly. I scratched my head.

"You see, it's kind of a long story... Ano... Sumomo became..."

"I don't need your excuses Shinbo!!! Just don't bring her here again....!!" Shimizu trying so hard not to meet my eyes. I know how she feels about persocoms so this shouldn't be a surprise anymore... I knew this would happen. She had her back turned to me and so I neared towards her and whispered an apology then headed out.

When I opened the door, Sumomo fell on my foot.

"Sumomo??! What are you doing?? I thought I told you to wait there??!" I pulled her up. Sumomo was silent and I saw her gaze turn to Shimizu a bit. Call me crazy, but I really could see a hint of anger on her eyes. She actually, well glared at Shimizu. I'm telling you, I never programmed anything like this... she's supposed to be a handy mobile persocom... not a personal-dating persocom!

"In any case, let's go to minoru kun's house..." I walked past her and held her hand.

She meekly followed. What I didn't know was that Sumomo turned to look at Shimizu one last time. And that was the turning point of everything. The turning point of everything and I missed it. What it meant and what happened, I will yet to unravel to you.

When we got to Minoru's house, Sumomo was starting to feel a bit jittery. I wondered if she needed to recharge but then, Minoru's house is like a persocom dreamland. You can do anything here.

"Ah... shinbo san... I was expecting you this morning.." Minoru greeted me and motioned for Yuzuki to sit on a nearby chair. I nodded eagerly and let Sumomo sit on the couch.

"So this is Sumomo now... interesting......." Minoru examined her.

It took a while. He was really observing her, like he was looking for an important thing but couldn't find it. He turned to me in a serious expression.

"Shinbo san, where is Sumomo chan's cable plugs?" He asked. I stood there dumbfounded. When Sumomo was mobile, her cables were inside this little pink beret. But now that she's grown, the beret is gone and.. well, where are the cables?!?

"I... I... uh..."

"It is physically impossible for a mobile persocom to grow like this... then adding in a whisper almost as if she's human..."

Sumomo suddenly stood up. She looked around and started dancing. Twirling around with such magnificent grace.

"Shinbo san.. in human terms, this can be explained as a growth spurt. But in persocoms... this is something... new. I will look it up and keep you updated. Please do try to figure out where her cable plugs are.."

I nodded and stopped Sumomo from dancing. She waved goodbye to Minoru as we headed out of his house.

"Sumomo...?"

"Aye mastah!"

"What is happening to you...?"

Silence.

"Mastah doesn't like transformation?"

I froze.

What did she just say?!

I turned to look at her and she was standing there looking very sad and almost sorrowful.

"Mastah likes chibi Sumomo? Mastah doesn't want Sumomo now? Mastah.... Likes Prep school sensei?"

"Sumomo... I like Shimizu... very much... And I like you too... You're my persocom!!" I smiled warmly at her. Trying to dismiss the crazy thoughts running through my head with trumpets and bass drums.

Then suddenly, Sumomo came towards me and hugged me.

"Sumomo chan has been waiting for this moment mastah... to be able to give mastah a hug... is happiness for sumomo chan" she buried her face on my shoulder.

"I don't know what happened to you Sumomo.. I don't know why you're doing this but... let's get ice cream for the meantime... ne?" I pulled back slightly to get a glimpse of her face.

When I saw her... my knees almost gave way.

She was crying.

It was strange because... at that moment.. I didn't mind it at all.

Author's note: I'm nearing the end of my very first fanfic!! Two more chapters to go!!!