Chapter 5: a wish and a way to convey feelings
Kamata Tech, Ota Ward
The Crafters Workshop's environment was getting tense with Talos' convulsions and abnormal reactions, Hephaestus was still working with the decoding program, but that day was a little different, a friend of the crafters had come to her monthly check up, Otohime, the administratrix of Ryugu Palace from Takamagahara was always well received by the Crafters' Guild, after Hephaestus installed her new processors to improve her diagnostical capabilities, she noticed Talos being somewhat different from the optimistic personality he had programmed.
-Hephaestus, is everything ok with Talos? - she asked for her android fellow, Hephaestus cannot lie to her and tells about his abnormal circumstances, showing her a copy from the code he found in Talos.
-He...is not right at this moment, he's having abnormal reactions, I'm still working on it- Hephaestus tells her while he shows to her the unknown code.
-May I request talk with Talos, alone?- the female android asks him to let her speak with him.
-mmm...it would be good to him talk with a familiar face, p-perhaps it would help us to know m-more about his issue- the crafter told her and gives her permission to talk with her robot fellow, Talos was in a bench alone, pondering about what was happening with him, his semblance was showing concern until he noticed a familiar shadow getting close.
-Hello, Otohime…-he greeted her with discouragement in his voice, the female robot bows to him and seats at his side.
-Talos, your creator told me about what is happening to you recently, maybe I can't show emotions like you do, but believe me I'm worried for you, it's ok if I request you to share with me your current situation? - the gynoid asked to his robot fellow, Talos agrees and both robots initiate an info transference, then Otohime sees in her system the images Talos has been seeing in his sleep mode, the data about his stalker entity, after finished with the transference, the gynoid tells him her point of view.
-Talos, my diagnosis about this…is this entity is a real thing- what Otohime said was something shocking to Talos.
-What?! are you serious?!- he burst out vexation to the answer of his robot fellow.
-what I said is true, you're being stalked by a similar entity I had to neutralize before, is not exactly the same, but in essence, its nature was akin… was long before our collision of worlds- Otohime said with her usual neutral tone, then she tells to his android friend about the entity she had to deal long time before.
-one of my assistants started with the same symptoms like you, that parasite entity was a code brought to reality, in that time we didn't know how was possible that parasite became alive, and I had to nullify that assistant unit before it attacked Ryugu Palace- Otohime finished with her retelling.
-do you have data about that entity? It would help us to my creator and me to create a vaccine- Talos asked to Otohime with hopes of a solution to his problem.
-I had data…but when Ryugu Palace made contact with the virtual system of your creator, some data got lost, including them, I'm sorry for not being more helpful this time…-the gynoid apologizes for this, Talos gets slightly hopeless to his situation, but he shows a contrary reaction.
-don't worry, I'm sure my creator will come with a way to help me with this…-Talos shows his usual confident personality, but Otohime knows Talos is lying but she choose to doesn't say anything to don't discourage his fellow robot friend, who sees him like a brother.
-you must have much faith in your creator to keep the good humor- Otohime comments with her intent of imitate gladness.
-I have faith on him…but I want one day to tell him what I really feel…I want to tell him soon- Talos comments that wish from his "heart", but both droids weren't aware that someone else was watching them, the entity was stalking him again, but it prefered to wait for the right moment to finally realize its scheme.
Later that afternoon, after Otohime leaves Kamata Tech with Yamasachihiko, it was turn of Hephaestus and Talos to make dinner that night, they were making gyoza dumplings, Talos was making the dough and Hephaestus was making the fillings.
-creator…what am I to you? - the android makes that question to his creator while he was making the dough wraps out of the blue.
-w-what do you mean with what are you to m-me? - Hephaestus asks him with confusion.
-I know you made me to be a better you, creator…but besides that… what am I to you? - Talos keeps with his question.
-…you are my creation Talos…and part of my family, and I normally don't like to be boastful, but I'm p-proud of my creations, I made you and I'm proud of you because…I know you will be a b-better me than myself, even if I get j-jealous when you get close to Mama- the smithing transient comes with a sincere yet sloppy answer, Talos stays silent to evaluate his creator's answer, he has mixed feelings about what his creator said, but prefers to keep it to himself.
-And…what is Mama to you? you love him as Mama…or as Jūtarō? - Talos makes another important question, Hephaestus is more confused than before, because after his intent of save Jūtarō, he started to cherished him as his Mama and his own persona, he couldn't be helped feel flustered and excited with the idea of see his mother again in another person, but with the moments he passed with him… he was learning to love him as Jūtarō.
-I-I love him as both, but I don't know who I have to love m-most…my mind clouds and my heart shakes when I see him, I see Mama in him…it's too confusing to me, i-if there were a way to see Mama and Jūtarō as separate beings…it would be easier to me, if you could meet Mama when she was alive…you would be like me now…- the crafter told what was in his mind at that moment, Talos wasn't very pleased with his answers, but at least, he knows his creator is a sincere and kind man.
- Acknowledged notions- Talos said after updating this new information into his database
- why did you ask me those questions?- the olympian transient asked back to his creation expecting some comment from the robot.
- just a minor update, Creator- the android said plainly, but hiding a faint sad smile while both were still cooking.
Hephaestus was slightly confused with those questions, he felt his relationship with Talos was different than before, since the happenings with his first encounter with Jūtarō and later his virtual reality summer program, he started to get kinder with Talos, the question was if did he became kinder to him with the pass of time…or it was like this since Talos was created, but something else was affecting their relationship?, after those questions the android made, both stayed silent the rest of that evening.
Shinjuku Academy, classroom 2-B
Jūtarō and his friends were having the last class of the day, Classic Literature, but his mind was in another place, he was still unsure about how open his heart to Hephaestus about the issue of being the vessel of his late mother's soul and his feelings for him, while his head was thinking about that personal problem, he was drawing again little pictures of himself, Salomon, Hephaestus and Talos in his notebook, the bell rings signaling the end of classes for today.
His friends had plans for that day, Shiro had to help Kengo with cram lessons, Toji had training with Hogen, Moritaka had an appointment to receive his new Transient Student ID card, and Ryota would go to Aoyama Guild, he was not in the mood to do something by himself and prefers to go back to the dorm, but in his path to the dorms he was greeted by Ms. Ziz.
- Jūtarō! nice to see you again! - the transient teacher greeted him while she was holding some gift bags in her hands.
-Hi, Ms. Ziz…umm…why you're carrying those bags? -the summoner greeted her and asked for the gift bags.
-Oh! this? Do you remember I had an idea to help you with your problem with your special someone? - Ziz responded to him with gladly tone, the summoner was getting curious about the bags.
-Yeah, you asked me to show you photos about him…but…what idea you had in mind? - the summoner answered with a mix of confusion and interest.
-well, my idea was to make something to help you train to talk with him about your feelings, it will be better if you do this in private…just follow the instructions…and I made the same thing to him, I hope you like it, I would like to chat a little more with you, but I have some business to do…see you tomorrow…- then Ziz departs to attend her business, leaving Jūtarō with those bags in his hands.
Shinjuku Academy, Dormitory One
Jūtarō was seated in his bed looking at the gift bags, he was unsure about Ms. Ziz idea…and the content in the bags, Salomon was curious about his master's next move with impatience, the environment was tense and Salomon finally snaps.
-Ahh! I can't with this anymore! I'll open them if you don't do it! - Salomon yells and take one of the bags to open it.
-Salomon, wait, Noo!- Jūtarō screams and tries to stop him, but it was too late, Salomon opened the first bag and takes off what is inside, the summoner then sees what was in the bag…a medium sized handmade plush doll shaped like Hephaestus, it was so detailed and well done.
-It's…so…CUUUUTEEE!, Master, look!, isn't this doll very cute? - Salomon was fascinated with the Hephaestus doll, then Salomon opens another bag revealing a Jūtarō plush doll, and takes the last bag revealing a pair of plushies, one Talos doll and a Salomon doll.
-It's true…they're very cute…- Jūtarō answers and grabs the Hephaestus doll, he hugs it and notes the softness and details of the doll, then he sees a note in the bag where the Hephaestus doll was.
-Dear Jūtarō, I made these dolls to help you with show your feelings, mainly you and your special someone…use them to talk with them like if you were to talk with that special being in reality, I hope you like them, the doll with your shape is for your special being, this one is yours, and the other two you can give them to the ones look alike, signed. Ms. Ziz- Jūtarō reads the note aloud and holds the Hephaestus doll high while Salomon plays with his doll version of himself and the Talos doll, Jūtarō watches the doll and imagines the doll being real Hephaestus, and tries to talk with the doll like he would talk with the real transient, his face is getting red and starts to release some words.
-H-Hephaestus, there i-is something I need to tell you…I…I…li-li…I lik-…- he stutters and stops to keep talking to the doll, he tries again, but it finishes in fail again and again, he keeps like this until he gets asleep holding the doll in his arms, both Salomon and Jūtarō sleep holding their dolls, during his sleep, Jūtarō says "Hephaestus…I l... you..." quietly and a teardrop runs over his cheek holding tighter the Hephaestus doll in his arms.
Ota Ward, Kamata Tech, Crafters Workshop
Hephaestus is laid in his bed wearing just a plain T-shirt and briefs, looking at the ceiling of his room in the darkness and wondering about the questions Talos made before and his android's current situation, his hands were between the pillow and his nape, he forgot to take off his prosthetic legs while he was thinking about those questions, his metallic feet were making noises while he was moving them unconsciously, his right leg over his left one, then changes their positions to left over right, and then both feet laid in the mattress, making them touch his toes and heels against each other making a little louder click and wiggling his toes, his hands change place from the nape to over his abs, he stays like this until gets asleep, the flame of his eye dims a little but keeps burning, during his sleep he says "Talos…Mama… Jūtarō… I…" quietly and leaking teardrops from his closed eyes, meanwhile Talos had a tranquil sleep mode that night, he too said something in his sleep "creator…P-…" in silence, but that entity was looming over him, waiting for take him once for all at the right moment.