We've seen lovey-dovey stuff with Blake and Ayame, but that's getting a little too cutesy for my tastes. Let's move on to a couple who is in no way lovey-dovey whatsoever, and see how their Valentine's Day is going!

Also, thank you to everyone who read my story "The Heir to the Dragon". I would appreciate if you continue to read and support it in the future! You can get there through my profile! The story is finally completed! Thank you for reading!

The Semi-Final Round of the second Pokemon Academy Best Girl contest has begun! Which three of these six girls will make it to the Finals? So far we've only got a few votes in, so show your support for your best girl and vote on the poll in my profile! We want this competition to be close, after all! Who's going to win?!

Semi-Finalists: Ayame, Sylvia, Marion, Sango, Elaina, Valerie

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Well, I suppose the eventual fate of their relationship will help determine whether or not we should trust the jinx.

Aquahaze675: That would be rather painful.

JoshGamerV: Don't worry, she's currently amassing influence and funds, she just has a habit of fishing. She'll probably get it done eventually if she can amass enough investors.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 673

Will had not found himself enjoying the movie all that much. He already didn't like romcoms, and this one was one of the worst. The romance was just so forced between the two leads, he felt like he was falling asleep half the time.

Once, he had imagined that if he was going on a date with someone that he liked, someone who really liked romcoms, then he would at least be able to tolerate watching them, for the sake of the girl he was with.

But Misato was certainly not that girl.

Not only was she not someone that he particularly liked in terms of being a romantic partner (he didn't mind her as much anymore, but it's not like she was human or anything) but she wasn't particularly invested in the movie, either. She just sat there and stared at the screen without saying a word, it was like watching a movie with a computer.

Which, well, was about what could be expected, considering who she was. It wasn't like Will was expecting a Mechadoll like her to be passionately invested in the plot or anything, even someone as emotionless as her had to understand that it was garbage, even if she probably wouldn't really care if it was or not.

So, he wasn't surprised that when the two of them walked out of the movie theatre, neither one was saying much of anything.

"How did you like the movie?" Misato suddenly asked him.

Well, he spoke to soon. Startled by Misato's sudden bluntness, he turned to her and gave her an inquisitive look, raising his eyebrow.

"What… uh, why are you asking that?" Will asked. He sincerely doubted that Misato was all that interested in his opinion on the movie, considering that she probably didn't even have one herself, considering she was a Mechadoll.

Then again, she did have an appreciation for books, so maybe that wasn't so far out of the realm of possibility.

"Is that not the customary question to ask on a date after the movie has concluded?" Misato asked for clarification. Will nodded his head, yeah, that made sense. It was a very "Misato" sort of answer, especially considering that she probably couldn't tell how he felt about things just off the context clues of his expression.

"Um… Yeah, I guess you're right," Will admitted. "It's definitely something that you would ask, I was just surprised. I mean, it's not like you particularly care about my opinion, so we can just dispense with pleasantries. You don't need to do something just because it's 'expected' of you to do it," he said, trying to let her off the hook.

He should have known that it wouldn't be that easy.

Misato stared at him without saying a word. Then, she shook her head slightly. "Negative. Understanding your mindset is necessary to determine whether or not you have enjoyed this date. It is necessary to ensure that this date is an enjoyable experience for you in order to provide the best probability of another date," she explained.

Will let out a sigh, and shook his head. He supposed that was about as close to a "I wanted to know how you were feeling" answer that Misato was capable of, so he might as well step in and provide her with an answer, though it probably wouldn't be one that she would like.

Then again, she wasn't a normal person, she was a Mechadoll. So it's not like he had to be particularly concerned with sparing her feelings or anything of the sort.

"Yeah, honestly, I didn't like the movie very much," Will admitted. "It wasn't like I'm that particularly fond of romances or anything of the sort. So yeah, sorry, I didn't like it very much."

"Understood," Misato replied. "So you did not have fun. I expected that would be your response judging by your actions in the theater."

That was intriguing. Misato wasn't exactly that perceptive of context clues. "What are you talking about?" Will asked. "You were able to tell that I wasn't having fun?"

"Negative. Even though I am equipped with night vision that allowed me to observe your actions in the darkness, I could not determine your emotional state," Misato replied. "If that was possible then there would not have been any reason to ask you what you thought of the movie."

Will had to admit that made sense.

"But… But you just said that you couldn't tell that based on how disinterested I looked!" Will said, confused by Misato's response.

"Negative. It was not possible to determine your enjoyment within any degree of statistical significance based solely on your facial expression," Misato clarified. "But it was still the most likely possibility based on all other contributing factors."

Will raised his eyebrow in confusion. "What contributing factors are those?" He asked, not sure if he would like the answer that she was going to provide.

"You did not act in the way that I have been informed is traditional for romantic dates at a movie theater," Misato explained.

Will didn't like the sound of that. "Great. What did Sylvia tell you this time?"

"Negative. The source of this information did not come primarily from Sylvia Driscoll. This is a conclusion that I drew based on multiple sources describing the experience of dating at movie theaters," Misato clarified.

"Okay, and what was I supposed to do?" Will asked. He regretted asking the question the minute it slipped from his lips, considering who he was asking and what she normally said. But it was too late to take it back.

"I sat in the darkness for 123 minutes and 56 seconds," Misato said. "During that time, it was expected that you would initiate the process of 'groping' under the cover of the darkness. All my data outlines such an action as the most logical conclusion of events that would transpire on such a date. However, you did not perform such an act."

"Uh…" Will's jaw dropped. He looked around to see that several people were in the lobby of the movie theater, looking suspiciously at the two of them. A few people were whispering to each other, and he could feel the weight of their eyes glaring down at him.

Will's face turned bright red and he grabbed Misato by the wrist, turned, and ran out of the movie theater, flustered. He couldn't put up with this here, he needed to find somewhere private to explain to Misato what the hell was wrong with what she had just said!

He couldn't believe Misato had thought that. Well, he could believe it, but he didn't want to think that it could possibly be true.

But it pretty clearly was. Misato had expected him to… make a pass at her in the dark? Using the movie as an excuse?!

Hell, was that whole reason that she had suggested the date to the movies in the first place? That was looking more and more true, as much as he hated to admit it. Misato was simply that sort of Mechadoll, after all…

Misato had been told to have sex with him, or whatever she could do in place of that, on their very first date by Sylvia. And she had done it without even blinking, even though he had stepped in and tried to stop her, explaining to her what the problem with that thinking was.

He had hoped that Misato would understand moving forward that he wasn't interested in doing those sorts of things with him, but clearly she didn't have the processing power to understand that something like that wasn't appropriate.

Heck, kissing her was awkward enough, but now she wanted him to grope her, too? He couldn't imagine doing something like that. Shaking his head, he looked around the mall, but it was packed with people on romantic dates. They didn't stop until they left the mall's premises, and arrived at the bank of the river.

What a surprise, it was the same place that they had ended up on their last date, this was seeming more and more like fate.

"Is this what is known as 'handholding'? I have been informed that such actions are also traditional for couples to perform on a romantic date." Misato's words were what had drawn Will out of his confused, flustered haze. He caught his breath, not used to running this much, and turned his attention back to her, letting out a sigh.

"No, this isn't handholding," Will clarified, shaking his head. "I just needed to get you out of there, don't worry about it."

"Affirmative. If that was an attempt at handholding, I would have needed to clarify that you were not holding my hand. You were holding my wrist," Misato said.

Will sighed. "Yeah. I know."

"Why did you want to leave the mall?" Misato asked. "What is the next step you intend to take for our date? This is not part of the schedule that I had planned."

"Yeah, I figured it wouldn't be," Will said. "No, it's not part of the date, I just wanted to get the two of us somewhere private."

"Understood. Is that the reason that you did not want to grope me while we were watching the movie?" Misato asked. "It is true that the movie theater was filled to capacity. Is this an example of 'shame' that humans experience?"

"No, it's not because I was embarrassed to grope you in front of other people!" Will exclaimed. He really needed to work on his volume. Judging by his luck, a couple of girls would have probably come walking down the river while he shouted. Luckily, that wasn't what had happened.

"Understood. Then do you wish to engage in groping now that we are in private?" Misato asked. Will was more concerned with how easily she had suggested that than he was with the fact that she had apparently not asked for clarification about why he HADN'T groped her while they were watching the movies.

But if he was being honest, that wasn't something he was particularly concerned with. Besides, he could answer that question easily enough by providing her with the ultimate answer to the question at hand, one that he really needed Misato to understand this time.

"I don't want to grope you," Will clarified, speaking as slowly as possible so that she wouldn't mistake his words, even though he probably didn't need to go to such an extreme statement. He toned his temper down. "I don't want to grope you in the movie theater, or in private, out here, either. I don't want to grope you at all, do you understand?"

"Clarification. Your response indicates that you do not fine this body suitably appealing to your tastes," Misato replied. "This does not correlate with the data that I have gathered from your physiological responses. Whenever I am in your presence and we discuss actions such as kissing or fornication, you exhibit several-"

"OKAY, STOP!" Will wailed, pressing his hands over Misato's mouth to keep her from saying another word. It was all too much for him, he couldn't stand it. Why did she have to be so… so Misato about this? He couldn't help it!

Misato had stopped talking, so Will removed his hands. He gave her a withering look of resignation, but Misato didn't seem to notice.

Will let out another sigh.

"Look, Misato, that stuff… that's just… I can't control that. Stuff like my face turning red, my heart beating faster, that's all just stuff that happens," Will said. "Surely you have to understand that, right? If you're able to analyze so much with those eyes of yours, and have so much information stored in that brain?"

Besides, Misato was the one who identified it as a physiological response in the first place, so she should be well aware that Will had no actual control over what his body did when she said stuff like that, damn it!

His hopes were proven true, but not in any way that he found worthwhile.

"Affirmative. All date observed suggests that your responses are within the boundaries of involuntary physiological responses. There have been no irregularities observed that can be attributed to other causes with any degree of statistical significance," Misato confirmed for him. And for a moment, Will was actually relieved.

But only for a moment.

"This includes when your genitals swell with arousal as a result of your hormones. All of your physiological responses can be attributed to the release of hormones in your body compelling you to act in ways to pass on offspring," Misato continued, and Will felt like he was about to die with shame. He didn't even have the energy to shut her mouth himself, he just stared at her in muted horror as she continued to say more and more embarrassing things.

"It is notable that releasing hormones towards me is unnecessary because I do not possess any hormones myself. I am unable to experience physical attraction, or attraction of any other kind. But it is possible to be an object of attraction, which is the only logical conclusion to draw based upon your physiological responses." Misato's words were just getting more and more brutal, and Will could barely find the words to stop her.

"Yes, look, I get it, so can you please just stop talking?" Will pleaded, but for once, Misato did not seem to be following orders.

"I would cease conversation at this point, but it is imperative that I continue in order to provide you with proper information," Misato said, which was a very robotic way of telling Will to shove it. "It is necessary for our future interactions to be based upon mutual understanding of the capabilities of my body. I am not capable of physical intercourse, nor do I possess the necessary materials to engage in procreation. Your hormonal responses only serve to provide detail on the condition of your body so that I may ameliorate your physical discomfort through gratification of your needs. In this instance that would entail-"

That was about enough for Will. He clamped his hand over her mouth again.

"There will be NO gratification of any kind!" Will hissed. "DO. I. MAKE. MY. SELF. CLEAR?"

Will's hand did little to muffle Misato, who replied with the same "affirmative" as she always did. Sighing, he dropped his hand.

"Clarification required." Misato immediately resumed speaking, and Will was temped to shut her mouth again. But before he could, Misato's words assuaged his doubts, while at the same time dumping further humiliation onto him.

"I was not suggesting that I provide you any further stimulation or gratification," Misato clarified. She lifted her hands and crossed them over her chest, turning her body away from him while keeping her empty eyes aimed directly at his. With a voice completely devoid of emotion, she finished with "you dirty boy."

Will wanted to scream. He wanted to punch her in her Mechadoll face and then scream. But it would probably feel like punching a brick.

"…That was an attempt at humor," Misato clarified. Will's eye twitched. Yeah, he got it, alright.

"Are you seriously the one saying that, after you just told me to grope you in the movie theater?!" Will exclaimed. "After all the stuff you've pulled?!"

"Affirmative. Those actions were before I received my present data on dating," Misato replied. "On this date, it is only permitted for you to go as far as touching me over the shirt. Any further actions are not allowed at this present time."

"I don't even want to touch you over the shirt!" Will clarified. "Yes, fine, I may… react to your body like that, but that doesn't mean I actually want to do any of those things! I just… it just wouldn't work, no thank you!"

"Clarification," Misato said after a long pause. She looked almost sad, but that wasn't possible. "What aspect of my appearance or behavior do you not find desirable? I have specifically dressed and acted in ways that would best suit your presence so that you would find me attractive and desire further dates. There is no denying that you find my body physically attractive."

"I know that, but this and that are different things!" Will replied.

"Is it because I am not human?" Misato asked. "Although my body is artificial, I can confirm that the texture is-"

"I don't want to hear stuff like that!" Will exclaimed. "Look, Misato, it's not… I don't…"

Will just couldn't come up with the words right now, why was this so enfuriating?

He took a second to catch his breath, grateful that Misato waited for him. He needed to regather his thoughts, because Misato was just too frustrating with this. Like, yeah, the fact that she wasn't a human was the reason why he wasn't making a move on her, but that wasn't really it, even if she was a human, he still wouldn't…

Yeah, that would be what he would have to tell her. Taking another breath, he decided to just tell her the truth. It wasn't like there was any need to spare her feelings, right?

"Look, Misato, it's like this," Will said. "Even if you were human, I still wouldn't have done it, okay? Because I'm not that sort of person who would just grope someone on a date."

"Thank you," Misato said, and smiled. Will was stunned, why would she thank him for that?

"Wait, what? I'm confused, why did you just thank me?" Will asked.

"Because you complimented me. When receiving a compliment, giving a thank you in return is customary," Misato stated.

"How did I compliment you?!"

"You stated that you would not have groped me even if I was human. By not criticizing my body for being undesirable because I am a Mechadoll, I interpreted your words to be complimentary in nature," Misato explained. "Is this incorrect?"

"Well, that's…" Will didn't quite know how to reply to that. He felt more pressure coming from Misato's eyes, even if they were still completely dead and lifeless. He let out a sigh of resignation and shook his head. There was no sense in arguing further. "…Fine."

"Excellent. Then I shall readjust our date plan to accommodate your desire to refrain from physical gestures of affection," Misato replied. "Then we can resume our date and move to our next scheduled event."

Will was sure he would be thrilled by what she came up with next.

Misato really is bringing it with the harsh words. What will come next with their date?