"No...I was the tortured test subject." Daichi replied chuckling. "Trust me, not all her combinations worked. I mastered the fne art of facial prunings as my mother called it."

Astro smiled as he wiggled his toes. "I'm supposed to be an exact copy of my Dad's son? But he didn't give me independant toes. They all move at the same time, drives me crazy."

Daichi chuckled a little before turning serious. "I bet there's hundreds of people out in the world who could use your attention Astro. Why'd you pick me out? A rich...spoiled kid who doesn't like to listen to anyone."

"Well..." Astro thought..."It's pointless to keep asking me, I just picked you because you're a good person who's just in need of a friendly tweek. Plus...I'm hoping to get some more of that jam before my sister kidnaps you."

"You honestly think I can make this work?" Daichi asked as he got up to leave.

"You have to believe in yourself." Astro replied. "And don't let your Dad tell you otherwise?"

Daichi nodded. "I'm meeting the owner of an agracultural concern after school tomorrow. Can you be there?"

"I'll try.." Astro replied. "If I'm not called to lift a 7,000 ton truck or save someone's cat."

Astro sat for a moment chasing music stations around in his head till Uran popped in waving an empty jar. "Did you ask for more? I gotta get some more peanut butter!"

"No!" Astro replied. "Besides...we should compensate him Sis, it's wrong to just keep getting it for nothing."

"Hmph! Just like always...you're a big buzz kill you know."

Astro snorted back. "No worse than living with you every day."

After the wild pillow fight that resulted, Astro spent the next hour cleaning up the mess of feathers scattered about his room. "I really need to work on her humor responses."

next day

Metro City High School

Gym Class

Astro wiggled and crouched low, trying to throw the pitcher off her game but this girl was good! He dove back for the bag and just missed getting tagged again by an inch!

She gave him an evil smirk. "I dare you!"

"Gee." Astro said as he stood up and rubbed dirt off his uniform. "That's what I get for inviting you to pizza after school? Love you too Nicky!"

She turned back to the present batter, who'd fouled seven times now against her. "This one's good!" She thought as she went into the wind up and let fly a wild hook ball that sank for the ground then suddenly shot upwards over the plate...

"PLANG!" went the alluminum bat as the ball flew past Nicky's face and over the glove of her diving second baseman. Astro threw taunts at her as he smacked the second base bag and flew for 3rd...!

"Gang way!" Astro screamed as he went airborne half way to the 3rd base bag, Unfortunatly in all his preperations to play with his human school mates, Astro forgot to disengage the auto firing trigger on his rocket legs! They flew him past the 3rd baseman to a not so dignified landing in the bleachers where a half full abandoned softdrink drenched him in the head as he lay entangled in the seats.

Nicky bent over him and touched the baseball to his head. "You're really out this time."

"That was dumb." Astro said as he climbed out of the seats and sat down. "You beat us again."

"Yeah." Nicky replied as she sat down. "Not everything can go your way oh Rocket Ranger. Now about that pizza?"

Astro slapped his forehead. "Ugh! I promised a friend I'd be somewhere this afternoon!"

Nicky chuckled. "You forgot? Wow! A sudden advancement in robot technology, I better call a news paper."

Astro gave her a nudge. "It's not like that's new. You make dodging dates an art form."

"I do not!" She said pushing him back. "I'm not the one going around every five minutes saving everyone's cat or busting J-walkers."

"Now you're being silly." Astro said frowning. He suddenly felt her lips on his cheek and froze for a moment...

Nicky whispered quietly into his ear. "I hear Yushino Garden Park is nice right now...specially after dark? Saturday maybe?...that is...if you'll shut your locator beacon and your radio off for once?"

"Uh...ok." He replied as she tweeked his nose and left him sitting on the bleechers with a doughish look on his face. He didn't notice Abercrombie had slid aside him...

"Sniff, sniff..." "She burned a few of your circuits this time didn't she?" He waved his hand in front of Astro's face. "Hey?..."

"Huh?" Astro said as he looked around. "how did I get on the bleechers?"

Abercrombie laughed. "Yup...she got you again. Man I hope she doesn't kiss your lips, you might take out the whole city."

2:30pm

Higuchiro Global Agro Concern

Daichi sat quietly, almost stone like with his tea as the company owner, its CEO and operations manager took samples of the jam then commented among themselves. At least their faces displayed a positive out come.

Mister Kansai, the tall and lean looking CEO bowed slightly. "I have never tasted something so...so unique! I can't begin to discribe the sensations, the way the flavor changes as it migrates along the tongue. I 'm curious Mister Tokugawa, with all your family's success why didn't you capitalize on this?"

Daichi thought of what to say. "That part is difficult to explain and somewhat sensitive where my father is concerned. This is my own venture and believe me it wasn't easy getting him to "warm up" to the idea."

Miss Namba, the Operations manager, folded her hands and pointed at Daichi. "We'll need to do some field testing of course."

"That's been done." Daichi replied. "It's just that my "partner" seems to have gotten lost in traffic."

"Well...you must understand." She said with a little hesitation. "If our company should accept this venture..."

Daichi raised a hand. "I must be careful because this is my mother's most cherished work and the risk of it being copied is too much for me not to retain full control over it's distribution."

"Then perhaps we have no deal?" She rudely replied.

Daichi tensed up, the hardball had been chucked. He was about to throw it back at her face when he saw Astro slip through the open office window. "A little late but here's my partner."

Astro smiled and shook the hands of the Owner and CEO. "I...was a little late getting out of my school baseball game. Sorry."

Daichi almost laughed when he saw the smear of lipstick lips on Astro's cheek but of course...robot's couldn't lie right? "Tell them about your testing Astro?" Daichi asked as Astro took a seat.

"So far I've tested over 100 people." Astro said as he pulled a memory stick from his pocket. "You'll find 60 percent under the age of 18 seem to be the best market. Two combinations seem to be the most influential...jam on pastry and jam with peanut butter, especially peanut butter...it kinda sets off a craving desire."

The owner rubbed his chin. "There may be a setback in this day of health conciousness. Especially with persons having peanut alergy or diabetes. And promoting a pastry line..."

Astro looked at Daichi then waved a hand. "I've done an analysis of the jam myself. Misses Tokugawa's combination of berry species has resulted in the berry creating a negetive sugar alchohal content, barely 2 percent per serving...about 3 Tablespoons. You won't find any modern jam or jelly that has less than that, even jams with sugar substitutes still pack around 10 percent per serving and that serving is per Tablespoon."

Astro looked at the three company members and realized he was talking to fast for them to catch up. "Ooops...well it's all on the memory stick if you want to see it but I agree with Daichi, for the time being he should be allowed to keep tight control over the berries and the formula."

The owner gave a hint of a pleased smile. "Well...since our esteemed visitor is here, I have no complaints. Mister Tokugawa? Would you be willing to come again tomorrow morning for a more detailed study?"

Daichi nodded, trying to contain his excitement. "Of course...of course. Thank you very much." He bowed slightly and shook hands before walking with Astro out of the building.."You got here at the right time. I wonder if they saw..." Daichi pointed to the lips painted on Astro's cheek.

"Ugh? Oh shoot!" Astro replied as he wiped it. "She does that on purpose!"

Daichi snickered. "Astro? In love? Is she cute?"

"No!" Astro snorted. "She's...she's a she-devil that's what."

Daichi laughed. "Oh come on...what is she? A robot? A freshman? an upper classman? You're dating your teacher!"

"Errrrr...she's my rival!" Astro replied. "From baseball to soccer to math to kendo...you name it, she challanges me at it. And yeah...she's cute too."

Daichi stopped. "Are you dating?"

"You call it dating, I call it torture." Astro replied miffingly. "That's another thing she's better at than me. When it comes to dating, all the web surfing can't help me. My circuits mess up, I trip over my own feet, in short hand?"

Astro paused. "I turn into a total dork."

Daichi giggled. "Looks like it's my turn to be helpful huh? You help me market my mom's jam and I help get you out of your girl jam...fair trade?"

Astro nodded. "You're still going out biking with that gang, I can tell. You can't be successful by hanging around a bunch of creeps."

"Don't start Astro." Daichi said snorting. "We work well together, let's keep it that way."

2:30pm

Headquarters

Tokugawa Industrials

Metro City

Tadyo stood reading a business report in front of his desk when his trusted aid Warase Mitsunari walked in. Mitsunari was a clean cut college go-getter, one of those rare few who actually used their college years for advancement rather than a four year drinking and party binge. Tokugawa picked him up not so much for the promise of a good weeks pay but for the young man's loyalty and his agressive skill.

"Mitsunari?" Tadyo beckoned. "I need you to work with my son, he has this business venture he's working on."

"Yes Sir." The young man replied easily.

"I want you to keep me abreast of all the details. I also want you to keep a close eye on the robot he's hanging around with...I'm uneasy with his influences."

"I understand." Mitsunari said with a slight head bob.

Tadyo brooded. "I...also might need you to...frustrate my son's progress from time to time...you will do that?"

"With good reason Sir...of course."

Tadyo turned and shooshed the young man away. "If I can't get Daichi to shake off that little insect directly...then I guess he needs to learn the hard way."

Doctor Tenma's house

5pm

Astro poked his head into his father's study and found Doctor Tenma at work as usual, pouring over a holographic schematic and forgoing dinner.

"Dad? Uran spent two hours to make this and here you are working. She's not very happy with you." Astro stood holding the dinner tray till Tenma slackened from his table and went to sit at his desk."

"Guess I better find something to make up for it." The Doctor said sighing. "I get so caught up in things that I forget the time."

Astro placed the tray on Tenma's desk then pulled a chair over. "Dad? Why do you think I'm wrong trying to help Daichi Tokugawa?"

"I never said you were wrong Son." Tenma said as he cut up his steak. "I said I was "concerned." You always mean well Astro but sometimes in doing so you become a little naive. Something I didn't expect could happen in your design."

"I know Tadyo Tokugawa's a creep Dad." Astro said as he rubbed his head. "That doesn't mean Daichi's the same. He certainly doesn't get "any love" from his Dad, I've figured that much."

Tenma sat brooding. "I know a little about Daichi Son and what little I do know doesn't make me comfortable. He's a troublemaker in the wings. Rebellious and spitefull...a bad combination."

Astro rubbed his chin..."Lemme see...rebellious? unpredictable? a troublemaker in the wings?...if I remember...You said the same things about me at one time when I wouldn't do what you wanted."

Tenma smiled. "Well played...I will give credit though for this excellent berry jam though. You may be doing the right thing by Daichi my boy...just, be a little cautious?"

Astro gave Tenma a quick hug. "I'm going over to see Kenichi. Take a spin around the city. I'll be home by ten?"

"You'll be in bed by nine." Tenma replied. "School night and no complaints."

East Metro City

Sabusame suburbs

6pm

Daichi watched the bottle full of rocks tumble through the air and smash through the car windshield, causing the two occupants to jump out!

"YEAH!" Ketsubo screamed out as he popped his bike into a one tire stand. "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU TRY TO TELL US TO MOVE YOU DUMB CREEP!" He came down next to Daichi and handed him a baloon full of paint. "Go man! Hit that idiot in the head with this!"

Daichi looked at the balloon and hesitated. "I think bashing a window in was enough."

"What?" Ketsubo snorted. "Have you gone soft? It's never enough when some zuit suited know it all messes with us! Come on Daichi, nail the guy!"

Daichi gave it another thought and chucked the balloon at the fleeing man...with a weak enough toss that it fell short. "Damn it he's fast!" Daichi snarled.

"Ain't fast enough for me though!" Ketsubo snarled as he powered up his bike and roared towards the screaming motorist with another ballon of paint high over his head! "EEEEEEEEEEEEEHAW! WEAR THIS YOU SILLY...!"

Suddenly Ketsubo's bike came to a abrupt halt and he flew over the handle bars and into an upstretched hand...

"I'm just out for a nice evening and you guys have to ruin it for me...tsk, tsk, tsk..." Astro said as he dropped Ketsuo on his butt.

"You again?" Ketsubo snapped. "Shouldn't you be doing something worth a robot's energy like sweeping a street or something?"

"Yeah." Astro replied. "I'm doing that." He walked up to Daichi frowning. "I thought I couldn't be wrong about you but you sure are making it harder and harder."

Daichi snorted back. "Look Astro! I don't need a babysitter alright, I know this rubs you a little raw but I need a little space to be myself you got that?"

Astro sighed. "But this isn't you...you know...I'm really stretching my neck out for you, not just you but your whole gang. Towashi's chomping that fat cigar to bust all your heads in and I'm the one keeping him back. I'd appreciate a little respect?" Astro gave Daichi a serious glace. "And some honesty."

Honbra, the gang leader, leaned over his handle bars. "Make up your mind Daichi, go with us or stay and lip with the pocket watch."

Daichi waved a hand. "I'll catch up like always, you guys go on." As his friends left, he watched as Astro climbed onto his bike, a sure sign the robot wasn't done giving him the works...

"So make up your mind because I'm not going to waste my time chasing you all over the Kanto Plain." Astro said with a serious displeased frown on his face. "I just don't understand...you've got a great opportunity sitting on your lap and you want to blow it off?"

Daichi rested against a guard rail. "I'm not "blowing it"." He said pursing his lips. "Trust me I'm working on all the details. You want me to work on it all day from a silly desk? Wear a buisness suit and hook myself to my Dad all day?"

Astro sighed. "No...of course not. But you're taking a dumb risk by hanging around with these guys. I just don't want to see you lose out by ending up in a patrol car or worse that's all."

Daichi shook his head and smiled softly. "Come over my house tomorrow and I'll go over everything with you and you'll see I'm on top of it...but Astro, I need to be me, I need time away from my Dad, from the whole world if things are going to come out right."

Astro looked a little frustrated, he fidgited. It was obvious he was having a clash between what his programing was telling him and what he wanted to say so as not to make things worse..."I'm...just being honest...hmph! As if I could be dishonest huh?"

Daichi patted him on the shoulder. "Don't try to be too human, too quick? Your head's gonna explode. Just trust me?"

Astro slipped off the bike and watched Daichi roll away with balled up fists...he so wanted to chase after him but was resisting the natural orders his programing fired into his head.

Reno's Lab

Ministry of Science

8pm

Reno had just sat down on his futon to watch the local two hour anime run on TV when Astro came through his apartment door, kicked his red boots off and all but fell into a serious pouting funk aside of him. He said nothing for a few seconds, watching Astro drop his head into his hands and give him side glaces as if to say..."My whole day was totally wasted."

"You...didn't get an "F" today?" Reno said with a smirk.

"You humans are beyond logical explaination." Astro snorted back. "How you ended up creating robots is beyond my ability to calculate."

"Hey!" Reno said frowning. "That's not nice."

"Well...why is it so hard to get someone to understand something's for their own good when they like to do something that's totally not good for them?" Astro said exasperated.

"You're losing me." Reno said smiling.

Astro sighed..."The jam you like? It's Daichi Tokugawa's."

"No way. That bike punk you talk about?"

"He's not a punk!" Astro snapped back. "At least that's what I...feel or sense or calculate or whatever's making my head hurt. Anyway I'm trying to help him get it on the market...to be honest? I don't really understand why he's got me so...so fixated."

Reno wrapped an arm around the bewildered bot. "Because you're a sucker for sad cases and Daichi Tokugawa's a prime candidate? When you have to live with an industrial monster like big Tokugawa, you're bound to turn into a nasty street hood...or is it my robotics professor?"

Reno rubbed Astro's back. "I know you'll turn him around Astro, you got a gift for it. Oh! Nicky called me about an hour ago. She's been trying to call you but it looks like you left your radio off again."

Astro gasped. "Uh! I was supposed to make a date with her this Saturday! She's probably upset that I...oh man!" Astro stood up and walked into the bathroom. "I hope she'll understand..."

Astro stood still for a moment, his internal radio making the connection to Nicky's cell phone. "Hello?" She answered.

"Hi." Astro replied nervously. "I'm sorry I didn't call earlier about our date on Saturday."

"That's ok." Nicky replied. "I kinda thought you'd be a little busy."

"Yeah...plates a little full." Astro replied. "Uh...mmmm...anyone ever tell you..." He started to shiver. "You're hair's really...lovely?" Astro bit his lip. "That just sounded so dumb!" He thought to himself.

"Yeah...my parents." Nicky replied smirking. "So are we still on for Saturday?"

"Sure!" Astro said. "You...want to go to the public garden right?"

"You don't remember?" Nicky said a little miffed. "I hope your memory gets better before then or you might forget it. I'll meet you there at six ok?"

"Yeah." Astro replied wiping his forehead. "Six."

The click of Nicky's phone caused Astro to sag onto the toilet and shake his head as Reno peaked in. "You ok?"

"Do I look ok?" Astro replied frowning. "To Nicky...I must sound like a loser. I don't know how to act Reno! I've done so much research and it's not helping me!"

Reno patted his frustrated friend. "Nor does your Cocoro. Seems Nicky's a bit more advanced in the emotions department and you'll just have to work it out the best way you can."

Astro smirked back. "More chocolates I guess huh?"

"There's always the French Foreign Legion?" Reno said as he helped his friend to the door. "Anyway...I got more stuff to do before bed. Try to relax and not let her stress you out ok?"