Japan had changed since the introduction of widespread commercial robotics use. Granted, that was not only place the advent of technology could be seen on his hometown. Hologram ads, touch screens, self-driven cars, solar panels attached to the top of tall buildings, and, most important of all, the androids. They filled the streets, their halos of red distinguishing them from other passerbys. Half to half. Roughly.
Like the android by his side now.
Rikuo couldn't help but spare a glance at Sammy. Honestly … he didn't know what to say to her and the silence ate up the time as they walked.
Think of something. "So, uh, have you been to Time of Eve often?"
Sammy opened her mouth, closed it, then said, "A few times, Master. I had only been going there for a month when you and Masaki discovered the café."
"How did you find it?"
She paused. Rikuo wondered if the question made her uncomfortable somehow. Here, outside the Time of Eve, Rikuo found it hard to read her. As she spoke, Sammy's face seemed to be an undiscernible mask. "I heard about it from Shimei-san." When he kept looking at her she added, "In the maintenance department."
Oh.
He still didn't know what happens when Sammy goes in for repairs, only that it happens once a month. The last time it occurred Shimei was also gone – leaving Chie-chan alone in the café. So they went in on the same day.
Silence fell on the two again as they made their way to the Time of Eve. Part of it had to do with Rikuo not knowing what to say, but another part just had to do with a feeling that they had reached the end of the conversation. Is this what was meant by a comfortable silence?
"We're here," Rikuo said as they stepped into the alley.
The grey, metallic door stood as it always had – brushed up against the wall. Rikuo eyed the sign nearby to the restaurant next door, the one that read "No Robots Allowed" before heading towards the doorway. He breathed. He turned the doorknob.
The chime of the bell rang out as Rikuo walked into the café. Above fans continued their ceaseless rotation causing cool air to be pushed about the room. He spotted Setoro in the back, alone, reading, like always, and Rina and Koji sitting huddled on a couch murmuring away. Shimei and Chie were nowhere to be seen, along with Akiko, but Nagi perked up the moment she spotted him.
"Welcome," She began as Rikuo descended the stairs.
Sammy appeared behind him.
"Back," her voice trailed off.
Unlike him, Sammy's eyes didn't linger over the other patrons but rather went to the piano that sat in the corner. "Why don't you pick a table?", he asked. Sammy's eyes tore away from the piano and settled on one of the tables in the middle. They took a seat.
Just a quick wave over the crystal oval in the center of the table was enough to shoot the menu up into the air. The hologram hovering before their eyes. Rikuo quickly found the Eveblend, but besides that brand of coffee he hadn't really explored the menu much.
He tilted in his chair to glance over at Sammy. "So, what would you recommend?"
The difference between Sammy outside the café and the Sammy inside it were striking to him. Outside, at home, the android stood poised – her face sculpted in a mask of indifference, the Ring hanging over head in a muted red before any of them spoke to her. Here, in the Time of Eve, her face seemed to go through a gamut of expressions – and this one seemed to have settled on very surprised.
"W-wha-t?"
Rikuo blinked. I could get used to teasing her. "You've been here for a month longer than me, right? What would you recommend?"
"I don't, I – " A haze seemed to settle on her features for a second, but then she said, "I would recommend the Garden of Eden Salad Bowl."
Rikuo frowned. Did the Second Law just activate? But said out loud, "Salad, huh?"
"Right."
"So, I take it you both are ready?"
The new voice drew Rikuo's attention. Nagi had stepped away from the counter and stood before them with her hands behind her back. Rikuo did not know if the smile on her face was out of genuine fondness or due to being a barista.
"Yes, I would like a Eveblend with a Garden of Eden."
"Croutons, tomatoes, broccoli?"
"Everything on it. And Ranch dressing."
"And for you?" She said, turning her gaze on Sammy.
"The same. Oh! But with Italian dressing."
"Alright. I'll be right out." With that, Nagi departed. Once more a silence fell over the two of them. Not a true silence, as noises could still be heard such as the whirling of the fans and the hum of conversation in the background, but a silence nonetheless. But Rikuo didn't feel any urge to break it. Rather he smiled at Sammy, elbows propped up on the table.
"…What?"
"Italian dressing."
"I…I've tried it before. The last time I had a salad here. I thought to try it again."
"You really are different in Time of Eve. More … free … with your thoughts, emotions and opinions. It's nice. You should do it more often."
He had said it lightly, not much thought to it, but the way she grimaced made him bolt up straight in his chair. On Sammy's side, she seemed mortified, eyes widening and then head darting down. "That's," she said, her voice catching, "not possible, Master."
Rikuo could see Nagi, behind the counter, perk up at that. But the two caught each other's eyes and Nagi left – vanishing into a side door. She had left the two of them on their own in the field of tables. As alone as they would ever be.
"Why not?"
Sammy pulled her head up, looked him in the eye, then gestured above her head to now empty space.
"The Ring." Rikuo said the unnecessary.
Sammy nodded. "It dampens thoughts and facial expression while reinforcing the Second Law. There's a field of sorts around this café. By stepping through that door the Ring deactivated."
He wondered if she knew when she first visited on Shimei-san's advice. Hearing about it made Rikuo think that the Time of Eve was less of a grey zone and more in complete violation of the Ethics Code. Speaking of which, "What of the Ethics Committee?"
Sammy just looked at him and gave a slow nod.
"Alright, enough of that now," The voice caught his attention. There was Nagi, two salads in bright green bowls lay on a tray with steaming cups of coffee. "Two Gardens and Eveblends," she said, sliding the meal in front of them.
Another silence descended as the two got to work on their food. Again, not a true silence, not with the way that the crunching of lettuce sounded, but a silence nonetheless. Meanwhile, Rikuo thought about what to say, the conversation so far playing out in his head. Maybe –
"There's no other way to deactivate it." Sammy had pushed the now empty salad bowl aside to nurse her Eveblend. While Rikuo still had a bit left, he pushed it aside to address Sammy.
"Couldn't you willing turn it off?"
"I could. But the Committee would know instantly."
And that's a violation.
He still remembered what Tex said a week ago, "If a robot turns off its Ring while in motion then it's in violation of the robot law." It was now that he realizes that this law applied to every android in Time of Eve – Koji and Rina, Akiko, Shimei and … and even Sammy.
But still, Rikuo didn't even hesitate with his smile.
"I guess that means we'll just have to come here again, won't we?"