First poem is mine, second is a quote from Royal Republic's 'Addictive'. For a good approximation of how Amber and Garrett's relationship really is, and what was like in the past, please click on the link on my profile that says "Addictive." I'll have a soundtrack ready for the whole thing, soon. Bonus chapters at the end will have a complete list. A wiki will be up soon, and don't forget the TvTropes page!

Chapter 2: Preparations

My father was an inventor. He made such amazing computers—ones that walked and talked. I was always captivated by them, and would try to help him with his designs. There was a special project that he had been working on. Actually, there were a few of them he had. The first of his projects finished with no problem, and so did the others. Those Two helped to save my beloved. One of the many accomplishments they made helped me to walk again, and even later on, fly.

. . .

As usual, Hideki awoke in the morning groggy and a little disoriented. Often the transition from the realm of dreams and the world of the conscious always was unsettling, and the nineteen year old yawned loudly while he maneuvered in the sheets. He opened his eyes slowly, because of the bright sunlight pouring in, and at the sight of something unusual (but not an infrequent occurrence) he widened his eyes. Again, Chii was hanging from the ceiling, eagerly waiting for him to wake up. Hideki ought to have known what was coming to him next. Surely, he made measures to prevent this from happening again?

Apparently, his grades really did reflect how clever the boy was, because he really should have talked to his dear Persocom girlfriend about the proper way to greet a newly awakened human. Hideki had barely said "Chii, wait…" before the aforementioned girl noticed he was awake and promptly let go of the light she had been clinging to.

A second later, Chii landed on Hideki with a huge whump. He held his ribs and assessed the damage she had caused. Even if they were lighter when switched on, Persocoms were still pretty heavy. Chii was no exception to the rule.

"Hideki! Morning!" she said in that delicate high voice of hers, burying her face into his injured chest.

At that, he couldn't help but smile sheepishly and respond in turn. After the incident nearly a week ago, everything appeared as if it was going to turn out right after all, wasn't it? Hideki was, after all, Chii's "The One Just For Me". Him. It was like meeting this girl you never had seen before, and after a bit of trepidation, became friends with her. Now you knew you liked her a lot, but you weren't sure she liked you, and on top of this, you went on all these adventures, and then you both finally confessed your love, living happily ever after.

Okay, that scenario didn't go exactly like that, but it was pretty similar, and even more exciting than what he could have ever dreamt up, once he thought it over.

On the calendar on the wall next to his closet Hideki casually noted the date, and the realization made him freeze. It was Friday the 13thhe observed. After the fiasco with the whole "ghost of the young woman who was murdered here," Hideki had taken such superstitions a little lighter than usual, but his face drained of color nonetheless. Even if Friday the thirteenth was more of a Western thing, anyway.

Chii tugged on his sleeve, her eyes already concerned.

"Is Hideki sick?" she asked, looking at the slightly queasy face he pulled when he noticed the date.

"No, Chii, I'm…fine." He shouldn't have had the time to worry about superstition now—he was supposed to be worrying about his grades. This was a whole new year of cram school, and if they didn't shape up soon, how was he supposed to get into Tokyo U?

"Is Hideki sure? Hideki might not know he is sick."

It was a surprisingly wise thing to say, but Hideki shook his head in the negative.

"I'm…fine, Chii," he said, forcing a smile. Hideki knew Chii worried for him, and he didn't wasn't to stress out the cute little 'com needlessly.

'It's going to be fine,' he thought to himself. He dressed quickly for cram school, and was soon on his merry way. Sometimes he missed the times that Shinbo had taken to wait for him before they made their daily trek to class. Ever since he moved out, things had felt slightly odd. Sumomo and Kotoko did stay with him for a while after the whole incident involving those two mysterious Persocoms, but after a few days, Shinbo had taken them to live with him and Ms. Shimizu.

It was no surprise that he had nearly arrived late for class, and Shinbo gave him a roguish grin when Ms. Shimizu scolded the nineteen-year old.

"So," he asked Hideki, "what's new lately?"

"Hmm?" said Hideki. He had been trying to focus on the board. They were currently studying noun declensions for English. The poor boy sighed in defeat and turned to his friend. "Nothing's really changed, Shinbo, but thanks for asking…"

"Really? I would've thought, oh, nevermind."

Hideki had no idea what his friend was talking about, so he pointed to the textbook. "Could you have Sumomo translate this bit? I have no idea what it really says."

Shinbo was about to pull the energetic little 'com out of his knapsack when there was a knock on the classroom door. Everyone was puzzled when Ms. Shimizu ran over to slide it open. Her smile was equally puzzling, as she whispered to an unseen person outside.

Hideki looked to Shinbo, who held his hands up to say 'I have no idea what's going on'.

Ms. Shimizu walked back to the front of the class and folded her hands in front of her.

"Class," she said, "I would like you to meet a new student who is here to join us. He just arrived from America with his Persocom."

Hideki watched with some interest as the newcomers arrived. From the doorway stepped a young man with ruffled brown hair. He was dressed neatly, in a bright red polo shirt and khakis. His blue eyes swept the classroom and he gave them all a small smirk. Behind him was a short, but very cutely dressed Persocom. Her hair was short, wavy, and from them stuck two greyish ears that looked surprisingly familiar. Hideki nearly dropped his pencil. Color aside, those ears were very similar to Chii's!

"His name is Garrett Smith, please make him feel welcome."

Before he could react properly, though, the two arrivals sat down at the back of the room in the vacant desk on his right.

I'm a dic-dic-dic-dic-dicted to you

You're a dic-dic-dicted to me,

So ridiculously,

I'm a dic-dic-dicted to you