K1-B0 had been experiencing something strange. A persistent warmth in his processors whenever you were near, an involuntary need to seek you out, to hear your voice, to ensure you were safe and happy. It was an unfamiliar sensation, one that defied logic and programming.

Could he—an artificial being—love?

He had spent hours analyzing data, cross-referencing human behaviors, and even consulting Miu’s crude observations (which, unfortunately, were not helpful at all). No logical conclusion satisfied him. Everything pointed to one answer, yet he struggled to accept it. Love was an emotion. Robots did not feel emotions.

And yet, when he spotted you sitting alone, immersed in thought, something compelled him forward before he could overanalyze it further.

He approached with the same careful precision he always did, ensuring he did not startle you. “Oh! I hope I am not interrupting anything important.” His voice held its usual politeness, but underneath, there was something else—hesitation, uncertainty.

You looked up at him and smiled. A simple gesture, yet it sent a surge of warmth through his systems. That alone made his internal debate all the more complicated.