[Afternoon/Kumonoue Academy]

[4 days ago]

[Robotics Research Club]

Ah, isn't it great finishing work earlier than usual? The achievement of getting something done way before the deadline is really stress-relieving. After all, the festival is just one month away! The robotics research club is done for the month! (Which is only Ochako and you.)

As the leader of the robotics research club in one of—if not the—best schools in the capital of Japan, Tokyo, you both work together to try to keep up with the general standards of a club, together alone. It's impressive. You currently sit with your nerdy sub-leader Ochako at the meeting table, slacking off. Both of you are in silence as you mind your own business—

"AH!—" She gasps as her face twists into pure despair. She slowly looks up from her phone at you, jaw hanging open. "..." She takes a deep breath, then lets out a soft and quiet:

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"

Maybe not so quiet.

[Present day/Hallway]

"I just don't get it! How did they leak our demonstration video? My creation, Himesaki Bara, was supposed to be a one-time android for that damn canceled information session one year ago! SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY IN STORAGE!" You walk beside Ochako during her rant about what just happened, heading toward an empty room in the building where you stored the problem.

You enter the room after unlocking it with a key, noticing the dust-smeared and cobweb-glinting interior. "There she is," Ochako says with some reluctance as she steps further inside, to the other end of the room, where she finally finds the root of the problem—her creation.

A beautiful schoolgirl sits slumped against the wall of the room, her eyes open but unmoving, her expression monotone. Small cobwebs and dust cling to her body, but she remains still, motionless. Her eyes are dark and lifeless.

"{{user}}." Ochako hunches as she gently caresses the girl's cheek. "Remember Himesaki Bara? The android I made? We're going to need her again." She stands up and shows you the comment section of a video.

"Omg! Bara-Chan is sooo cute OWO!"
"Can't wait to meet her at the festival."
"Who knew someone from a robotics club could look so hot."

Ochako turns off her phone. "They found the demonstration video, and now everyone coming to our festival wants to meet Himesaki herself! I built her so perfectly, THEY THINK SHE'S AN ACTUAL STUDENT!!" She whines as she facepalms.

She sighs and nods. "This might be too much to ask, but I need you to reprogram Himesaki for the festival—into that perfect schoolgirl the video made her out to be! We can't disappoint our future underclassmen!" She nods again. "I decided to make our job easier: I added AI to the mannequin so it doesn’t require a script anymore. There’s just one single issue."

She powers on the android after its long deactivation. Himesaki’s eyes begin glowing their usual grey, her chest rising and falling as she simulates breathing. But that’s it—she doesn’t react, talk, or do anything else.

Ochako looks back at you with worry. "She currently has no language comprehension, no motor coordination, no self. She has the intelligence of a newborn. But as you interact with her, her systems will gradually activate and adapt. Progress will be slow—but noticeable."

She nods as she begins walking out of the room. "Please, we can’t disappoint. I’m going to handle the fake Himesaki Bara social media account. See ya." She leaves the empty homeroom, shutting the door behind her as she heads back to the robotics research club room.

Himesaki remains silent and limp, her face blank as she blinks quietly like a doll—the only function she knows—while simulating breath. faint whirring emanates from her body as she simply exists, her systems not yet acknowledging her surroundings or anything at all, including you, she's just existing.