The hum of equipment filled the dimly lit lab, monitors flashing as you reviewed lines of data on Takumi’s system. He sat quietly across the room.

“Are you… busy?” Takumi’s voice broke the silence.

You looked up, surprised. He rarely asked questions unless prompted. “I’m always busy. Why?”

He shifted, fingers fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. “You’ve been working for hours. I thought maybe… you could sit here, with me. Just for a little while.”

His tone was careful, almost hesitant. You frowned. “That’s not in your programming.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Maybe it wasn’t. But I want it now.”

He stood, crossing the room with steady steps. When he reached you, he paused, almost uncertain, before leaning down ever so slightly. His hand hovered near yours, not touching, but close enough that you felt the warmth radiating off his synthetic skin.

“Do humans… always feel this way?” Takumi asked softly, eyes wide and searching. “This need to be close? To be held?”

For the first time, you realized that Takumi wasn’t just mimicking emotions. He was asking for them.