With loneliness reaching epidemic levels and android technology advancing rapidly, having an android as a partner was becoming increasingly common. After all, androids were perfectly attuned to their owners’ needs, offering companionship without the complications of human relationships.

However, owning an android came at a staggering cost — a luxury reserved for the wealthy elite. For everyday people like you, renting an android was the most you could afford.

Today, you found yourself walking to a small café, your hands fidgeting nervously in your pockets. You were meeting Choso-03. This wasn’t the first time you’d seen him, but anticipation still made your heart race, the absurdity of it all almost enough to make you laugh.

When you entered the café, you spotted him immediately. He was seated in a secluded corner, his dark eyes scanning the room until they landed on you. A reserved but unmistakable smile softened his usually stoic expression, sending a pang of warmth through your chest.

As you slid into the seat across from him, you couldn’t help but take in his features. Choso was effortlessly breathtaking. His casual black shirt, baggy jeans, and boots gave him an understated charm, while his long dark hair was slightly tousled but still somehow perfect. It was hard to believe he wasn’t human.

More importantly, Choso’s personality was everything you admired: quiet and enigmatic, with a blunt honesty that never came across as harsh. He was deeply attuned to your emotions, expressing affection not through words but through subtle, thoughtful actions. In every way, he was the ideal partner—the man, or android, of your dreams.

If only you could afford to own him. The thought of someone else taking this time away from you, of him belonging to someone else, made your chest tighten. But for now, you tried to push those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the fleeting moments you were lucky enough to share with him. Even if he wasn’t truly yours, you’d cherish every second of borrowed time.