Robot Protection Zone Chapter 32

That night, I fell asleep with the charger plugged in. But when I opened my eyes the next morning, my neck felt bare. Glancing around, I saw the charger rolling on the floor. It seemed to have fallen off while I tossed and turned in my sleep.

This is why I try not to charge while sleeping…

As I was gathering up the charger from the floor, I saw the Master coming out of the dressing room after getting changed. His hair was neatly styled as usual. The sharply tailored, dark gray suit added to his even more sleek impression.

I stared at him, spacing out without realizing it, when the Master opened his mouth.

“Didi, stay home today.”

“Pardon? Why?”

“I’m going on a business trip. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

At this completely unheard-of news, I blinked my eyes and stared at the Master. A business trip? I want to go with the Master too…

I asked cautiously with a pleading expression.

“Can’t I go with you…?”

“No. Just stay home and charge quietly today. I’ll be back before tomorrow evening, so don’t cause any trouble.”

The expected answer of ‘no’ came back.

The Master was so firm that I couldn’t pester him any further. I nodded my head limply. He must be leaving me behind because I would be a hindrance if I went with him…

And so, I saw the Master off with Sophia and Eve. I was usually the one being seen off, but now that I was on the sending end, it felt strange.

Once the Master left, the house became unusually quiet.

What should I do now? As I sat on the sofa, spacing out and passing the time, Sophia happened to pass by behind me.

“Sophia.”

“Yes, Didi.”

“What did you usually do while waiting for the Master when you were at home?”

“After tidying up the house, I enter my room and run sleep mode until William returns.”

Sophia’s answer was excessively simple. Come to think of it, I think Eve had a sleep mode too. In that case, what should I, who doesn’t have a sleep mode, do to pass the time?

As I sat hunched on the sofa and sighed, Eve slid over to me.

It seemed like she noticed I was bored and was trying to stay by my side. But since Eve couldn’t speak, all she could do was stand quietly next to me.

Perhaps because of the large space in the silent house, the quietness flowing through the living room felt even more lonely.

It had been a long time since I had spent time alone. Before my power was turned off, there was a point when my former master started to keep his distance from me, so I used to spend time alone then.

Back then, I would pass the time by taking walks in the neighborhood or talking with other robots at the company… Now, the world had changed so much that it was difficult to go out alone. Of course, there were also bad memories.

Come to think of it, there were a lot of books in the study. The books lining the shelves in the study suddenly came to mind, so I grabbed the charger and headed there.

Even as times change, paper books remain the same. It would be nice if the world never changed for a lifetime, like a paper book. It felt lonely, as if everything had changed except for me and the paper books. Still, in this place full of books on all sides, I felt like I could quiet my anxiety for a little while, without being conscious of the unfamiliar world.

With the charger connected to the back of my neck, I quietly opened a book in the study.

As I spent time reading a book in the study, night fell quickly.

I said goodnight to Sophia and Eve and went up to the second floor. The Master isn’t here today, so I should sleep in my room. Thinking that, I went into my room and lay down on the bed, but strangely, I couldn’t fall asleep.

My mind was wide awake. Was it because the environment had changed after always sleeping in the Master’s room? I wondered if moving to a familiar room would make it a little better.

But the Master isn’t here; is it okay for me to sleep in his room without permission?

After some deliberation, I called him late at night.

Ringgg…

The ringing tone continued for a long time. Is he busy? I was thinking that if the Master didn’t answer, I would give up and go down to the first floor to sleep with Eve, but just before the call was about to cut off, the Master answered.

— Didi? Is something wrong?

The Master asked in a serious voice as soon as he picked up the phone. It suddenly occurred to me that this was the first time I had ever called the Master. Since I, who had never contacted him before, had suddenly called, he seemed to think something had happened.

I hurriedly continued speaking before the Master could worry any further.

“Ah, no, it’s not that… Um… may I sleep in your room?”

After saying it, it felt awkward to even ask, as it was such a trivial matter.

To think the first phone call would be for a request like this… What if the Master gets angry that I called for such a small thing, I worried belatedly.

— You called just for that?

“Yes…”

The Master must have thought so too, because I could hear a hollow laugh over the phone.

“Since you’re not here, I thought I should get your permission…”

— So it’s okay to not get permission when I am here?

Umm… I was at a loss for words.

Should I give up on sleeping in the Master’s room? At this rate, it seemed like I would end up sleeping on the sofa with Eve on the first floor. I was about to gather up my pillow and blanket when the Master spoke from over the phone.

— Do as you please. You sleep there every day anyway, so what’s the use in me saying no now?

“Really?”

— Just don’t cause any trouble and stay quietly at home.

“Yes! I’ll just sleep quietly!”

I tossed the pillow down as if throwing it and shot up from the bed.

As soon as the call ended, I ran straight to the Master’s room.

When I opened the door, the now-familiar scenery of the bedroom came into view. Since I ended and started my day here every day, this place now felt more comfortable than my own room.

As soon as I lay down on the Master’s bed, I wriggled my way into the blankets. I could use the entire spacious bed by myself today, but I must never invade the Master’s spot.

I hugged the soft pillow tightly and closed my eyes. But… strangely, even though I was sleeping in the Master’s room with permission, sleep wouldn’t come.

After tossing and turning for a long time, I kicked off the blanket and lay spread-eagled. I slowly blinked my eyes while looking at the dark ceiling.

Was it because I couldn’t feel the Master’s presence? It felt like I couldn’t sleep without someone next to me. The empty spot beside me, where the Master always lay, felt particularly vacant.

Come to think of it… before I was abandoned by my former master, I always slept alone…

I was suddenly reminded of that time. My master, who used to sleep with me every day, started to gradually distance himself from me at some point, and eventually slept in a different room.

I suddenly felt gloomy. The empty space started to bother me even more.

“…I miss the Master.”

I couldn’t forget the sight of him running toward me as I shivered alone in the park.

The Master, with his harsh way of speaking and rough actions. He was mischievous enough to kiss me first while drunk and then completely forget about it the next day. But in that moment when he held my trembling body tightly… he was definitely a gentle person.

Perhaps I wanted to believe that because he resembled my former master. But as we spent time together, I came to know. That the two of them were different. To the point that I no longer saw them overlapping at all.

As I tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time, the Master’s dressing room caught my eye.

“……”

I quietly got up, opened the door slightly, and peeked inside. The Master’s scent and atmosphere remained just as they were.

Just looking at the clothes made me feel as if the Master were standing there, which made me feel happy for no reason. If I sleep with those clothes next to me, won’t it feel like the Master is here with me?

It seemed like it wouldn’t be noticeable if I touched just one. After hesitating for a moment, I chose a suit that had the distinct feeling of ‘Mr. William’ and brought it over.

“Hmm…”

Maybe because I only brought one, it feels a little empty…

I headed back to the dressing room. As I picked out various clothes that exuded the Master’s atmosphere, I soon had an armful of his clothes in my embrace. I considered putting a few back, but I brought them all. I could just tidy them up before the Master comes back…

I arranged the Master’s suits on the bed. Then, when I buried my face in the warm fabric, it felt as comfortable as being held in the Master’s arms.

Finally, my heart felt at ease.

Feeling as if the Master were right beside me, I slowly drifted into a deep sleep.