Robot Protection Zone Chapter 7

I grew more and more exhausted amidst the endlessly piled-up clothes. T-shirts, jumpers, coats, pajamas…. Even next summer’s clothes. And that was not all. It seemed even underwear was now prepared.

Feeling my limit, I finally ran to my master’s side and complained helplessly.

“Master…. I can’t do this anymore….”

“Are you tired?”

I nodded, my eyes brimming with tears. My legs were trembling, and I was so hungry that it was difficult to even stand any longer.

My master looked at me silently for a moment and then spoke as if muttering.

“Then let’s stop here for today.”

As soon as he said that, my face brightened. My master got up from his seat and spoke to the shopper.

“Send everything from here to there, and all the things he tried on, to my home. Pack the first one he wore too. He’ll wear this one as is.”

“Yes, understood.”

As soon as my master finished speaking, a wave of relief washed over me. I was so happy that I didn’t have to change clothes anymore.

I hurriedly followed my master out of the department store and looked up at the sky. The sun was already turning red.

It seemed the time spent in the fitting room was longer than I had thought. A cool breeze tickled my cheeks, but the thick coat and warm scarf wrapped around my body kept me from feeling cold. I put my cold hands in my pockets and glanced at my master.

Are we finally going to have dinner?

All I had eaten today and yesterday was a macaron, so my stomach was even more empty than before. It was dinner time as well, so I looked at my master with expectant eyes and asked cautiously.

“Master, where are we going now?”

“To the company. I have to work.”

“O-oh….”

The expectation that had briefly risen crumbled, and I nodded my head sullenly. I was hungry, but I couldn’t interfere with my master’s work. I kept my mouth shut and quietly got into the car.

The inside of the car was quiet. But then, suddenly, a small but clear sound came from somewhere.

Growl.

“……”

Growl….

“Haa….”

My master let out a long sigh and looked at me. My face was burning, so I couldn’t look my master straight in the eye and hung my head low. Even so, my stomach growled on its own accord.

I squeezed my eyes shut and silently scolded my stomach to be quiet, but it was no use. My stomach, which had already gone beyond my control, growled again, announcing its hunger to the whole world.

“My stomach… I think my stomach is broken again.”

Not knowing what to do, I muttered as if making an excuse, but my master looked at me with an incredulous expression.

“Who do you think you’re lying to, for a robot?”

“I’m sorry….”

“Forget it, let’s go get something to eat.”

“Yes….”

Although my embarrassment was great, I nodded my head slightly at the mention of going to eat something. The thought that I could finally fill my stomach made me feel a little better.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Um….”

At my master’s question, I looked out the window and thought. Unfamiliar streets and bustling people, buildings so tall that the sky was not visible…. The scenery of the street was all unfamiliar. The restaurant I used to go to often. The place that sold my favorite menu item was also gone.

“Everything has changed….”

Realizing that all the familiar places were gone, I looked out the window with a sense of emptiness. What should I do…. As I was having trouble deciding where to go, a familiar sign caught my eye.

It was a restaurant I had been to with my former master. Without realizing it, I raised my finger and pointed to the sign.

“Ah, I’ve been to that restaurant before.”

“Really? Then shall we go there?”

My master turned the steering wheel. I hadn’t particularly meant that I wanted to go there…. But since no other destination came to mind, I quietly put my hand down.

The restaurant only had the same sign; the interior had been completely changed. The splendid lighting and stylish furniture felt awkward, but the trace of the past I had found in the unfamiliar future was just a welcome sight to me.

Perhaps because it was dinner time, the restaurant was crowded with people. I was worried there might not be any seats, but fortunately, a window seat was available.

I looked out the window and recalled my memories with my former master.

“This place, we came in here to take shelter from the rain with my former master because it suddenly started pouring.”

“Is that so?”

“We weren’t very hungry, so we ordered just anything, but it was so much more delicious than we expected that we came here often whenever it rained after that.”

“……”

“My former master and I always sat by the window like today….”

I was excitedly continuing my story for a long time when I suddenly realized that my master was looking at me with a bored expression and stopped. I realized it belatedly. The memories with my former master were precious only to me, and to my new master, they were just meaningless stories.

They must just be trivial memories that wouldn’t matter even if they were erased….

I pressed my lips together, lowered my gaze, and cautiously apologized.

“I’m sorry, I was talking too much….”

“It doesn’t matter. You can talk if you want to. You might remember some important information while you’re at it.”

My master said that as he tilted his wine glass. But the moment I heard those words, I no longer wanted to say anything.

An awkward silence flowed. Amidst the lively noise of the surroundings, only the table where my master and I sat felt quiet. Just as the quiet atmosphere was becoming a little uncomfortable, fortunately, the food arrived.

“Here is the food you ordered.”

“Wow….”

I admired the dishes on the plate. The plating was different from before, but the still-appetizing food caught my eye.

“I will eat well, Master.”

My master nodded. Having received permission to eat, I cautiously picked up a spoon and took a bite of the food.

“Hmm…?”

But something was strange. It was not the same taste I had eaten here before.

Thinking it was too early to be disappointed, I reached for another dish. But even that was not the taste I remembered.

The restaurant’s taste had, of course, changed. The menu was all different, and the interior had also changed, leaving no trace of the past.

My master noticed my sullen expression and asked.

“What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

“The taste has changed….”

“Everything is bound to change with time.”

My master said calmly. I slowly nodded my head, but a corner of my heart still felt empty, as if a hole had been punched through it.

Is that really so? Does everything change with the passage of time? My master from back then, my precious memories…. And someday, me too…?

I lowered my head and looked at my plate. And with my mouth shut, I silently ate my food for a long time.

After finishing our meal and coming outside, the cold night air felt a little chilly.

I thought we were going to the company now, but the road visible outside the window was in a completely different direction from the way to the company.

“Master, weren’t we going to the company now?”

“It’s too late to go now. We’re going home.”

As I asked in confusion, my master spoke calmly. Did my master’s plans get messed up because I was hungry? I felt worried that things had gone wrong because of me.

My heart grew heavy, thinking that instead of being helpful, I had only been a hindrance. I felt like a stumbling block, and my sense of self shrank endlessly.

“William, Didi. Welcome.”

When we arrived home, Sophia came out to the entrance to greet us. As soon as I saw her mannequin-like face, my body froze for a moment. I quickly bowed my head, but I still felt her gaze on me, so I swallowed hard.

“Didi, what are you doing. Hurry and come in.”

“Yes! I’m coming!”

My master urged me, as I had frozen at the entrance. Belatedly, I changed into slippers and followed my master into the house.

“Sophia, what about a room for Didi to use?”

“I have prepared the guest room on the second floor.”

“Good. Show him the way.”

“Yes, William.”

Sophia, who had been talking with my master, turned her head toward me.

A pure white face with no features. Even though she had no eyes, it felt as if our gazes met, and I somehow became nervous. Although I knew that a camera installed under the surface of her face was recognizing me, the smooth, flesh-colored surface still felt eerie.

As I swallowed hard, I saw my master walking away with long strides beyond Sophia. Wait, is my master just going to leave like this? If so, I’ll be left alone with Sophia….

“M-master…!”

I hurriedly followed him and grabbed his arm. My master stopped walking, looking down at the arm I had grabbed.

“You’ll… you’ll come with me, right…?”

My master’s brow furrowed slightly. Soon, as if he remembered that I was afraid of Sophia, a look of utter annoyance crossed his face. I lowered my eyebrows and looked at my master with the most pleading expression I could muster.