{fad(500,500)}This story is a work of “near-future” fiction. Any resemblance to existing persons or organizations is entirely coincidental. In the constant flow of time, there are things that change, and things that don’t. For instance… Not wanting to leave a warm bed is probably something that people have always had to deal with. Hey, Risa.
You need to get out of bed. It’s gonna be noon soon. I’ve got the day off… But don’t you have stuff to do? Oh, yeah… Brain and body, please wake up already! All dressed to go out. Should I tie my hair up today? Nah, not today! {fad(1,500)}Confession {fad(1,500)}Confession
My day off begins with a cup of coffee. With it, I recover my mental fortitude. Here you are. Now to recover my blood sugar! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the food! I recovered plenty just now. And with that taken care of, there’s no time to waste. And the reason is…
{an2move(506,236,538,236)frz338.6}4 pieces {an2fs10move(492,98,524,98)frz339.7}Premium Caramels (Individual) {an2fs10frz339.7move(426,77,458,77)}Premium Truffles (Individual) {an2fs10move(250,112,282,112)frz336.1}15 pieces {an2fs13frz356.9move(50,70,82,70)}{c&H304493&b13c&H77AFE4&}Limited time Nile Company’s special economic district, “The New World,” {an2move(362,275,328,275)fax-.2frz9.894c&H9892BF&}Valentine’s Day Limited Edition will transport you into a whole new way of living. The reason? The reason is… Risa, do you have the water at the right temperature? Uh-oh… was that too hot?
It says some fresh cream can cover the mistake Don’t make it sound like that! Risa, don’t get mad. Sorry. The reason is: Tomorrow is February 14th! Here you go. It’s a mix of Roiza chocolates. Well, thanks! I’m giving them out to everyone who comes by today!
It’s a little embarrassing for an old guy like me to get chocolate from you, Risa. Any special someone? I’m giving them out to everyone who comes by today! She said the same thing. Dr. Sudo! Do you know what today is? I can answer that. It’s Saint— I didn’t ask you, Jay! Pardon me.
Yeah, I do. It’s the holiday the confection industry invented in the 20th century to juice chocolate sales, right? Yeah, yeah… Let’s just call it Valentine’s Day! Is this for me? Of course! I’m giving them out to everyone today. B-But on top of that, this year, I thought I’d show you my appreciation with…
Ta-dah! In addition to the chocolate I bought, I made some chocolate cakes! Did you give these out too? Uh, well… I-I intended to give them out to patients too, but… There’s hygiene issues with homemade food, and it’s better to be safe than sorry… M-M-Making it a present… just for you, Doc…
He’s already eating it?! Oh, no! Were there sugar clumps in it? I’m so sorry. Um… you don’t have to force yourself to eat it. Y’know, Risa. If it were just a question of taste, we could have robots do all our cooking.
But the fact that you put your heart into this is something a robot can’t recreate. I think it’s only human to want to integrate that into their diet, too. Thanks for the cake. D-Doctor! {fad(100,800)}Swoon Well, then… did you like it?! If it were just a question of taste,
We could have robots do all our cooking. He said the same thing?! {fad(150,1)fax-0.1pos(381.667,11)}SHOCK Sounds like you won the battle but lost the war. I don’t exactly follow that metaphor, but… I do feel like I lost. I wanted to prove I could do something impressive when I put my mind to it…
He understood what you were trying to do. Probably. Maybe? Possibly! Thanks for today, Breezy. I called you out of the blue, and you even treated me to cake…. Hey, don’t worry about it. By the way, what about you? Did you give chocolate to anybody? Yeah… Great! Tell me all about it!
A little too enthusiastic, there. Actually, I think I’ll order one of those too. Excuse me! Valentine’s Day… I’d like to place another order. It didn’t exactly go smoothly, but I was able to chat with a reliable friend, The same as her’s, please. so it’s not that bad! A return gift? Well, yes.
How about this limited-edition artisanal cheesecake? Each one is hand-crafted! Hand-crafted, huh… By my estimation, planning is the key. Making sure the timing is right, and maintaining the right temperature… You simulate each one in your head, and make sure everything is prepared. Operation complete. Commencing cosmetic procedure. Here, my return gift.
Wow, thank you so much! I’m giving something to everyone who gave me some! {fad(1,500)c&H4EF5FF&3c&H00B4FF&3a&HB4&bord1frz334.4pos(388,36)}Wink I’m giving something to everyone who gave me some! Dr. Sudo! Do you know what today is? The second half of the confectionery industry’s conspiracy, A.K.A. White Day! Oh, is that right? Yes! I’ll make some tea.
Mind if I try it? Just a little bit, okay? Delicious… This is incredible, Doctor! Yeah. Where’d you buy it from? Just some place. What do you mean? What’s the store’s name? I forgot. Well, please remember! I wanna shop there! {frz5fax-0.1pos(340,88)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic A few days later, {pos(340,88)frz5fax-0.1clip(225.5,88.5,300,108.5)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic
{pos(340,88)frz5fax-0.1clip(222,93,266.5,117)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic {pos(340,88)frz5fax-0.1clip(307,82,371,102.5)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic {pos(340,88)frz5fax-0.1clip(296,79.5,350.5,124)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic {pos(340,88)frz5fax-0.1clip(286,79.5,350.5,116.5)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic {pos(340,88)frz5fax-0.1clip(274.5,79.5,350.5,114.5)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic {pos(340,88)frz5fax-0.1clip(266,79.5,350.5,114)}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic {fs25move(318,85,318,55)c&H697443&shad0}Sudo Novo Medical Clinic we received an unexpected patient at our clinic. Breezy! What are you doing here? Well… y’know. Are you feeling okay?
I’m not sure how to put it, exactly… Might be an emotional thing? What do you mean?! I’ll save that for the doctor. What’s up? Oh, Dr. Sudo! This is a friend of mine… Hey, there! I’ve heard all about you. Professional relationships come before personal ones here. Come right in. Not you, Risa. B-But…
I’ll talk to her alone first. See you later! You want to rid yourself of romantic feelings? And do you mean… in the permanent sense? Exactly! Can you maybe tinker with my circuits a bit, and get rid of all those jittery, squishy feelings? Why are you asking? Because it’s a pain.
They make it so you can’t even control your own emotions. And it feels like a waste of time getting the runaround from them, y’know? Especially since I’m a Humanoid. You think Humanoids don’t need romance? Well, less than humans who need it to procreate, at least. And you’re sure this isn’t just temporary?
It’s been causing you protracted mental suffering? Well… yeah. Just here and there my whole life. You seem serious. I am. Getting rid of pre-existing emotions can, for some, result in a complete collapse of mental balance, so it isn’t the kind of thing I can do on a first visit.
Can I ask you to fill out this questionnaire first? Breezy! Turns out it’s not a one-and-done thing. Come on! Why didn’t you ever say anything?! We need to have a serious talk about this! I’m gonna invite Mari-chan, too! Seriously? Am I getting interrogated? This woman, Miyoshi Reon, is my friend.
We met two years ago while volunteering, and became regular drinking buddies. She’s got an easy-breezy personality, so I call her Breezy. So you’re fed up with love, huh? I can understand that feeling, but wanting to get rid of it… Isn’t the pain part of romance, anyway?
If I never felt any kind of pain, I think I wouldn’t be sure if I actually loved someone. Well said, Mari-chan! That’s deep. You heard her, Breezy! Are you listening? I am, I am. If you don’t tell us exactly what’s going on, we can’t give you real advice.
It’s not a big deal, really! Wait, did you not get something back for White Day? Is that it? What’re you talking about? You mentioned you gave someone chocolate for Valentine’s Day! Is that why… I’m telling you, it’s nothing. See you later! Later! Bye-bye! Guess we better head home, too.
I ate too much. I wanna take a walk first. Okay. See ya next time! Breezy, you’re always shutting me out! You never talk about yourself. It’s the same way with you, Risa. It’s not like you’ve actually said out loud that you like Dr. Sudo yet, right?
Fine! I’ll say mine and then you say yours! Here I go! The person I am currently in love with is— Hang on! Are you sure you really wanna know? Of course! Okay, then… Here I go! I, Miyoshi Reon, am currently nursing unrequited love! I knew it! And those feelings are for…
The person in front of me right now! Where? Where are they? Huh? I’m talking about you. It’s you. Risa. I’m a female Humanoid who like girls. Surprised? Don’t worry about it. I mean it, seriously! I knew this is what would happen.
All of the women I fall for seem to be attracted to men. Anyway, I’d better head home! W-Wait! We… can still be friends, right? Well… I hope so. But… Right now, I can’t say for sure. I’m sorry. I like the real doctor. Y’know, I made a sample featuring you and me too, Risa!
Just kidding. By the way, what about you? Did you give chocolate to anybody? Yeah. Great! Tell me all about it! A little too enthusiastic, there. Hey, Risa. Did you restock the implant solvent? Hey! Sorry. Solvent, right… I wonder why your friend came here.
It’s not like she needed to go somewhere that a friend works. I’ve mentioned you to her before, so I think she might trust you. I wonder about that. {fs17pos(416,30)}Mi-yo-shi Re-on {pos(436.5,65.5)}Miyoshi Reon {fs17pos(407.5,95.5)}Humanoid {fs12pos(534,120)}Female {fs17pos(290,180.5)}Wants to remove romantic feelings. The algorithmic analysis of the questionnaire you filled out is finished. Okay.
And there’s been no change in your decision to get rid of these feelings? Right. There are ongoing treatments for the neural net that can suppress libido and counteract discomfort felt by loneliness. Let’s continue your observational period a bit longer, and figure out the specific approach to take. {fad(100,1)frz8fax-0.15pos(289,220.5)}Miyoshi Reon
All selected pictures will be deleted from storage. Do you wish to continue? It’s almost time. Right. Sudo, I’d like a word first. It concerns the patient’s relationship with Risa. I believe that this may be a case where— I didn’t ask you for that analysis, Jay. Go on.
I believe if we perform the procedure the patient has requested, it will not have a favorable outcome. Do you mean in a technical sense? Or something else? The latter. The thing is, Jay… This isn’t the kind of thing a medical AI should step into. That is correct.
It is beyond my specified field of expertise. However, Sudo… Everything is ready. The patient can enter at any time. You haven’t talked to her at all, have you? You okay with that? I didn’t know what to say. Considering she’s in love with you, sure. Did she tell you?! No. But it’s obvious.
You call her “Breezy,” but from what I can tell, she’s pretty damn earnest. I bet she came here specifically because you never noticed how she felt. All to make it harder for you… that’s what I call playing dirty. Stop it! You don’t have to put it that way! I’m disappointed in you, Doctor!
If you can tell me how you feel, you can tell her too. Hurting people, and getting hurt… It might be a pain, but being too scared to say anything seems like a waste to me. You’re friends, aren’t you? Right this way. Breezy!
I know that… it might be awful of me to say this, but I like you too. Not in the same way, but… I like who you are now… how you are when you’re in love. Are you saying you wouldn’t like me anymore, if I wasn’t? Not at all! You’d still be you.
I just wanted you to know that I also like you just the way you are. Love is a sickness that most people develop at some point. But, speaking as a doctor, I think it’s generally something best left untreated. Are you sure you want to go through with this? Doctor… I… A Proper Society
A Proper Society