Sao turned the page, “If you are, we’ll have to get your hair cut tomorrow.”
The machine nodded, going back into the bedroom to sleep. The next day, Sao walked with the machine down to the mall to get his hair cut. The machine was wearing his first outfit: a pair of long dark pants with boots, a tank top with a large black dress shirt over it buttoned halfway and then a thick fleece jacket over that and a pink ribbon around his neck.
Sao walked into the salon with the machine. “Hi ladies.” He said with a wave. A red head and brunette waved back.
“Well well, sexy Sao Hishi~” said the red head. “Haven’t seen you in a month~ What can we do you?”
“My friend needs a hair cut.”
“What long hair!” Said the brunette, circling over to the machine. “Such a cutie, too! Are you Sao’s play thing?”
Sao answered before the machine could, “He’s my boyfriend so don’t tease him.”
The red head laughed, “Such a protective and strict man, eh, Sareen?”
The brunette nodded, “Indeed, Ray. So, cutie, what’s your name?”
“Uh…” the machine wasn’t sure what to say. They weren’t given names, just serial numbers.
“Letty.” Sao answered again.
The machine looked to him in shock. Ray gasped, “Awww what a cute name!”
Sareen nodded, “So, Letty!~ What kind of hair cut would you like?”
“Trim his back to look like mine, give him some bangs… Kind of spikey, you know?” Sao said with a nod. “Make the red their own locks to about his torso.”
“Oooh I like it!” Ray smirked, walking over with Sareen as they led Letty to a chair.
Sao followed and watched to make sure the girls cut the hair the way he wanted and not anything else.
After the girls were done and paid, Sao walked out with the machine following him. They stopped at a small ramen restaurant, waiting for their take-out.
“Uhm…” The machine looked to Sao slowly.
“What?” Sao asked, not looking to him.
“You named me.”
“Yeah, so?”
“…Does… Does that mean you’re going to keep me?” the machine asked softly.
Sao looked to him and shrugged, shifting his weight. “Maybe. I don’t see really why I shouldn’t. Besides, Michael told me if you go back now you’ll be torn apart.”
“Eh?”
“That’s true isn’t it?”
The machine nodded, “Yes… Because I’m such an old model… But it’s also true for all others…”
“Letty.”
“Hm?”
“Don’t talk about your other owners with me.” Sao said very strictly. “I’ll treat you better than all those other jackasses.”
The machine nodded slightly. “So… My name is…?”
“Letty.”
Letty nodded again, shifting his weight. “Thank you, Mister Hishi.”
Sao shrugged, “You’re welcome I guess.”
Letty smiled a bit, feeling confident he’d finally found an owner to be a good companion with.
This feeling didn’t last long.
At night, Letty had to sleep on the sofa in the living room. While Sao was gone at school or work, he expected Letty to learn of the news of the day and tell Sao about the weather or anything else that was interesting.
After a couple of weeks like this, Letty was sad to see one day Sao returning with a young girl with long black hair and a few red ribbons tied in it. Letty frowned so sadly, seeing Sao smiling and chatting with the woman.
“Who’s this, Sao?” she asked, as she was getting up to leave from the study session in the living room with Sao.
“My roommate.” Sao answered.
She nodded, “He’s cute. Got a girlfriend?” Letty shook his head, not wanting to answer her from his spot in the kitchen as he was cooking curry. “Aw, too bad.”
“Carin.” Sao called, straightening up with a smile. “I’ll walk you home.”
“Okay,” she said with a nod. She waved to Letty as the two walked to the door, “Later!”
“Bye…” Letty waved slightly.
The door opened a few minutes later, as Michael walked in with a bag of groceries. “Who was that, Letty?”
“Sao’s study-friend…” Letty answered sadly, stirring the curry in the pan.
“I brought you groceries.”
“Thanks. Could you put them away please?”
Michael started to put away the food. “So, it hasn’t gotten better?”
“No.” Letty shook his head. “He hasn’t treated me any better and he seems to be getting along well with that girl.” He looked to Michael, “Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why am I not good enough for him?”
Michael juggled a few oranges in his hands. “Well, Letty… I guess it’s because you’re a boy.”
“Will he fall in love with her?”
“Maybe.”
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