Back to the present…

“So, that’s basically it, that’s where we are now.”

Hm… Takeshi seemed to change from making superhumans to making cyborgs. Does he think that cyborgs are better example of how human civilization could be more stronger?

“Oh yeah, Rei?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember when you said that your girly-looking hair and that girly face are because of genes, right?”

“What about it?”

“Well, I think you would look better if you tied your hair into a ponytail. I think it would look good on you.” She said as she smiled at me.

“... I don't care about looks.” I checked the time: 7:10. I'd better get going or I'll be late. "Well, it's my cue to leave, take care of May, I guess,” I said goodbye to Yuki.

“Goodbye. Take care of yourself, Rei.”

I flew up and I went towards the location of the airport. Chikou helped me locate it. I also told Chikou to record everything she said about her past, because it might be useful in the future.

I landed behind a bush and saw the airplane ready to take off. It was now 7:14. I had to get in there quickly. So before they could close the airplane doors, I zoomed past them and sat in my seat. Now, it was time to wait.

***

3 hours and 50 minutes later, we finally landed in Ishigaki City. It was time to find Ai Suzuki.

After some minutes of searching, I found her place, it was a small house with a white coloured exterior and a wooden door dyed white. I knocked on the door a few times, then someone opened the door.

It was Ai, she was wearing a white sweater with beautiful flower patterns, with black tight pants. Her hair was a little longer, and she had a surprised look on her face.

“Wait… are you…?”

“Rei Shirogami. Remember me? I was the experiment for the government. You look a little different from the last time I saw you.”

“Well, yes, I grew my hair a little, but I'm still surprised to see you here at my house. Why are you here?” 

“To get stronger, just in case another war happens with some other country, even if I am emotionless, it doesn't negate the fact that I need to live.”

“...okay, I'll help you, but I'm not as good as the other experimenters.”

“Just do everything you can, even if I get only a little stronger, that is still better than being a weaker me,” I said as I walked in.

I could tell that she was living the best life she could ever live. Everything looked comfy and soft. As I sat on her couch, my thighs sank a little into the couch.

“Um, do you want tea or coffee?”

“Both are fine, I can't taste anything anyway.”

“It’s because you're a cyborg, right? So your taste buds are removed, and the same with your sense of smell…”

“Just make the drinks, I don't have all day.”

“Got it…”

She went to the kitchen to make the drinks, and I sat down, looking around. Suddenly, I stood up and walked around the small house, I felt like I needed a tour everytime I go inside a strangers place. 

The interior was also as white as the exterior; her windows were clean, she had plushies everywhere, and the house had perfect lighting; it was just like my apartment, except that my apartment was a little bigger.

I continued wandering around the house and eventually made it into her bedroom. A desk, chair, a bed that took up about 56% of the room, and a small closet. Then, I heard her call me downstairs for the drinks.

I went downstairs and saw her on the couch with coffee and tea. I sat down a few feet away from her.

“So uh, what parts do you want upgraded? Your arm, your legs, your torso…?

“I want to be a minimum of 90% robotic; being a human weakens me, and the same with things like emotions. The 10% is for partially useful human things like regeneration, adaptability, and more.”

“90%... I guess I can do that. But the upgrading process might take a few weeks or even months.”

“I don’t care, just try your best,” I said coldly, tired from all her small talk. “Let’s just start it now."

"Uh... um... okay, follow me." She stammered a bit as she said that.

She told me to follow her to the basement, where she keeps her experimentation stuff. But because we are starting without any preparation, it is going to take a long time. I looked around and saw a large tube, the same tube that was at the military base, and a bunch of syringes and serums.

She puts on her safety glasses, gloves, and lab coat. She took a deep breath and sighed, and did that many times over.

“I will obliterate your house to ashes if you don’t get this over with.”

“O-okay!” she jolted mid-way, taking deep breaths. “Arlight, can you go inside the tube?”

“Why? You haven’t even put any serums in me. Isn’t the tube only supposed to be used after someone has been injected with high levels of the Cyborg DNA Serum?” By the way, Cyborg DNA Serum is the green liquid in the syringes, and you can turn it into a gas. The serum only makes cyborgs and robots stronger.

“Um, the tube isn’t only for that; the tube is also for looking at people’s biology, data, stats, and health. So, can you please step inside it?” She carefully explained how it has multiple uses; it was kind of like an inferior version of Chikou.

“Sure, make it quick.” 

The tube door opens, and I step inside. After it closed, she pressed a button on her desk that I had never spotted before coming here. Well, the button was small, so it kind of makes sense why I didn't spot it.

She analyzed my data, stats, biology, and health. There was a small speaker in the tube on the glass, which she could speak into. She told me that I was healthy, my strength and speed were on a whole other level, and I was about 77% robotic and 23% human. 

She also looked surprised when she noticed Chikou in my system. She didn’t know Chikou was in me? Takeshi must’ve put Chikou in my system without anyone knowing. But Chikou didn’t talk, perhaps its system is sleeping?

***