A robot approached my side and poured wine into my empty glass.
“Than…”
I reflexively tried to greet it, but froze at the feeling of my Master’s gaze from beside me.
Ah, Master told me not to speak to robots.
Remembering Master’s warning too late, I shut my mouth.
Instead, I just gave a small nod to the robot that poured my wine.
“Thank you for coming. It’s been a long time since the whole family gathered for a meal together. And we even have a welcome guest.”
Father smiled warmly at me. I returned his smile and, following his lead as he raised his glass, took a sip of wine.
While listening to the gentle chatter of Master’s family, I picked up my fork.
Mostly, Father and Master’s siblings were having a lively conversation, while Master and Mother sat silently at the table.
As I ate the food in front of me, my eyes secretly glanced at Master’s family.
They all looked just like Master used to.
Shining blond hair, gentle and kind eyes, even the dimples that appeared when they smiled.
I couldn’t hide the blush rising in my cheeks as I stared, when I suddenly felt someone’s gaze from the side and turned my head.
I met Master’s eyes, who was looking at me with a disapproving expression.
Ah, maybe I was staring too obviously.
Flustered, I lowered my gaze and pretended to focus on the steak on my plate.
“William, how’s Sophia doing?”
In the middle of the meal, Master’s older sister asked.
Hearing the familiar name, my ears perked up without realizing it.
“She’s hanging in there. Breaks down a lot, though.”
“She’s over thirty years old now, but it’s still amazing she can move….”
Come to think of it, Sophia has been with Master since he was a child.
It made sense that the whole family knew her.
I realized anew just how old Sophia was.
If I think about it, I was made quite a long time ago, too, but since I spent so much time powered down, I didn’t really feel that old.
While secretly watching Master’s family enjoying their lively conversation, I finished my meal.
Soon, the robots came over to clear the table, and then brought out tea and dessert.
The dessert was cake, probably prepared for Father’s birthday.
Staring at the moist mango cake, I unconsciously swallowed.
It looked delicious…
How long had it been since I last had cake?
While wandering around, I couldn’t even imagine eating something like cake, so the slice before me seemed especially dazzling.
“Didi, go ahead and eat.”
As I swallowed the saliva pooling in my mouth, Father smiled gently and spoke.
Was it that obvious?
Feeling a bit embarrassed, I nodded and cut a small piece of cake with my fork, putting it in my mouth.
The mango cake was so soft it melted away in an instant.
The cool fresh cream and sweet, tangy mango blended together perfectly in my mouth.
While I was focused on eating my cake, Master’s sibling asked, “So, I heard rumors that Spennic succeeded in restoring a Humanbot. Is it true?”
Restored a Humanbot?
I stopped eating, surprised at the unfamiliar topic, and looked at Master.
“No.”
“You don’t have to hide it from family. It’s already famous inside Spennic.”
In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned to Master.
They all fixed their gaze on him, waiting for an answer.
I was one of them.
Had he really succeeded in restoring one while I was away?
If that was the case, he wouldn’t be at home every day—he’d be incredibly busy….
“It’s just a rumor. I haven’t restored a Humanbot, and I have no plans to.”
Master answered briefly.
With his strong denial, everyone’s hopeful eyes quickly faded.
But I felt a bit of doubt at his firm refusal.
Master had always been obsessed with restoring Humanbots, so why change his mind now?
“What, wasn’t there a clue about restoring the Humanbot hidden among Grandpa’s belongings?”
“There wasn’t anything like that.”
“So that’s why you made such a fuss when the robot disappeared. You even staked your whole fortune on finding that Humanbot.”
My hand holding the fork froze.
Since I was powered on, I had never tried to find out how Master searched for me.
I was afraid that if I knew he’d looked for me desperately, my heart would waver.
But to think he staked his entire fortune….
An unexpected surge of emotion welled up inside me.
“Then why are you bringing that Humanbot around? Didn’t you say you wouldn’t let in any robot except Sophia?”
You don’t need to know.
“And what about that scandal that was such a big deal the other day?”
Questions came one after another.
Master’s sibling, who had been looking at me with a curious expression, continued as if genuinely wondering.
“Well, it does look just like a person and is pretty cute—just your type. But a Humanbot is still a robot in the end.”
“You’re not seriously thinking of dating a robot, are you?”
Robot.
It was a word that followed me everywhere.
Unable to hide my darkening face, I quietly lowered my gaze.
Master’s sibling was right.
No matter how human I looked, a Humanbot was still a robot.
I had to accept that, and accept my limits as a robot.
Seeing me sulk, Master frowned, then, without warning, grabbed my chin.
In an instant, his face drew close and his lips pressed against mine.
I heard someone gasp nearby. I could feel Master’s family freeze in shock.
I was no different.
His lips touched mine and, reflexively, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Afraid that his tongue would enter, I quickly clamped my mouth shut, but it was just lips pressed together, nothing more.
Feeling everyone’s bitter gazes on me, I tried to push Master away, but he didn’t budge.
Master tilted his head, rubbing his lips lightly against mine.
The soft, tender sensation was so vivid it felt strange.
Like electricity running through me, a dizzying feeling wrapped around my whole body.
After a moment, the lips that felt like they’d never part finally pulled away.
The short kiss ended, and a suffocating silence filled the room.
Clatter. The sound of someone dropping a fork broke the stillness.
“W-William, you…!”
Shocked voices erupted from all around.
Only then did I and Master’s family come to our senses, stumbling over our words.
I, too, couldn’t process what just happened and blinked in disbelief.
Just now… did Master really kiss me?
In front of his family?
Master, unfazed, brushed off their stares.
No, he even looked at my lips as if the kiss had been too short, then stood up from his seat.
“Date a robot? And if I want to, so what?”
“What? So the scandal was real?”
“And this guy’s name is Didi. Not ‘robot.’”
Master grabbed my wrist and pulled me up from my chair.
“Let’s go, Didi.”
“Huh? W-Wait, Master…!”
Before I could even say goodbye to Father and the family, I was dragged out.
As soon as we stepped outside, Master opened the passenger door and pushed me inside.
Only after buckling my seatbelt did he finally let go of my wrist.
Getting into the driver’s seat, Master silently started the car and turned the wheel.
In an instant, we left the yard behind.
Watching the house rapidly recede, I anxiously asked Master,
“Master! Is it really okay for us to just leave like this?”
“What else was I supposed to do, stay there?”
“Th-that’s…”
“Should I go back in front of the family and pour my heart out, telling them how I fell head over heels for Grandpa’s memento? If you want, I’ll do it as much as you like.”
I shut my mouth right away.
Master looked angry, and I felt that if I said anything more, he really might do exactly as he said.