Chapter 87: A Robot’s First Kiss

There were so many things I wanted to ask on the drive back home.

I wondered why Master told me not to talk with the Robots, and whether the rumor about successfully restoring a Humanbot in Spennic was really just a rumor.

Normally, I would have tried to ask cautiously, but Master’s face was set in such a stern, unyielding expression as he drove that I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth.

Why was Master so angry?

Even after we arrived home, I stayed lost in thought for a long time.

Ever since I heard someone refer to me as a Robot, it felt like Master’s mood had gradually sunk.

But the fact that I was a Robot was something everyone there already knew.

Was Master upset because someone else mentioned a fact that even I had accepted?

Was it really okay for Master to kiss me in front of the family?

Master kissed me without hesitation, but I could clearly see how flustered the others at the table were.

It wasn’t a situation that could be brushed off easily.

Even Father was visibly surprised.

Of course, there aren’t many people who would be pleased to see their family member in love with a mere Robot.

Thinking I might feel awkward with Father next time, my mouth tasted bitter for no reason.

In the end, I couldn’t come to a conclusion about why Master was so angry, and I got up from the bed.

As the mattress shook, Eve, who had been curled up under the covers, lifted her head to look at me.

“I’ll go see Master for a bit.”

Even in this situation, I should at least thank Master.

He helped me pick out a gift for Father, and attended an event he hadn’t planned to go to, all because of me.

Even though I slipped out midway, thanks to Master, I was able to get through it safely.

If Master hadn’t been there, I might have just sat in silence until the meal ended, and come back home without saying a word.

“Master, may I come in?”

I knocked at the door, but there was no answer.

Is he already asleep?

It wasn’t important enough to wake him, so I was about to head back to my room when a faint clinking sound from inside caught my attention.

I turned around and carefully opened the door.

“…The smell of alcohol…”

As soon as I opened the door, the first thing that greeted me was the strong scent of alcohol.

Frowning, I pinched my nose and glanced around the room.

In the dim space, the only light was at the desk, where Master sat.

Where there were usually stacks of documents, bottles of liquor had taken their place.

“…Ah… Didi?”

It took quite a while after I opened the door for Master to realize I’d come in.

If he didn’t hear me knock as usual, he must be quite drunk.

“Master, how much have you had?”

“Don’t worry about it. I just couldn’t sleep, so I was drinking.”

As I got closer, I could finally see Master’s face clearly.

He looked exhausted.

Lately, I’d been avoiding Master so much that I hadn’t really seen his face.

The deep shadows beneath his eyes told me this wasn’t just fatigue from a day or two.

Thinking I should get the alcohol away from him first, I glanced at the table.

The glass was already empty, and the whiskey bottle was about half full.

If I left it there, he’d definitely drink more, so it seemed best to take the bottle away.

“Master, I think you’ve had enough. Please, no more…”

I reached for the whiskey, but before my fingers could even touch the cold glass, my wrist was suddenly grabbed.

My body was pulled in all at once.

Off-balance, I landed on Master’s lap.

Master hugged me tightly.

The solid feeling of his thigh against my lower body startled me, and I tried to get up, but his arms around my waist didn’t let go easily.

It had been so long since I’d seen Master drunk that I’d forgotten.

I needed to be careful of his drunken habits.

When Master was drunk, he became much bolder with physical affection, touching me more freely, almost playfully.

As if he were teasing me.

“…Master…”

I felt it might be dangerous to stay like this.

Before he did something reckless, I tried to wriggle free, but stopped when I felt his forehead gently rest against my shoulder.

“My head hurts… just for a moment.”

“…Should I bring you some medicine?”

“No. If I stay like this, I’ll be fine.”

Seeing how truly worn out he looked, my voice unconsciously grew softer.

He seemed to mean it when he said he was in pain—Master really just leaned his head on me and did nothing else.

I hesitated, thinking of the medicine somewhere on the first floor.

I’d heard somewhere that you shouldn’t take headache medicine right after drinking…

Watching Master lean into me, breathing out the scent of alcohol, I felt a little troubled.

‘He probably won’t let go anytime soon.’

Master seemed quite drunk.

At this rate, he wouldn’t remember anything tomorrow.

He’d been completely drunk the first time he kissed me, and the next day, he’d even forgotten he’d kissed me at all.

Fortunately, Master didn’t seem inclined to do anything more in this state.

I decided I’d just stay quietly until he let me go.

So I relaxed, waiting until Master’s breathing calmed.

When it seemed like the right time, I carefully opened my mouth.

I hadn’t had the courage to ask in the car, but maybe now I could.

“Why did you do that in front of the family earlier?”

“What do you mean?”

“You… kissed me.”

I felt Master’s body pause for a brief moment.

Holding my breath, I quietly waited for his answer.

After a while, Master spoke slowly.

“…Because they called you a Robot.”

“So you kissed me because of that?”

Master seemed to realize, even as he said it, how strange that answer was.

The long silence that followed proved it.

“I wanted to show them that you’re not a Robot, but an equal being to me.”

“And… I couldn’t just stand by and watch you get hurt.”

I couldn’t say anything.

Back then, hearing myself called a Robot had hurt.

But I hadn’t realized Master was thinking about it, too.

Whether I was grateful or happy, or a little resentful that he’d only said this now, my feelings grew tangled and confused.

When Master kissed me in front of the family, I was shocked.

But my heart wavered.

Maybe, because I realized Master wasn’t approaching me lightly anymore, I couldn’t help but start to hope, just a little.

“Did you… look for me a lot?”

“Every day.”

From the way Master treated me after I returned, I’d guessed as much, but I wanted to hear it directly from him, not just my own assumptions.

So I waited quietly for what he’d say next.

“I thought you’d been kidnapped and searched the whole city. I put up all my money, thinking someone might return you for a reward, but there was no word at all.”

“Every day after you disappeared was hell for me.”

Master’s voice trembled low.

His arms around my waist tightened ever so slightly.

My heart ached.

Seeing Master break down in front of me, my already unsettled feelings shook even more.

But I was a Robot, just as Master’s brother had said.

No matter how much I denied it, that fact would never disappear…

By tomorrow, Master wouldn’t remember any of this.

So, thinking this really might be the last time, I decided to cross the line, just once.

And quietly let go of my feelings.

I lifted my hand and gently touched Master’s cheek.

When I tilted my head, Master’s blue eyes looked back at me.

In those eyes, I saw an unerasable guilt and regret.

And in the midst of all those emotions, I was reflected.

Slowly, I leaned in and pressed my lips to Master’s first.

The bitter taste of whiskey seeped through his lips onto mine.

Just breathing in the scent of alcohol from Master’s breath made my head spin.

Master’s eyes opened wide in surprise, but I gently pressed my lips to his.

“…Didi.”

At the end of our brief kiss, Master pulled away slightly and softly called my name.

As if seeking permission, as if checking whether I was refusing.

But I’d never truly pushed Master away.

I only tried to suppress my feelings, but my love for Master had always remained the same.

So whatever Master did, I could only welcome it.

Once again, I raised my head and kissed Master first.