"I'm meeting Yukino and Anzu, so I'm heading back to school."
"Give them my best."
After seeing Kurusu off, Hachiman wandered back toward the reception desk. Kaori, still flustered, marched up to him.
"Hey! Why did you just disappear like that!?"
"I told you three times I was leaving, Orikimoto."
"Gunu-nu..." she grumbled, glaring at him.
"Where do you even learn words like 'gunu-nu'?" Hachiman sighed.
Just then, Shino—who was likely starting her shift—walked by. "Oh? Is this a lover's quarrel?"
"Don't start," Hachiman groaned. "I'm just waiting for someone."
"I see. Well, it's getting hot out. I'm dying of thirst."
"Want a drink?"
"I get them for free during my shift, but if you're offering, I'll take a luxury one on your tab."
"Fine. Let's go upstairs."
"See ya, Kaori," Shino waved.
"Bye, Shino-chan..." Kaori watched them go, whispering to herself. "Man, she's good. I used to be that sharp. I really am getting old..."
Upstairs, Hachiman and Shino sat with their drinks.
"So, you getting used to the job?"
"Yeah," Shino said. "I'm surprised at how well I can move. It's almost scary."
"Keep it up. I won't be holding back during the third BoB, you know."
"Hmph. As the runner-up of the last one, I'd expect nothing less."
"Tch. Don't get cocky."
Hachiman blinked. He thought he'd heard his own voice echo. He looked toward Shino's bag, where a small, plush hand was gripping Hachiman's sleeve. Shino's face went pale.
"…Hey," Hachiman said flatly.
"Yo, Me," the doll replied.
"Why are you here?" Hachiman asked the doll.
"Shino brought me, obviously."
Hachiman turned a dead-eyed stare toward Shino. "…Explain."
"I—No! It's not what you think! I just brought him in for maintenance! I wasn't... I didn't forget to tell you!"
"Maintenance? Really?"
"Yes! I only take him outside occasionally... wait! I mean—!"
Suddenly, salvation arrived in the form of Daru and Kurisu Makise.
"Ah, there you are, Hachiman. I brought Makise-shi for the guided tour. And, well, for the other thing."
"Daru, Kurisu. What 'other thing'?"
"Hachiman-kun's maintenance, obviously!" Shino blurted out, seizing the opportunity. "See? I told you!"
"Oh. Right. Sorry for doubting you."
"If you're really sorry, you'll show some actual sincerity!" Shino pushed, doubling down to hide her embarrassment.
"Uh, sure. I'll think of something."
"You better!"
Daru watched the exchange with pure salt. "A girl hit on a guy right in front of me? What kind of punishment game is this? Normies, explode!"
"Anyway, I have to work," Shino said, handing the doll to Daru. "Daru-san, please take care of him!"
"You got it, nyu!"
Kurisu watched them, giggling. "You really are a pushover for a strong personality, aren't you, Hachiman?"
"I'm self-aware, thanks. Got a problem with it?"
"You're such a child."
"I'm a legal adult, unlike you, 'Assistant.'"
"Hmph. Whatever. Let's just go to this 'Sleeping Forest' already."
Kurisu then looked at the doll Daru was holding. "So, Hashida, what's with the grumpy-looking doll?"
"Who are you calling grumpy? I'm Hachiman-kun," the doll snapped. "I heard about you from Kyouma during my last check-up. You're that experiment-loving, perverted genius girl, aren't you?"
Kurisu froze. Not out of anger, but out of sheer scientific shock. Her eyes began to sparkle as she snatched the doll from Daru.
"Wait, Hachiman! Is this... is this like Amadeus?"
"No," Hachiman said. "He doesn't share my memories. He's 'Hachiman' as seen through the eyes of others. He's built on personality patterns and anecdotes provided by the people who know me."
"His AI was designed by Kayaba," Daru added.
"Fascinating..." Kurisu leaned in close to the doll. "What's the difference between you and the real Hachiman?"
"Well," the doll said, "I'm more honest, which makes me a better man."
"In what way?"
"For example," the doll said, "I can do things he wants to do but is too scared to try. Like this."
The doll suddenly lunged forward and buried its face in Kurisu's chest.
"Wha—!? H-H-Hachiman! What are you doing!?"
"That wasn't me!" Hachiman yelled. "Blame the developers!"
Kurisu pushed the doll back to arm's length, looking impressed. "This is incredible. If you told me this was Amadeus, I'd believe you."
"I'm not 'this,' I'm Hachiman-kun. Nice to meet you, Kuri-Gohan and Kamehameha."
Kurisu's face went supernova. "Wh—How do you know that!?"
"That reaction... I hit the jackpot," the doll chuckled.
"That's my @Channel handle! Never mind how you know that!" Kurisu screamed, her embarrassment overriding her scientific curiosity.
Hachiman-kun just gave a weary gesture. "Good grief. You and Shino both... you're all way too obsessed with me."
"Shino? Who's Shino?"
"My master. She was just here."
"She's your age, by the way," Hachiman added.
"Oh, really?"
"Makise-shi, can we get moving? I actually need to work on him," Daru interrupted.
"Right, sorry. I got carried away." She handed the doll back. "Actually, Hachiman, I want to meet that Shino girl again. Take me to her place sometime. I think we'd get along."
"Wait, really? You're usually so shy with strangers."
"I've... I've been training!" Kurisu insisted.
"Fine. On one condition: help her with math and physics. She almost failed her last midterms."
"Deal. I can handle that."
And so, without Shino's knowledge, she had just gained a world-class genius as a tutor. With that settled, Hachiman and Kurisu headed for the KIT facility—the Sleeping Forest.
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