My requests begin to steadily change the model’s appearance. Incredibly, the mechanical life-form’s high-tech program manages to accurately interpret my vague explanations as it makes various adjustments. This must be the result of her continuing efforts to learn about human culture. She’s working hard to understand us, gathering more information from the internet every day.
“Her hair is too bright. How about we say she was dyeing it before, and now it’s gone back to its natural black color? She can’t be bothered to get it cut, either, so it’s grown unnaturally long in certain places. I think that should work.”
I don’t know why, but as I look at her, I feel a certain affection. This feels right—as though the adjustments are clearing away all the things that were wrong about Misaki Hanano.
After a while, I say, “Okay, I think this is good. All that’s left is to do something about her flower accessories. I hate to ask, since I was the one who suggested them, but could you possibly get rid of—?”
“Elder Sister,” Robot Girl suddenly interrupts, her voice coming through the speaker; she sounds the same as always. “The younger sister finds this work a little upsetting.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I’ve been making a lot of requests without considering how much work it must be.”
“It’s not that, Elder Sister.”
“Then what is it?”
“As a shut-in, I find that your negative emotions hit very close to home. I would like to encourage you to be more optimistic. In addition, this 3D model is blameless. I hope you will continue to cherish her for a long time to come.”
Mechanical life-forms can’t lie. This must have truly upset her.
But was I really being that negative? All I was doing was making adjustments to the model. I guess I got too excited about ripping away her sunny facade. Either way, I’d better apologize to Robot Girl.
“I’m very sorry. The work you do is so brilliant that I got a little carried away. I’ll try to be more optimistic like you said, so would you please keep helping me out until this is finished? I promise to cherish this new, improved version of the model.”
“Your high praise brings me joy. Understood. I will resume improving this 3D model. And I will remove the flower accessories as you requested.”
“Really sorry my partner’s asking so much of you. I’ll be sure to admonish her later.”
“Elder Brother, thank you for being so considerate of my sorrow.”
Seeing Abaddon so sincerely apologetic makes me feel a little guilty. Am I really that gloomy?
In any case, Misaki Hanano is soon reborn as Ochiba Kareki. Once we’re finished, Robot Girl leaves, pleading with me not to give up on life. Then the speakers go silent. I never dreamed she’d worry about me like that, so I’m not sure how to respond.
“Abaddon, I’d like to put the younger sister’s work to good use and record a new video before I go to bed. First, we’ll need another self-introduction. Since I’m switching out my model, I need to lock in the specifics.”
“If that’s what you want, then I have nothing to say. I’m just here to help you out.”
Still riding the excitement from redesigning my model, we start recording. Compared to when I was trying to be Misaki Hanano, this is far, far easier.
“Hello. I’m Ochiba Kareki. I apologize to anyone who came here looking for Misaki Hanano. She tried to change her image for her high school debut, but it didn’t work out, and now she’s a gloomy introvert. But she still wants to find her place in the world, so she decided to stay optimistic and keep working hard.”
Since the model’s appearance is so somber-looking, I don’t need to consciously try to make my voice cheerful. Everything goes much more pleasantly than I expected. It’s a walk in the park compared to recording for Misaki Hanano.
“I still dream of being truly bright and cheerful one day. And so I would like to continue my activities—not as Misaki Hanano, but as Ochiba Kareki. First off, I would like to clear up all the lies Hanano told you, as well as retract her bland, uninteresting view of the world. I’ll start off with my hobbies…”
We make it through recording almost in one shot. I then remember to change my profile picture to the new 3D model.
Ochiba Kareki is sixteen years old and currently attending high school. She likes reading, browsing the internet, and gardening. She’s fond of quiet places, vegetables and mushrooms she’s raised herself, and edible wild plants. She hates crowds, loud classrooms, and gym class. In the future, she wants to be self-sufficient and move to a prefecture bordering the ocean.
It all comes very naturally to me. I’ve begun to take a genuine liking her. I get the impression I really will cherish her as I become the person in the costume, as it were.
“Kareki has the same basic appearance as Hanano and shares some of her likes, too. Are they supposed to be the same person?”
“Yes. I wanted to use her as part of this character’s history. Ochiba Kareki wants to bloom into Misaki Hanano one day. I figured if she had an easy-to-understand goal, viewers might feel a sense of purpose in watching her.
“Seems like her interests and preferences have done a complete flip-flop, though!”
“That’s why I put an explanation up front.”
“I wonder if you could phrase it in a slightly catchier way. One that has more consideration for the youngest daughter’s emotional well-being.”
“Maybe I should just say she’s the type to read books at her desk in class, even during breaks times.”
“Sounds like you’re introducing yourself, not her.”
“……”
I think it’s time to ignore this demon.
I upload the finished video, then close the laptop. I’ve done what I needed to, and now it’s time for bed. I get up and leave the room, paying my sarcastic partner no mind.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“To take a bath.”
“You don’t want to watch the video you uploaded?”
Abaddon immediately floats into the air and follows me. He always waits in the changing room when I take a bath. One time, I suggested he join me. “I don’t mind, but you’d have to give me a reward,” was his smug reply. I never asked again, though I imagine he was just being considerate, in his own way. He’s never smelled bad, so it’s not really an issue.
“I’ll check it in the morning.”
“But what if you toss and turn all night again?”
“I have school tomorrow. If I don’t at least lie down and rest, class will be rough.”
I take a quick bath, then go into my room and climb into bed. For some reason—maybe because I finally just did what I wanted—I start to drift off almost as soon as my head hits the pillow. Maybe I was simply exhausted. Either way, I’m sound asleep before I know it.
I’ll have to thank Robot Girl again for indulging her elder sister.