Chapter 10:
Marii the Science Fiction Entity?
IT HAPPENED at lunch one day.
Tenjou Nanami was eating lunch with us, and for once, she wasn’t picking a fight with anyone, though she did make some jabs. Upon finishing her lunch, she smirked and said, “By the way, Mari, lately I’ve been getting into sci-fi.”
Oh, now you’re getting to whatever it is you’ve been acting all nice for? I cringed to myself, but Yukari urged Tenjou on excitedly.
With a smile betraying a wicked inner malice, Tenjou continued. “Mari, have you ever entertained the idea that it’s not that you see humans as robots, but that what you see is actually how they really are?”
“What…?”
“In other words, we just think we’re humans, but actually, we’re really robots. Perhaps even robot invaders sent from space to take over the world, you know?”
“Robot invaders?”
“That’s right! Robots made to look exactly like humans, so they can infiltrate human society. And even given human memories so no one can tell the difference between us and them. Humans any way you look at us! We don’t remember about it, but in time, the aliens will send the signal to awaken the robots’ true memories, and then we’ll begin the invasion. But no one realizes it. You’re the only one who can see us for what we are. Only you see the truth, and only you can save this planet. No, wait, what about this? The invasion is already over, and we’re just robots who think we’re human. You’re the only real human left on all of Earth. So, Mari, what would you do if that’s true?”
What the hell are you talking about? I was pissed, but Yukari gave Tenjou a long look and smile.
“You know, Ten-chan…well, I don’t know if this might hurt Gaku-chan’s feelings, but…”
“What?”
“I’ve never thought that what I saw wasn’t real in the first place.”
Yukari’s purple eyes were so clear and awe-inspiring as she said it.
Then I thought to myself, Yukari’s so strong, though now that I think about it, it makes sense. It’s got to be difficult when others see things so differently from you. Yukari’s made it through that loneliness, so there’s no way she’d be weak. There’s no way she ever could’ve been weak. I don’t think she’ll buckle no matter what those purple eyes show her. If anyone’s going to buckle, it’s not her.
It’s everyone else.