“It is against our laws to invade or take finite resources without permission,” Nano Two explained. “The energy source I discovered when I arrived flourishes within Earth’s organisms—particularly humans. We call it Emotional Energy.”
“Emotional Energy?” The group found the concept inscrutable.
“With our technology, it is possible to convert a creature’s emotional fluctuations—their Emotional Energy—into power. My own species’s emotions fluctuate very little, however, so it is not very useful on our home planet…”
“I get the feeling that you’re more emotional than Nano-chan normally is,” Hahari said.
“When Nano-sama’s expression changed for the first time, it was a moment for the history books,” Mei remarked.
‹A peculiar standard for making history.›
“You humans possess an emotional variance that our species finds unthinkable,” Nano Two went on.
“Oh, really?” The humans exchanged glances. They kind of understood what the alien was talking about, but at the same time, they didn’t.
“We have detected spikes of emotional energies within the confines of this space. Unfortunately, however, we do not yet understand the conditions for activating it. We have deemed that further outsider observation would produce limited resu—”
“So you want to observe us from inside Nano’s body?” Rentaro cut in.
“Precisely. We had hoped to carry this out unobtrusively, but—”
Nano Two blinked, and the original Nano took over for the second part of the sentence. “—now that the truth is out, it is more efficient to ask for your cooperation.”
“That sums up the current predicament,” Nano Two said, taking over once more. “Now then, do any of you have ideas about what could be causing these spikes?”
“That’s kinda putting us on the spot.” Rentaro looked over his shoulder at his girlfriends. Judging from their pensive expressions, nothing seemed to have immediately come to mind.
But then…
“Oh! I think I’ve got it!” Hakari suddenly raised her hand, causing a certain part of her to jiggle like jelly. Karane glared at them, visibly discomforted. “The person whose emotions fluctuate the most in our group has to be Karane-san!”
“Who’re you calling emotionally unstable?!”
“Allow me to posit that the intense Emotional Energy is actually…tsundere energy!”
“Now you’re just talking out your ass…”
“Her energy is indeed quite strong,” said Nano Two.
“Yes, indeed.” Hakari might have been joking, but the others nodded along, completely straight-faced.
“The individual known as Inda Karane produces energy that you call ‘tsundere.’ Because her body operates on a higher-than-average capacity, her energy circulates entirely within her body, leaving no surplus behind,” Nano Two continued.
“So her Emotional Energy works entirely to strengthen her body,” Hakari mused. “That must be why her other parts are a bit…well…”
“What’re you implying?!” Karane glared at Hakari. “Besides, which of us salivates like a dog in heat at the drop of a hat?! Aren’t you the one who’s emotionally unstable?! I bet you have, I dunno, degenerate energy or something!”
“Why, that’s impossi—”
“Her energy is indeed quite strong,” said Nano Two.
“Yes, indeed.” The others nodded along, completely straight-faced.
“The individual known as Hanazono Hakari produces energy that you call ‘degenerate.’ This serves to make her skin more sensitive, leaving no surplus behind.”
“The hell are you using that energy for?” Karane gave Hakari a very judgmental look.
“I’m just using it to function, surely!” Hakari shouted helplessly. “Besides, I bet my mother has to be just as—”
“Ah, yes. Speaking of energy, I’m sure that Mei’s powers of loyalty are rather considerable, no?” Hahari looked over her shoulder, impeccably evading her daughter’s friendly fire.
Mei quickly bowed. “I am honored to hear that.”
“The individual known as Meido Mei produces an energy that you call ‘loyalty.’ This allows her to routinely perform her duties without ever compromising her high standards,” said Nano Two. “If I were to extract her energy, she would…”
“She would…?” the others prompted.
“Perish.”
“That was savage!”
While everyone else looked flabbergasted, the subject in question seemed entirely unruffled. “My life exists for Hahari-sama’s sake, so I suppose that is logical,” Mei chimed in. If anything, she seemed vaguely proud of herself.
“Aye, if Karane’s angry energy isn’t good enough, what about Kurumi’s hangry energy?” asked Kusuri.
“The individual known as Haraga Kurumi produces energy that you call ‘hangr—’”
“How do you even understand that?!” Kurumi demanded. “She just made ‘hangry energy’ up on the spot!”
“She compensates for her sparse physical energy with her hangry energy. If I were to extract her energy, she would—”
“Yeah, yeah. I see where this is going…”
“—experience a tenfold increase in hunger.”
“Don’t you freakin’ dare!” Kurumi, who was already ruled by her stomach, growled threateningly at Nano Two.
Shizuka raised one of her tiny hands. ‹I would like to propose a suggestion.› ‹Kusuri-senpai.› ‹An insatiable, inquisitive spirit.› ‹Would you not say?›
“The individual known as Yakuzen Kusuri possesses a ‘mad scientist’ energy—”
“That’s kinda different from what Shizuka said,” Kusuri pointed out.
“If her energy were to be converted into fuel…the machinery it powered would function in completely atypical ways.”
“So it’s basically a virus!” everyone shouted.
“Kusuri’s medicines can eliminate viruses in a jiffy!” said Kusuri.
“Yeah, and it would also eliminate their whole society.”
It appeared that Kusuri’s emotional temperament spelled doom for the alien civilization.
“So what about Shizuka-senpai?” Kurumi asked. “She’s kinda, you know…” She paused, her voice now an embarrassed mumble. “She’s got cute energy, I guess?”
Hahari, finding Kurumi’s awkwardness adorable, patted the younger girl, prompting her to flee at top speed.
“The individual known as Yoshimoto Shizuka possesses what you call ‘cute’ energ—”
“Okay, I get you’re parroting what I’m saying, but can that really be an energy source?” asked Kurumi.
“Yoshimoto Shizuka’s cuteness contributes considerably to her conduct. It is logical to consider it her emotional disposition.”
“Didn’t expect you to emerge so suddenly, Nano-senpai.”
“It would be sacrilegious to take Yoshimoto Shizuka’s cuteness from her,” said Nano Two.
“Doesn’t it seem more like Nano Two is the one being ruled by their emotions?” Kurumi gazed at Nano Two with slight trepidation. Things were getting off-track.
“You’ve explained all of our respective emotional energies,” said Hahari, “so now it’s Rentaro-chan’s turn.”
“Wait, please!” Hakari held up a hand to restrain Hahari, who was blatantly attempting to fish for information about Rentaro. “Mother, are you trying to avoid your turn in the spotlight?”
“Urk!”
“Okay, Nano Two-san, please expose my mother’s embarrassing energy!”
‹I’ll take you down with me.› ‹Such was her mentality.›
“From what we can detect, the individual known as Hanazono Hahari possesses the kind of energy described as…”
Just when Hakari thought she had scored one over her mother…
“…‘Motherly.’”
“What?” Hakari gaped at her mother with nothing but pure, involuntary surprise.
“She regularly channels an immense torrent of this energy into the individual known as Hanazono Hakari. Our technology is unable to convert it, though,” Nano Two announced dispassionately.
“Mother…!” Hakari’s eyes welled with tears.
“Well, that’s no great surprise, is it? A mother always thinks of her child.”
Mere moments ago, Hahari had been scowling and muttering “Urk!” due to her impending humiliation. Now she was all tender, loving smiles—a textbook mother.
“That’s why you’re always welcome to suckle on your mommy’s teat! That’s motherhood for you!”
“It has been found that her emotional disposition heightens her desire for ‘diaper role-play,’” Nano Two added.
“You sure did your research!”
Hakari watched her mother drool with a look that could only be described as the picture of dismay.