“Hey, TAIM? What do you think I should do?” I quietly murmured, perhaps more to myself, as I adjusted TAIM’s settings.
The Loop System was nearing completion. Soon, humanity would finally enter its first dormancy period. Everyone’s soul would be automatically scanned for quantization by the many parts of TAIM scattered throughout the world, saving us the effort of scanning people one by one. These parts of TAIM looked like ordinary rocks at first glance, but they were capable of both self-repair and self-replication, and could also be used to activate magic. We intend to call them magical stones during the magic-based eras. Some were over ten feet long, while some were as small as nanoparticles. All were wirelessly connected to one another.
Rei had led the design of the magic-based civilization, and she’d actually based it off of that otome game of hers like she joked she would. I’d had a look through it with a simulator, and I had to say, it was fascinating—like a world of magic you might see in a movie.
The science-based civilization was fascinating as well, though at a certain stage, they would surpass our own current population, so we’d had to prepare artificial souls to round out their numbers. From what I understood, TAIM was going to prepare a foundation for those artificial souls, which would then be mixed with the quantum data of real humans. Honestly, only Rei understood all the details.
The project had progressed steadily, and the end was now in sight, but I still hadn’t given Rei an answer as to whether I would become an administrator.
“What’s there to hesitate over, Claire?” TAIM said. “What more could you ask for than an eternity with the woman you love?”
“Don’t tease me. It’s not that simple.”
The more I thought about how the fate of humanity would be on my shoulders, the more hesitant I became to accept the position.
“You’re thinking too much,” TAIM said. “You should be truer to your desires, like Rei.”
“Since when has Rei ever been true to her desires?”
Having lived with her for some time, I’d learned that Rei was an incredibly selfless person. She single-handedly did all my domestic chores for me, as I had no talent for anything outside researching, and she spent her money more on me than herself. Even during sex, she was constantly focused on satisfying me…
Oops. Ignore that bit.
“Oh? Did you not know?” TAIM asked. “Rei created the Loop System specifically for you, Claire.”
“Huh?”
“That’s enough, TAIM.” Rei appeared, interrupting before she could elaborate.
“Why keep it a secret?” TAIM asked Rei. “I think it’s wonderful.”
“There’s nothing wonderful about it at all. It’s so selfish, even I don’t like thinking about it,” Rei replied.
“But don’t people say it’s only human to be selfish?”
“You just keep learning more and more useless things, don’t you?”
“Your compliment is greatly appreciated.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
The two bantered back and forth in this way, ignoring my presence.
“Um, Rei? What did TAIM mean by this project being—”
“TAIM was just talking nonsense. Don’t worry about it,” Rei said.
“But—”
“Please.”
“All right.” Reluctantly, I relented.
“By the way, how are you feeling today?” Rei asked. She had been bothering me about this a lot lately.
“Fine. I’m still young, you know? I’m not going to suddenly fall ill or anything.”
“Right. That’s good. But if you feel strange, let me know right away,” she said with a serious look.
I felt like something was up. “Rei… Are you by chance hiding something from me?”
“Many things.”
“I figured… Wait, no—I mean, is there something about my health you’re hiding from me?”
“No?”
Then why are you constantly checking in on me? Worried, I turned to TAIM instead. “TAIM, is there anything about me that indicates a potential health problem?”
“I cannot answer that,” TAIM said.
“What? Why not?”
“Access to that information has been prohibited.”
“By who?”
“I cannot answer that either.”
So she said, but her inability to answer might as well have been an answer.
“Rei, you prohibited access, didn’t you?” I asked.
Rei said nothing.
“I’m well aware that authority over TAIM’s usage has been transferred to you. You’re the only one who could lock information away from me.”
She averted her eyes, refusing to speak.
“Rei, look at me.”
She turned her gaze back my way.
“Why won’t you tell me—”
But before I could finish, my world began to sway.
“Claire?!” Rei’s face contorted with fear.
What was happening…?
“TAIM, contact medical!” Rei yelled.
“I already did.”
“How is this happening? She should have more time!”
“Her condition has advanced faster than anticipated.”
“No…”
Rei? What are you saying? I can’t hear you very well.
“Claire… Please, stay with me. If you die, then what was this all for?”
My medical test results weren’t good, to say the least. I had contracted a pathogen that didn’t match any known disease.
“Everything will be okay, Claire. The government is asking for the U.N.’s permission to activate the Loop System as we speak. We’ll see the future yet, I swear.” Rei spoke softly as she squeezed my hand.
“No, Rei. We still haven’t performed the final check. If it’s to operate for the rest of eternity, we need to make sure it’s perfect.” I tried to squeeze her hand back, but I couldn’t put much strength into my fingers.
“The final check is just a formality. There’s no way there’d be a mistake in my work. You said it yourself: I’m a genius.” Rei smiled cheekily at me. Or at least, that’s the sort of thing I think she would have done there. I couldn’t see very well by that point.
“Right, you’re a genius. That’s why…I’m sure you’ll be fine on your own,” I said. You can do it, Rei. I know you’re strong enough.
“No… No. Please don’t leave me, Claire. Please…”
Rei… I’m sorry. But I’m happy I was at least able to be with you in my final moments.
“Wait,” she said. “If we activate it now, we should still have time! TAIM, I don’t care what you have to do! Keep Claire alive for at least one more day!”
“My functions have been set to prioritize preparation for the acti—”
“I don’t care! I’m the administrator, and I’m ordering you to keep Claire alive!”
“Understood.”
Rei?
Rei, where are you? I can’t feel your warmth anymore.
I’m scared, Rei. Don’t leave me.
“Wait for me, Claire! I swear I’ll save you! There’s no point in saving the world if you’re not in it!”
I descended into darkness. I felt nothing, not even the cold that had run through my body up until moments ago. Rei’s voice was distant from me now. The beating in my chest grew weaker by the minute.
There was something I had to say. Something important. But my world was soon swallowed by darkness, taking my scattered consciousness with it.
From the bottom of my heart, I love you.
Who were these words meant for again?
I couldn’t make sense of anything anymore.