The Human Realiser Project - Part 1

"Maia, here."

I passed her a little gift that I had wrapped up. There wasn't any wrapping paper around, so all I could use was some colourful newspaper. Regardless, I was pretty happy with the job. It took a few attempts, but after some failure, I managed to get it crisp and clean. The gift was in the shape of a flat square, covered with some very slight bumps.

"Eh? Oliver? What is it?"

"It's a present—for you."

Suddenly, her cheeks blushed with a faint pinkish colour. Somewhat hesitantly, she reached her arms out and gently took it from my hands.

"W-what... a present for me?"

"Yeah, it's something one of the scientists gave me. They told me to wrap it up and give it to someone I like."

"S-s-someone you like...?"

"Don't get your hopes up too much. It's not really that good."

Still, with a slightly embarrassed expression, she began carefully peeling off the newspaper which was being used as wrapping paper. Eventually, the packaging of the gift inside was slowly exposed.

Her face suddenly lit up as she saw the present inside. It was a simple chocolate bar with the words—give this to someone special, on the packaging. Holding up her gift like it was some sort of amazing item.

It really wasn't much.

"T-thank you so much! Oliver~ um... let's share this!"

"With me?"

"Of course with you! Who else would I be talking about?"

"Are you sure? It's not that big."

"It doesn't matter. It'll taste better if we eat it together~"

Opening the bar, she took out the chocolate and broke it in half. With a happy, bright smile on her face, she handed it to me.

"Come on, isn't this exciting?"

"I suppose so."

I guess this was enjoyable. She sat up against me as we ate the first piece of candy we had ever received since being admitted to the facility.

It was a core memory for me.

• ───────────────── •

To say that the Human Realiser Project was an inhumane experiment would be an understatement. In the same way, that murder naturally includes grievous bodily harm—the Human Realiser Project naturally includes inhumane experimentation.

The entire purpose of the project was to put a group of children through the harshest conditions the human body can possibly encounter. From mental to physical torture, it couldn't even come close to being explained as something that could be considered ethical.

I was considered their initial success. During the first stage, hundreds of abandoned children were sent into what was basically a meat grinder. With no hope in sight, all they could do was try and try again, with more and more children.

I was the first ever subject admitted. As such, I witnessed, first hand, the transition of the children's emotions, from happy, smiling faces to listless, emotionless ones, similar to what I am now—although my nature was always like that. It was the rule. It was impossible to survive in that place without losing everything that made you, you.

Well, at least, that was what I thought before I met one girl.

She went by the name of Maia, although most of the time, our names were abbreviated as numbers for convenience. Just like all of the other children, she was put through the same harsh routine. I thought she'd break, just like every other child.

However, she was different.

No matter how harsh the conditions were, nothing could erase the smile on her face.

Even after suffering, she was still able to walk up to me, talk, laugh and smile as if nothing had happened.

I couldn't understand how she didn't lose faith.

In a way, I found it charming.

In a world so filled to the brim with darkness. She managed to continue to shine bright, lighting up everything. I didn't understand it, but her existence made my life better ever so slightly.

***

"Oliver~ how'd you go on your test today?"

"I got a hundred."

"Ah, that's the same as me~!"

"Good job."

"Did you see the girl who passed out during the exam? They said that they were taking her for a medical examination, but I think that they were lying."

"They probably were. They probably disposed of her."

"Ah... at least I've still got you! Even if everyone else here was gone, as long as you were with me, I'd be happy~"

She looked at me with her signature smile.

"I don't get it. What's there to like about me?"

"You're nice!"

"I'm not really. Haven't you seen me. I sacrifice other people just to suit myself. I'm not a nice person."

"But you're nice to me...~ That's all I care about. Remember when you gave me the chocolate~?"

"That was a while ago. Anyways, it was because the scientist told me to give it to someone. I don't talk to anyone else."

"Ah, stop acting so bashful~. Just admit that you gave it to me because you like me!"

"I do like you. Well, I don't even really understand what it means to like something."

We were making our way through the white, clear halls. The next period on our schedule was filled with practical physical training. Usually, that meant sparring with each other. Well, sparring wasn't really the correct word because if you lose, the punishment you receive is undeniably painful.

It was more like a fight to the death.

The training session that day was as usual. Maia was strong. She never loses. Not that it really mattered to me whether she won or not. She used to always tell me that she was worried that I had been taken away, but she should know better.

I was their greatest success. As long as I cared enough to try, I wouldn't be disposed of.

That assumption was never proven wrong.

However, the reason I was expelled from the project all those years ago is still foggy. I don't quite remember what happened.

-

All I knew was that Maia was in trouble...

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!#*$&%^$#*&

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And in a completely uncharacteristic manner, I reached out and helped someone—for the first ever time.

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!#$*&%^$#*&