Spending Time with May, Mimi, and Elma

"What's the matter, Master?"

As soon as I entered the cockpit, May noticed me and turned around. There

was a cable extending out from one of her wrists, and it was plugged onto

the cockpit console. She was probably using this particular direct interface

method to control Black Lotus. But the ship was parked inside the base

hangar right now, so I wonder what she's actually doing?

"Uh, I was just checking on everyone before we set off for the mission."

"And you also wanted to check on me?"

"Yeah. You're also part of the crew. May."

"I see."

I felt like I saw a glint of happiness in her eyes that were behind red-framed

glasses. May remained as expressionless as ever, but I feel like she's begun

to show some subtle emotional changes through her body language and aura

more often than before. Since I was able to pick up on them now, for the

most part, it might be an indication that May's range of expression really

was developing. Well, it's not like you can pick up on them normally at first

glance, so it was a very subtle change.

"Master really is a mysterious person."

"Really?"

"Yes. In the empire, advanced independent AIs like me are nominally

granted civil rights to an extent under the law. However, whether or not

those rights are actually recognized is another story."

"Nnn?"

I was a little confused by May's statement. Just what does she mean?

"Most people from other nations largely do not recognize the rights

bestowed upon imperial AIs like me, and even a good number of imperial

citizens have the same attitude. Of course, a lot of people do treat us

appropriately as well, but someone like Master, who sincerely treats AI like

me no differently from other people, is exceedingly rare. Your act of

worrying about me right now before we head out for a potentially

dangerous mission is a great example of how different your attitude is from

most others."

While saying so, May gradually closed the distance between us and gave

me a hug. I froze up after being hugged by a girl who was almost the same

height as me.

Man, it's just like always, but how does an android like her manage to smell

so nice, I wonder. The slightly sweet and fragrant scent never fails to make

my heart race.

"May-san?"

"I am certainly a machine. But scary things are scary. Crystal lifeforms do

not discriminate between organic and non-organic. They devour organic

lifeforms and machines alike. This body that was designed by Master is no

exception to that. Of course, Mimi-sama, Elma-sama, Tina, and Whisker

are no exception either. All of them are my precious friends. If they were to

be harmed, I would be sad as well."

May said all that in one breath. She then slightly relaxed her hug and stared

up at my face from a close distance.

"But I am most afraid of losing Master. Master is my sole reason for being.

Even if Mimi-sama and Elma-sama were to survive, I would probably fall

apart if I were to lose you instead, Master."

I nodded quietly to May, who was facing me with a serious gaze.

"In truth, I didn't really want you to accept such a dangerous request. It

would have been fine to leave dealing with the crystal lifeforms to the

military. The profits you will potentially earn do not equal the danger you

will be subjected to. Hunting pirates would be the safer and most efficient

option for earning money. However, I believe Master would never leave

Major Serena to undertake the mission alone."

"Yeah, I guess."

I would certainly regret it if I left the system just like this only to find out

later that Major Serena died. I would like to lend her a hand as much as

possible.

"That's why I didn't stop you. But I will do what I have to do for your

sake."

"Sorry, May."

"It's alright. I am already content that you are concerned about me as well."

I hugged May back. Her inner frame and her artificial muscles were made

out of special metals. Her soft skin was an artificially synthesized material

designed to mimic organic skin, and her body heat was generated by the

heat exhaust of an ultra-compact power generator installed within her. Her

glossy black hair, glittering obsidian eyes, and everything else about her

was all designed to mimic humans.

However, for me, May was May. Her being fake or real didn't matter at all

for me.

"I won't be brought down by the likes of crystal lifeforms."

"Yes. I believe in you, Master."

"Yeah. I won't betray your trust. Ever."

We hugged each other in silence for a while and very naturally separated.

"Please leave the piloting and general operations of Black Lotus to me. This

ship is the place Master comes home to. I will definitely protect it with my

all."

"I'll leave it to you."

"Yes. Please don't worry."

I waved goodbye to May, who bowed toward me, and I decided to visit

Mimi and Elma next.

Mimi and Elma were both inside Krishna's cockpit.

"What are you girls up to?"

"Ah, Hiro-sama."

"We're going to go up against crystal lifeforms on this next mission, right?

I'm assisting Mimi in calibrating the radar so we can pick them up more

easily."

"I see."

Although it won't result in a dramatic increase in performance, it was

indeed possible to adjust the sensitivity of the radar toward a certain target

to some extent. Thus, the radar's performance in picking up crystal

lifeforms can also be slightly increased. However, the trade-off is a

decreased performance in its ability to detect other objects apart from

crystal lifeforms.

"If you adjust it once and save it on the preset settings list, you can change

to that mode with a press of a button, right? That's why we're trying to save

as many settings as we can."

"That's a pretty good idea. If you can master it, you'll be one step closer to

being a full-fledged operator."

"I'll do my best!"

Mimi replied energetically as she continued to fiddle with the radar console.

I was watching over her from the cockpit entrance. As I watched Mimi, I

remembered the first time she boarded my ship. She was really anxious and

jittery back then. But now, she was looking more and more like a proper

ship operator day by day.

How long has it been since I met Mimi anyway? When I'm staying inside

my ship, my sense of time becomes vague, so I can't say for sure. But it

probably hasn't been a year since then. Her improving this much after only

less than a year might be a sign of talent, but it's mostly due to her hard

work. She picks up her tablet and studies about being an operator whenever

she has a chance after all.

As I was thinking about that stuff, Mimi and Elma's gazes turned toward

me.

"What's up? You're spacing out over there."

"Are you nervous about the request, Hiro-sama?"

"Nah, it's not that. I was just thinking about how much you've improved,

Mimi."

"Eh!? N-No, I haven't really improved that much. I'm still pretty much a

rookie."

Mimi's face turned beet-red as she frantically waved her hands in denial.

It's true that she was still pretty new, but she isn't easily distracted during

battles now, and whenever she performs her duties as the ship operator,

there was a noticeable hint of confidence on her pretty face.

"Yes, you're right. She can't be compared to how she was back at Termaine

Prime."

"Eh… Why did you join in as well, Elma-san?"

Mimi's expression turned even more embarrassed. Maybe she thought we

were just making fun of her.

"I'm not sure about Elma, but I'm absolutely serious here."

"Huh? I'm serious too, you know. Well, I guess her turning out like this is

only natural since she boarded your ship, Hiro."

"That's right. It's all thanks to Hiro-sama."

"Me?"

"Yep. Her growth is fast because she's subjected to lots of practical

experiences."

Mimi nodded repeatedly at Elma's words. Well, I guess we do hunt pirates

far more often than your average merc. So it's just as Elma said. She earned

a lot of practical combat experience. While it's true that earning practical

experience contributes greatly to growth, this was reality and not a game, so

that alone won't improve one's operator skills.

"I think it's more thanks to Mimi being really earnest in her training and

studies."

"That's true as well. So it's a combination of Mimi's diligence and Hiro's

spartan practical combat experience training."

"Elma-san is a really great teacher as well."

"Yeah. All of that combined led to your current abilities, Mimi."

"…Mm. Maybe. So, um, what are you here for anyway, Hiro?"

Elma quickly tried to change the subject with a red face.

"That's really cute, Elma."

"Elma-san can be so shy sometimes."

"Mou! Don't tease me, you two!"

We apologized with a smile to the fuming Elma.

"So, what are you up to again, Hiro?"

Elma regained her composure and asked me once more.

"Nothing much, really. I was just checking up on everyone."

"Fun…"

Elma snorted and approached me.

"…It seems you hit it off with the others really well, huh?"

"You're scaring me."

"You're right, Elma-san! Hiro-sama definitely has the smell of other women

on him…!"

Mimi grinned and giggled teasingly after seeing my and Elma's exchange.

It ain't something to laugh about, you. Elma's really scary y'know.

"Okay then. If that's how it is, then how about getting along with me and

Mimi as well?"

"That's a great idea, Elma-san."

"Please go easy on me, ladies."

"Hmm. Let's see… As your apology for leaving us last, we'll have you

serve us a lot, okay?"

Elma grabbed my left arm and Mimi grabbed my right. They then began to

pull me out of the cockpit.

"Let's eat some delicious stuff at the dining room first."

"Yes. What should we do after that?"

"Hmm. Maybe we'll have him give us a massage next?"

"Yes, yes… I'll do everything you want me to. Sheesh."

I smiled bitterly as I continued to let myself be pulled by the two of them.

Well, I don't mind being pushed around by these two for a bit. Once we

take on the request, we won't even have time for flirting after all.