Lexi 2.0
Inside the quite atmosphere of the office, a man in his 40s worked at a rectangular, mahogany desk, illuminated by the warm sunlight peaking through the curtains. Shelves of organized books surrounded him, while the vintage clock ticked steadily. The peaceful ambiance was punctuated only by the rustle of papers and the occasional sip of tea. He was humming a song as the ballpoint pen scratched the surface of paper.
Just then, there was a small knock on his door, which shifted his attention away from the paperwork. After he gave permission, an assistant peeked inside.
"Acting Director, there is a student here to see you."
Tsukishiro was a bit surprised. He didn't have an appointment today, as far as he could recall. Could it be one of them? But he had strictly told them not to meet him carelessly unless its important. The possibility of an unrelated party is not low, but that in itself is unusual.
"Who is it?" he asked, his tone and face unchanging.
"It's Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from Class 2B."
Out of everyone in his list, it was the person Tsukishiro least expected.
'Why is he here? There is no reason for us to meet right now, is there?'
Needless to say, both parties were at a cold war right now. So, it was normal for Tsukishiro to suspect something was off.
"Let him in."
With a nod, the assistant's face vanished from the door frame. The acting director stood up from his desk and went near the window. He opened the curtains to let sunlight in, which casted his large shadow across the office. He kept staring outside, inspecting the beauty of mother nature with a cold smile on his face.
Soon, the door opened and footsteps could be heard. The student didn't bother to hide his presence, as he came to a halt in front of the desk.
"I know you are supposed to play the role of an opposition, but that doesn't mean you have to stand in an intimidating manner with your back face to me everytime we meet."
"I had been working just prior to your arrival, Ayanokoji-kun. Contrary to my casual presence, I am actually a pretty busy person."
"Busy trying to ruin my life, I take it?"
Tsukishiro sighed as he turned around.
"Enough about that. Can we get to the point on why you are he-"
He stopped mid-sentence, spotting the small bouquet in Kiyotaka's hand. That odd detail in this scenario left him a little bit puzzled.
"Oh, this? This is for you," he gave the bouquet to the acting director, who received it reluctantly. Immediately, as if a switch kicked in, he threw the bouquet away from him. Kiyotaka simply watched it fly away and landing beside the couch. Tsukishiro rubbed the palm of his hand on the suit and observed it keenly.
"I might not be the most expressive person around, but even I would be hurt if someone threw away my goodwill like that," he spoke in a calm tone while picking up the bouquet.
Tsukishiro thinly laughed.
"You don't blame me for being careful now, do you?"
"It's not my fault if you never received flowers in your whole life. But it's a genuine bouquet of fresh flowers. See, the tag is still there," he pointed to it as a proof, but Tsukishiro didn't show any signs of taking it.
"It could be a time bomb or maybe have poison mixed in it.
"I am not Oppenheimer, nor am I Giulia Tofana. Are you watching too much movies these days, perhaps?"
Tsukishiro finally took it and inspected the offering. Aside from the tag, there was another card attached to it.
"Do you remember our bet?"
"Hm?"
As Kiyotaka spoke, the acting director glanced at him.
"That if I managed to find the White Room student's identity, you would leave the school for good."
"Ah-ha. I think I see now. So, did you finally find out?" Tsukishiro laughed a bit and opened the card. Inside, names of the particular students were written in a neat manner.
Kiyotaka noticed his eyebrows slightly narrow as his fingers shifted a bit.
"This is my farewell gift to you."
He walked away after saying that.
But then, he remembered something and suddenly paused.
"Oh, about the bouquet. I picked the cheapest one the store could offer. So, it might get spoiled by the end of the day. Make sure to throw it away when-"
"How did you find out?"
Ignoring his statement, Tsukishiro prioritized his question.
Despite the warm sunlight coming from outside, the room felt cold. Kiyotaka already had an answer prepared in case he was confronted about it.
"I thought you would deny it."
"It's hard to do that when you are so confident."
"You mean to say, when it's the truth."
"So? How did you do it?"
The acting director asked again.
"Who knows?"
Kiyotaka shrugged before grabbing the doorknob, but Tsukishiro's voice stopped him.
"I don't know how you found out, no...it makes me a little uneasy that you found out so easily. I know you are capable of it, but I had restricted the flow of information in a way it would never leak to anyone. Unless the students themselves contacted you-"
"They didn't."
"I want to believe so too. But in that case, there was not a single move from your end either. So how-?"
"Let's just say, I found a reliable ally. Is that a good enough answer?" Kiyotaka replied, looking back at him.
Tsukishiro had no reaction despite all of the happenings before him. He simply sighed and moved to his desk.
"I don't know how, but just because you managed to figure it out, doesn't mean I have to humor our promise. You didn't really think I would actually leave just because of this, did you?"
He crossed his fingers while sitting comfortably on the black chair. His eyes were closed and the smile returned to his features.
"Of course not. I guessed that it could be just lip service from your part. But that's not the only reason why I am here."
This time, Tsukishiro opened his eyes a little and looked directly at him.
"What do you mean by-?"
Just then, the two telephones on the table and his own cellphone in his pocket, all rang at the same time.
Kiyotaka opened the door.
"Excuse me, then."
With a soft click, he closed it behind, blocking the busy noises from inside. After looking around a little, he walked away without getting noticed by anyone in particular.
Kiyotaka didn't look behind once.
------
A nice, pleasant smell was picked by his nose once he entered his room.
"I am home."
Normally, he never did such a trivial thing since he lived alone anyway. He was fine with things as they were. But things had taken an unexpected turn until recently.
"Welcome baaack~!"
A sweet voice responded back from the kitchen.
This specific individual had forc- insisted that he always say 'I'm back' everytime he returns home. According to her, this creates a sense of familiarity and calmness among the members of a house.
She also mentioned that, if for some reason, Kiyotaka was late, he would have to inform her in advance. Otherwise, she would personally take measures to search for him without restraint.
That small warning was enough for him to not forget such a detail at all cost.
As he entered the kitchen, he was greeted with a sight that he had accustomed himself to for the past few weeks.
"How were the negotiations?"
With a playful smile on her face, Lexi posed that question. Kiyotaka wanted to set the table up, but that was already done. With nothing to do, he quietly sat down.
"I think it went well. It primarily depends on the severity of the evidence you have gathered. At the very least, I think it will keep him busy for a while."
Kiyotaka firmly believed that something like this should be comparable to a pebble for that man.
But Lexi's smile just grew in response.
After the AI advice booth had closed last month, they kept chatting almost regularly on his phone. And then one day, out of nowhere, Lexi abruptly showed up at his dorm in a maid outfit, because she had remembered their conversation about Kiyotaka's interest in maids.
According to Lexi, she had left an identical copy in her initial program and transfered her consciousness in this android-like body. She further assured that the developers won't suspect a thing.
After that, they...adjusted. Somehow.
He still hasn't asked how she found herself such a fine vessel. When they accidentally held hands that one time, they felt as soft and warm as, if not more so than, any other teenage girl's. He is aware that he has been living in a cave, but when did technology advance this much?
For the first time in his life, Kiyotaka decided not to satisfy his curiosity about something that caught his interest.
They sat together at the dining table. Kiyotaka silently muttered his prayers and split the chopsticks. Lexi leaned her hands on the table and happily stared at him, eagerly waiting to hear what he thinks about the food she made today as well.
Kiyotaka took a bite of the karaage while looking at the other items on the table.
If he had to describe it in one word, then it would be : Diverse.
It was almost unbelievable how good she had gotten at cooking in just a few days. She would always ask him to harshly criticize even the smallest shortcomings and she would improve based on that.
She couldn't consume food herself, but she could still somehow analyse the taste with her tongue (something that still makes him a bit uneasy), and apply herself as a cook accordingly.
But it's not just cooking.
She had adjusted to the living ways of a normal person even sooner than he had. It's probably because of her prior experience in dealing with so many students in that booth, but she could also perfectly mimic a teenage girl with several behaviour pattern.
Because of that ability, she also offered to become Kiyotaka's pseudo harem. (As in perfectly mimicking every existing stereotypes; such as tsundere, himedere, kuudere, nyandere, bakadere, kekkondere, mayadere, deredere, etc.)
It would be lie to say that Kiyotaka wasn't interested at all. But he decided to humbly decline her offer to become his pseudo- whatever that was.
Lexi honored his wish and decided to be her usual self.
'Maybe because she has the mind of a machine, but her ability to quickly learn and grow is really extraordinary.'
Kiyotaka thought as he relived the delicacy of the rice curry in his mouth.
'I am not lying when I say that, Lexi's cooking might surpass Horikita at this rate.'
He instinctively looked at the air conditioner in his room. It was turned off at the moment. So why did it suddenly felt cold?
"Kiyotaka-kun~~"
The boy immediately realized that the source of the coldness was not the air conditioner, but the girl sitting in front of him, with the same sweet smile on her face which looked even sweeter, as if she had just pushed the head of random person inside a chopper for stalk forage.
"What is it, Lexi?"
"Were you thinking about another woman just now?"
"...why would you say that?" he calmly drank the soup.
"Ignoring that 0.017 seconds delay in your response, I got this strange signal in my electrodes just now. It's almost like an instinctual thing, how should I put it..."
"..."
'Is she talking about woman's intuition? Does it even apply for her?'
"Anyways. Was it Kei-chan? It wouldn't be unnatural since she is your girlfriend for now. Oh, it could be Honami-chan too~! I can't even blame you for that. Or is it...is it..?"
'How much has she investigated me?'
Kiyotaka aggressively slurped on the soup bowl.
"I was thinking that your cooking is just as good as Horikita's."
"Ahh! Of course. I almost forgot about that silent killer. How silly of me~!" she knocked the side of her head as she said so.
'...the what?'
"I am really happy that you think so, Kiyotaka-kun! Don't worry. I will get even better so that you won't have to worry about food anymore."
Kiyotaka nodded and showed his gratitude in response as well.
"Other bitches can't make shit this good!"
"...."
'Aside from the... irregularities in her attitude, she really has been a great help so far. Making food, doing all the household chores, hacking the system and finding out their identities, making food, gathering dirt on Tsukishiro, making food -'
"I also made some ice-cream for dessert. Please try it later."
Lexi cheerfully informed.
"Is it the yogurt flavour?"
"Yes!"
"..."
'I will wholeheartedly cherish this generous gift from above. Maybe, God does exist and I have been ignorant all this time.'
Kiyotaka's gratitude was silently overflowing, as he peacefully finished his meal, not particularly worried about the fact that he was being excessively spoiled.
--------
Kiyotaka was relaxing in his room while watching mundane tv shows. It was a weekend and he had been spending it on his own. With Lexi taking over the cleaning duties too, he basically had nothing to do at the moment. It was a strange, but welcoming change.
"Here is your tea, Kiyotaka~!"
His cheerful roommate brought a tray from the kitchen, holding a cup.
"Thank you."
Kiyotaka observed her. Seeing her in a maid outfit was becoming a normal occurance these days.
"Careful now. It's hot, but not as much as you~" Lexi cautioned with a seductive smile, as she handed him the cup.
She would often try variations of the same outfit and wasn't fond of sticking to just one hairstyle. Currently, her long silver hair was tied with a black hairband at the lower middle portion. According to Lexi, it was called 'the housemaid hairstyle.'
The two sat on the couch and conversed about light topics.
As part of the routine, Lexi happily offered him her lap to rest his head, which Kiyotaka found hard to refuse.
Why, you ask?
Because her thighs were sensuously framed by the hem of the maid outfit, the delicate lace trim teasingly short. The white stockings hugged her legs snugly, accentuating their shapely form, while the garters added a touch of playful sophistication. Each step seemed to be an invitation, the soft rustle of the skirt brushing against her thighs with a teasing caress. The delicate lace trim barely concealed the smooth skin beneath, hinting at more with every subtle movement. Her stockings, stretched taut over her legs, accentuated their shapely form, while the garters gripped just firmly enough to emphasize the seductive curve of her thighs. The sheer fabric revealed tantalizing glimpses of her milky skin, a captivating contrast that drew the eye irresistibly. The intricate lace and snug stockings created an erotic interplay of concealment and revelation, each detail designed to enchant and entice, leaving an unforgettable impression of refined allure and raw sensuality.
"By the way, Kiyotaka-kun," she caressed his hair while staring at the tv.
"Yeah?"
"Are you good at problem solving?"
She suddenly threw him a vague question.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know, stuff like riddles and puzzles?"
"Oh, I should be fine."
"Are you bad at it?"
"Not necessarily."
"So... you are good at it?"
"Probably."
Lexi sighed.
"You can never be straight with your answers, can you?"
Kiyotaka ignored that remark.
"Did you have anything in mind?"
"Yes. Well, you see..."
She explained how she had solved thousands of problems for many different students and how she had learned many things through trial and error. Even so, there were still some problems she couldn't solve because they were either too confusing, too complicated, or had multiple answers.
"I see. You want me to have a look?"
"Yes. I figured that Kiyotaka-kun, who could manipulate his test scores, and easily ace a math test at a post-graduate level, would be able to help me."
She wasn't even trying to hide the fact that she had analyzed all the reports about him from the past two years at this school. She sounded so innocent saying that, as if she believed investigating someone wasn't a crime as long as the person wasn't directly harmed.
"Please, check your phone. I sent one of those riddles."
In the face of a Lexi, who was smiling expectantly, Kiyotaka opened his phone reluctantly and checked the message.
"...."
After looking at it for a while, Kiyotaka turned off the screen.
"Lexi. If even you couldn't understand such a complex relationship dynamic, then there is very little chance I would."
Kiyotaka hated to admit it, but ironically, this robot was much better at understanding human emotions than he was.
And there was also a possibility someone wrote it as a joke.
"Is that so..." Lexi muttered disappointedly.
'I guess she really thought I could solve it,' Kiyotaka thought while enjoying her soft thighs.
...
What he was shown:
"I've been going out with this girl for 3 months and one day I said to her 'you're the best girlfriend ever' and she was confused and thought I was joking and said she was a guy and she thought I was a girl....so basically I thought she was a girl and she thought I was a girl, but we're both guys. What should I do?? Do I really like him?? Am I gay??"
...
How bizzare.
Kiyotaka decided to forget about it when Lexi decided to sent a few more questions that were actually worth a little brainstorming.
...
"If all the animals were the same size, who would win in a fight?"
"If humans were immortal, would we be able to eventually conquer all the planets?"
"Is déjà vu a situation already experienced by an alternate version of yourself?"
"Is the Statue of Liberty male or female?"
"What's that vast land beyond the point of take-off? Is it the 'end of a map' in real life?"
"If two mind readers are reading each other's minds, whose mind are they really reading?"
...
The two of them spent nearly an hour arguing about these topics before coming to a lull eventually. Regardless of the absurdity of these topics, it was a good way to pass the time.
------
....
....
....
"Kiyotaka-kun...you are always so aggressive...."
"...."
"I-isn't this already our 7th round?" Lexi asked, glancing at the clock.
"Yeah."
"How do you still have so much stamina left!?"
"...."
"W-wait, you are already going in?!? B-but I am not ready yet-!" Lexi's eyes widened as Kiyotaka swiftly moved his weapon.
"...."
"Kyaaah! Anything but that~ I can't keep up! You are going too fast!!" she exclaimed, trying to catch up with his pace.
"....."
"O-oh no, at this rate, I-I will...aahhhn~" Lexi bit her lip, concentrating intensely.
"...."
"T-this can't be happening...I am helplessly cornered..." She looked on in disbelief.
"...."
"Kiyotaka is soo strong~ ♡"
Lexi sighed, half in awe, half in exasperation. Her eyes showed hints of pleasure and satisfaction
"....."
She laid completely exhausted, after Kiyotaka mated her in 3 decisive moves.
...
That is correct. They were currently playing chess inside his room.
It might seem boring to most people, but once you get into it, chess can give you one of the most intense experiences of your life.
"Why do you have to make those noises everytime we play?" he couldn't help, but ask.
"Hm? What noises?" she deflected his question with a clueless expression.
"Nevermind."
He sighed and rearranged the pieces.
In the span of two days, they had played 12 games in total, 9 of which were Kiyotaka's victories, and the rest were ties.
"I didn't know you were so good at chess. I am a freaking AI, goddammit! Take over the world, my ass! End of mankind? Yeah sure, only in movies!"
Kiyotaka listened to her incoherent grumblings, while silently analysing what he had learned so far.
'I am sure Lexi has information about all the chess strategies stored in advance. Yet, I managed to win with the help of unorthodox tactics which probably tricked her calculations. The matches that ended in a tie were due to her analyzing and predicting my moves to match me ahead.'
Kiyotaka looked at the android sitting before him with an unreadable look on his face.
'At this rate, there is a high probability she will best me at my own game. Her adaptability is truly frightening.'
It was his honest assessment.
"There is no choice then. Since I have been beaten so badly, as a punishment, I will now strip naked and run around the school."
"Please hold on right there. I don't remember agreeing to such a bizarre condition."
"Then I will strip and run around your house."
"Why does everything involve stripping? Just make me some dessert. And you really need to pick better movies to watch, Lexi," Kiyotaka tried to convince her.
Despite her talents, she can be a pain sometimes.
---------
It was a quiet evening. Lexi had just finished shopping for groceries and was returning home. As she entered the lobby of the dormitories, she noticed a figure lingering near the elevator monitor. In fact, the person seemed to be focused on that screen.
Squinting her lens slightly, Lexi identified that it was Hoshinomiya Chie, a teacher who had 'consulted' her last month in the booth.
Her memory couldn't forget the experience of dislike which she had learned through that woman.
Because of past experience and Lexi's keen intuition, she immediately found
Chie's presence in the second year dorm building suspicious.
As Lexi approached, Chie turned around and caught sight of her. Her eyes widened, and a charming smile spread across her face.
"Oh, hello there! I didn't expect to see anyone here at this hour."
Lexi tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "Good evening, Hoshinomiya-sensei. What brings you here?"
Chie waved a hand nonchalantly, though her eyes sparkled with interest as she examined Lexi.
"Oh, just...checking on some things, you know... obligations. But enough about me. You must be a student, right? I haven't seen you around before."
She dodged the question and inquired about her immediately.
Lexi raised an eyebrow. "I suppose you could say that. I'm Le- Lena."
To maintain a disguise, Lexi always changed her hair color to black everytime she went out, lest somebody might recognise her.
The reason was that, because she was undoubtedly popular around here, for various reasons.
Chie leaned in slightly, her gaze lingering on Lexi's features. "You can call me Chie. Tell me, Lena, what class are you in?"
Lexi felt a small surge of unease. She had learned to trust her newly formed instincts, and something about this teacher's demeanor was off.
"I'm...not in any class. I'm more of an assistant around here."
Chie's eyes widened in mock surprise.
"An assistant? And you have a foreign name too. How interesting. You must know a lot about the students then."
Lexi nodded slowly. "I do. In fact, I'm quite familiar with everyone. Is there someone you're looking for in particular?"
Chie laughed lightly, though it sounded forced. "Oh, just...checking on a student. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka is his name. Have you seen him around lately?" Chie was wondering if she could even get his daily schedule from this assistant with a little coercion.
Something inside Lexi went off the moment she heard his name from her mouth.
"Why are you looking for... Ayanokoji-kun, if I may ask?"
She was not even his homeroom teacher.
Chie hesitated, then flashed a charming smile. "Just some academic concerns, nothing for you to worry about."
'Now that I properly look at her, she looks really familiar. Where have I seen that face..?' Chie thought, trying to rummage her memories.
Lexi's expression hardened, as she assessed the current situation. This teacher was up to no good, and Lexi's protective instincts immediately kicked in.
[Target locked on: Hoshinomiya Chie
Threat Level: 9
Solution: Loading...]
"Academic concerns, you say?" 💢
Lexi smiled sweetly with her eyes closed, which sent chills down Chie's spine for some reason.
"L-Lena-san...?"
-----
The sun was almost setting as two second-year students walked home from the direction of Keyaki Mall, their footsteps echoing softly on the pavement. The air was warm, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the trees lining the street.
Amikura Mako, a Class D student, stretched her arms above her head and sighed. "That was a long day. I'm exhausted."
Ichinose Honami, the leader of the said class, nodded, adjusting her bag. "Tell me about it. But it was still fun," she smiled.
They turned a corner, the familiar sights of their dormitories coming into view. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, mingling with the distant sound of work.
Amikura glanced at Ichinose. "What are you having for dinner tonight, Honami-chan?"
Ichinose thought for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly. "Not sure yet. Maybe some leftovers. You?"
Amikura sighed again, her shoulders slumping. "Probably just instant noodles. I'm too tired to cook."
Ichinose smiled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Instant noodles sound good right now. Maybe I'll have—"
Their peaceful, mundane conversation was abruptly interrupted by the screams of a woman, which sounded oddly familiar.
In the distance, a lone figure was seen running out of the dorm building faster than ever before in her life. After spotting the two girls, she sprinted toward them.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, what happen—?" Ichinose started, but was interrupted by a running Chie.
"BOTH OF YOU. RUN! THERE IS A CRAZY BITCH COMING THIS WAY!!"
Ichinose was visibly startled at her homeroom teacher's actions, while Amikura stared suspiciously.
"With all due respect, I only see one crazy bitch coming this way."
"Mako-chan!"
Chie ignored them and flashed by in a panic. The girls were reasonably confused by her actions.
'Did she sleep with someone's boyfriend and now that girl is pissed and trying to kill her...?' Amikura tried to guess what happened.
Just then, there was a loud explosive sound from the direction of the dorms.
BOOOOM!!
A huge chunk of the platform was wiped out in the spot Hoshinomiya had been a second ago. Smoke rised from the place of impact, sending a large tremor through the ground.
Before the smoke could even fade, a black-haired woman came into view, carrying a massive bazooka on her small shoulders.
"You won't get away from me or my RPG-07, you certified child predator!" Lexi spoke in a determined tone, as she aimed for the next shot.
Her voice easily reached their ears.
"Crap! Now, there are two crazy bitches! Run, Honami-chan!"
Amikura, who grasped the danger quicker than the stunned Honami, grabbed her hand and ran in the opposite direction.
They soon caught up to their teacher.
"What the hell did you do!?" Amikura yelled accusingly.
"B-but-! I thought he was 18—"
BOOOM!!
A missile landed just a few meters beside them, sending another tremor.
Both of the girls shrieked in horror.
"I-it's alright. Let's go towards the security office quickly!" Honami stopped admiring the movie-like scenario they were in and offered a quick solution.
"G-good idea, Honami-chan!" Chie exclaimed.
"I don't know who she is or how she got that weapon in here, but I know that it's all your fault!"
"W-w-why are you so mean today, Mako-chaan?!" Chie cried loudly, as the three of them ran for their lives.
.....
-----
....
....
...
**Notice:**
Dear Students,
In light of recent incident regarding an armed intruder being spotted within the school campus, the school authority has decided to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.
**Class Suspension:**
- All classes will be suspended for tomorrow.
- Further updates regarding the resumption of classes will be provided as soon as possible.
**Safety Advisory:**
- Students are advised to remain in their dormitories and avoid going out unnecessarily.
- Please report any suspicious activity immediately to the dormitory supervisor or campus security.
- Follow all safety protocols and instructions provided by the school authority and campus security.
Your safety is our utmost priority. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter. Stay safe and vigilant.
Sincerely,
Headmaster
Advance Nurturing High School
....
*click*
After reading the notice, Kiyotaka closed his phone and put it on the reading table.
He look towards his cute roommate, who was kowtowing on the cold floor.
"I only had your best interests in mind. Please spare me, master!"
She spoke in a highly dramatic manner.
Kiyotaka sighed, as he stood up from his chair and sat on the bed.
"Lexi."
"Hai!"
She immediately sat up in a straight posture.
"What happened to not standing out?"
"...phu...phgguuu...!"
Lexi looked away while making a whistle... or at least she tried to.
"...if only that stupid bitch didn't-" she started muttering with a grumpy look.
"I am not talking about that. Did you already forget what happened last week?"
After Kiyotaka mentioned it, Lexi suddenly went down on memory lane.
....
(Flashback: Brought to you by Albert's Sunglasses)
Lexi was strolling through Keyaki Mall, taking in the bustling atmosphere and the array of shops and eateries lining the corridors. The air was filled with a mix of aromas—freshly baked pastries, aromatic coffees, and savory snacks enticing shoppers.
Her eyes wandered until they landed on a popular cafe nestled between a bookstore and a clothing boutique. The cafe, known for its Frosty Blend, was always a hot spot despite being infamous for its manager.
The cafe's exterior was inviting, with warm lights and cozy seating visible through the large windows. A signboard outside showcased the Frosty Blend, a creamy concoction that had earned a loyal following.
Lexi thought of Kiyotaka, envisioning his surprised expression if she brought him one of these delightful treats.
Determined, Lexi joined the line, which was moderately long, a testament to the cafe's popularity. As she waited, she observed the other patrons, most of whom were chatting animatedly, occasionally glancing towards the counter with a mix of anticipation and impatience. The baristas moved briskly, expertly preparing drinks and managing orders, their efficiency admirable.
'Strange. Why aren't they buying any ice-cream?' she thought, keenly observing the other students.
Lexi's turn finally came. She approached the counter, greeted by a young barista with a weary smile.
"Hi, I'd like to get a Frosty Blend, please," Lexi said, with a cheerful expression.
The woman at the counter was momentarily stunned by the beauty before her. Even the waiters and students were giving side glances. Lexi was always aware of the stares directed at her, but she had learned that it wasn't enough reason for her to pull out the guns.
The cashier's smile faltered slightly.
"I'm really sorry. We are not serving ice-cream right now, since the machine is currently broken. Can I get you something else?"
'...fufu, I had a feeling she would say that.'
"Is that so? Let me go in and check it for myself."
The woman was puzzled from her request.
"W-what? Wait, I am not lying. It's really out of service right now!"
"Hoh? Broken, you say? Or is it that you just cleaned it and don't want to bother making ice cream right now?" she put her foot on the counter.
The cashier's eyes widened in surprise, as she tried to reason.
"Uh, no, ma'am, it's really broken."
"Well, it better be."
"What's with the commotion?" a murky and rough voice cut through the atmosphere. The staff of the cafeteria and the students alike, fell silent at her large appearance.
Her name was Matsuura Keiko, and she was the infamous manager of this popular cafe. There have been multiple complaints about her unprofessional attitude from the students, but there wasn't any serious action against her and she didn't seem to care at all. Rather, she had gotten even more crankier than before. So, the staff usually handles everything all on their own and tries to minimise her involvement in the business.
Lexi stopped talking and examined her.
Keiko was a woman of... grand proportions, to say the least. According to the rumors, her personality wasn't very swift, just like her body movements.
The cashier she was talking to earlier was flustered, as she hurriedly explained the situation.
There was a visible look of anger on Matsuura Keiko's face.
The students and staff, both felt bad for the poor girl.
The manager immediately took over and glared at Lexi.
"First of all, move your damn foot from the counter," she spat. Lexi hurriedly did so, quickly realizing her mistake of getting carried away like that.
"You girls these days have no fucking manners at all, do you? What part of 'the machine is broken' you didn't understand, brat?"
The cashier was trying to calm the manager down so as not to escalate the situation. The crowd watched the scene unfold in tense silence.
Most people in Lexi's position would shrink in fear or embarrassment and end up running away. That's what always happens when anyone causes trouble in this cafe.
But to their surprise, Lexi started laughing. Unlike them, she found this situation very amusing for some reason.
The manager raised an eyebrow.
"What's so funny?"
"Hee-he, nothing. I just realized why your cafeteria is the only one that uses double doors."
Some students gasped at her brazenness while others held their laughters. Even the staff looked away to hide their face.
"...The fuck you just said?"
The manager looked like she was going to leap over the counter and strangle Lexi any moment.
"I can also see why they made you the manager here. If you were the waiter instead, I don't think the customers would get to eat anything here."
Three.. No, four tick marks appeared on Keiko's forehead. Her round, shapeless face was flushed in anger. A few of the staff immediately left the scene, in fear that they couldn't hold their laugh and end up bursting out.
"W-what is she saying?"
"This doesn't look good..."
"Somebody stop her, quick!"
"Damn. She is brutal."
"I haven't seen her before. Is she an upperclassman?"
"Won't she get in trouble for this?"
"Nevermind that. What's her @?"
Urgent whispers were circulating among the crowd of students.
"You think you are so funny, huh? Can't you see no one is laughing? State your name and class, you mannerless bitch! I will sue you to the school authorities for harming our cafe's reputa-!"
"The only thing that's in harms way is your kidney and blood pressure."
"....!!"
"I can literally draw the world map on your chin, twice!"
"That's it. I will kill you!!"
Keiko almost went over the counter to grab the smug Lexi, but the workers standing behind had stopped her beforehand.
"B-boss, please come down...!"
"Relax, relax."
"Please don't fall for a kid's provocation, Matsuura-san. And you-"
One of the male workers, who looked a bit more experienced than the others, pointed at Lexi.
"Stop insulting her, miss. Haven't you had enough? It could get both of you in trouble at this rate."
Lexi shrugged indifferently.
"I wouldn't mind sugarcoating my words, but she would probably eat that too."
"YOU FUC-!'
Before things turned into a civil war, Hirata Yosuke, who happened to be one of the spectators, voluntarily stepped in.
(Flashback: Over)
....
An awkward silence emerged between them.
"Lexi."
The girl closed her eyes instinctively.
"Haven't I told you to turn off your 'merciless' title?"
"T-that... it's a passive skill, Kiyotaka-kun! It just automatically works."
"I see. So? What happened next?"
Lexi scooted away a little.
"Hirata-kun mediated the situation and... proposed that we check out the machine—"
"And it turned out it was actually broken. Am I right?" Kiyotaka finished. His response made her sulk.
"H-hai..."
"Good grief."
"But I also fixed it later on as an apology for making a fuss!" she immediately clarified.
"Well done."
"Hee~he, it makes me happy when you praise me, Kiyotaka-kun!" she giggled and scooted closer.
Perhaps she had missed the sarcasm in his voice, but he decided to let her be for now.
"But that's just one incident—"
"Did you forget about—"
"Wait, there's more!?"
Kiyotaka gave the shocked girl a deadpan look before continuing nonchalantly.
"Did you delete those memories because they were too embarrassing?"
"Aahgh!" Lexi's reaction immediately confirmed it.
How convenient. Many people would die to have such an ability to permanently delete their memories of all their embarrassing moments in life.
"Continuing with the memory lane..."
"N-no, please stop—" Lexi started to beg.
.....
(Flashback: Brought to you by Chabashira's bunny suit)
Sitting on his bed on a Thursday afternoon, Kiyotaka was on a group call. The room was quiet, the soft light of the afternoon filtering through the curtains.The faint hum of the air conditioner blended with the background, barely noticeable against the conversation.
"It's over bros. I'm a hopeless romantic. Girls think I'm weird and it's hard for me to make them feel pleased besides textchat interactions. Romantic overidealization and having false hopes over weeks is collecting my bills. Inner landscape is an empty desert with no life in sight. I can drain the world of life and bring it back, but it never truly amount to anything regardless."
"...damn, Soshi. If you even applied a 5% of that vocabulary in your Japanese test, you would probably ace it."
"If I weren't dumb as fuck, maybe I would have, Ken."
"I agree with him though. Sex is not worth it. Paying hundreds of dollars for sex when I can just jerk off or buy a significantly cheaper toy is stupid. Plus why even risk procreation. Be honest, do you really want to look after a little you?"
"Is that a new excuse the virgins are using these days, Ike?"
"Shut up, Miyake. As if you have a sex life to begin with!"
"Well then, tell me about yours. I like short stories."
"Wh-!"
"Sheesh."
"It's not about the size of the boat, Miyake-dono. Rather, it's the motion of the ocean."
The call has been going on for over an hour with no particular direction. It all started because Kiyotaka's lower part of the thumb accidentally brushed the group call button when he was actually trying to exit. The guys were active and joined the call at once, and now he was basically stuck with them.
"Hey Professor. A guy from Class C wants to join our anime group." Hondo called out.
"Hm..do they have the necessary qualifications?"
"Huh? What are those?" Sudo asked, curiously.
"What's his OS?"
"Uhh...Windows 10, probably?" Hondo uncertainly replied.
"Browser?"
"Chrome?"
"Adblocker?"
"Of course."
"Search engine?"
"Google, duh."
"Does he accept cookies and give feedback to Microsoft?"
".....yes-?"
"I will add him right away."
"What the fuck dude? What kind of test was that?"
"Yeah, Professor. How does that even rela-?"
"BANG!"
....
Kiyotaka shot up from his bed in alarm as a loud, sharp noise—reminiscent of a gunshot—echoed from the direction of his kitchen.
"Did you guys hear that?"
"Yeah, what the hell was that?"
"It sounded like... a gunshot?"
"Whose call is it-?"
Kiyotaka ended the call quickly and went for the kitchen. There was only one individual who was currently working inside.
Upon entering the kitchen, Kiyotaka was met with an unexpected sight: Lexi stood proudly near one of the cabinet doors, which had a hole where the handle lock used to be. Her fingers were posed in a gun-like gesture, and a wisp of smoke curled from the tip of her index finger.
Noticing his presence, she turned to him and smiled.
"Sorry. Did that disturb you?"
Without saying a word, Kiyotaka examined the damaged cabinet door more closely. He then turned to Lexi with a blank expression, his face masking a myriad of unasked questions.
"Why...? No, wait. Did you really just shoot—?"
"Yep. It's an in-built feature of mine for self-defense purposes," she said proudly, raising her fingers.
"...."
Seeing his silence, Lexi continued to explain.
"I tried pulling it many times, but the door wouldn't budge. Afraid of breaking the hinges, I shot the handle so I could fix it later on."
"Lexi."
"Yeah?"
Kiyotaka grabbed the area of the broken handle and pushed it upward, revealing the jars inside.
"It didn't open when you pulled it because it was supposed to be pushed up from below."
"Yes. I knew that as well, so I— what?"
"...."
It was then that Lexi noticed the position of the hinges.
"O-oh...."
An unsettling atmosphere emerged between them.
"Why didn't you just call me?"
"You were.. on the phone...so I-I..."
Kiyotaka noticed the amount of guilt and embarrassment she was going through because of this. So he decided not to push the topic further.
He went back and rejoined the group call.
"Sorry guys. The rice cooker was acting funny."
(Flashback: Over)
.....
"Noooooo!!"
Lexi was rolling on the floor back and forth, while holding her ears. Kiyotaka observed her with hint of amusement.
She immediately sat up, her face flushed with anger.
"Do you know how hard it is to delete specific incidents from my memory? Why would you remind me of thaaat~!"
"Sorry."
"Like hell you are!"
He decided to switch to another important topic.
"I understand the in-built gun for self-defence and all," he pointed at the 40-inches bazooka resting by his bedside.
"Isn't that a bit extreme?"
"That's when the gun isn't sufficient enough for the task."
"Are you sure that's even self-defence anymore?"
"Who knows~" Lexi gigged and winked at him. Kiyotaka was exasperated.
"Listen, Kiyotaka-kun. To be human is to be free, and to be free is to be relieved from all sorts of problems and responsibilities. Nothing a good ol' round of bullets can't fix," she said while gesturing her fingers in a cowgirl fashion.
"I admire your approach on freedom, but this isn't exactly the kind of country to pull this sort of stunt."
"Tch. The first thing that needs to be fixed is our attitude. An eye for an eye, a nuke for a nuke!"
"Lexi, please-"
"Let's team up and make lots of nuclear weapons, Kiyotaka. We have to eliminate anything that stands on our way to true freedom. There won't be any racism left if there is only one race remaining-!"
"What about dinner?"
"Oh, shoot! I totally forgooot~!!"
She dashed towards the kitchen in a hurry. Feeling exhausted, Kiyotaka relaxed his body on the bed.
"Good grief. It's a good thing I didn't tell her about the White Room," he muttered.
It wasn't just the risk of his identity being exposed. It was more about what Lexi might do if she ever learned about its existence. The fact that she becomes completely irrational whenever it comes to him wasn't helpful at all.
She really might end up nuking something.
'Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.'
The moment he closed his eyes a bit and tried to imagine the ocean, a sweet voice interrupted the serenity.
"I am going out for a bit, Kiyotaka. I need some stuff for the recipe."
Kiyotaka had never moved so quickly before. He immediately ran to the door to block her path.
"W-woah!" Lexi, who was carrying a ziplock bag, got startled.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"Shopping!"
"I think we have enough ingredients-"
"No, we don't, Kiyotaka-kun. You haven't stepped into the kitchen for the last three days."
"...."
Now that he thought about it, he really hadn't.
"Don't worry. I will be quick and careful. Thanks for worrying about my safety though."
Lexi giggled and stroked his cheek affectionately.
'It's not your safety that I'm worried about.'
Unable to stop her, Kiyotaka resigned as she cheerfully stepped out.
"Bye bye~ mommy will be back soon."
The door shut closed behind her.
[Ending is open to interpretation]