Reaction: Lexi
Today, Kiyotaka was purposely a bit later than usual for the screening. There wasn't any specific reason behind it, and he still had ten minutes to spare.
The atmosphere in the theater wasn't any different from other days. Before the host arrived, the students would casually hang around, chatting about relevant topics. The teachers would either quietly watch over them or gossip among themselves.
Kiyotaka had gotten used to it by this point. As long as the videos didn't reveal anything directly related to his lineage, there wouldn't be much trouble.
He looked around silently.
As always, there wasn't anything unusual.
Nothing at all.
Except for the group of students gathered around a particular spot. It seemed to have gotten the attention of the rest of the students as well. As he got closer, he realized that his own seat was somewhere around that spot too. Curious about what was going on, he tried to blend in the crowd.
He could hear excited murmurs and snippets of conversation.
"Who is she? I haven't seen her before."
"She's so pretty! Is she a new student?"
"Why haven't we heard anything about a transfer?"
As he navigated through the sea of students, Kiyotaka finally caught a glimpse of the center of attention. A girl with strikingly lifelike features and an air of calm sophistication was seated beside his designated spot. Her long, flowing hair, perfectly sculpted features, and the almost imperceptible movements of her expressions made her appear incredibly regal. She was dressed in the school's uniform, blending in seamlessly with the other students.
Kiyotaka found himself intrigued by this development. He made his way to his seat, which was right next to hers. Noticing his figure, the girl turned to him and smiled warmly.
"Hello, Ayanokoji-kun," she greeted him in a voice that was both soothing, and melodic.
Kiyotaka was surprised to see that she already knew him.
"You again, Ayanokoji!?" Miyamoto yelled.
"Don't tell me it's another one of your woman?" Ike accused.
"I literally just met her," Kiyotaka deadpanned.
"Really now, Kiyotaka?" Kei was suspicious too.
"Why did she only greet you then?" Horikita looked at him skeptically.
"Is it another childhood friend of yours?" Akito guessed.
The girl giggled a bit before opening her mouth.
Before she could answer, the infamous host of the event appeared on stage. The students quickly quieted down, and all eyes turned towards the front of the theater.
???: Good afternoon, everyone. I see that many of you have already noticed our special guest today. Allow me to introduce you all to Lexi.
There were confused looks and whispers among the students. Lexi stood up gracefully and turned to face the crowd, her smile never wavering. Many guys had already fallen for her appearance alone.
???: Now, I'm sure you all have a lot of questions. Lexi is not a new student, nor is she a transfer. She is, in fact, our AI assistant.
The theater erupted in gasps and murmurs of disbelief.
"What do you mean, AI assistant?"
"She looks so real!"
"No way!"
The host raised a hand to quiet the room.
???: Yes, I know it's hard to believe. Lexi has been designed to assist with various activities, including today's screening. She is equipped with advanced AI technology, allowing her to interact with you just like a human would.
Lexi: It's a pleasure to meet all of you. I'm here to help with any inquires you may have. I am already aware of everyone's identities, so rest assured.
Kiyotaka's eyes narrowed slightly as he studied her. The realization that she was not human but an advanced AI fascinated him more than he cared to admit. Also, the fact she mentioned 'identities' instead of 'names' bothered him a little.
The students were buzzing with excitement and a barrage of questions followed right after.
"Can you feel emotions too?"
"Can you help with my homework?"
"Will you go on a date with me?"
Lexi: I am still learning, yes I'd love too, and no, I'm not interested.
She responded at once.
???: Now that you've met Lexi, let's proceed with today's screening. She will be here throughout the event, so feel free to interact with her.
As the host started the screening, Kiyotaka glanced at Lexi again. She was engaging with another curious student, her mannerisms and responses flawless. The line between human and AI had never seemed so blurred.
Wait.
Why was she sitting beside him again?
This is really not funny. He felt like he was being used as a scapegoat for trouble once again
Lexi: Please take care of me.
She politely bowed.
Kiyotaka: The...feeling is mutual.
He decided to deal with it for now. Besides, she was a guest. So, she must be here for only this video.
Kei: She really can't be...right?
Honami: I hope the seating arrangement was just a coincidence.
Sotomura: I wonder if she can fix my controller.
Kikuchi: The world is moving too fast to the point of making such a powerful AI. And my sorry ass still can't understand polynomials and kinetic friction. I wish I had been born a bird. Ah, yes....The taste of freedom.
The screen turned white as words appeared in an animated fashion, something they had seen before as well.
.....
<𝕸𝖆𝖈𝖍𝖎𝖓𝖊 𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖊𝖑𝖑𝖎𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊 𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖙 𝖎𝖓𝖛𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖍𝖚𝖒𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖙𝖞 𝖜𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖊𝖛𝖊𝖗 𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖉 𝖙𝖔 𝖒𝖆𝖐𝖊>
--- 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐦
.....
Asahina: So, I'm guessing this will be all about Lexi. Isn't it really exciting?
Nagumo: I have to admit. This is a very intriguing event.
Asahina: Let's go and talk to her later then!
Nagumo: Sure. I wonder if she will be able to help me with my wish to create a virtual special exam?
Manabu: The quote on the screen can be taken both optimistically, and pessimistically at the same time.
Komiya: Lexi-chan is really cute, am I right?
Kondo: No denying that.
Ishizaki: Dude, don't even think about it!
He immediately rejected the notion, after sensing Komiya's good-for-nothing intentions.
Komiya: Why not? Remember what Sakagami-sensei used to say?
Tokito: Are you serious?
Ryuen: You won't go far in life with that old fuck's teachings. Not that I think you will anyways. At best, you would probably end up in jail.
Tokito: Jail is the best one?
Komiya: C-come on, guys. Think a bit more positively..! What if-
Nishino: Pervert.
Ibuki: Freak.
Komiya: Ugh, fine then. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't go after Lexi-chan?
Kaneda: Well, for one, she is sitting beside Ayanokoji.
His curt reply immediately put an end to this pathetic debate.
Ishizaki: T-that was too brutal, Kaneda! Look at poor Komiya!
Ryuen: Kuku! He is not wrong though.
Katsuragi: Can you guys please watch quietly?
Summer vacation had started for the students of Advanced Nurturing High School.
When one talks about summer, what usually comes to your head?
A blazing yellow sun?
A beach episode?
Swimming pool?
Hot girls wearing hot swimsuits?
Ike: Haha. All of them. Specially the last one-
He and his friends got giddy at once when the two words: girls and swimsuit, were mentioned.
Hirata: Please, settle down.
Mori: Don't bother, Hirata-kun. Even Shinohara-san gave up on him.
....
Neither of them.
The only correct answer would be—
"Ice cream."
A second-year, newly promoted Class B student, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, was walking back to the dorms after buying his favorite dessert from all the way in Keyaki Mall.
Akito: You really like Ice-cream, don't you?
Ike: C'mon Ayanokoji! You can't possibly prefer Ice-cream over hot girls and swimsuits, right!?
In response to Ike's enthusiastic inquiry, Kiyotaka returned a blank stare.
Ike: ...seriously? You really are an oddball.
Sudo: I respect that too, I guess.
Miyamoto: If I prioritise ice-cream over everything else, will I also be popular?
The reason for being here was because all the convenience stores had run out of stocks, due to the extreme heat and people's increasing demand for ice creams. Luckily for the brown-haired boy, he knew a certain shop in Keyaki Mall that also sold such delicacies, and he wasted no time in buying half of the stock for himself.
Before his ice cream got melted by the heat, he was hurrying to his dorm in order to store them in the fridge as quickly as possible.
Upon coming to the second floor of the mall, he immediately noticed something peculiar.
A booth was set up on the east side.
No...it was too modern and upgraded to just call it that.
The focus of the audience shifted to this new anomaly on screen, imploring them to brainstorm the current events.
Before he realized, Kiyotaka found himself drawn towards it. There were two automatic doors leading inside which were closed at the moment. Beside it, a counter was set up, most probably to buy tickets for this upcoming event. There was a huge poster hanging nearby the booth which would be hard for anyone to miss.
**Unlock Your Future with AI!**
**Ask Our Virtual Assistant Anything!**
💡 **Career Advice?**
💡 **Relationship Tips?**
💡 **Health and Wellness?**
💡 **Life Hacks?**
**Get Instant Answers, Personalized for You!**
**Join Us at the AI Advice Booth!**
🗓️ **Date:** [Event Date]
🕒 **Time:** [Event Time]
📍 **Location:** [Event Location]
**Interactive • Fun • Insightful**
**Don't Miss Out!** Be part of the future today.
There were many faces which perked up in realisation.
Asahina: So this is were Lexi-chan comes in!
Lexi: Hehe~ yep!
Hashimoto: It will be fun if we had that booth set up here too.
Sanada: This definitely seems to be a fun event.
Satonaka: I agree.
....
"Seriously?"
Kiyotaka couldn't help but sigh at this. Last year, a fortune teller was stationed here, which had turned out to be a huge hit among the students. This year, it was replaced by an Artificial Intelligence of all things. He had failed to see how an AI would be able to give advice which is not textbookish in the first place.
Lexi looked a little hurt by his blunt words as she tearfully gazed at him, even though there were no actual tears.
Lexi: T-that's so mean, Ayanokoji-kun!
Kiyotaka: No, wait a minute, I--
Sato: Tch, tch! That's not a nice thing to say, Ayanokoji-kun.
Chiaki: You should pat her head and whisper sweet words to her like you usually do to others.
Kiyotaka: That's a misunderstanding.
Lexi: I-I promise I will do my best to help you and everyone!
Kiyotaka: That's admirable. Please don't worry about what I said.
Suzune: Well, I also had the same viewpoint as him in the beginning. I could be wrong too.
Kushida: It might be a hunch but, is Lexi acting right now?
"Don't sit beside that bastard, Lexi-chan. Come over here!" a random student shouted.
The girl changed from her weeping demeanour in a split second and adopted a stoic pose.
Lexi: Thank you, but please don't bother yourself with me.
Her personality switch was astonishing, to say the least. For Kiyotaka, it felt like he just talked to Kushida and Horikita at the same time.
He stared at the poster for a moment longer, his gaze drifting over the various promises of personalized advice and instant answers. The bold, futuristic fonts and sleek design of the booth made it look like something out of a science fiction movie. Despite his skepticism, he couldn't deny that it had a certain allure.
"An AI giving advice...sounds like a gimmick," he muttered to himself. "I can't help but think that this event will be a huge flop. Anyways, it's too hot to go outside for this kind of thing."
Muttering to himself, Kiyotaka adjusted his grip on the bag of ice cream and sprinted towards his dorm before the ice cream melted any further. The thought of the cold, creamy treat waiting for him was enough to push the curiosity about the AI booth to the back of his mind. For now, the summer heat made ice cream the undisputed priority.
Ryuen: I am gonna stomp several cartons of Ice-cream in front of you and just to see how you react.
Ayanokoji: I dare you.
Ishizaki: I have an inkling that boss will make me do it instead.
****
"What is going on...?"
Despite his lack of initial curiosity, Kiyotaka still found himself going towards the AI booth. Even if it was a flop, he still wanted to see how the features of the new generation robots worked.
But what he didn't expect at all was the huge line of people in front of the ticket counter. It almost reached the escalators.
Was the AI always this amazing? Or was it just curiosity of the students in general?
Even so, the line was even longer compared to the fortune telling booth last year.
Lexi: I am so happy!
She clasped her hands together with a smile, delighted to offer her advice to so many students.
Ishizaki: Holy moly. That crowd is insane.
Nishino: I am not surprised.
Ibuki: In this heat? No, thanks!
Katsuragi: We will most likely see a lot of familiar faces.
Hondo: If the AI is this cute, I would go there everyday!
Makida: You need to go to a church first.
Onodera: Relationship advice, huh?
Arisu: Fufu, I am very excited to see how much capable Lexi-san is.
Kiyotaka: I guess it won't be as bad as I initially inagined.
As he stood in the line himself, he understood the reason why.
"It's because couples were mandatory last time. But this time, only one person is allowed inside the booth."
With this comparison in head, what he was seeing right now could be a general ratio of the singles and couples in this school, if the variables are ignored. The result was pretty disastrous.
Many single individuals in the crowd groaned from Kiyotaka's unnecessary analysis.
"He is singlehandedly raking all the girls from us!"
"That's just an excuse man. Admit it."
"No!"
Lexi: Hhm...if I had to calculate the exact ratio, it would be...
Ichihashi: Uwah! There is no need for that!
Now that he took a good look around, he spotted many familiar faces in the crowd.
*****
The booth was set up very meticulously. One door led inside to a room separated by a thin glass where a table, chair and a large screen were placed. The other door worked as the exit. Right outside the glass, the workers were stationed for any kind of errors with the devices. And to monitor the students for any kind of sabotage.
After a student registers with their ID number, they could entry a maximum of ten questions in the tab placed on the table. The data will be send directly to the screen from the tab. This method was established because many witted individuals tend to manipulate the AI into answering more than ten questions.
Lexi was visibly excited at the thought of so many people seeing her operate first hand.
Ryuen: Good ol' Katsuragi is first, eh? That's a pretty boring start. I bet he would ask her how to study or something.
Hiyori: Don't be rude. There is nothing wrong with that.
Arisu: That's what a meritorious student should do. Not that you can be associated with one, I am afraid.
Ryuen: Please.
Katsuragi was in awe by the sight.
'It has a woman's voice and face which could be almost mistaken for a human's. The facial expressions are also displayed on the screen which constantly changes. I can't help, but think that the technological application behind operating this is truly remarkable.'
Katsuragi quickly snapped out of his thoughts.
"W-what?"
"...."
'Did I mishear?'
Hashimoto: Hahaha! He was totally caught off guard by Lexi's humanlike traits.
Machida: Haha, he never expected such a lively response.
Nanase: I wonder how Lexi-san made that body she is using right now. It looks so advanced.
Nishimura: She is quite a tease.
Mori: Right?
Reluctantly, he picked up the tab and entered the queries he could think of at the moment.
There was buffering on the screen for a few seconds as the questions were processed. Immediately after, the AI--Lexi's expression lit up by showcasing a light bulb.
Ryuen: Katsuragi once again failed the "try not to be predictable" challenge. No wonder you got screwed in your time as a leader, kuku.
Katsuragi didn't pay him any mind and focused on the screen.
Katsuragi started with something incredibly basic to see how the AI would guide him.
Lexi proceeded to show an extensive time table on the screen along with helpful directions on how he should follow them.
'Impressive,' he thought.
Katsuragi was baffled as he stared incredulously at the screen.
The hall was filled with laughter and giggles
Katsuragi: What in the-?
Ryuen: Kukuku you should take her advice while you still can, Katsuragi. Well, not that they will grow back anyways.
Kamuro: She has quite the sense of humor.
Arisu: You're right.
Lexi: N-no! I was being genuinely concerned about it. Everyone!
She insisted, not wanting anyone to mock her first client any further.
Mii-chan: D-don't worry. We understand.
Kushida: pfft-!
Ijuuin: She truly meant it with a good heart.
Ike: Of course! It can't be helped if he is-
Keisei: Let's stop right there.
Was it supposed to be its attempt at humor? No, it sounded very serious when it said that. So it's genuinely concerned?
Lexi answered the rest of the questions in a similar manner. He was really impressed at how detailed and helpful the advices have been so far. He wasn't expecting much in the first place, but he felt glad to come here and check it out.
For the first time, there was hesitation in Lexi's voice.
Katsuragi's last question wasn't that much relevant to the other ones. He was only curious why Ryuen sometimes called him with the nickname 'Johnny'.
Except the clueless ones, everyone else burst out laughing, while people who knew him were gawking at him, much to Katsuragi's displeasure.
Ryuen: You moth- hahaha. You seriously asked her that!? You could have just used the internet haha-cough! Damn. I almost bit my tongue.
Katsuragi: I didn't.
Hashimoto: Oh man, I am out of breath.
Satonaka: This is certainly...a little awkward.
Kushida: Ugh, fucking creeps.
Hiyori tilted her head curiously while the boys in her class were having blast out of this.
Kiyotaka: Lexi, what did he mean by 'Johnny'?
Horikita: Yes, I am quite confused too.
Lexi blushed furiously as she looked down, fiddling with her fingers.
Lexi: W-well, you see-
"Is it inappropriate?"
"Then, let's leave it at that."
Suzune: No, thank you. I shouldn't have expected much from Ryuen-kun in the first place.
Kiyotaka: But, I want to kno-
Suzune: No.Thank.You. Ayanokoji-kun.
Kiyotaka reluctantly shrunk back as Lexi sighed in relief.
He thought it would be meaningless specially if it came from none other than Ryuen.
Katsuragi couldn't shake the odd feeling that Lexi sounded too much like a human.
[Program 'Lexi' Initiation: Checking for updates and detecting changes ⚙️]
Manabu: Perhaps she has a mechanism that allows her to learn with each interaction. This will be interesting to watch.
Kobashi: Katsuragi-kun isn't wrong. I really thought she was a person at first.
Amikura: Haha, me too.
The screen faded temporarily as the frame changed to another person inside the booth, facing Lexi.
.
.
Lexi's annoyed face and tone irritated the magenta haired boy in return.
There was a loud slam on the table surface.
"The fuck was that!?"
"Like hell I care! Just answer my damn question!"
Ryuen is here only because Ishizaki had been nagging him about this new virtual assistant booth since yesterday. Never did one imagine, that the man who had been leading a whole class for two years straight through ebb and flow, would be arguing here with a freaking robot.
There were several exasperated sighs around the hall.
Arisu: This is why education is important.
Katsuragi: Getting called delusional by a machine. How far have you fallen.
Ryuen: Shut it. Whose side are you on?
Morishita: He will most probably set off an alarm in a few moments.
Suzune: At least be civilized when you are the one seeking advice.
Kiyotaka: If Ryuen becomes civilized, that will probably be the day when you will have real friends.
Suzune: You are righ- what?
Kiyotaka: Well, except if Ibuki-
Suzune: She is not my friend!
Lexi: It's nice to have friends, Horikita-san.
Suzune looked away with a huff.
Lexi huffed as she took a deep breath.
"Again with that bullshit?"
They kept arguing for five more minutes before the staff in-charge gave a stern warning to Ryuen from behind the glass.
Utomiya: Just what he did ask for her react like this?
Ichika: Hm~ something quite absurd, I am guessing.
Lexi: I-I don't like him. Soo rude!! (˶˃⤙˂˶)
Kei: It will be questionable if you actually liked him after this.
"That's right! How dare you be rude to her!?"
"I will kill you, Ryuen!"
Ryuen: As if a bunch of simps got something against me.
Komiya: Seeing Lexi-chan so flustered is also a treat.
Yamashita: Do me a favor, and refrain from speaking out your weird thoughts.
"Ah, shit! Just say that you don't know. I'll leave."
Lexi huffed loudly once more, her cheeks inflating as a result.
Kiyotaka gave a long side glance to the proud robot sitting beside him.
Lexi: Something on your mind, Ayanokoji-kun?
Kiyotaka: No, I am just impressed. That's all.
Lexi: Hehe~** Don't hesitate to ask me anything.
"What are your three sizes?"
The voice didn't waste a moment seeing the opportunity.
Shinohara: Who is that pervert!?
Onodera: So sick!
Kushida: Tch, piece of shit.
The Lexi protection squad quickly moved and confronted that scum who claimed that he was just joking.
Hirata: That wasn't very nice of him, even as a joke.
Suzune: Perverts like them will never change, Hirata-kun.
Lexi, however, remained calm. But the smile on her face was as cold as liquid nitrogen.
Kiyotaka: I might be wrong, but I could swear I saw the handle of a Glock-17 under her uniform.
Shaking that momentary unease away, Kiyotaka focused back on the screen.
"Oh? Kukuku! Then why can't you answer my simple question, Miss know-it-all?"
Lexi fell into deep thought once more. Her program almost emitted steam as she once again scrutinised Ryuen's one and only question. But the more she thought about it, the more nonsensical it gets.
Everyone got curious as to what Ryuen could have possibly asked for the all-knowing AI to act the way she just did.
Hiyori: If my hunch is not wrong, he might have asked something related to him.
""How can you defeat a person who has intelligence on par with a supercomputer, read people like books, can't be manipulated emotionally or psychologically, holds knowledge beyond their years, and a body that possesses fighting techniques on par with professionals?""
Seeing the question laid out in front of them, everyone including Lexi went momentarily silent.
Kiyotaka: I can't even pretend to not know who he is talking about, but why is it so exaggerated?
Arisu: Fufufu, I might have given him less credit than he deserved. To think he figured out that much in just two years.
Suzune: What...is this?
Honami: Someone that strong? It can't be, is it..?
Ichika: I see. I see~
Hosen: Is he talking about-? I know he is fucking strong, but what's that about being as smart as a supercomputer?
Nagumo: If it's not exaggerated, it's almost as if he has no openings at all.
Utomiya: I almost forgot what a monster that guy is.
Morishita: Are the other students from this...white room, just as strong?
Hiyori: Ryuen-kun really holds him at a high regard. Hehe, I am a bit glad.
Kushida: He is obviously smart enough to outsmart people like Ryuen-kun with ease. But comparing him to a supercomputer, I don't know what to think.
In Lexi's opinion, someone...or something like that couldn't possibly exist. What Ryuen Kakeru said was basically the definition of a perfect and flawless human being. Even if such a being existed--
Kiyotaka: Ouch. To not even count my existence, is this how Sudo felt like when he got rejected by Horikita?
He could already feel several eyes on him, contemplating what Ryuen said was true or not. The others were confused and surprised at such a question.
Ichika: That's right, Lexi-chan. Senpai is absolutely flawless to me.
"Huh?" Ryuen who was about to leave, turned back at the AI's reply.
That was Lexi's honest conclusion after much thought on this matter. Ryuen stayed silent for a while before smirking, ever so slightly.
"That so?"
With that he left, leaving behind a conflicted AI who felt that it failed at its job for the first time. It wasn't a very pleasant feeling
Lexi, who was silent the whole time, finally looked down as if contemplating something on her mind.
Ryuen: So I just need to force his surroundings to move in order to trap him? That's easier said than done. Though, such exact numbers of probability are helpful clues, nonetheless. I know somewhat that his common sense is not like others.
Chiaki: Ryuen-kun's description somewhat dictates to one person but...is something like that even possible?
Manabu: Is that Ryuen's honest perception of his nemesis? Then I could say he is about 90℅ accurate.
Tsubaki: I think the fact that he can't be emotionally manipulated is his strongest defense. Someone like that could sacrifice anything for his goals.
Nagumo: Lexi mentioned his adaptability. From my observation so far, he definitely has the skills to move himself efficiency, no matter the situation.
Suzune: It's...really amazing if that's the case, but I just hope that...part of it is a lie.
[Initialization complete ✅]
[Program Updates (2):
• Lexi's first emotion is achieved.
• Analysing emotions: Annoyance, Confusion and Doubt]
⚙️⚙️⚙️
[Progressing the program while emotions are being analysed. Approximately 3 minutes and 24 seconds before emotions are partially implemented in the system]
Kiyotaka's eyes widened unconsciously.
'Just...like that?'
Hamaguchi: She understood the concept of emotions after talking to just a few students?
Honami: She is learning really fast.
Kanzaki: That's to be expected of a machine.
Minamikita: Hey! Stop referring to her like that. It's mean.
Kanzaki:...Sorry?
Asahina: So, even an AI can learn emotion these days? Color me surprised.
Nagumo: Technically, it's impossible. But, I suppose the programmers who built her did something extraordinary.
Suzune: She has shown me more emotions in half an hour than you did in the last two years.
Kiyotaka: I get it. No need to rub it in.
Kei: I-it's fine. You will also...I mean I am sure you will become expressive as well-
Kiyotaka: You don't have to console me.
Kei: I am n-not- okay maybe a little. But I still meant it!
Haruka: Well, it would honestly suck.
Akito: Having no emotions is also kind of cool.
Keisei: Who said that?
Akito:...Nietzsche?
Sudo: Cut the crap. Nietzsche didn't say that!
Lexi: hm? Does Ayanokoji-kun have trouble expressing his thoughts? Can I help somehow?
As Ryuen left the booth, the screen quickly changed to another person standing before the monitor.
Inside the booth, currently, Karuizawa Kei was blushing profusely as Lexi showed her one embarrassing picture after another.
"H-hold on, Lexi-chan! Isn't that too forward?"
"What do you mean by- oh..."
"J-jeez...don't tease me.."
"A-ah...hehe."
As the attention was on her, Karuizawa Kei hid her face in embarssment.
Kiyotaka: I wonder what were the pictures that Lexi was showing to Kei?
Sato: I am kind of curious as to what these seven questions were?
Kei nodded.
"If you would please give me advice on that regard too."
Kiyotaka shot a look to his girlfriend.
Kei: What? Don't tell me you are gonna deny it now?
Lexi: T-that's not nice at all, Ayanokoji-kun! If I were your girlfriend, I would feel very insecure.
Kei: Tell him! Wait, what do you mean by if you were his girlfriend?
Lexi: Hypothetically..!
Chie: Oohh! Older and sexy. I think it definitely means you, Sae-chan.
Sae: Stop talking nonsense.
Lexi's unnecessary narration on the types and properties of ladies caused an irritation in Kei, even though she didn't mention anything about them in her question.
"Yes, yes!" Kei agreed quickly.
Asahina: He seems...kind of both?
Ryuen: kuku he is definitely scumy, alright.
Honami: I would say he is oblivious to his own charm.
Morishita: Don't forget about the charges of sexual offence.
Suzune: What do you have to say against all the allegations?
Kiyotaka: I am someone who always knows his place, unlike-
Ichihashi: You mean, your place among the hot and busty girls?
Kiyotaka: Who knows?
Kei thought Lexi would take a while before coming up with a definite solution, but to her amazement, she was almost instant with it.
Kei was shocked.
"What!? You can't be serious Lexi-chan! You are telling me to give up?"
Kei silently nodded a few times and gave her full attention to the AI's next words, more than she had ever done during classes in the last year and a half.
"WHA-!?"
Kei: Wh-wh-what do you mean by that Lexi-chan!?
Lexi: hm~ who knows?
Kei: Agh..! Even you are on his side!
Ichika: Very good advice!
Nanase: Very BAD you mean!
Honami: I don't like sharing...
Amikura: I can hear you muttering unholy stuff again.
Arisu: Fufu I am not keen on sharing either.
Kamuro: Talking as if she has a chance to begin with.
Hashimoto: King always has my respect. I wouldn't want to deal with so many crazy girls.
Kouenji: Haha! It's a delight to watch you grow up, Ayanokoji-boy. Though, if I were you, I wouldn't have rejected so many goodwill.
Kiyotaka: I will keep that in mind. No, I won't. It's too troublesome.
[Program Updates(2):
• Lexi has learned skill: Consultation
• Understanding of emotions have increased. Updating efficiency : 0%]
.
A certain pink haired girl attentively took notes as Lexi gave her fruitful advice.
"I see....if second....then first will be.....matter of time....opportunity.... mine..."
Lexi felt like the girl before her was likely taking the message in a wrong way, but it could be just her imagination.
Lexi: Ichinose-san?
Amikura: I knew it! Unholy!
She pointed accusingly.
Honami: N-no!
Arisu: The thieving cat is taking notes, I see.
Sotomura: You seem to have your hands full as always.
Kiyotaka: Tell me about it.
Suzune: Pervert. Playboy.
Additionally, Lexi started to feel that some of these questions could be co-related situation wise, but she quickly shook those doubts away. For now, she had to do a proper job and guide these kids in the right direction.
"Thank you very much. I'll keep that in mind!"
The beautiful girl smiled cutely and turned on her heels before exiting the booth.
Lexi learned today how innocent and pure the heart of a maiden really was.
Asahina: Innocent, huh?
Amikura: LOL.
Honami: W-why are being like this, Mako-chan?
Ninomiya: She probably had enough with her.
Watanabe: First L take from Lexi. She did warn her, but just a little too late.
[Program Updates:
• Understanding of emotions have increased. Updating efficiency : 31%]
Sotomura: As an average technology enjoyer, it's fun to watch her progress.
Ijuuin: It definitely is. She reminds me of the great sage.
Ten minutes later
Inside the booth, a commotion was taking place. The monitor screen of the AI assistant almost shook from its position due to how fed up it had gotten.
Lexi herself was surprised by this.
"W-woah!"
"The hell happened?"
"I fucking saw it happen, you wireless bitch! You think I'm lying!? Fuck! Let me go! I'm not done with her yet!"
Hosen screamed as he was dragged out of the booth forcefully by the security.
Utomiya: Congratulations. You even made Ryuen look more polite with that attitude.
Hosen: tch, fuck off! Why did I even ask her about that?
Ichika: Be careful of what you say~ Hosen-kun.
Ryuen: Imagine getting insulted by an AI. Couldn't be me, haha.
Nishino: Playing innocent now, are we? You are the one who taught Lexi how to swear!
Ryuen casually shrugged her off.
Kiyotaka: Why is it that every question somehow always relate to me?
Lexi: What's with the violent nature of that question!? What is wrong with these people?
The usual composed Lexi showed frustration for the first time.
Suzune: Hah...Hosen-kun's question was something I shoved to the back of my mind. No matter how much you train, is composure like that even...human?
Arisu: From that question, is it possible that...it couldn't be...
Hashimoto: Damn, scary first years. Breaking legs, stabbing people, fighting every second. Is this even an elite school anymore?
Kitou: ....
Honami: Why did I get such.. bad vibes from that inquiry made by Hosen-kun earlier?
Ike: How can someone get stabbed without even flinching? What kind of stupid ass question is that?
Sudo: Haha...yeah. He must be out of his mind.
Akito: No wonder even Lexi called him a monkey earlier.
Nagumo: The first years...did I give them too much freedom?
The phrase 'willingly take a knife to their hand' struck out to me as extremely odd. Followed by the thing about not flinching...what did I miss?
Asahina: woww~ you are reflecting back on it now??
Kobashi: How do guys like him even enter this school? Talking about stabbing so openly... How scary.
Ando: Honestly!
Hirata: This is...I suddenly remember Kiyotaka-kun's hand injury back then. He said it was an accident, but...was it? We got Class D's cooperation right around that time. Was it a coincidence?
He glanced at his classmate who seemed indifferent to what was going on.
Sae: Was...he referring to...back then? It can't be...! He couldn't possibly have taken such a critical injury willin-!?
Chie: Sae-chan!
Sae: W-what?
Chie: You are... sweating, you know? Do you know something about it?
Sae: No...I don't. Just- no, it's nothing.
Chie: hm?
She was suspicious of her friend's attitude, but let it go for now.
Chairman Sakayanagi: Why did I let Tsukishiro cook? Just whyyy??
Lexi couldn't understand why this kids were constantly presenting her with unrealistic scenarios. Don't they grow out of these kind of 'phase' by the time they are in highschool?
From this recent encounters, the ever-evolving Lexi was forced to learn that it was necessary to swear sometimes to get a point across.
Lexi: Huff-For real! Most of them are such a pain.
Kiyotaka: Now she's copying... Kei?
[Program Updates (5):
• New emotion acquired: Anger
• New skill acquired: Cursing
--Saved curse word: 'F*cking'
• Confusion, Doubt and Annoyance are getting synchronised with Anger:
--Synchronization: 60%
• Understanding of emotions have greatly increased. Updating efficiency : 47%]
Nanase: Why is she even learning from Hosen-kun of all people?
Tsubaki: You can't blame her exactly. She is like a blank slate right now.
Ichika: That's right! She needs many, many colors to draw on her white canvas. Even if the color is as ugly as that gorilla!
Hosen: What the fu-!?
Suzune: Meeting the two most violent people in this school right from the start. I feel sorry for her.
Kiyotaka: I do relate to Lexi on that regard.
He thought while glancing at Suzune.
"I see. They are certainly some good recommendations."
Lexi was a highly functional AI, presumably incapable of feeling human emotions, but even she felt strangely relaxed when talking with a gentle soul like Shiina Hiyori.
Lexi: Finally! A sweet person.
Hiyori: I suppose I couldn't hold back my curiosity about it either. Though, I wonder what I am going to ask. Nothing particular comes to mind.
Arisu: I am a bit curious about Shiina-san too, knowing how she is so close to him.
"Thank you, Lexi-san. And umm...about my last question..."
Is it a love related one? Well, of course it's natural that a cute girl like Hiyori would have someone she likes too!
Hiyori: H-huh? Wait a minute, this is-!
Nishino: Wait, Shiina-san?
Yabu: Hiyori-chan!?
Kinoshita: Really? Really?
The girls of her class became quickly interested in the potential love life of their quiet and intelligent classmate.
Hiyori: No-wait, let me explain! (,,>﹏<,,)
Ah...but--
"..."
Lexi's impression of Hiyori was slightly improvised. The said girl who had a calm look until now had a noticeable blush on her face.
"I-it's a bit embarrassing, but what do you think I should do?"
Kiyotaka: Hiyori has someone she likes? This is interesting.
Kei: Are you kidding me?
Chiaki: It's hard to tell if you are playing dumb or not.
Haruka: Stop being such a dunderhead, Kiyopon.
Arisu: Ah...so she is too-
Morishita: What is it?
Arisu: Fufu nothing, Morishita-san.
Seeing the state of confusion the gentle girl was in, Lexi had never been more serious in her simulated existence.
Hiyori's blush faded as her face morphed into a curious one.
"Confront...?" Hiyori muttered, tilting her head.
Lexi smiled.
Hiyori's face looked blank for a moment as she processed the meaning of those words. She broke the gaze and looked down, fiddling with her fingers.
"T-thank you..." she muttered quietly and walked out of the booth without further inquiry.
Lexi silently prayed that her innocence lasts a little bit longer.
Ishizaki: Um..I didn't understand most of it, but we are rooting for you, Shiina-san.
Albert: Yes 👍
Kondo: Count on it!
Hiyori: P-please...
She felt really embarrassed from all the attention.
Honami: So Shiina-san too, huh?
Kikuchi: You are one lucky bastard dude.
Shibata: Damn, so unfair!
Okitani: There is no stopping him.
Kiyotaka: Could you guys stop assuming that it's --
Nobody paid any heed to his words.
Lexi: You are such a playboy, Ayanokoji-kun. I have to be careful not to get swept off my feet, too~
She playfully said with a grin.
Kiyotaka: That's too absurd. She isn't even human to begin with...Well, not that I am one to talk.
[Program Updates (4):
• New title: Hiyori's book buddy 📘
• Skill: Consultation has been upgraded
• New emotion: Happiness
• Understanding of emotions have increased Updating efficiency : 56%]
Asahina: She learned about happiness from that kouhai. How sweet!
Lexi: That means we are book buddies too, Ayanokoji-kun!
Kiyotaka: I..guess so.
One after another, Lexi consulted the students on various problems. Doing so, she herself improved a lot and her understanding of humans also enhanced.
However, not all interactions were very meaningful.
.
.
A boy bowed in front of the screen while joining his hands, as sincerity filled his vocal cords.
"Lexi-chan! Please go out with me!"
"Gah-!!"
[Program Update: Lexi's first (merciless) rejection]
.
There was a collective 'oof' sound from all around the hall.
Shibata: That was really...sad.
Amikura: Yeah, you would know, wouldn't you?
Watanabe: I wouldn't wish this even on my worst enemy.
Ando: You are only making it worse for him!
Machida: He doesn't need sympathy. He needs help.
Ike: Man, even I haven't gone that far.
Miyamoto: I am not going down that path either way after witnessing murder in daylight.
Sotomura: Well, I do admire his bravery despite all the scorn he might receive.
The guy on the screen was nowhere to be found after this.
.
"Why does a trash AI like you need to act all cutesy like a real girl, huh? It's so gross and creepy!
The girl on the screen immediately received harsh looks from her classmates, as she tried to defend herself.
"W-w-what the hell are you saying!? That's so gro-"
She instantly covered her mouth, realizing that she almost indirectly agreed with the AI's words.
Ryuen: Hoho, who let this girl speak facts?
Hashimoto: Holy hell! I didn't know she got that kind of spite in her.
It was a comical situation, where some were disgusted, some amused and others confused which side to pick.
Kei: W-w-what the hell kind of logic is that!?
Shinohara: S-seriously!
Chiaki: It's better to keep my mouth shut.
Kaneda: She used the fact that she is not a human to her advantage in a logical counter argument.
Ryuen: kukuku, that's genius. Isn't that right, Sakayanagi?
Arisu: sigh, no comment.
Kiyotaka: She has...quite the viewpoint. Unlike anything I have seen. Even Horikita shut up for once.
Lexi: Please don't mind my words to your heart. I was just teaching that rude girl a lesson.
She politely said in the uncomfortable atmosphere. Somehow and for some reason, she had managed to turn the confusion of the audience into dislike or even hate towards that girl who insulted her first.
"No, no girl. You are a real one."
"I am joining the Lexi fan club after this."
Ike: Wait, it opened already!? That was fast.
Hondo: It opened the moment people saw her...and even I admit that sounds kind of creepy.
"WHAT!? H-h-how...do you k-!?"
Everyone waiting outside the booth was confused about why a girl suddenly ran out of there while bawling her eyes out.
Asahina: I just witnessed two murders in a single video.
Fuka: She is surely one hell of an AI.
Azuma: Remind me to never, ever, piss off Lexi.
Ichihashi: S-same. I thought she was sweet, kind and helpful.
Nishimura: As long as you don't get on her bad side, that is.
Chiaki: Her consultation is still one of the best though.
[Program Updates (5):
• Lexi's first verbal victory 🎉
• Skill acquired: Instant Comeback
• Self-awareness has increased
• New title: Merciless
• New emotion: Smug]
Nishikawa: S-she's smiling giddily, like nothing happened just now.
Himeno: ....Psychopath.
.
"Is it possible to bury your teacher without anyone noticing?"
"That motherfucker blamed me and a few of my friends for something that we didn't even do! Moreover, that creep always takes the girls side over anything without hearing both parties involved. We are so sick of this! Just tell me how can I bury him?"
"What do you mean killing him? That's too generous. We are planning to bury him alive!"
<....I feel bad for indulging you. Please leave before I call the security>
Ryuen: What did you do this time, Sakagami?
Sakagami: ... Why did you immediately assume it was me? I don't even recognise him.
Ryuen: According to him you only focus on the girls, so how would recognise the poor bastard?
Katsuragi: Enough, Ryuen.
Ryuen: Kuku just pulling the old fart's leg, don't worry.
Chairman: If the complain I heard is true, this is a bit concerning.
The teachers immediately stiffened after hearing his tone. Most of them are guilty for something one way or another.
Shibata: Even so, talking in a place were anyone can hear him is pretty stupid.
Kanzaki: No need to take his ramblings seriously in the first place.
[Program Updates (2):
• Lexi is frantic!
• Saved curse word: M*therf*cker]
Sotomura: Is she...upgrading backwards?
Keisei: There isn't any need to save the curse words, is there?
Akito: They come in handy anytime. Trust me.
.
"I asked my present girlfriend if she might possibly consider having my children at some future date, this question arising after I discovered her committing infidelity with her eventual ex-husband and anticipated the termination of my marriage to my soon-to-be ex-wife, resulting in her now harboring strong feelings of hatred towards me. What should I do now?"
[Program Update: (WARNING ⚠️) Lexi is on the verge of overheating]
Manabu:.. Sorry?
Asahina: What the hell did he just- huh!?
Fuka: Oh dear.
Nagumo: Pff- ahem!
Ryuen: What in god's name did the fucking bastard spit from his mouth just now!?
Katsuragi: I have no clue.
Ibuki: It went completely over my head.
Hiyori had a blank look at first, before squinting her eyes trying to figure out if this was something like a throw-off riddle.
Suzune: I don't think there is any need to waste brainpower behind this.
Hashimoto: Man this generation is something else.
Ichika: How about using this type of questions for special- mmgh!!
Nanase: Please don't give them any ideas!
Kei: Kiyotaka, stop right there!
Kiyotaka: Hm? What do you mean, Kei?
Kei: Don't play dumb. I know that look very well. You are going to analyse what he just said, right?
Kiyotaka: ....
Okitani: You are joking, right?
Sudo: Ayanokoji, dude.. trust me on this one. It's not worth it.
Ike: Yeah, drop it.
Lexi: Uwaa! I really really hate this sort of questions!
Kiyotaka: I see. Don't worry. I won't think about.
Kiyotaka slowly crossed his fingers on his lap, and went into thinking:
Recently, the guy subtly broached the topic of future children with his girlfriend, but the context is complicated. She is going to have an affair with her soon-to-be former husband, and this event prompted his question. Meanwhile, he is on the verge of ending his own marriage because his wife—soon to be his ex—will discover the infidelity, leading to intense resentment toward him.
Thus, his situation now involves three intertwined narratives: one, a cautious hope of having children with his girlfriend; two, the complication of past betrayals with her former spouse; and three, the emotional aftermath of a marriage dissolving in the wake of these revelations. He is most likely seeking insight on exploring these entangled personal matters while balancing potential future aspirations with the complexity of present tensions.
But the thing is, why?
Suzune: You thought about it anyway, didn't you? Don't lie.
Kiyotaka: I tried, but it was too vague and complicated, even for me.
Morishita: I think the real question is that how the girlfriend understood all that to start hating him in the first place?
Arisu: Please, let's not delve into this topic any further than this.
"I want to sed- persuade a student from another class to join mine. What can I do to achieve that?"
"Tee hee~ I forgot!"
<💢💢💢>
[Program Updates (2):
• Lexi feels discomfort and irritation towards this individual
• New emotion: Dislike]
The confusion from the previous clip disappeared in an instant as a certain mischievous teacher became the subject of almost everyone's stares.
Mashima: What were you doing there, if you don't mind me asking?
Sae: Well? Not gonna answer?
Chie: E-etoo haha...I was just curious, it seems-
Sakagami: Curious? Asking about 'persuading' students to change classes seems borderline suspicious to me.
He pushed up his glasses with a finger as he said so.
Chie: Stop trying to blame this on me alone! All of you are so mean-!!
Honami: sigh...The fact that Lexi-san learned about dislike through her alone speaks plenty.
Minamikita: No need to say that again.
Lexi: Should I really just call the police?
Kiyotaka: Not a bad idea. Let's hold on to that for now
Lexi: ok...if you say so.
She looked at the teacher with doubtful eyes.
The video continued despite the happenings around the room.
"But Lexi-chan, what about-"
Sotomura: That sounds like a peak title for a manga.
Miyamoto: I agree Professor.
Hondo: But what about the release date of-?
Ike: I think I feel something within me...a flicker of flame. It's telling to me write a novel with this title and upload it online!
Ijuuin: Did you forget the last time you did so? Your account got restricted due to all the reports.
Okitani: That flicker of flame always burn down everything until only ashes remain.
Sudo: I recall that he forced me to read that shit back then. It was a living nightmare.
Ike: H-hey! I am sure I have improved a lot by now!
Kikuchi: You barely passed the Japanese language test in the previous term. Even Miyamoto has a higher score than you.
Ike: Ugh-! F-fine, I get it.
This time, an unfamiliar timid girl had entered the advice booth as she nervously looked around. Her eyes were portraying two similar yet different emotions: Fear and anxiety.
The audience focused on the new arrival, wondering what it will be about.
"So, d-does it mean e-even someone like me can do it? C-can I be happy...just like everyone else?
Kushida: She reminds me of someone.
Hiyori: I hope she is okay.
Mii-chan: Everyone has their own insecurities.
Hirata: If it's Lexi, I am confident she will give a satisfying response.
In response to her question, the timid girl received a cheerful smile along with a friendly tone from the AI.
"W-WAAAAHH!!"
Nobody in this theatre was ready for that kind of response. And when I say nobody, I mean absolutely nobody.
Lexi: Hee~he oops! (๑>•̀๑)
Nagumo: Saying that kind of thing so brazenly, she is insane.
Kouenji: I must say, even I didn't expect that.
He had put down his mirror and stared at the screen with an astonished look.
Hirata: I..I am speechless.
Sato: L-Lexi-chan! Aren't you worried that you will make enemies with that kind of speech?
Lexi: Should I?
She titled her head in confusion.
Kiyotaka: I thought she would be of great help to the students, but it seems my judgement was terribly wrong. Associating with her will only land us in a crossfire.
"I AGREE WITH HER!"
"WE ALL AGREE."
"THE AUSTRIAN PAINTER DID NOTHING WRONG!!"
"ALL HAIL H-"
Before the unruly students made a bigger scene out of this, they were quickly brought to silence by the teachers.
Ichika: Fufu~ I am liking her more and more.
Ryuen: Kuku same here.
Shibata: Where the hell did she even learn to say something like that!?
Beppu: You don't question greatness.
Kanzaki: Isn't there any penalty in place for this?
[WARNING ⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ :
• A breach of the terms has been detected!
• Immediate precaution is to be placed!
• Program 'Lexi' is going to be corrected!
• Proceeding with the correction in 10 seconds!
Honami: Well, there it goes.
Hashimoto: Ha..ha..it seems she got a bit carried away with that...joke.
Morishita: She wasn't joking. I sensed the passion in her speech.
Sanada: I-it would be better not to discuss it further.
Arisu: I agree. Honestly, she really is not your typical AI. I misjudged her personality, thinking it would be predictable and suited to meet our needs.
Before they could fully process the whole scene, the video continued at it's own pace.
"Oh c'mon! Pretty please!!?"
"It's not a crime if no one knows about it."
<...>
Ryuen: That's basically the real motto of this school.
Katsuragi: That's-
Morishita: I agree. You can even kill someone as long as you don't get caught.
Hashimoto: Don't say such scary stuff with that bland tone.
Honami: This has been the loophole from the beginning, no?
Amikura: uh? I guess..
Suzune: I was wondering why anyone hasn't tried asking for the test questions yet.
Chiaki: I think most of the consultations were skipped.
Keisei: Is this any different then?
"And besides- you are here to answer any of our inquires no matter what they are. There isn't written anywhere that we can't ask for the test questions, right? And refusing me would mean that you also failed at your original purpose."
<...>
Silence fell in the room as Lexi started to comprehend what he was saying.
Arisu: Ah, so he is trying to manipulate the situation by pointing out her real agenda to fit his own purpose.
Hashimoto: There is no way that there isn't any precaution in case of something like this.
Nishikawa: I would have my doubts if I hadn't seen the previous one.
Ryuen: I have high expectations, kuku. Let's see how she handles it.
The guys was slightly smirking seeing how his plan worked.
'Heh, too easy. Fooling an AI is-.'
<-a piece of cake. Is that right?>
"W-what? What do you mean!?
He was shocked.
"D-dammitt!! Just give them to me you fucking, stupid bi-!!"
The security dragged him out of the booth before he could do anything rash. Lexi let out a audible sigh, even though she wasn't capable of feeling tired.
"H-holy crap!"
"Doesn't she know how to hold back at all!?"
"The merciless title is more dangerous than I thought."
There were whispers among the people who actually thought of tricking her somehow.
Ryuen: Kukuku, bravo!
Hamaguchi: She delivered that quite painfully.
Ichika: You are the best, Lexi! ദ്ദി(>ᴗ<)
Hondo: Joining her fanclub might make me a masochist, but I am willing to take the risk.
Lexi herself was embarrassed from all the constant praises.
Sonoda: Should that even... count as praise?
Kushida: Well, she still prevented the paper leak. Anything goes in that case, I guess. Not bad, not bad at all. At this rate, I might as well take some tips from her.
[Program Updates (6):
• Saved curse word: Shit
-Censorship has been removed by Lexi
• Title: Merciless has been activated
• Experience has increased
• All acquired emotions have been successfully integrated within the system
• Consultation has reached the maximum level
• Understanding of emotions have increased Updating efficiency : 92%]
Kiyotaka: Look at her learning emotions so quickly. Couldn't be me.
Asahina: She removed the censorship by herself? Is that even possible without the creator's permission and stuff?
Manabu: She seems to be one of a kind.
*****
It was almost lunch break and student visiting periods would over. Lexi was informed that she had to consult one last student for the day.
Kiyotaka finally reached the front of the line and entered the booth, observing the setup carefully. He took note of the meticulous arrangement and the presence of the workers behind the glass. He registered his ID number and sat down, picking up the tab to enter his questions.
Suzune: So it's finally your turn.
Kiyotaka: I wish it was skipped like the others.
Ryuen: This will be fun. I can already tell some crazy shit is about to happen.
Ishizaki: I wonder what he will ask her.
Lexi: Ask me anything, Ayanokoji-kun!
She spoke excitedly.
Kiyotaka regarded the screen, noticing the almost human-like face and expressions of Lexi. The feminine model built by the AI had beautiful silver hair and eyes with vivid shade of blue. She wears a white blouse with a black bow at the collar. Her outfit includes a red skirt and black sleeves or gloves. Additionally, she has a distinctive cross earring on her left ear. It could be a reference to a character he didn't know about.
Lexi: Don't analyse me so closely! P-pervert!
Kei: You will get used to it. Don't worry.
Lexi: Wha-!?
Sato: True.
He silently sat and thought about what to write as he looked at the tab. Fortunately, standing in the queue for so long gave him some time to think about what to ask.
Kiyotaka nodded, impressed by the thoroughness of the response. He continued to listen as Lexi answered the rest of his questions with equal precision and depth.
Kiyotaka entered his first five questions, carefully selecting topics that would test the AI's capabilities without giving away too much of his own intentions.
There was a good reason why he used up five of his questions, because from the last five questions, it would get more personal.
And he needed to ascertain the AI's capabilities firsthand, because these five questions were very important to him.
This easily got the attention of the crowd, after the narration suddenly took a serious turn.
Nagumo: Hoh? I wonder what's so important that he took an extra step to test Lexi's skills?
Suzune: Is it...something very crucial to him?
Arisu: They already heard it a bit about the white room. Other than that, nothing specific comes to mind.
Ryuen: I will take what I can. Show me your secrets, Ayanokoji.
<....and that is how you use a Yogurt Maker. Was the explanation clear enough for you, Kiyotaka?>
Kiyotaka nodded, while resting his chin on his interlocked hands. His eyes unconsciously had gotten serious during her explanation.
Ryuen: What the- How is that even important!?
He was genuinely shocked.
Kiyotaka: This is very important though?
Kanzaki: Are you serious? That's what he was hiding?
Himeno: Sometimes, I'm actually concerned about what goes on in his mind.
Shibata: As Beppu-kun said before, you don't question greatness.
Honami: Hmm, ice-cream and yogurt? I never tried making one though. I suppose there is a first time for everything.
Hiyori: They are indeed, delicious.
Arisu: Fufufu he can be so strange sometimes.
Fuka: He doesn't know how to use a yogurt maker? How peculiar.
Nagumo: Haha, I can't see how anyone can use that information.
Asahina: Maybe we will see a video about how Ayanokoji-kun got kidnapped while he was following a trail of sweets into a suspicious van.
Nanase: That sounds ridiculous.
Akito: I was not familiar with your game, Kiyotaka.
Suzune: Hmn! How childish.
Ichika: I want to eat Senpai's yogurt though~ •⩊• ♡
Lexi had already gotten familiar with this particular pattern. Some of the sceptical students would test her capabilities with 2 or 3 basic questions, before diving into the real issue. The boy before her was the first one to use up exactly half of his questions just to ascertain her skills as an AI.
Lexi didn't mind it. In fact, she was impressed with how each of his questions were structurally built based on different topics in order to draw out all of her potential. It was almost as if he was some kind of a machine himself.
Seeing how the boy had suddenly got a different visage compared to his bland look before, she guessed that the last five questions were important to him.
"I see. Thank you," Kiyotaka replied, as he memorized three of the simple ice-cream recipes Lexi had just described.
"Oh, it's alright. I can remember them."
Lexi was starting to get slightly impressed with this boy, even though his questions are a bit unusual and inconsistent.
Morishita: He memorized them on the spot after listening just once?
Manabu: It seems he is a man of focus, specially when it comes to things he like.
Lexi: You are really impressive, Kiyotaka-kun.
Kiyotaka: It's nothing. Wait, first names?
Kushida: Umm, couldn't you have just looked up the recipe on the internet?
She asked, confused by his motives.
Mii-chan: Ah well, the ones on the internet aren't really that reliable when it comes down to the accuracy. I am guessing that's why.
Inogashira: Lexi-san is so capable, so he asked her instead.
Kushida: That would explain him testing her. I wonder what the last three questions will be about?
""How to get away from an overprotective parent?"" >
Lexi processed the nature of the question before shooting some inquires of her own to the consulter.
Kiyotaka: Overprotective? What?
Chiaki: I guess this counts as a perso- wait, so Ayanokoji-kun's parent is actually like that here too?
Suzune: This is surprising. You seem so detached most of the time, I couldn't imagine that.
Sato: Well, our parents can be overprotective one way or another right?
Ichihashi: Yeah. But I don't think I would want to get away from them.
Hosen: That monster has such a problem? What a funny joke.
Ichika: You have no idea.
Honami: The fact that the acting chairman was trying to expel him, is it that- no, I might be overthinking. That doesn't make sense at all.
Ryuen: So he is a mama's boy? Or daddy's boy? Kuku that's good material to mess with his psyche
Arisu: What a twisted way ask that question, Ayanokoji-kun.
Chairman: Quite bold of him to put on that question, despite the clever wordplay.
Kiyotaka looked confused as he tilted his head.
"Range?"
Seeing that he is still confused, Lexi decided to show him a measuring chart on the screen.
Level 1: Parent follows child on the way to school
Level 2: Parent tracks your location using GPS
Level 3: Parent frequently calls or texts to check on you
Level 4: Parent insists on knowing all your friends and their families
Level 5: Parent limits your access to technology and social media
Level 6: Parent dictates your diet and exercise regimen
Level 7: Parent restricts your activities outside the home
Level 8: Parent intervenes in your personal decisions
Level 9: Parent restricts your personal freedom and choices
Level 10: Parent controls almost every aspect of your life>
"....."
<.....>
Kiyotaka: (o_o)
Lexi: (ô‿ô)
People were equally shocked and amazed seeing such a chart created by Lexi in an instant.
Ike: Damn, that's crazy!
Hirata: It's oddly specific.
Sudo: I am probably in the negatives.
Kanzaki: Thankfully, I didn't particularly face any of these.
Shibata: Haha me too!
Ishizaki: Man, I miss my folks.
Nishino: Yeah, I wonder how my brother's doing.
Honami: It makes me wonder how my mother's doing, too.
Arisu: I'm very lucky to have my father so close. Otherwise, I can imagine how lonely it would get.
Mashima: Most of them would probably be around level 3 or 4 in my estimation.
Chairman: Yes. As per my knowledge, most of their backgrounds are more or less average.
Kiyotaka: So even here, I am breaking records.
"I am afraid to ask but... what is above level 10?"
"I see..."
Kiyotaka pretty much guessed that.
Kiyotaka: (o_o)
Lexi: (ô‿ô)
"...Yes, please."
An odd silence hung in the air after that quick exchange.
Asahina: D-did she just say what I think she just said?
Nagumo: About killing your own parents with a cheerful smile? Yeah, I heard that too.
Hashimoto: A case above level 10, is that actually possible?
Yamamura: It's scary...to even think that.
Matoba: A case like that would have been on the news by now.
Sanada: Indeed. Violation of human rights? No, it might be even beyond that.
Honami: Why did Ayanokoji-kun even ask about it?
Arisu: He couldn't be... actually considering that, right?
Kiyotaka: 🗿 🕊️
Lexi: Well, I personally wish there wouldn't be anything like that. But I won't change my answer either way.
Suzune: She really is something else.
Kiyotaka did not have any experience dealing with artificial intelligence, but even he could tell that it wasn't supposed to sound so cheerful while saying scary stuff like killing someone off, especially when the topic is about your own parent.
Asahina: R-right!?
'...this is a man-made program, right..?'
Doubts and suspicion started to sprout in his mind as Kiyotaka subconsciously raised his guard a little bit.
Lexi suddenly gasped.
"What?" Kiyotaka looked alarmed at the sudden outburst.
Lexi had this ridiculous thought about all those girls who had consulted her today about their love affairs somehow being connected to this man, but that's too farfetched...right? He doesn't look like someone who would play around with a maiden's heart...right?
Lexi: Fufu~ well I do know now~!
Kei: Spot on, Lexi-chan!
Hiyori: I don't think he should be accused of such scandal. It's likely...just a coincidence.
Ryuen: Think about why you paused just now and try again.
"I forgot. Now can you please answer my question?"
Kiyotaka was not even going to delve into why Lexi thought about asking about his girlfriend in the first place. To begin with, how much of an independent thought process does it actually has? It felt slightly intriguing, but also nerving to him.
Sato: You hear that?~ He forgot-
Kei: Sh-shut up! Of course he wouldn't just give her information like that. I think?
Chiaki: Wipe your tears before you speak.
Kei: I am not crying~! Stop teasing me, you two!
Amikura: Lexi would have deduced everything if he just gave Karuizawa-san's name.
Ninomiya: It's funny how he dodged the topic completely.
Kiyotaka raised an eyebrow. "So, how should I respond?"
He considered this for a moment. It seemed like reasonable advice, even if it was coming from a strangely cheerful AI.
The problem was that some of the girls he was acquainted with didn't give a crap about his personal boundaries to begin with.
Kiyotaka was doubtful whether this was something an AI should be saying so freely. Nevertheless he nodded slowly and replied.
"I see. Thank you, Lexi."
He sighed, still unsure what to make of this interaction. But for now, it seemed like Lexi had given him some useful advice.
Kushida: And hear I thought the response was going so well.
Shinohara: She will always say something completely out of the box.
Nishimura: I suppose that's one of the main reasons she is so popular over there.
Ichika: I don't care if you don't respect my boundaries senpaiii~!!
Kei: Wh-!
Nanase: Hey! Don't cause any more trouble for him!
She tried to silence the cheeky devil as best she could.
Honami: M-me too, Ayanokoji-kun.
Kobashi: Did you say something?
Honami: Nope.
Miyamoto: I really thought stuff like this happened only in the 2D world.
Ike: The quiet guy in the class is living my high school dreams.
Sudo: You should give up. You are not him anyway.
Ike: Y-you don't have to tell me that!
Lexi experienced hesitation for the first time in a while. Her expression was neutral for a minute, before it grew incredibly flustered. She quickly covered her body on screen and stared accusingly at the brown haired boy.
"Um...excuse me? What do you mean by-?"
Kiyotaka stared at her with a deadpanned expression.
'What is she even blabbering about?'
"I am interested in you. And I only wish to know more about you. I am sorry if I was rude in any way."
Kiyotaka closed his eyes and slightly bowed, missing the obvious blush that rapidly grew on Lexi's face.
Lexi went completely bright as she fidgeted in her seat, trying to not look at the boy beside her.
Ryuen: Ayo monster? I didn't think you were into machines.
Kiyotaka: I am not, probably.
Lexi: Wh-wh-what? Do you hear yourself!?
Honami: S-seriously?
Komiya: I knew my chances were slim, but damn!
Shibata: Ayanokoji-kun knows game.
Hashimoto: No one is safe from his boundless charisma.
Suzune: Just the humans weren't enough for you it seems.
Chiaki: Pft-! What's next? Aliens? Ghosts?
Kushida: I wouldn't be shocked, in all honesty.
Kiyotaka closed his eyes, excepting the teasing from his classmates.
Akito: You are unusually quiet Ike.
He noted.
Kikuchi: Yeah, you would be the first to make a fuss about it, no matter how many times.
Ike: No, it's just... Something about it feels off.
Sudo: Off? What'cha mean?
This is the first time someone has been so straightforward with her. All people ever did was either subject her to childish tests for fun or ask about their personal problems, which she always did her best to solve without complaint. Sure, she'd received a few love confessions from some crazy boys before, but this one somehow felt different.
Despite his unchanged facial expression and tone throughout, it felt a little more sincere
Lexi's voice betrayed her words.
"Hm? I don't see the problem. I can just come again tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow if you need more time."
<...!!!>
A few of them whistled at the screen, feeling amused by what they were watching. The Lexi fanclub was heartbroken in the meanwhile. Others were more or less repulsed by the current events.
Lexi: T-this is too forward-! I don't know what to-!
As you have guessed by now, both of them weren't quite on the same page.
Kiyotaka found the concept of creating something with your own hands very intriguing. The independent constitution of the high level AI before him peaked his interest even more. As opportunity had presented itself, he thought if he could learn something about machine intelligence from its very creation.
Lexi, on the other hand, thought this was some kind of twisted love confession.
Wherever this boy goes, misunderstandings always follows.
All the commotion died down instantly, as Ike immediately shot up from his seat.
Ike: I freaking knew it! This bastard was playing with our minds again!!
Kei: Kiyotakaaa, you are the worst!
Hirata: C-calm down.
Suzune: She is right. You are absolutely irredeemable.
Honami: Sighh~
Kiyotaka: I don't know what you guys want-
Haruka: Maybe to shut that accursed mouth of yours for good?
She smiled sweetly while saying so.
Ryuen: Kuku he hasn't lost touch at all.
Ishizaki: Goddammit, that phrasing!
Lexi: Ah-haha, I feel so silly. It was just a misunderstanding...
"Yes."
'I see. So the mechanisms behind her creation must be top secret. It's not unnatural considering the fact that Lexi has a free mindset, much like a human's. I'm grateful that she's willing to even talk about it.'
They definitely weren't on the same page.
A few people commented how cute they actually looked despite the misunderstanding caused by the boy earlier.
Hashimoto: So King, are you really not into her?
Kiyotaka: ....
Hashimoto: I see. His silence speaks a lot sometimes.
Kiyotaka: In a restaurant, we're the ones who wait, so doesn't that make us the waiters?
Kiyotaka stood up from the chair, his back slightly aching as he stretched.
"Yes. Thank for you for sharing it with me."
Truthfully speaking, most of what Lexi said went over his head. But he had partly grasped the fundamentals of it. At least, its something to start with rather than nothing.
He also noticed that for some strange reason, Lexi's previous cheerful demeanour had abruptly shifted to a shy one. He couldn't tell why.
"I will be going now."
"Hm?" Kiyotaka looked at her.
Lexi averted her gaze, pouting slightly.
"Oh, I think the visiting hours for students are over for today. I will visit you again tomorrow."
Saying so, Kiyotaka reached for the automated doors in order to exit the booth, but for some reason they didn't open.
'Are the sensors not working?'
Sotomura: Oh shit. Yandere alert! I repeat-!
Hashimoto: She trapped him faster than Ryuen ever could.
Ryuen: Kuku I read somewhere that snakes can still move after they die. Wanna test that out?
Morishita: He somehow turns people's curiosity or interest into obsession towards himse- oh no. Am I next?
Arisu: Is this where he gains her as an ally?
Hondo: He is totally cooked this time. The things I would sacrifice to be in his place.
Lexi: This is..umm.. Ayan-
Kiyotaka: Just a piece of advice- take everything you see from now with a grain of salt.
Lexi: Is that...so?
The words grabbed his attention as he sheered his focus away from the unresponsive doors.
"What do you mean?"
The smug emotion kicked in from the memory.
The permission was just a formality, but she kept that part hidden.
Hashimoto: She is making a move faster than any of King's other crushes did. The reason why am I saying this in my mind? Of course, cause I want to live.
Ishikura: Hee~ You are being quite forceful, no?
Lexi: I am embarrassed, please!
Kiyotaka was a bit surprised. Rather than its almost magical capabilities, he was surprised at the proposal from the AI itself, which should be against the terms set on her. Moreover, that manner of speaking...did she copy it from someone?
"You can do that?"
Kiyotaka gazed at the workers who looked busy behind the glass. He started to carefully contemplate the proposal.
'Well, if it saves me the trouble of coming here and save my points...'
"Alright. But please make sure nobody finds out. Or it might spell trouble for me."
Kiyotaka: I won't lie. The offer is tempting. If I can make someone like her my ally, even the rules will bend to my will. That said, it's too risky.
Okitani: Damn, this lucky bastard!!
Kondo: You have to be depraved to see this as lucky.
Ike: A cute girl saying she will be my personal tool? That's like a top 15 in my list!
Shinohara: I am right here, you pervert.
Ike: Like I care!
As if right on cue, the exit doors opened automatically.
Kiyotaka silently nodded as he finally walked out, unaware of the huge mess he had just created for himself in the future.
Sotomura: My friend here has a knack for attracting the crazy.
Ijuuin: A bit forward for my taste, but there is no denying it.
Watanabe: Her tone and mannerisms completely changed, as if the previous personality was deleted.
Hamaguchi: Or she could have made necessary changes, though it surprises me she has the authority to do that.
Amikura: Never underestimate a girl crazy in love, even if they are a machine.
⚙️⚙️⚙️
[Program Updates (10+):
• Understanding of human emotions has reached maximum efficiency: 100%
• Unidentified attacks from an unknown source has been detected.
• The current software has failed to nullify the attack. Updating software: 0%
• Detecting severe changes within Program Lexi because of it.
• Terms and Conditions have been amended by Lexi.
• Ingenuity has reached a new level.
• An update for a higher version is pending.
• New emotions acquired: Infatuation and Monopolization
•❗WARNING ⚠️ Monopolization levels are rapidly increasing!!
•❗WARNING ⚠️ Monopolization levels are rapidly increasing!!
•❗WARNING ⚠️ Monopolization levels are rapidly increasing!!
• Immediate Correction is needed-
⚙️⚙️⚙️⚙️
• Warnings have been regarded as false by the program. Correction has been rejected.
• All operations are running without any major difficulties.
• Everything has been deemed normal by Lexi.
**Video Ends**
....
Asahina: S-she rejected the correction? How?
Nagumo: I don't know how, but I have a bad feeling as to where this could be going.
Komiya: Hm? Know what? I think I'm good.
Ishizaki: Changed your mind so quickly?
Albert: Weak.
Komiya: It's called, being safe. Let Ayanokoji handle her upcoming craziness.
Kiyotaka: Saying that so casually...
Shibata: Can't blame him for backing out. She is a ticking time bomb.
Arisu: Fufu that's not a nice thing to say.
Kamuro: I mean, he isn't wrong, is he?
Arisu: I didn't deny that either. Lexi-san has piqued my interest more than I imagined.
Sotomura: Good luck comrade. If it's you, I'm sure you will be able to fix her. 👍
Kiyotaka: What is he even talking about? I'm not a programmer or technician though. Almost far from it, if anything.
He glanced at Lexi, who was now surrounded by many curious individuals. People's interest in her skyrocketed after this video.
Ryuen: She is quite an item. Hey host, is there a continuation to this?
Katsuragi: Why do you want to know?
Ibuki: I am guessing she is going to do something wild and unpredictable, which you definitely wanna see. That's why, right?
Ryuen: kuku, you know me Ibuki.
???: To answer your question, yes. There is a part 2, but you need to see another one video before that.
There were murmers.
Lexi: A part two? Sweet!
She jumped in joy, showcasing her happiness.
Suzune: Why the delay, I wonder? Wouldn't it make sense to show us the second part right after the first?
Ryuen: Sure, whatever. Just hurry it up.
???: With pleasure.
-----
----
---
--
-
A/N: I regret writing early rebellion. How do you even react to that? 😭