Author's:
Forgot to turn in. My bad. Here for ya.
***
Living side by side with Groza, the T-Doll, truly makes me think and reflect constantly.
More robot than a robot itself—that is what I feel about my inability to feel emotions.
I could kill, torture, rape, and even destroy this entire planet without blinking an eye. Of course, it's just an example of how deep my problem is. Not like I'll do it without a reason. It's neither logical nor correct according to my principles.
I am human, no matter how much or how great my power is.
Emotions are also related to brain activity. I have already upgraded my necklace and given it a function to stimulate brain activity, making my brain more active so that empathy can be felt.
I have begun to be able to respond to everything with expressions that are reasonable and appropriate. Unfortunately, that is not the final solution for me, because I still cannot feel emotions in their true sense.
However, I obtained interesting results regarding how my natural reactions work toward something arousing.
My body can still react to it naturally, but my mind—which is having zero emotions—can stop that natural reaction and suppress it entirely, making me seem as though I am asexual.
Well, not really that far. But, that's one way to describe it.
"Master, I brought you some tea."
"Thank you."
Groza placed the tray with the cup on the floor beside me.
Right now, we are at the house I bought. Naturally, it is more comfortable than my small studio apartment, so I stay here more often.
And speaking of the house.
"Groza, do you remember the name on the old house nameplate?"
"I am. Nakamura, correct?"
I nodded.
"Earlier this day, I accidentally helped someone who almost got hit by a truck. She is a student from my old school. You could say, she's my junior."
"Is she all right?"
"She looked shocked at the time. I hope she's fine now. The reason I'm bringing this up is because her name is Nakamura Yuri. I don't know whether it's a coincidence or not, but her name is the same as the previous owner's."
Nakamura Yuri. In the memories of my past life, she was one of the main characters in an anime.
In her childhood years, all of her younger siblings were killed by robbers, leaving her alone with guilt for being unable to save her siblings.
In her teenage years, Nakamura Yuri died and ended up in the afterlife, a world where people with regrets gathered.
But this time, she did not die and is still breathing, because I saved her earlier. I'm not sure what will happen to her in the future, but I hope Nakamura Yuri will be fine.
No matter what, she is alive now, together with her father and mother.
"… So, is this the reason the system chose me?" I muttered to myself, contemplating all the nonsensical things I have experienced at the age of twenty.
This world is not the same world as one that once existed in someone's fictional story.
Does that mean I changed destiny because I saved them, or was it the destiny that I saved their lives?
***
[Nerdy Raijin: The quantum realm does not have a predetermined outcome. There is always probability. There is no definite result until we observe it.]
[Ordinary Person: I just remembered—Schrödinger's cat is it?]
[Nerdy Raijin: ….]
Hm? Why is she taking so long to finish typing?
[Nerdy Raijin: Sorry, I just found something interesting from our conversation.
Yes. Like Schrödinger's cat. We don't know the result unless we experience it with our own senses.]
[Nerdy Raijin: But because of that, it made me think. What if the outcome can be manipulated according to our wishes?]
[Ordinary Person: We would be able to "understand" the future. Or perhaps it's more accurate to call it "manipulating probability"?]
[Nerdy Raijin: I want to apply that principle to my power. Make it so the product will not fail.]
[Nerdy Raijin: Thank you, Kiriya-san. You were the one who asked for my help, yet I'm the one who gained help here.]
[Ordinary Person: It's fine. I got something out of it too.]
A classic concept: What if there is someone controlling the strings behind the stage and using me as a medium, because the mastermind can't do it personally.
Well, thinking about it, my life really does run like the stories that exist on some kind of free novel apps in the past life.
"Your voice is surprisingly very suiting, Iwasawa-san!" the composer exclaimed to the girl who came out of the recording room.
"Yes. The result is truly cinema! I can't wait for the next recording with you," the fellow composer replied.
"Ah, thank you … I enjoyed the work too."
Just like Nakamura Yuri. The pink-red haired girl who had just finished recording was someone who once had a "fateful encounter" with me.
The composer patted both of my shoulders.
"How did you manage to find talent like this, Nakuru?!" he exclaimed. My sensitive ears rang slightly because of it.
"Yeah! How did you know her voice would fit our content?" his partner, also a fellow university student, joined in.
I brushed the composer's hand off my shoulder and turned toward the door. "I have my own ways. Let's go, Masami. It's getting late."
Iwasawa Masami, followed me behind.
"Oi, Nakuru! Don't act all cold and mysterious!"
She has the same "origin" as Nakamura Yuri.
"—Damn! That guy is really lucky!"
"I'm sure they're not just ordinary acquaintances. There's no way people would call each other by name unless they have some kind of relationship."
"Is she Nakuru's little sister?"
"No way! I'm sure she's his girlfriend! Girlfriend!"
"Did Nakuru's expression earlier look like someone introducing his girlfriend?"
"Uh … not really."
The voices of the composer and his friend—their words echoing in my ears for the last time—as we left the studio building.
Fortunately, Masami is just an ordinary human who cannot hear through soundproof rooms.
The cloud was gray under the black sky today, just like the fate of Masami's approaching death.
"Senpai, don't forget your promise."
I turned toward Masami who's already on my side.
"Of course. Why do you think I brought you out now? Like I said, I'll treat you to anything. Yakiniku? Ramen? Hotpot?"
Her red eyes stared at me intently, confirming the truth of my words.
She looked away and lowered her gaze a moment later.
"... Is it okay if I take the payment now and eat another time?"
I know everything about her past.
I know the problems she is facing in her life right now.
I know the real reason she accepted my offer to work together and the reason she refused to eat today.
"...."
She is the same as I was in my previous life.
A child who grew up in a filthy and improper environment.
A child forced to be an adult before her time.
I raised my hand and gently patted her shoulder.
Her red eyes, so innocent like a puppy's, looked up at me.
I smiled. "Requests can't be taken back. We already made an agreement from the start. Since you can't decide, I'll take you wherever I want."
"Senpai, you sound like a kidnapper."
"Really?" I pulled my hand away from her shoulder.
She nodded.
"In that case—"
Let me truly change Iwasawa Masami's fate.
Let me give her a second chance, just like what happened to me.
"—I will kidnap you and take you away, until there is no reason left for you to return, Masami."
I'm gonna save your life.