TELE-PORT

Two days have passed, and now it was time for me to say goodbye to my hospital room once again. Who would've thought teleportation would be a thing back in 2025? But here I am, three hundred years later, about to teleport as a humanoid robot! I'm so excited!

As I approach the TELE-PORT device, my thoughts drift back to Issei. Last night, while my battery was charging, he was all I could think about. I kept wondering what kind of person he is, what kind of things he likes. And why on Earth did he decide to join this dating show? Plus, the fact that he is good friends with Tom makes this whole thing even more suspicious.

All I know about Issei is that he has a lot of HP to spare and that he is a fellow humanoid robot. But that fact alone doesn't guarantee that he's a human. What if he's from another planet? Since it was possible for Sam and Tom to take advantage of cryopreservation, it's not crazy to assume that an alien brain could have a humanoid form, too.

Ugh! I should really stop overthinking this!

This isn't even a real date. It's for a reality show after all. But I guess the pressure to be entertaining for TV is beginning to get to me. Maybe that's why I'm feeling quite self-conscious today.

Even the decision of what to wear for my first date with Issei was a challenge in itself! After countless hours of exploring various design possibilities, I ultimately decided on a dress pattern that exudes simplicity yet elegance—a deep red hue with a glossy finish. Which I think will blend in perfectly with the crimson ambiance of the dating show's set. After all, red is a color that signifies passion. which is perfect for a romantic setting.

To complete my attire, I decided to change my makeup look. After all, being a humanoid robot comes with its advantages! With the help of the main menu, I was able to experiment with various shades for my eyelids and lips with just a bit of my finger. In the end I was able to settle on a classic smokey eye look. For my lips, I went with the color #c30b09, a shade that adds a touch of sophistication and completes my look.

I have now arrived in front of the TELE-PORT that belonged to the hospital. The capsule is spacious enough to accommodate two individuals comfortably, and it is an exact replica of the one we used during the filming of the show in the quaint two-colored house.

To my right, there is a small screen that is used to input the necessary coordinates for any destination. Fortunately, Naomi had provided me with the address of the filming location the day before, which I have securely stored on my ID tablet for quick and easy access.

After finishing typing in the coordinates, I step inside the TELE-PORT. Once the date is verified, I take a deep breath and step into the capsule. Instantly, the machine starts to hum, and from the corners of the capsule, two sleek lasers emerge. They begin to dance around my body, with white beams focusing on the very tip of my toes. With remarkable precision, they initiate the deconstruction process, breaking down my molecular structure as if I am being disassembled piece by piece.

This is so cool!

The sensation is quite surreal, and as I gaze down at my feet, it appears as if I am slowly being rendered invisible. Wow! Then the lasers proceed moving upwards, reaching my legs, knees, and hips. Before I know it, everything from the waist down is gone—like I've vanished into thin air!

I decide to close my eyes to mentally prepare for the sudden change of location. After a few seconds during which I feel a peculiar tingling sensation throughout my body, I open my eyes once again. And BAM! Now I was inside the two-colored house. The lasers are now putting me back together, starting from my head and working their way down to my toes.

As the process concludes, I step out of the TELE-PORT and head out to the basement door. To my surprise, it was already open. The stage was already lit up. I slowly begin to walk down the stairs, carefully looking around. The empty seats were still there, the monitors were still in place, but the stage looked different. The red couch that once graced the stage has been replaced with a simple, yet elegant table and two antique chairs.

The table was covered with a crimson tablecloth that matches the color scheme of the stage decor. On top there was a vase with just one rose in it, and it added a really sweet, romantic feel to the whole setup. The chairs had some intricate carvings and looked like they belonged in an antique store. This whole setup is likely intended to simulate a dinner date in a classy restaurant.

"Do you like it?" Brainy's voice snapped me out of my thoughts as she descended from above.

"Whoa! You almost scared me there!" I said, placing my hand over my chest. "Yeah, I love it! It's really romantic."

Brainy lands on the table in front of me and straightens the tablecloth with her small hands. "I suppose you have good taste. This was my idea," the little humanoid replies with a smug expression on her face.

"Where is Naomi?" I asked, glancing around the stage.

"Oh, she'll be here soon. She is currently in the backstage with Issei. Making sure everything is ready and all that." Brainy rolled her eyes.

"Oh, by the way, thanks for sticking up for me back then with Tom." I said, giving her a grateful smile.

"It's not like I did it for you, fossil brain!" Brainy frowns again. "I just don't want Tom to get his hands on a million Humanity Points, that's all," Brainy added as she glanced back at me as if to see my reaction.

"A million?" It's my first time hearing about the value of the grand prize. "Is that... a lot?" I asked, confused. "I'm sorry, but I don't really know the value of these things yet." Brainy rolled her eyes.

"No need to be sorry." I could hear Naomi's voice coming from the right side of the stage.

"Naomi!" I wave excitedly. "It's nice to see you again!"

She smiles as she runs towards me, giving me a hug. "You look stunning, Airi!" She stops and looks at me."I hope you've charged your battery because it's going to be a long day!" She smiles. "And to answer your question. Yes, one million is a lot. Usually with ten Humanity Points, a human can survive for a week. That includes food, bills, and other necessities."

"For a humanoid, it's about the same." Brainy replies as she flies around the stage and rests on Naomi's shoulder. "We also need to pay for the oil changes, cables, bolts, and all that stuff."

"I see." I contemplate for a few seconds. "And how can we win this grand prize?"

"With the audience's votes, of course!" Naomi replies cheerfully.

"However, you do realize that your connection must be genuine, right? Real love, butterflies in your stomach, the real deal!" Brainy replies with a smirk on her face. "Good luck fooling the audience," she laughs.

"Oh, shut up!" Naomi picks up Brainy and tosses her across the stage.

"Anyway," the blonde woman then returns her attention to me. "Issei is ready, and so are we." She says as she inspects the stage one last time. "Now let's start filming!"

After a few seconds, Brainy flies back to us, and we get ready to start filming once again.

"Lights! Camera! Audience!" Naomi shouts as the equipment begins flying across the basement's ceiling once again. The seats begin filling one by one with holograms of people as they begin to cheer.

"Action!" Naomi shouts one last time.

"Welcome back to Pick a Brain and Fall in Love! I'm your favorite host, Brainy!" The tiny humanoid speaks before the crowd goes wild.

"Today is an important day. It's time for Airi to meet her date!" Brainy points to me as she starts flying across the stage to one of the heart-shaped monitors.

"Are you nervous, Airi?"

"Yes, a little!" I nod before I look at the audience.

"Alright then, let's not waste time!" Brainy looks at the right side of the stage. "Issei? Come in!"