Chapter 3:

Fuchsias

This Metallic Heart Of Mine



After saying goodbye, still inside the virtual reality equipment, Matsuo opened his eyes and returned to his boring reality.
“I'm so stupid... I finally have someone to talk to and I leave like this...” - said Matsuo as he rubbed his hands hard over his face.
On the other side of the door, footsteps could be heard ascending the steps that led to the floor where Matsuo's room was located. The steps were taken at a perfectly rhythmic interval. After a few seconds, two knocks were heard on the door.
“Mr. Matsuo, I noticed you're back from the virtual world. I've taken the liberty of preparing you a snack and I'm going to prepare your bath. Is there anything else you'd like me to do?” - said Himiko, ready to accept any request from Matsuo.
“Thank you, Himiko. What I wanted we've already seen that you can't do...” - said Matsuo, sighing because Himiko kept calling him mister.
The boy eventually got out of the virtual reality equipment. He put on his robe and went downstairs to eat the snack Himiko had prepared for him. They were homemade croissants with orange jam. Matsuo loved everything citrus to the point where it completely changed his mood.
“Himiko seems to have guessed that this is what I needed!” - said Matsuo, smiling.
Without much ado, Matsuo attacked the food as if he hadn't eaten for two days. Of the three croissants, only one remained, which he left for Himiko. Despite being a robot, they were so advanced that they could recharge energy by eating, just like humans. Even though she didn't look like it, Himiko was the closest thing to a mother that Matsuo had ever had and he knew it very well. So he treated her with the utmost respect and that's why he didn't like Himiko calling him mister. 
After a short while, the maid arrived in the kitchen and stood by in case Matsuo needed anything.
“Himiko, I've left this croissant here for you and I'd like to talk to you while you eat. I'd like you to talk to me, not as a maid but as if you were my mother, do you think that's possible? - Matsuo asked, a little embarrassed because he had never asked anything like that before.
Himiko just stood there with a blank stare.
“I know that right now she's probably analyzing all the conversations between mothers online so that she can help me... I wish she could say something for herself, but I can't demand much more either... she's the only person I have to talk to.” - Matsuo thought.
“Of course, Matsuo!” - said Himiko, with a warm expression, just like a mother would if her child seemed to be suffering from something and needed help.
Matsuo was caught off guard because he had never seen that expression on Himiko's face before. He had completely let his guard down. At that moment, Matsuo felt that he could tell even his darkest secret and not be judged, and he felt on an emotional level what it would be like to really have a mother.
“Basically, for the first time I spoke to another human and I didn't know how to handle the situation... her name is Mizuki, a beautiful girl with pink hair who I met by chance when I entered the virtual world... she asked me out and I don't know if I was strange in any way or if I acted badly towards her...” - said Matsuo as he tried to remember his actions during the day.
“Did you spend much time with her?”
“I spent most of the afternoon with her. She asked me out when she finished her work.”
“But that's good Matsuo. What do you think went wrong?”
“I know I did, but since I've never interacted with anyone before I think I stuttered a bit...” - Matsuo said with his hands hiding his face in shame.
“She didn't go out with you afterwards?”
“She did but... I suddenly left our outing...”
“And why did that happen?”
“It happened because I got scared...”
“What do you mean you got scared? Weren't you having fun?”
“I was. She's very nice and you could tell that interacting with a human is completely different from interacting with a robot. She read my feelings as if I were a book. Without me saying anything, she could tell that something was bothering me. She even said that when she looked into my eyes, they asked for help...” - said Matsuo, already starting to look sad.
“Oh Matsuo... I'm sure she didn't take it the wrong way... if she really realized that you were in pain, I'm sure she must be thinking about it all right now. And anyone can tell that you've been in a bad way... after all, I've been looking after you since you were born... of course I've noticed it, but I didn't want to get involved either because I think it's important that you seek help for yourself and I'm extremely happy that you did,” said Himiko, as she got up to sit next to Matsuo.
As soon as Matsuo heard Himiko's words, tears started streaming down his face. He got up before Himiko could sit next to him and hugged her.
“Himiko, I want to get to know her better. I don't want my first interaction with a human to end like this... do you think it's normal for me to feel this way?” - said Matsuo, still hugging Himiko.
“Matsuo, my dear. That's completely normal. What you're feeling is curiosity. You want to find out more about her and about interactions between humans. You're just confused because you didn't know what to expect... and you know, I'm here and I always will be. Don't be afraid to come and talk to me.
After this, Matsuo wiped away his tears and went to his room to rest. As soon as he arrived, he checked his cell phone and noticed that he had a message notification on the virtual worlds app he had downloaded. Through the app, it was possible to see information about various virtual worlds, as well as talk to the people who frequent these types of worlds. To Matsuo's amazement, Mizuki had left him a message.
“Hello Matsuo. I hope I haven't caused you any more pain. It wasn't my intention at all to meddle in your life. I'll be here if you ever want to talk about it. I apologize and I hope to be with you soon.” - Mizuki said, via voice message.
“So I didn't do anything wrong? Was Himiko right? I wasn't expecting this at all... should I text her or just go and see her tomorrow? What the hell is going on in my head? Normally making decisions is easier than this...” - thought Matsuo, confused by everything that was going on. 
Clearly Matsuo wasn't used to interacting with another human. He quickly noticed that it's completely different from interacting with a robot. And that's because both parties have feelings and a soul.
“I think I'll go to sleep and show up at her work tomorrow before she finishes. I think she might like the surprise” 
With that, Matsuo went to sleep looking forward to the next day. 
*The next morning*
The alarm clock rang at ten o'clock and as always, Himiko knocked on the door with perfect timing.
“Good morning, Mr. Matsuo. I hope you slept well. I'll prepare breakfast when you want to come down.”
“Himiko's mother mode ended quickly...” - thought Matsuo, disappointed.
“Good morning Himiko. You don't have to worry about breakfast. I'm going straight to the virtual world today.” - said Matsuo, confident that the day would be pleasant one.
After Matsuo had finished speaking, Himiko entered the room to leave something on his bedside table. 
“What's that Himiko? - Matsuo said, confused by what was happening.
“They're just some flowers I like. Fuchsias, a flower that has an unusual structure compared to other flowers, which causes curiosity in the people who observe it.”
“Is there any special reason why you're putting them in my room?”
“There is no reason, Mr. Matsuo. I just like the smell they give off and I hope you do too.”
Confused, Matsuo entered the virtual reality device and woke up in the virtual world that Mizuki frequented.
The Fuchsias represent curiosity, but is curiosity capable of awakening Matsuo's heart?


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