Broccoli and Cheese

After leaving Hualong, it took almost a month before he could return. As the weeks passed, it felt like an eternity, but Fuyuki still patiently waited for Feng Liwei to settle everything so that he could return officially. Until they were officially together, he still needed a pretext to leave his current job at the Ministry of Defence of Japan to work somewhere else. And now that opportunity has come.

Winter Breeze to Wintry Tree:

You’ll soon be getting the official request to join my team. After you accept the position, let me know when you’ll arrive so I can pick you up at the station.

Fuyuki read that message several times after he received it. Liwei kept his word and contacted him via the old means because it was safer to use that for private matters. As for official, work-related messages he will still contact him via his wristband just like anyone else. Somehow this secret only they knew made him happy. It was such a satisfying feeling to know that there is someone with whom he can be totally honest without any restrictions. Since Feng Liwei is Winter Breeze he knew all his goals and his opinions about almost everything enabling their relationship to start on solid ground. He thought he didn’t know as much about Liwei as he knew about him but at least he could be sure that they were on the same page when it came to how they saw their future and the world they lived in.

Fuyuki read the message again, scanning the crowd around him, looking for a person, a familiar face among the strangers. The transparency mode was already enabled on his wristband to make his entry to Hualong smoother than previously. It wasn’t compulsory to use that mode back home but he still kept it turned on. In fact, he already turned it back on after leaving Liwei’s home and returning to the hotel and hadn’t turned it off ever since. Because during those lonely days and weeks, it was the only way they could see each other without actually meeting since Fuyuki’s old phone he used to contact Winter Breeze aka Feng Liwei privately was too outdated to support holo-calls when they could see each other’s hologram in real-time. And he absolutely didn’t trust his wristband to contact him even though he could because everything someone does using such technology will leave a trace somewhere and it might raise questions. Liwei’s was encrypted, of course, so he had no such things to worry about. Fuyuki was a bit disappointed but at least Liwei promised to eliminate this hindrance for him.

He looked around again and went in the direction of the exit. He figured that such a high-profile person as the Major wouldn’t want to risk being seen in public since he would be recognized. So probably the best he can do is to wait outside safely hidden in a vehicle.

As Fuyuki stepped out into the street, he felt a chilly breeze blowing on his face making him regret that he didn’t put on gloves. He felt like his fingers would break from the cold as he searched for his phone in his pocket. When he finally found it, he typed in a message asking Liwei where the hell he was. He was anticipating their reunion too much and could hardly wait until they docked after landing so he could get off and meet him. And now he is making him wait?

Winter Breeze to Wintry Tree:

Look up! ;)

And that’s what he did.

He saw a car’s door opening slightly as if inviting him to get in. He walked to the sidewalk and after practically throwing his luggage to its trunk he not only got in but threw himself at the only person sitting inside.

“I’ve missed you,” he said in a low, hoarse voice and started kissing his lips, his face, and his neck. He was just about to unbutton his uniform when his wrists were caught stopping him from doing so. “What is it?” he asked annoyed. “This vehicle can drive itself home, so it needs neither of us to drive manually.”

“Ahem,” Liwei cleared his throat looking over Fuyuki’s shoulder. “We are not alone.”

Fuyuki got off his lap and sat down beside him so fast that it seemed like he was aiming to break a record. He looked in the direction of the door fearing the worst. But the one he saw standing there and getting in was thankfully not a person to be feared.

“I asked Mengxi to come, so she can get to know you,” he said and took out a brand-new wristband to put on him. “Take off the one you’re wearing and use this instead. Now you can contact me safely whenever, so you don’t need to rely on that old device you’re using,” he said, and looked at his pocket, knowing that he keeps that there. “I also gave you authority to come and go in my house freely and made Mengxi recognize you. If you wear it she’ll know that you’re part of my household and will treat you as such. But just in case something happens I made her recognize your face so you won’t need to solely rely on your wristband to contact her.”

“Thank you,” Fuyuki replied too stunned at receiving more than he expected.

“You’re welcome. You can test it if you want to. Tell her anything and she will obey you. Although, she is not just a servant but also a personal bodyguard if I’m not around. She’ll officially be your assistant, so she can help you out if needed.”

At this point Mengxi smiled at Fuyuki, giving off a vibe that was more like a real human being’s than that of an android.

“Hello, again,” Fuyuki turned to greet her.

“Welcome Master back to Hualong! How can I help you, Sir?”

“I’m starving. Let’s go home and eat!”

“Understood, Sir,” she said and after fiddling with her wristband, she turned on the vehicle’s automatic driving system to go to their destination.

“Wow, she is smart.”

“Of course! Her built-in SAI technology is even more advanced than the car we are sitting in right now. Because all the things, emotions, experiences, etc., you input into it will modify her attitude towards you just like in the case of a real person. Naturally, a car or any other non-android device is incapable of that. But just in case I gave her a command to recognize you, obey your orders, and protect you even if she hates your guts.”

“That’s just cruel,” Fuyuki said without thinking.

“It was if she was a real person. But no matter how indistinguishable she is from a human she still isn’t,” Liwei said while putting his arm around him and stroking his shoulder as if to comfort him. “I hope I’m just overthinking it but if we’re really gonna do as planned, you might just need that little extra protection,” he added. “Now tell me, what do you wanna eat?”

“Broccoli. With melted cheese.”

“That’s it?” he asked surprised. “How about we add some meat? You might need that extra energy to see what I’m going to show you.”

Hearing this made Fuyuki immediately tense. He didn’t know what Liwei had in storage that would take so much energy to see but it made him uneasy all of a sudden.

“If it’s that important, why don’t we get straight to the point then?” he suggested.

“You’ve just returned. Let’s celebrate it first and then I’ll take you somewhere.”

“Alright. But what about Mengxi?” he asked Liwei.

“I’m always at your service, Sir,” she replied immediately.

“Thank you. That’s good to know,” Fuyuki replied politely.

At this moment an automatic voice was heard in the car.

This announcement made Fuyuki instantly embarrassed thinking back to what he wanted to do here initially.

“Don’t worry, it’s only intelligent enough to speak and not to see and hear,” Liwei said as if guessing his thoughts.

“Unlike Mengxi I presume.”

“Yes, unlike her. So, it’s better if you treat her like a living person, otherwise, you might forget yourself in front of her and that could get awkward.”

“Roger that,” Fuyuki replied still embarrassed, and got out of the car.

The house they were about to enter was the same where they finally revealed their true identities to each other. It was a familiar place, a place he can now call his home. Even the thought of it made his heart melt just like the cheese he was about to eat.

“I melt the cheese, you cook the broccoli,” he said after putting on slippers and strolling into the kitchen.

“What about the meat?” Liwei asked following him in a hurry and leaving Mengxi to deal with their coats and the luggage in the car.

“I want my broccoli with cheese first. The rest might wait.”

“As you wish,” he grinned and proceeded to take out the ingredients for their lunch.

Fuyuki looked at Liwei busying himself in the kitchen and thought that no matter what dangers might lie ahead if he could face them with him by his side they aren’t that frightening anymore.