Chapter 4: The Main Event of Everyday

After running for about five minutes, both of them arrived at the center of the city.
There was a large spectacle happening in the middle of the park. The crowd had gathered to watch, forming a giant circle around the improvised stage where hundreds of actors were putting on a performance of humanity recovering partially from the damage of the revolution and turning the game over against the rebellious androids.
A mechanical dragon flew through the sky. It was about 20 meters in length. It may have looked big, but in fact it was a mini version of the ones that were really used in the real war, whose size could easily surpass a luxury ship. How it worked was still a secret from regular people even nowadays, but it was an entirely new type of technology that had been developed by the government in secret, and luckily it proved to be proof against the rebellious influence of the evil robots.
The dragon flew around the crowd, leaving the performance area open to give the watchers a more vivid experience. It flew up and down, turned around, and went into the sky for a few seconds, breathing fire and small fireworks that made the audience's pupils shine brightly with the kaleidoscope of colors displayed in front of them.
As the performance advanced, more and more of the rebellious androids were destroyed as the human army advanced. By the final scene, the actor who played the captain of the squad held the head of one of the androids and spoke as the dragon flying above him breathed colorful fire toward the sky.
"No matter how powerful or smart you robots can be, we humans have something that can never be overpowered: our heart! Today was the day that humanity once more converged into one single heart to eliminate the evil of the world. Today was the day where we proved that only our souls can be the real foundation to seek a brighter future in the world. Today was the day of the great victory of the Blood and Flesh of our race!"
The crowd cheered loudly, and applause erupted crazily at that moment, as if the feeling of overcoming a great tragedy and achieving glory had intoxicated the people who watched the performance with tears and screams. For a moment, one could really think they were cheering the real heroes who saved the world.
However, when Asahi looked to his side, all he could see on the face of the doll-like girl beside him was an expressionless gaze. Amy had taken off her mask for a while to watch the performance better, but contrary to what Asahi had thought, she didn't look like she was having fun at all.
"Did I misstep by chance?"
Asahi thought to himself while discreetly observing her expression as she watched the performance.
"So, Amy, what do you think of this show?"
Asahi asked while trying to take a sip of his coffee, but the cup was already empty, so he dropped it in disappointment.
"It was not bad."
She replied indifferently.
"You don't seem to be having fun. What's wrong?"
He asked.
"It was a good show. I could feel how the actors gave their hearts to transmit their feelings to us. The visual effects also looked quite expensive, but..."
"But...?"
Asahi asked as she paused.
"...I couldn't find joy in watching it.Maybe I felt like it was me right there being destroyed, as others held my decapitated head high and cheered for my death."
Amy spoke with a painful gaze as she looked at the floor.
"I see... so it's like that."
Asahi said and redirected his eyes toward the crowd that was still applauding the actors.
"I understand how you feel. In fact, sometimes I am like that too."
Amy looked at Asahi after hearing those words.
"I went through some bad experiences when I was young and saw terrible sides of people. Sometimes those memories come back to my mind, making me think if it is possible for me to end up like that in the future. I feel really sick when I think about it."
He said, staring at the crowd.
"But if you look again carefully, you'll notice that these people are not cheering because the androids were destroyed, but because their victory means their survival."
Amy looked at the crowd again. Couples held each other's hands, friends were screaming and applauding together, a mother fed a little child with an ice cream while wiping its mouth. All kinds of lives could be seen in the middle of this mix of emotions and different paths crossing each other.
"Not that I pity the androids that were destroyed, but you are different from them, so I can assure you that no one would cheer for your death. In fact, I would be quite sad."
He said as he looked back at her.
"I see... but then what if I become evil too someday and do bad things like those ones did?"
Amy asked. Her conflicted emotions were as clear as the sky on her face.
"Ack, ite ite!"
"If that happens, then I will do it again."
Asahi said with a serious gaze as he pinched her cheek while she protested in pain.
"You are so cruel! That hurts, for your information!"
Amy said while massaging her face.
"Then make sure not to become evil, otherwise I will do it again."
Asahi said with an evil smile while laughing lightly as he walked off.
"You!"
Amy said, pouting while giving light punches on his arm. Her cute reaction made him laugh a little bit more while apologizing halfway.
"You won't become like them. I will make sure of it."
He said while hearing the complaints of the little red-cheeked doll in front of him as both kept walking through the festival.
Like that, they visited several types of food tents at the festival. There was a great variety of all kinds of food that one could imagine, from famous Japanese and Chinese recipes to Western delicacies.
Despite trying a little at each tent, neither of them ate excessively. Asahi, due to his addiction, filled himself more with coffee. As for Amy, well, she just followed along since she really didn't need to eat despite being able to feel tastes.
However, when they passed by a candy stand, Amy's eyes showed a slight shine.
"Do you want something from there?"
Asahi asked, sipping his coffee. It was already his fourth cup since the beginning of the festival.
"Yes, it looks tasty. I have never seen a candy this colorful."
She said with a curious gaze while looking at the candy she was talking about.
It was a giant lollipop with a rainbow spiral design. Actually, her curiosity was not unjustified. This kind of candy was hard to find in modern Tokyo due to the current international crisis in exports.
"Give us one, please."
Asahi said to the seller, who handed Amy the giant lollipop with a smile.
"Thank you."
Amy said to the seller while taking the lollipop and bowing lightly afterward.
"So, Amy, what do you think of your first festival?"
Asahi asked while walking by her side.
"It was fun. I wish I could come back next year."
Amy replied, smiling while looking at her colorful lollipop.
"So we will come again next year."
Asahi replied as he held her hand.
"But it's still a pity."
She said while holding Asahi's hand back.
"What?"
He asked.
"That it only happens once a year. I would like to do this more often if possible."
She replied with a helpless smile.
"In fact, it is a bit sad. But don't worry so much. Life itself is a great festival. I am sure we will have the chance to experience more moments like this in the future."
Asahi replied while looking forward.
"Hmm, but next time, let's skip the park performance."
Amy replied as they continued moving toward the exit of the festival. It was about evening by then, and the yellow-orange sunlight was slowly fading along with the people who were leaving the streets to return home.
"By the way, Amy, I think I've been forgetting something for a while, but I really can't tell what. Never mind, it must be nothing important."
Asahi said while walking beside Amy holding her hand. Just like that, both of them returned home. Since Micchi was moving houses these days, she had asked Asahi to let Amy stay at his place until she finished.
And speaking of Micchi...
"Damn, when will those two return so I can have a break?? AND WHY ARE THERE SO MANY CLIENTS TODAY?"
At the same time, in the coffee shop, she rushed from one side to another while attending the customers, who, due to the event, were much more numerous than usual.
...
BAMM!
On the next morning, after a loud sound, a young man with white hair and formal clothes could be seen kneeling on the ground. He coughed repeatedly, trying to recover his breathing after receiving a powerful punch, not much below the strength of a bodybuilder, right in his stomach.
The one who had given him such a powerful strike was a blonde-haired Gyaru wearing a red apron along with a white shirt with the logo of the café they both worked at.
"You really have guts, showing your face to me like that after what you did."
Micchi spoke furiously while still clenching her fist tightly.
"Cof, cof... Wait, Micchi... I can explain!"
Asahi, who was still on the ground recovering from the punch he had just received, desperately tried to speak before she unleashed a second blow. Even Amy was scared, watching silently so far after Micchi hit Asahi as soon as she saw him pass through the door.
"Hoh, you left me alone with that wave of people on the festival day and went to enjoy the festival with Amicchi using the excuse of showing her the city, and now you want to explain?!"
She said furiously. It was almost possible to see fire burning in her eyes as she questioned him.
"H-how do you know that? Could it be...?"
He looked at Amy, who started sweating under his gaze.
"I am sorry, Asahi. I know you told me not to tell her, but she noticed when I tried to make an excuse, so I ended up telling her the truth."
Amy confessed with a guilty expression.
"You traitor little doll."
Asahi sighed internally.
"So what's your excuse now, Mister 'Life is a Festival'? AND YOU MADE THE POOR AMY LIE!"
Micchi shouted. Luckily, it was before working hours started, so there weren't any customers present yet to witness the scene.
"That's it. I will die for sure this time. It was a good life so far, but I wish I had smoked a little more."
Asahi thought as he held his breath, preparing himself for the next blow.
"W-wait, Miss Micchi, i-it was my fault."
Even though she was scared, Amy stepped between the two of them, trying to stop Micchi. She resembled a small puppy trying to stand between two tigers fighting.
"Sigh, I'll let you off this time, but only because I don't want to scare Amicchi. But you'd better pay me for the extra hours you made me work and give me a day off next week."
She said helplessly in response to Amy's action.
"Deal."
Asahi nodded in agreement.
"And you, Amicchi, don't let this trash influence your behavior. If he does something like that again, you can tell me and I'll teach him a lesson again."
Micchi said with a smile while patting Amy's head.
Asahi felt a chill run down his spine after hearing those words. Despite her size, she had a punch strong enough to make him regret his sins. He couldn't imagine taking another one of those.
"S-sure..."
Amy replied, trying to smile. However, her expression looked quite uncomfortable.
"So, Micchi, about Amy's situation, I had a good idea about what we could do."
Asahi tried to change the topic as he lit up a cigarette.
"Oh, you mean her arms and legs? Couldn't she just cover them?"
Micchi asked, confused.
"That won't do. When she goes out for something, it's okay. But if she uses it all the time, especially during summer, eventually someone will notice something is off."
Asahi explained.
"Then what if we say they are prostheses because she lost her limbs in an accident?"
Micchi responded, making a gesture with her hand as if she had just said something obvious.
"That's just too stupid."
Asahi said while taking a drag from his cigarette.
"Oi, oi, want to be punched again?"
Micchi said, annoyed.
"Figure it out yourself. The laws involving the development, selling, and control of technology nowadays are extremely severe. All technologies approved by the Tech Control have public files available for anyone who wants to see. What do you think will happen when someone see such advanced prostheses that nobody has ever heard about and researches them?"
Asahi questioned Micchi.
"But... isn't the chance of that happening too low?"
Micchi asked while covering her mouth with one hand as she thought about it.
"It would be if she stayed with us for only one or two months, but we don't know how long she will stay, do we?"
Asahi responded with serious eyes while dropping his cigarette.
"You are right... If she stays here for long, the chances increase a lot. Then, what do we do, Asa?"
Asahi smiled.
"You will for sure like this idea."