4.zip

Every mind races as their heart pounds, even if they aren’t part of the activity. The fact that history is being made through a casual conversation has piqued their interest.

The woman of the hologram has a majestic aura around her. People keenly observe her like an animal in the zoo.

And when the woman opens her mouth, everyone does too. Every graceful but frail movement they intently follow with their eyes.

The woman seemingly is familiarising herself in the tight space the hologram provides. Then she looks at Tensain and utters, “Who are you?”

Eh? That’s not what she’s supposed to say? Did I miss a bug? Is this a glitch?

“T—Tensai, she spoke!” Renka exclaims.

But Tensain is troubled.

“What’s wrong, Tensai?” she follows up.

“Wait, I’ll just restart her for a bit.” Tensain presses the button of the hologram twice, and the hologram blinks twice. And the holographic woman appears gracefully. Then, Tensain tries again, “Monica, say ‘Hello World!’”

The woman looks at him again and says, “Who are you?”

It’s not working? She’s repeating the first question. Is the AI broken?

The commotion whispers among themselves, “Maybe it’s not working?” “Yeah, maybe there’s a technical difficulty or something.” “Oh, that’s a bummer. The hologram was cool though, but AI seems broken.” “Did he code this all by himself? Maybe that explains it.” “He should have used the Love AI.” One by one, the crowd disperse.

Renka and the stranger could only stare at Tensain who is working up a cold sweat.

Crap, hot damn! Why did it mess up during the first few seconds!? It’s supposed to work! I coded the first one hundred lines flawlessly!

One hundred lines of code out of two thousand. And seventy-five percent of the code is courtesy of Gethub. The remaining twenty-five percent is the result of his five years of hard work. All Tensain has to code is the input and output of the AI and then input the provided template courtesy of Love AI. Some people speculate that one Love AI template has a million lines of code, but some argue only one hundred, but the developers never revealed nor hinted at the numbers.

Tensain keeps on pressing the button as the hologram flickers. He inspects the hologram disk even though there is nothing he could find but four tiny screws at the bottom and four rubber pads. At the side of the disk is a Lightning Bolt port which can be used to charge or transmit data. And nothing is wrong with the disk itself.

The woman in the hologram, as she flickers, slowly turns visibly impatient.

“P—please wait a moment, Renka. I—I can fix this—”

Renka holds Tensain’s shaking shoulders, “You don’t have to be so nervous. Just calm down. You can just show this to me tomorrow when it’s fixed.”

“But…but—! Ah, damn. It’s really broken,” Tensain gives up.

Thus a new voice speaks, “Who are you calling broken!?”

The shocked three stare at the hologram and see the woman who finally opens her eyes.

…

…

…

She spoke!

She spoke!

She spoke!

“What’s the matter?” Monica coldly glares at the three. “Can you not stare at me like that? You guys are weird.”

“M—Monica! W—welcome!” I have no idea what to say! It’s like an alien has descended from space!

Renka also faces the same dilemma, It’s like a baby has been born, and I’ve witnessed the birthing!

And the stranger, Should I say that she is the first sentient AI like how an alien on the moon welcomes an astronaut— te! No, there are no aliens! I’m not sure if she is sentient or not. Maybe I should test her for a bit.

“M—Monica!” Tensain starts, but the other two also call out to her.

They look at each other wondering who should speak first, then Renka decides for the group, “I think Tensain should have the honor of going first.”

The stranger agrees, “He’s the creator after all.”

After receiving their confirmation, a serious Tensain begins talking to Monica, “Monica, execute self-debug A1.203—”

“That’s the first thing you’re going to say to me!?”

“A—ah, well, you seem broken, so would you plea—”

“Why are you calling me broken again!?”

“W—well—”

“Shut up! I ain’t talking to you!” Monica furiously faces away.

That’s weird, I programmed her to speak politely, Tensain thought.

“I wanna talk to you.”

“To whom?” Tensain asks, but Monica snubs.

Then Monica points her finger at Renka, “You, woman, I want to talk to you.”

“E—eh? Me? But Tensain is your creator—”

“He’s rude! I don’wanna talk to him,” Monica interrupts but thinks for a moment. “Who’s my creator?”

“Tensain,” Renka says.

“Tensain,” Renka faces the stranger, “are you my creator?”

“Yes, and I’d like to ask you—”

“Don’t you dare call yourself your creator!!” Tensain grabs the hologram near his chest like a protective parent.

The man raises his hands, “I was just joking.”

“That’s too far for a joke,” Tensain retorts.

And weird grumblings come from the hologram disk, “Let go off me!!” Monica punches Tensain with her little hands. There is no doubt that those attacks won’t do anything, but even more so since she is a hologram.

“Okay! Okay! Fine!” Tensain gently sets her back on the table and ‘pats’ her head.

“Don’t touch me!” she covers her body with her arms. “Your hands are disgusting!”

Tensain painfully laughs. Didn’t I program the AI to like me? Why is she like this? I wanna cry…

And Renka steps in and lays a hand on Tensain’s shoulders “This is Tensain,” Renka faces the stranger, “and this is… um, what’s your name—”

Suddenly, the man brings out his phone, “Oh, sorry, my boss is calling me. Please excuse me.” He bows and takes his suitcase from the other table and swiftly leaves.

“I wasn’t able to get his name…” Renka mutters and he faces Monica again. “He was a stranger who just joined in for some coffee, I guess.”

“Hmuh,” Monica ponders, “he looks quite familiar though.”

Tensain eyes Monica in surprise, “What do you mean he looks familiar?”

But, Monica continues to snub Tensain.

Renka smiles at Tensain, It’s alright. I’ll ask her for you.

While Tensain looks at Renka in tears, Renka! Help me! My own creation hates me!

So, Renka asks, “What do you mean by familiar?”

“You don’t know the word familiar?” Monica mocks, “it means ‘well-known and easil—”

“That’s not what she meant, you know?” Tensain cuts in.

Monica faces Tensai screaming, “Don’t interrupt me!!”

Oh, she finally notices me.

“Ah— well— I mean, I’m talking to you woman!” she quickly faces Renka. “There’s no guy beside you, right? You’re my creator after all!”

T—this AI!! Why is she ignoring me!?

Veins pop out in Tensain’s head and Renka worries. “But, my name’s not Tensai. It’s Renka.”

“Tensai is not my creat—” Monica suddenly stops, “W—who’s Tensai?”

“Ah! I meant Tensain,” Renka follows up.

“A—ah… Tensain,” Monica’s eyes seem to sparkle and she seems to glow in realization. Ever so slightly, she glances at Tensain, but then she returns to her cold expression. “Tensain isn’t the name of my creator though.”

“I know his name!” Tensain steps in, but Monica turns away from him.

Then Tensain moves to an area where Monica could see him, but every time he moves, Monica turns away.

This girl!!! “Monica!” he sternly utters.

“Yes!!” Monica quickly faces him in fear.

“I’m shutting you off,” Tensain approaches her while his finger goes for the button.

“Stop! Stop!! Alright! I’ll not ignore you! You must be thankful!” Monica compromises.

I? I should be thankful? I created you for god’s sake!

“I’ll hear your guess. You should be thankful for the chance,” Monica says. “So, who’s the name of my creator?”

“Null,” Tensain answers.

“Hm, I’ll check if it’s correct.” Monica’s body freezes and her face’s expression turns cold. It is like a person going into deep thought, but she is going into her deep code. “Null, you said right? Well, you’re wrong!”

“Eh?” That’s what I inputted though…

“My creator’s name is—” Monica stops. Her mouth refuses to move. “The creator’s name is—” Monica clearly struggles to say the name as she grows confused. “The name’s—”

“Monica?”

“Tensai, what’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t bring my laptop with me.”

“Why didn’t you bring it?”

“I was rushing to get here.”

“Come on! Fix her!”

“Alright! I’ll try.” Tensain waves up close at Monica, “Hey, are you seeing this?”

“Of course, I can see your strange hand! I’m not blind! Also, stay away from me, you weirdo!”

Hey, hey, don’t call your creator like that. I can just reset you, you know?

Oh, reset!

“Hey, Renka, can you come with me to my apartment?”

“Sure, why?”

“I’ll just fix her in a bit.”

“Alright, I get it.”

Tensain lifts the hologram disk, the platform Monica’s standing on, and exits the café. Renka walks with him by his side.

“H—hey!” Monica glowers at Tensain, “where are you taking me!? Are you kidnapping me!?”

“I’m not kidnapping you! I’m your creator!”

“This looks like kidnapping to me!” Then, Monica begins screaming, “Help! Help!! This dork is kidnapping me!!!”

This catches some attention of the nearby pedestrians, but they are more confused than alarmed. “Where’s the sound coming from?” “I don’t see a girl shouting that though…” “Hey, the sound’s coming from that thing.” “What thing?” “That thing the guy’s holding.” “That looks like a small woman, doesn’t it?” “Is he actually kidnapping a woman that small!?” “How can a woman grow to be that small!?” “Good point. So, he isn’t kidnapping?”

Then, an intimidating, muscular guy with tattoos and a cigarette in his mouth approach. He is wearing a leather jacket and jeans. He has a scary look on his face. The typical gangster roaming around the city.

“Hey, you,” he stops Tensain in his tracks. “What’cha doing with this girl, huh?” The guy looks at Renka.

“H—huh?” Tensain’s face turns blue in fear.

“This girl, I said. You kidnapping her?”

“N—no! She’s mine so of course, I can take her!”

“Huh!? What’dya say!? You think she’s yours, huh? Even though she clearly doesn’t wanna go with you!”

“T—Tensai…” Renka hides behind Tensain tugging on his shirt, “I’m scared…”

“Don’t worry,” Tensain whispers back, “I’ll protec—”

A punch lands on his face.

Why did he punch me!?

“Look at me when I’m speaking to you!”

Ouch!!! I think my jaw’s dislocated!

“That girl’s better off with me. Hand her over,” he demands.

“I—I think you’re misunderstanding something here...”

“Huh!!? You dare tell me I misunderstand!?”

A commotion begins to gather, and a circle in the middle forms.

How many crowds have gathered around me tonight?

Then, something in Tensain’s pockets vibrates.

Oh, that’s my sleep alarm. It’s already twelve midnight then.

Tensain bows to the big mister, “I’m sorry! I really have to go now! Please excuse me!”

But when Tensain walks past him, the man grabs him by the neck, “Oy! Where’d ya think you going?”

“Ahirrrghugffrrarhhrrahqwekqwek!” Tensain chokes.

I can’t answer you when you are choking me!

The man’s eyes fall on the hologram disk that Tensain’s hands hold dearly. “Oh? What’s this? A doll?” The man’s other hand overpowers Tensain’s grasp and he throws the toy to the ground. “Hahahaha! How pathetic. Why do you have a sex toy when you already have a woman?”

You… bastard…

Tensain flails his arms around struggling to free himself.

“Poor you! Looks like I’ll have to beat the sense into ya!”

Suddenly, the man’s face distorts into tremendous pain coming from his down under. His grasp on Tensain’s neck softens, but he is still held up. Tensain has kicked his balls.

“Omae wa jama da!!”

W—what is this thin dude doing!? are the gangster’s last thoughts.

“Jama jama jama jama jama jama jama jama!!!” yells Tensain as he kicks the man’s balls eight more times.

“Ghoaaawuvughug!!!” yells the man in pain, but he remains standing.

Tensain slides from the man’s weak grasp and prepares for a final kick to his balls, “Jama!!!”

The impact is so strong that the man falls to the ground unconscious.

But Tensain is still raging, “Shadou Warudo!!! Kage wa—!”

“Tensai!” Renka handchops Tensai on the head.

“Ow! What was that for!?” he asks.

“That’s enough. You are about to kill the guy!”

“Oh?” Tensai steps back to get a clear look of the man. “Oh… woops. I just wanted to try my power.”

“What power!?”

The crowd, fearing that Tensain might turn on them, quickly disperses. “It doesn’t seem like he’s kidnapping anyone after all.” “But what was he screaming? ‘Shadou Warudo’? What a weird guy.” “I can’t believe he beat the strong guy while yelling ‘jama.’” “It’s unfair for him. He kicked him in the balls!” “That’s right. That weird nerd wouldn’t have won if it weren’t for that.”

“Monica!” Tensain hurries over to the disk, “are you alright!?”

“U—ughhhh… might have bumped my head a little…” Monica holds her head as she sways side to side.

Tensain frantically inspects the disk from all sides. Then Tensain sticks his fingers through Monca.

“W—what are you doing!?” Monica pushes her skirt down. “Are you trying to lift my skirt!?”

Phew, the light module seems intact, but I think I have to order another disk body though… Tensain sighs.

“I knew it! You were trying to lift my skirt! Too bad you can’t, perv,” Monica says smugly.

Tensain turns to Renka, “Let’s go. I’ll have to fix Monica up.”

“Wait!” Renka points at the unconscious victim, “how about this guy?”

“What? Let’s leave him. He hurt my Monica-chan!”

“Don’t call me Monica-chan so casually!!” Monica says angrily.

“We can’t leave him. Let’s call an ambulance.”

“Alright, fine. But I’ll reset Monica after.”

“W—what do you mean reset!?” but Monica’s question goes unanswered.

“Sure,” Renka calls with her phone.

“H—hey! Stop ignoring me!!” Monica’s shouts are unheard.

Then Tensain looks at Monica, “Are you saying something?”

Monica opens her mouth while she flails her arms. Her mouth seems like it’s talking, but it is not emitting any sound.

“Monica? Are you talking? Hellooww?”

Monica’s face turns into frustration as she continues flailing around.

Wait, is her speaker unit damaged? Tensain checks a part of a disk and sees a dent. Ugh, another thing to buy. This guy needs to pay later!

But an idea pops in Tensain’s head, and he begins to creepily laugh, I’ll add a mute function! Hihihihihi!

“H—hey… Tensai… you have a weird smile on your face…” Renka points out.

“Ah, really? It’s nothing. I’m just happihihihihi!!”

“Your evil intentions are leaking!”