Vol 1 Chapter 2.07 (1/2)
Day Fifty-Five
After that, the time I spent with the two increased day by day. They are the first friends that I made after coming to the construction site.
The 'rain' did not stop. In my monochrome vision, there are still white noise and countless white lines.
”And then~”
While we were walking from the 'gut' to the 'intestines', Lilith continued to talk happily at the other side of the rain. She's just like a chatterbox.
”The inspector shouted 'Oi, number Fifteen, don't just stand there!', and kicked Volkov.”
I answered: ”Is that so!”
”Then, do you know what that guy answered?”
”What did he answer?”
”He said...... 'My apologies. I'll sit down right away!' because the inspector said 'don't just stand there', he sat down. So, his huge body squashed the inspector behind him.”
”That's quite dangerous.”
”The shrieking noise that the inspector shouted out that time was so interesting!”
”That's quite a masterpiece.”
Lilith started to laugh heartily. Seeing her sunny smile, I brightened up.
”Actually how did you meet Volkov?”
”Oh, that.” Lilith raised her brows, ”It's no big deal. We met at the construction site about a year ago. Volkov was already working here when I came...... I felt that he looked similar.”
”Looked similar...... to whom?”
”An acquaintance from before. He's a robot called Lightning, I worked with him at a junk parts shop before this. He's really big but slow as well.”
At that moment, Lilith gazed towards somewhere far away.
”So, that's why I noticed Volkov when I arrived. ...... I struck a conversation with him after that, and started talking to him......”
The blaring sirens suddenly rang. That's the message signaling lunch. However, lunch time is only a treatment for the humans, us robots don't have any rest time, the only time when we can rest is the charging time at night.
”Then I'll see you later then.”
Lilith left my side, nimbly pa.s.sing through the robots in front. Her bound long hair danced behind her in vigor.
I looked at the direction that she was moving towards, and saw a giant-sized robot walking forward step by step. That's Volkov. He's ma.s.s-producing enormous footprints today as well. The pet.i.te girl knocked his large body while asking 'Is there anyone in there?'.
I gazed at the familiar actions of the two, and I couldn't help but feel warm inside. It's a long time since I had this warm feeling.
I thanked the two in my heart. Though I cannot accept my current appearance, I am not as troubled about it as I was. They accepted my current appearance. To be honest, that makes me quite happy.
If I could make an expression, I would probably be smiling right now.
♠
After the labor ended for the day, we gathered at the warehouse as usual.
We would not be arranged by identification number. Since the main reason that we're herded in the warehouse is to prevent us from being stolen and for charging, sitting anywhere wouldn't matter.
Today, Lilith sat beside me.
”Hey, Iris.”
”Hmm?”
Lilith said in a small voice: ”Accompany me tonight”. A meaningful smile surfaced on her face.
”Eh? Accompany you?”
As I was about to ask her what she meant, the inspectors were already near us.
After the charging cable is inserted into my body, my switch is immediately turned off. It would be the second morning the next time I wake up— that was what I thought.
—...... Iris!
I hear someone's voice.
—Hey, Iris!
In the drizzle that is present as usual, I opened my eyes.
The familiar face of a young girl is in the rain.
”...... Lilith?”
”Ah, you're finally awake. ...... Your activation time took a long time.”
Lilith pulled out the charging cable from my body, and closed the cover on my chest with a clunk.
I only noticed at that time that it was still pitch dark. Usually, rays of light would come in from the windows of the warehouse.
”...... Eh? Nighttime?”
”That's right, it's still night time. About two in the morning.”
”Two in the morning......”
I look around the whole warehouse. It's the first time that I woke up at this time.
”Iris, I'll serve you.”
Lilith showed me a delighted smile.
”...... serve?”
I tilt my head.
So, the girl steps backwards lightly and extends her white right hand, as though she's inviting me for a dance.
”Welcome to the night time book club.”
The warehouse looks eerie at night.
My robot colleagues sat tidily in front of the charging board that were like tombstones. Of course, n.o.body moved. On the robots, the charging light flickered like wandering spirits. Lilith and I walked in the s.p.a.ces between the hundred over spirits.
A familiar large robot sat among the flickering spirits. A thick cable was stuck to his b.u.m like a tail, while the lights showing that he's charging emitted rays of flas.h.i.+ng light.
”Take that!”
Lilith removed Volkov's charging cables with her hands. After that, she opened the cover on his chest, sticking her right hand in it and started to search.
After a few seconds, a low hum echoed in the warehouse, and Volkov's eyes brightened.
”Get up quickly, junk.”
Lilith is scolding people again.
Volkov said while maintaining his posture on the ground: ”Volkov- activating- cannot- move.”
”Shhh! Keep quiet when you're talking.”
Lilith lowers her voice to remind him.
While waiting for Volkov to reactivate, I ask the question that I was concerned of.
”Why can Lilith wake up yourself? The power switch had definitely been turned off......”
”Ahhh, that.”
Lilith triumphantly points at her chest with her thumb.
”My battery is the charge-activated type. Which means, my power would automatically turn on after charging ends.”
I can't help but think ”Ah, so that's why”. That means, she could reactivate herself even if the humans turned off her power. However, another question surfaces in my mind.
”But your charge-activation switch actually didn't get confiscated by the humans?”
If robots could move all around the warehouse at night, turning off their power at night would lose its purpose.
”It doesn't matter, since it's quite easy. There's a lot of chances for you to move tools and spare parts when you stay here for a long time. That's why, I just help myself sometimes.”