Silence.

I tilted my head as I took off my bag and laid it to
one side of my room.  Then, I saw the entangled mess
of white to a corner of the room. 

"Chi?  Are you all right?"  I bent over her and pushed
her long strands of white hair from her face.  Then, I
sighed in relief.  "Oh, you were just resting."

But I couldn't understand why.  Had something gone
wrong?  I couldn't fix her if she needed to be
repaired.
I only got her a few weeks ago and I still didn't know
anything about computers.  I didn't have time to with
work and school.
Then again, Chi's a handful all by herself.

Teaching her was much harder than I had ever possibly
imagined. 

Sometimes...I think it shouldn't be me.  I am no good at
things like this.

I then noticed the picture book I had gotten her and
smiled.  It was buried somewhat under her hair and it
felt like someone who had read a good bedtime story to
themselves. 

It was then that I noticed my hand on her cheek. 
You really are cute, Chi.

I hope my luck with you won't change.  You are my
lucky charm. 
I smiled to myself right then. 

My hand let go as I got some sheets to cover her body.
 But then, I just sat in front of her and watched her
as she slept.
You couldn't tell she was a persocom at all.  They are
made in whatever someone likes to make them.
Mine truly looked human to me.

But...
She couldn't fall for me, could she?

In the end, you are still a machine.

And in the end, I can't do anything for you.   I
always go around and ask people for advice on how to
take care of you because I don't know how to.

But, it's been fun so far.  I laughed to myself.
"I'm never bored," I mumbled to the silent room.

I got up to heat some water and eat instant ramen
again.  Boy, I wish sometimes that I had money.

After eating my dinner, I began to study.  As the
hours stretched, I found myself really sleepy and
tired.  So, I brushed my teeth and washed my face.

I found myself reaching for Chi's picture book.  I
smiled to myself again as I glanced at the sleeping
Chi.

You really looked happy when I gave this to you.

"Someone just for me..." I read slowly and carefully to
myself. 

I ended up reading the whole book and it kind of
disturbed me.  Persocoms...
Would they somehow replace real people?
Sci-fi-ish as it sounded, it was true.  And it became
more and more true as the days passed and I saw more
and more of them.

"Don't fall in love with a persocom," the boy had said
to me.

I looked at Chi.  Then, I laid next to her and I
pulled another set of sheets over my body.  Looking at
her face, I held her cheek again.

"I still can't think of you as a human Chi, but I love
being with you," I whispered to her knowing she
couldn't hear me at all.

A thought flashed through my mind at that moment and I
became sad.  I frowned and I found myself putting my
arm around her waist.  Kissing her on the forehead, I
said, "Whenever I think that you might leave me
someday Chi, it really scares me."

"Don't fall in love with a persocom," his voice again
repeated.

I suddenly let go and moved to one side of my
apartment and leaned my back on the wall while looking
up to the ceiling.  "I look forward to seeing Chi
greet me when I come home everyday.  After a crappy
day or a hard-working one, I always am happy to come
home..."

"To you, Chi."

What the hell are you thinking, Hideki? 

I then wrapped myself with my covers and bent my head
down.  As I was falling asleep, I looked up to find
Chi in front of me.  "Welcome home, Hideki," she said
to me with a smile.

Then, she pulled her covers and wrapped both of us
with it as she placed her head on my shoulder.

I couldn't understand why so many people became so
attached to their persocoms before...but now, I think
I'm beginning to understand.

A thought that was even scarier than her leaving me
flew threw me...
"But, who will take care of you when I'm gone, Chi?
You'll still 'live'...
and will you remember me?"