The moon rises and the sun sets. Like a rule of nature, night descended upon Tengu City as ti passed.
A faint crescent moon hung high in the sky, appearing and disappearing behind the clouds. Countless stars were scattered across the vast night sky, depicting a brilliant starry night.
"Today's stars... are also very beautiful."
On top of an inconspicuous hill on the outskirts of Tengu City, Maria appreciated this starry sky alone.
Maria didn't fixate on a specific location. As long as she was in the mood, she would randomly pick a place to enjoy the night view.
However, the world reproduced by the Fraxinus is limited to this Tengu City. These stars and the bright moon are nothing but a star map constructed from data. Even if soone suddenly had the idea of exploring the moon by riding a rocket into space, they would be directly teleported back to the ground upon reaching an altitude of about 3,000 ters.
But this did not affect Arusu Maria's mood while enjoying the night sky.
"My dates with everyone, and with Shido today, were very happy."
No, that phrasing is sowhat incorrect. From the very beginning of her dates with Itsuka Shido, Maria had always felt this way.
It was just that recently she understood this emotion is called happiness.
Perhaps this is a matter of course for ordinary people. However, Maria was as excited as if she had discovered a treasure chest full of jewels.
And today's mood was a bit more special.
Previously, Maria's analysis direction had always focused on "'Itsuka Shido' and the love generated with other won," while neglecting the question of "Why are 'everyone' able to generate love with Itsuka Shido?"
Whether it's Tohka, Yoshino, Origami, Kurumi, Miku, Kaguya, Yuzuru, Kotori, Yutsuki... everyone has their own unique charm. And it is precisely these that can attract Itsuka Shido.
During the past two days of playing with everyone, Maria gradually understood this.
"'Partner', 'Friend', everyone unknowingly started calling that... I have been acknowledged by everyone."
Placing her hands gently on her chest, feeling a warm current in her heart, the corners of Maria's mouth gently curled up into a smile.
The current Maria could already very naturally express the emotion called joy.
The data explains this as emotions like friendship and familial affection. Just like Yutsuki said before, the so-called love is the deepening and sublimation of these emotions.
If she didn't even understand these basic emotions, how could she understand love.
Maria couldn't help but feel embarrassed for not even noticing such a question.
"Shido and everyone value each other, cherish each other, share joys, sorrows, anger, and happiness together..."
The emotion that was difficult to comprehend even with thousands of words at the beginning, Maria could now faintly understand.
Moreover... within that emotion, there was also a place for her.
Thinking of this, Maria's cheeks turned burning red, and she covered her face with her cold hands.
"This feel... like a fla... but also very gentle emotion... is this love?"
Just one step away, Maria could get the answer she wanted.
If there was still sothing missing, it was probably... the courage to look directly at and face this emotion.
"Ah... so embarrassing..."
Maria covered her thoroughly red face, groaning softly.
You can't be like this—Arusu Maria! In order to repay everyone who taught you various emotions, to let everyone return to the real world safely. You absolutely cannot shrink back for this kind of reason!
Continuously repeating this to herself in her heart, after taking a long, deep breath, the blush on Maria's face finally faded.
—Return?
But... when everyone returns, what will happen to ?
This question suddenly surfaced in her mind. Feeling a bit uneasy, Maria sought the answer from her main body, the main computer of the Fraxinus.
Very quickly, the Fraxinus computer replied.
"As expected..."
A sad, bitter smile appeared on Maria's face.
She was a product of the butterfly effect resulting from a bug in this world. In terms of understanding, it was roughly similar to ergency asures taken during a robbery.
When the computer world returns to normal—when her mission is complete, the parts constituting Arusu Maria will be restored back to data and returned to the main computer's program.
For artificial intelligence, this is no different from death.
"...Even so, I still want to do my part. For my 'friends', for my 'family'... for everyone who treats equally."
Maria clenched her fists, her eyes revealing a resolve as firm as steel.
"And also... for Shido..."
Shaking her head vigorously to calm her mind, Arusu Maria settled her heart and began the final analysis.
Updating database... Starting data analysis... Analyzing date records... Analyzing... Analyzing... Judgnt conclusion...
"I see..." Slowly opening her eyes, Maria said with a sudden realization, "For to understand what love is, I still need one final step... which is to confirm the proof of love... as the conclusion of a date—a kiss."
"Indeed... everyone does this, that's how they can convey their love to Shido. Therefore..." After a mont's pause, Maria said slowly, "The kiss at the end of a date is... a vow of love."
For so reason, a very complex smile appeared on Maria's face.
"Love... is truly an incredible thing."
Inexplicably, Maria swiped her finger gently, and a computer-like system interface popped up in front of her.
Gently typing characters on the keyboard, Maria wasn't entering any complicated commands, just writing a letter.
From a certain perspective, the aning of this letter was the sa as a will.
Regarding the "Do you want to save this file? — yes/no" prompt on the screen, Maria hesitated for a mont, and finally clicked "yes".
"Even though it's impossible to send it out... if I disappear. I hope this can beco proof that I—Arusu Maria, once existed."
Maria closed the system interface, took one last reluctant look at the starry sky, and slowly walked towards Itsuka Shido's house in Tengu City.
Then... let's begin, Arusu Maria's final date.
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