A petite and pitiful body, smooth and flowing white long hair, and a delicate face that seed as if it had been sculpted. This girl, wearing a pure white and holy nun's habit, scanned Yatogami Tohka, Tobiichi Origami, Yoshino, Yamai Yuzuru, Yamai Kaguya, Izayoi Miku, Ryougi Yutsuki, Itsuka Kotori, and Tokisaki Kurumi with earnest and pure eyes. She spoke solemnly:
"Could all of you present who love Itsuka Shido mutually please tell , what is love?"
(Once artificial intelligence gains wisdom, the first question that arises is 'What is love?'... In a way, it's basically a fixed trope.)
Letting out a bitter smile silently in her heart, Yutsuki looked at Tohka and the others who had fallen into sowhat of a panic because of the other party's question, and shrugged helplessly.
One hour ago...
"A bug?" Hearing Yutsuki's words, a surprised look appeared on Kotori's face. To this, Yutsuki nodded.
"Mhm. Judging from the current situation, Shido probably can't log out from the virtual world because of so kind of bug."
"Impossible. The ga's design went through safety checks. Although it's true that flaws might appear in the plot aspect, it's impossible for the ga to have a bug where it can't accept external controls."
"Well, coming from a ga developer, your words definitely have persuasive power, and in reality, that is indeed the case." Yutsuki tapped her foot on the ground and said helplessly, "However, what has a bug is not the ga."
Pondering the deeper aning in Yutsuki's words, a surprised expression appeared on Kotori's face.
"You an... the main computer of the Fraxinus itself has a bug?"
"I see. Indeed, if that's the case, then the current situation makes sense."
Reine nodded in agreent.
"Then, what is the reason for Shido being unconscious? Yutsuki, do you have a way to rescue him?"
Tohka looked at Yutsuki with a bit of unease and expectation, and so did the other Spirits. After all, right now, the only one who might have a way to rescue Shido was Yutsuki.
"Mhm. I have two plans!" Yutsuki held up two index fingers, explaining to everyone. "First, the first way is for to forcefully intervene through Ratziel. To make the computer treat this bug as a virus and delete it. That way, Shido will naturally be rescued. However, this is a bug, not a virus, and the chain reaction caused by this forceful deletion will cause a considerable degree of damage to the airship's computer."
"By the way, roughly how big is the so-called damage?"
Kotori asked with a bad premonition.
"Mhm. At the very least, the performance of this computer will drop by about thirty percent..."
"Ugh!"
Kotori showed a very pained expression. Although if she had to say which was more important, the airship's computer or her brother's life, she would undoubtedly choose the latter. But as the Commander of this airship, if her battleship suffered such severe damage, not hesitating at all would definitely be impossible.
"Then... what is the next plan?"
"Very simple. Let's help the computer fix this bug! If the computer runs normally, Shido will naturally be able to co out too." Yutsuki looked at Kotori, blinked, and said with a smile, "Personally, I also prefer this plan."
"Fix it... is this kind of thing possible?"
Kotori asked Reine with sowhat questioning eyes. However, to this, Reine didn't give any answer. After all, the computer had now entered a state of completely rejecting external commands. She herself wasn't entirely clear on what exactly the bug Yutsuki ntioned was. She couldn't give a definite answer.
"Well, I have to say, the Fraxinus's computer is indeed very excellent. When I hacked into the internal information, the AI actually proposed a ssage to asking for assistance in repairing the bug. Just looking at how fluently we conversed, it's quite an excellent artificial intelligence. It's basically no different from a real person."
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Kotori and Reine seed to have thought of sothing. They looked at each other and saw the surprise in each other's eyes.
"Reine, since when did our AI possess the intelligence to converse normally with a real person?"
"I don't know either... but it's said that computers built with Realizers inherently have a certain degree of growth potential. Plus, providing Shido with dating choices every day, it having the communication ability of a normal person can't be completely ruled out."
"So you didn't even know yourselves..." The corners of Yutsuki's mouth twitched slightly. Then she sighed and asked in a casual tone, "By the way, how many high-performance computers like this do you have in your company?"
"Just this one loaded on the Fraxinus... How many computers capable of running virtual world-level data do you think there are?"
Kotori said with a helpless face.
"Ho... only one..." Hearing Kotori's answer, Yutsuki muttered to herself with an intriguing tone.
"So, what exactly do we have to do to repair the bug?"
To Kotori's question, Yutsuki answered.
"Regarding this point, the AI side seems to have its own plans. It sent this ssage over."
Her fingers tapped quickly on the keyboard a few tis, and very quickly a ssage appeared on the big screen.
[In order to love Shido, please everyone co into this world.]
After an opening sentence that made people feel the aning was unclear, imdiately following, a list of personnel was listed: Yatogami Tohka, Tobiichi Origami, Yoshino, Tokisaki Kurumi, Itsuka Kotori, Yamai Yuzuru, Yamai Kaguya, Ryougi Yutsuki, Izayoi Miku.
This list, the Spirits sealed by Shido? No... it should be said to be the females who have had a relatively close relationship with Shido. Yutsuki thought in her heart.
"Reine, what do you think of this ssage? The possibility of a trap?"
"Mhm, it is indeed a ssage from the computer AI. And just now, the sa number of dive devices as the list in the room have already been unlocked. Although we can't be certain, the possibility of a trap isn't high."
Hearing Reine's answer, Kotori lowered her head in thought for a mont before speaking slowly.
"So you an... to repair the bug, we have to enter the virtual space on the other side first to be able to do it?"
"Well, that's how it is. It seems the bug that appeared in our AI-chan is unexpectedly emotional."
Looking at the very first sentence, Yutsuki shook her head with a seemingly joking tone.
Diving into the ga to save Shido, Tohka and the others present of course agreed decisively. As for Origami, Kotori just made a phone call using Shido's phone, and with a simple sentence "Shido is in danger," the other party directly agreed without even caring about the possibility of a trap.
Finally, Kurumi was a bit more troubleso. Kotori ordered Kannazuki to use the Spirit wave detector equipped on the Fraxinus. After a carpet search, they finally found traces of Kurumi.
Originally, Kotori thought they would have to take so forceful asures, but what surprised her was that Yutsuki just roughly explained the situation, and Kurumi readily agreed.
Then, after everyone entered the computer world, the situation beca like it is now.
"...Mutually love..." Itsuka Kotori muttered softly in her mouth, her cheeks slowly starting to turn red. After noticing her slip-up, she violently coughed "Ahem!" and explained herself, "Let make it clear first. I just ca to clean up this ss. Do you know how much trouble it has brought to our side because Shido can't log out from the ga?!"
"??"
To Kotori's reprimand, the girl clearly didn't care much. She tilted her head a bit puzzledly, looked at Kotori, and asked, "So, you an Itsuka Kotori doesn't love Itsuka Shido?"
"Th... that's not... Ugh!" The other party's question threw Kotori into an unexpected panic. The mont she instinctively planned to deny it, her eyes suddenly glanced at Shido. Her words imdiately got stuck halfway. After a mont, she stamred her answer, "Um... as a little sister... ugh, as family... love... um..."
"Arusu seems to really want to know the answer to this question. In other words, no matter what, she wants to know what love is." Shido scratched his head and said sowhat troubledly, "But I feel like I can't explain it very clearly myself either. Kotori, do you have any way to express it in words?"
Shido, out of good intentions, wanted to explain the current situation for Kotori, but what he received was Kotori's glaring, ashad, and angry gaze saying "Shut up! Who allowed you to butt in!".
"Well... I already know the specific situation... It's just that... love or whatever..."
A very troubled expression appeared on Kotori's face. It was like saying "I know, but I don't know how to express it." Indeed, this kind of thing is hard to express in words...
"No, Shido. The reason is probably subtly different from what you think..."
"Yutsuki-nee!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry! You continue thinking!"
Seeing Kotori pouncing with a panicked face wanting to cover Yutsuki's mouth, Yutsuki smiled and waved her hand, showing she wouldn't say any more.
"That's right... love... love..."
Seeing that Itsuka Kotori seed unable to co up with her own answer for the ti being, the girl called Arusu by Shido, in order to use ti effectively, turned to the others and asked.
"What do the others think? To you, what is love?"
"Mhm... I don't really understand what love is, but every ti I'm with Shido, I'm very happy! And, I can eat very delicious food!"
Tohka very energetically answered her thoughts.
"Is my value... only food..."
Hearing Tohka's answer from the side, Shido gave a bitter smile secretly in his heart.
"Um... for example, when thinking about that person, your heartbeat unconsciously speeds up. Also... your chest feels very warm..."
Although sowhat shy, Yoshino gathered her courage and answered very earnestly.
"Aha, Yoshino is always in bed blushing and thinking about Shido, you know~ (Author: 'That's how it's written in the ga, so I silently raise a torch.')"
"Yo, Yoshinon!" After having her little secret exposed by Yoshinon, Yoshino's already slightly pink, cute cheeks instantly turned as red as a tomato.
"A change in the heart's temperature? That is a peaceful mood and a happy expression. But, can this not be obtained besides through love?"
Arusu heard Yoshino's answer, but wasn't satisfied. Instead, with curious eyes, she threw the next question at Yoshino. To this, a sowhat troubled expression appeared on Yoshino's face.
"Uuu, this... maybe it's like this... but compared to others... i-it seems... incorrect..."
As she spoke, perhaps feeling the difficulty of expressing it specifically in words, Yoshino's words started to lack confidence. Seeing this, Kurumi answered for Yoshino.
"Wanting to make the other person your own, body and mind lting into one! Needing each other and unable to stop..."
"No, no, this is still too early for healthy high schoolers!" Shido retorted almost without hesitation.
"Well, it actually seems to make so sense! For example, putting your own collar on the other person and trampling him with your feet to make him feel pleasure."
However, Kotori seed to have found so excuse... not an idea. She nodded in agreent with Kurumi's statent.
"My cute little sister... what exactly happened to make her like this..."
"Cute... what are you saying! D-don't treat like an idiot!"
Clearly, Kotori only took in the first half of the sentence.
Well, ignoring the small commotion here, Arusu turned her target to the Yamai sisters again.
"Then, for Yamai Kaguya and Yamai Yuzuru, what is love?"
"Hehe~" Unlike the others, Kaguya didn't seem to feel shy about this question. Instead, she said very proudly, "Love, huh. Love is a destined encounter. My soul's other half and I, mingling with a powerful, inseparable contract."
"Pointing out. Isn't this talking about Yuzuru? Right now, we're talking about Shido."
"Shido... um... the... pos... session... that I pursue?"
Hearing Yuzuru's correction, for so reason, the previously arrogant Kaguya imdiately beca unsure of her words.
"Ara, isn't this the sa as ? Does Kaguya-san also want to beco one with Shido-san?"
"B-b-b-beco one?!"
Kurumi's words made Kaguya instantly think of various scenes that could be pixelated. Her brain seed to start letting out steam from overworking.
"S-Speaking of which! What do you think, Yuzuru?"
At a loss for what to do, she decisively threw the topic to Yuzuru. And Kurumi showed a bit of regret for not hearing the answer.
"Answer. Valuing the other person more than oneself."
Yuzuru's answer was very concise and crisp. However, this clearly wasn't the answer Arusu was looking for. So, she shifted her gaze to Miku.
"Darling and Honey dating , and no matter what happens, being willing to always be my fans." A sweet smile overflowed on Miku's face. "This is the proof that they always keep in their hearts~ Arusu-chan."
"Fans. Does it an supporters? It carries the aning of support and loyalty. Does this count as love?"
"Now that you ntion it... it does feel like sothing's wrong."
Just like that, not only did Miku fail to clearly explain Arusu's doubts, but a very troubled expression appeared on her face instead.
"Darling! Honey! We love each other, right?!"
What kind of expression are you expecting us to answer with? Shido and Yutsuki thought in unison in their hearts.
Then, the baton was passed again. Next in order was Tobiichi Origami's turn.
However, this person's answer was the least needing to be guessed in a way.
"Accepting all of the other person's lust is love!"
She said it! This big sister basically said it with a decisive tone! A tone so certain that even the question-filled Arusu was temporarily plunged into a state of silence.
"...Based on current data, trying to have an understanding of love is still very difficult." Arusu showed a sowhat distressed expression. Then, she shifted her gaze to Yutsuki and asked, "Then Yutsuki-san, to you, what is love?"
"As expected, it's my turn... Speaking of which, aren't you going to call by my full na?" Yutsuki sighed helplessly. Then, noticing how Arusu addressed her, she asked sowhat curiously.
"For Yutsuki-san not taking forceful asures against , and expressing support for my proposal, I feel very grateful."
"Well, the final result was agreed upon by everyone. There's no need to thank . That's true... love, huh?"
Slightly raising her head, a bit of reverie appeared in Yutsuki's eyes.
...
[My na is Itsuka Shido. Tomorrow, please go on a date with !]
...
[I will save you too! Whether I have to pull, drag, or carry you! I will absolutely bring you into the exact sa world as Kaguya and Yuzuru, and let you live the exact sa everyday life!]
...
[I swear! I am willing to stay by your side for the rest of my life! Until the very mont I die, I will stay with you and treat you as my family!!!]
...
[No matter what circumstances you are in, you want to act according to your own principles. Living to live out your 'true self'. I feel heartfelt admiration for your actions.]
...
Scenes of mories surfaced in Yutsuki's mind. A warm smile slowly surfaced on her cheeks, and her expression beca gentle.
"If I had to say, it's reliance."
"Reliance?"
To Arusu's confusion, Yutsuki gently nodded.
Placing her hand lightly on her chest, Yutsuki could feel that warmth in her heart that Yoshino talked about.
"Feeling that the other person has the right to touch your inner heart. Being able to share everything you think in your heart with him. Desiring his help when encountering difficulties. At the sa ti, hoping that when he encounters difficulties, he can rely on you..."
Yutsuki didn't have Kurumi's extre idea of "thinking love is making the other person and yourself beco one (physically)", nor did she feel she could accept all of the other person's requests as extrely as Origami (although this should also count...).
"Asking from each other, giving to each other. The other person is an important part of your own life. Valuing them, cherishing them... Hoping that until the very last mont, the other person can accompany you by your side... Uh..."
Cold sweat broke out from her back. When Yutsuki snapped back to reality, she realized that she seed to have just said so pretty embarrassing things! So embarrassing that even Yutsuki herself doubted if she was the one who said it!
"As expected of my comrade... These words deeply touched my heartstrings!"
"Moved. Yutsuki, your feelings, Yuzuru has truly felt them."
"Ah! As expected of Honey, I feel like I like you even more!"
"My, my, as expected of Yutsuki-chan. That was a beautiful speech. Yoshinon couldn't help but give you a like."
"...So amazing... they say."
"Ara ara, I didn't expect Yutsuki-san's heart to be unexpectedly so full of maidenly feelings. I feel so surprised!"
"To be able to say such embarrassing words so calmly, as expected of Yutsuki-nee."
"Oh, oh, I also want to be with Shido forever!"
"...Ryougi Yutsuki, truly an opponent who cannot be underestimated!"
"Eh? No! U-Um... That was just sothing I said casually to deal with Arusu's answer... It's not my original thought!"
Seeing everyone deeply moved by her speech, Yutsuki blushed and desperately waved her hands to deny it.
"Um, Yutsuki... didn't you say it very well."
Shido scratched his cheek sowhat awkwardly. Although he felt his face getting uncontrollably hot, Shido felt he had to say sothing.
"Idiot Shido! Delete the mory of just now from your mind. If you can't, I don't mind taking so physical asures."
"Uh... no matter how you put it, this is really asking too much... ('—pong!' a hole was punched into the wall.) I've forgotten it completely clean!"
"Love is reliance... I see, I've obtained very useful data. Expressing gratitude for this... However, according to your statent, partners, friends, or family and the like would also have similar thoughts. May I ask what the difference is among them?"
Arusu nodded, then as usual, threw a new "100,000 Whys?" at Yutsuki.
Hearing Arusu's words, Yutsuki felt a very exasperating feeling of "efforts paid off with no return, but instead feeling like I lost sothing important".
Forget it, I've already said a lot of incredibly embarrassing things anyway, saying a little more now makes no difference. Let's just smash the broken pot.
"If you have such thoughts, then no matter how much more I explain next, it will be aningless." Yutsuki sighed, looked at Arusu, gave a dry cough, and said, "Listen carefully, Arusu. Leaving myself out of it for a mont, Tohka, Origami, Miku, Yoshino, Yuzuru, Kaguya, as well as Kurumi and Kotori-chan here. Even though the content of their explanations isn't unified, they are undoubtedly all correct. If you ask why?! Because love—is not a type of emotion, but the ultimate sublimation of certain emotions!"
Yutsuki felt like she didn't even know what she was saying, but she was definitely riding a tiger and couldn't get off now. Looking at Arusu, and even the others listening seriously to her next words, Yutsuki fought back the urge to run away and continued with montum, "Partners and stuff, if you stay together long enough, isn't it possible to develop feelings for each other over ti!? Between family mbers, aren't there also sayings like forbidden love!? Hostages towards kidnappers can even develop reliance or even affection because of Stockholm Syndro! Everyone's view on love is different. The world's population is over seven billion, in other words, there are over seven billion views on love in the world! Planning to use one clear content to summarize what love is, is simply unscientific! Do you, an artificial intelligence, not even understand this? I also want to ask you, to you, what exactly is love!?"
After blurting out everything she thought of in one breath, Yutsuki took a deep breath. After calming down, recalling what she had just said, only one thought remained in her heart.
—I really want to go die!
"To , what is love?"
Arusu pondered for a long ti before speaking slowly.
"To , love is a completely unknown existence. A mysterious existence that cannot be analyzed no matter how much data is collected. When feeling fear towards it, yet also full of curiosity towards its unknown charm. I feel, it is a key that can take to a brand new world!"
Then, Arusu, with a serious expression, bent down and requested of everyone, "So, I issue a request to everyone present. Please go on dates with Itsuka Shido, and let understand what love truly is."
Eh? Why does it feel like we're back to square one?
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