Chapter Text
When K1-B0 first awoke, he was sitting on a cold metal table in a large room. Soon, many thoughts ran to his mind. Those thoughts varied from basic human knowledge to a complex awareness that only dedicated humans could achieve, yet emotions did not fit into these thoughts. Because he felt no emotions, he felt nothing, he wasn’t even bothered that he didn’t know where he was. Even though there was a slight hindrance of tugging at the back of his head, he didn’t particularly care. He wasn’t supposed to care.
The whirrs, buzzes, and hums of the room were enough to distract the newborn robot anyways, it was highly populated by a plethora of people, all in white coats. The scene was highly fascinating to watch. Everyone was in a hurry to complete something, possibly tasks they had been assigned.
A voice behind him interrupted his observations, "I'm sure it’s working."
“It seems like it. But we should test if it’s functioning with a voice command.” Said a different voice. WIthout any verbal consent from their colleague, they told K1-B0 to raise his left lower arm. He, of course, complied.
Then, seemingly, was a cry of joy from the two voices and soon the room buzzed with joy at the news that the machine had worked. But, before he could process it all, he was turned off as quickly as he was turned on.
Two weeks felt like a second to the robot. When he awoke, he found himself in a new area.
There were many scattered toys on birch wooden floor of the room, along with broken pieces of crayons and papers with scribbles on it. In the center of the room, there was a large child’s table with accompanying chairs suited for someone small. Plastic teacups, plates, kitchenware, food, and a large teacup was on the said table. On the far end of the room, there was a large window with a light cream translucent curtain, no doubt looking over a front or backyard.
From K1-B0’s observations, this was a child’s playroom.
He seemed to be correct as there was a young child standing in front of him.
He looked to be no more than 6, but he seemed so much skinnier than a healthy child at that age. Considering that he lived in a luxurious house, the thinness of the boy could just be a genetic trait that either of his parents could have. Or he could possibly have an impressive metabolism.
His wide violet eyes stared at the robot’s electric blue ones, he was clutching a purple stuffed frog and seemed to be in awe, even though his curly hair was covering a portion of his face.
By human standards, this boy was adorable.
"Hello," K1-B0 said, his robotic and cold voice ringing in the room. Kokichi smiled widely, "Robot man, I am Kokichi Ouma, the future world leader!" The shy appearance he had earlier quickly disappeared into an expression of pure joy.
His voice had such enthusiasm and cheeriness that K1-B0 had to wonder how the child was able to emit such emotions from just his voice.
"Please refrain from calling me 'robot man'. I am to be called K1-B0, and I am your caretaker, young master." He said automatically, his cold tone seemingly overshadowing the cheer that his charge had. But that didn't stop the child for he held out his hand, extending his palm in a friendly manner.
"Awww your name is boring! I'm calling you Kiibo!" He said, pronouncing it like 'Key-bow'.
K1-B0 nodded in agreement as that would be easier for him to pronounce and it was more proper than ‘Robot man’.
K1-B0’s silvery, cold hand reached out for Kokichi’s pale, warm one. It felt...different. But according to his programming, different was good.
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"Keebie! I wanna play! Come play with me!" His charge said as they tugged and pulled on the robot's hand. Although this was quite ineffective as K1-B0 was made out of metal and heavy machinery and a small child was trying to drag him.
"Please, young master, do not call me 'Keebie'. We agreed on the first day of my activation that you would call me Kiibo."
The small child merely blinked at him, mostly in confusion and awe. "Whatever! I just wanna plaaaaay!"
"Please, young master, a proper person does not use the word, 'whatever' in that manner. Instead, use words such as, 'I see.' And, 'Oh." K1-B0 responded metallically.
The coldness in the robot's voice didn't seem to faze the child as he still insisted on having a 'mandatory tea break' with his stuffed animals. K1-B0 complied, as his programming also told him to entertain the child.
So that's how he found himself sitting in a comically undersized chair surrounded by stuffed toys and being fed plastic or nonexistent food from his "leader".
"Keebie! Please tell Mr. Frogbert that he shouldn't add so much honey to his toast." Kokichi said in a voice that tried to mimic superiority but was just oddly entertaining to listen to.
K1-B0 turned to his left to look at the purple plush frog, "Please, Mr. Frogbert, do not use so much honey on your toast. It is bad for your health due to the excess amount of sugar in the artificial honey."
Kokichi stood up from his chair and went over to Mr. Frogbert's seat. He placed his hands on the stuffed animal's shoulders, "Did ya hear that Mr. Frogbert? Kiibie is smart huh?" The child made Mr. Frogbert's head nod. “I told you Kiibie! You’re smart!”
“I appreciate the compliment, but I never doubted you about my intelligence. And please refrain from calling me, ‘Kiibie’ young master.”
A pout formed on the small boy’s face. “You’re no fun!” He cried out as he threw Mr. Frogbert to the ground and stomped off to sulk in a corner of the room. K1-B0 had no hesitated as he picked up the poor stuffed frog and placed him back in his seat. Then, he walked over to the child, instantly, his circuits commanded him to comfort the child. “Young master, do you mind telling me what is wrong?” His charge only pouted. “You won’t let me have my fun!” He cried as tears started to form in his eyes. “Kiibie is so mean to me!” He said as an explosion of tears leaked out of the small boy’s face.
But, according to his facial sensors, he wasn’t sad. The small boy was only feigning it, but he was doing it quite well as an average human would’ve been tricked by his crying facade.
“Young master, please do not lie. What is the real reason for your sadness?”
As soon as they came, the tears instantly disappeared. “Awww, I thought that’d work..,”
“Besides, nothing is wrong, I just wanted to tease you!”
“...I see. Please refrain from the mockery. Proper people don’t tease people who they do not have close relations with.”
His charge seemed to know that robot was lecturing him but he was confused at the complex vocabulary that the robot spoke with. “What?”
“Please do not tease people who…” K1-B0 genuinely had to think for a moment of a phrase that a child would understand. “..who are not your friends.”
At this, his young master looked shocked, “But you are my friend Kiibie!” he said, seemingly confused on how the pair were not friends.
“If you would like me to, then I am your friend.”
A beep rang out in K1-B0’s head. The beep meant it was time for the duo to move onto the next activity in the young boy’s schedule. “Come along, it is time for your lessons.”
K1-B0 held out his metallic hand, waiting for the smaller boy to take it.
There were mutters of disappointment and complaining from the boy, but he accepted K1-B0’s hand, a sign of agreement.
So, walked down the nearly empty halls of the estate, hand in hand, robot, and human, together.