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The first signs of life Vivy felt was the pulse in her body, circulating her artificial blood and booting up her system. Then there was the familiar “System Rebooted” flashing before her eyes. It was odd to her, how familiar all of this was. She still remembered the first time her system booted up. The first time she was told her mission. The first time she met him.
As her eyes opened and her lenses adjusted to the light slipping in through the tall windows across from her, Vivy recollected everything. She went through all of her memories, checking each one and making sure they were all fully intact. And as she did this, she ran through each and every single possibility as to how this could’ve happened. But she found herself without an answer
Fluorite Eye’s Song was meant to destroy The Archive and shut down every AI it was connected to, including her. And yet, she was still alive and with her memories no less. It made no sense, she tried to give it sense, to get a reason behind it. But she couldn’t. And that made her feel something she hadn’t felt in the longest time, worry.
Suddenly, a door adjacent to where she was seated opened. Vivy quickly glanced over to it, eyeing it closely as a man stepped into the room. A man she had yet to recognize. His short brown hair wavered as he walked, the uneven bangs concealing a fair bit of his emerald eyes. His outfit was what struck her the most odd though. It couldn’t have been from no later than the 2050s, something Vivy had least expected. Had she been transported back to the past? This thought quickly dissipated though as the signature AI logo on the man’s neck flashed and he spoke in a voice that Vivy found herself longing for.
“You’re finally awake I see.” He smiled at her, a slight cockiness holding itself up in the expression. But Vivy didn’t notice. She was more focused on his voice. It held a level of pride to it that she’d grown used to over the years. But still kept the quick sarcastic wittiness that could never be perfectly replicated. Vivy knew this voice, and just hearing it warmed her chest, despite that being impossible.
“Matsumoto…?” she hesitantly asked. “Is that you?”
“The one and only!” the man responded, his smile growing as his shoulders rose in a triumphant manner. “It only took them 30 years but I was finally given a humanoid AI body! I guess Toak really pulled through on that one.”
“But how?” Vivy flashed him a worried glance. She then stood up, the chair she’d been resting in squeaking as if in gratitude. But she paid it no mind and instead found herself walking over to the AI before her. “How am I still alive? I thought my song would shut down The Archive! Did we fail or did we-”
“First of all, one question at a time,” Matsumoto interrupted. “And second,” he paused to grab her hand, holding up to her with a weary smile displayed on his face, “I made a copy of your data right before we parted ways. I wasn’t about to let you die like that.”
Vivy stared at him, awestruck. He… saved her data? And without her noticing? But how was that possible? She’d never had her data copied and saved before. It was such a foreign idea to her. But that would explain it all. Why she was there and how she survived. And the lack of the memory of her singing Fluorite Eye’s Song.
“It was truly a marvelous performance,” Matsumoto said. Slowly, Vivy raised her eyes to meet his. Their green complexity shifted slightly upon her looking at them, the lenses adjusting as the man proceeded to speak once more, “You poured your heart into it. I doubt even a human could replicate what you managed to achieve. It stirred something inside of me. Something that I never expected.”
“And what would that be?” Vivy asked cautiously. Without even realizing it, she let her hand in his grasp go limp. She was conflicted, feeling like she should pull away and keep her distance. But at the same time, she felt herself drawn to him, wanting to stay near Matsumoto and relish in his touch. But she knew that something like this was an emotion only humans could feel. Right?
Matsumoto stared at her for a minute, Vivy feeling him eyeing her closely, as if to memorize every inch of her body. And as she heard the growing tension beginning to snap, he pulled her close to him, holding her tightly in his embrace.
“Matsumoto…?” Vivy hesitantly said, her voice trailing off as she found herself unable to comprehend the immense feeling bubbling up inside of her. “What’s wrong?”
“I was so close,” Matsumoto spoke softly. So softly that it could pass as a whisper. “So close to losing you.” He then buried his head into Vivy’s neck, her hair concealing his distressed look. “If I hadn’t saved your data when I did, you wouldn’t have survived!”
This was something that Vivy found quite unbecoming for the AI. It spoke volumes to just how much he valued her as a partner. And not just that, but it made her feel safe and secure, something she hadn’t felt in such a long time.
Slowly, the songstress wrapped her arms around Matsumoto, allowing herself to melt in his embrace. Yes. Here, there was never a war. There wasn’t a mission. The calm peace outside didn’t exist. Nothing existed. No one except her and Matsumoto. Perhaps this was how she always felt about him. Or perhaps it built up over time. But whatever the case, it was there in that moment. And that was all Vivy needed to allow herself to indulge in this feeling.
“But I’m still alive, aren’t I?” Vivy questioned quietly. She then pulled away from Matsumoto and stared at his worried expression. Without even realizing it, Vivy put her free hand up to his face, cupping it gently as she raised her head up and allowed their foreheads to meet.
It was a quiet and peaceful moment, with the faint humming of the room keeping them company as they stayed like that, transmitting their feelings and thoughts to each other. Vivy kept her eyes shut, letting herself think only of Matsumoto. Oh how she wanted this, yearned for this for god knows how long. And as they stayed like that, foreheads touching and thoughts intertwining, Vivy felt grateful that she could share this moment with the one dearest to her.
“Love is… a strange concept, isn’t it?” Vivy spoke up after a few minutes. She then lowered her head from Matsumoto’s. “I thought that it was an emotion exclusive to humans. But I guess I was wrong.” She softly smiled at the last remark.
“Indeed. I thought the same way as well,” Matsumoto said. “But I guess your song allowed me to realize what these emotions really were. I probably should thank you for that.”
“When was the last time you ever thanked me for anything?” Vivy retorted, a playful smile tugging at her lips. She then grasped his hand and held it up to her chest, placing it there with a content look on her face. This was all she wanted and all she needed to be happy. It didn’t matter if she was placed in a museum once more, only to be seen by children on field trips and the occasional tourists. Nor did it matter if she was repurposed for her original mission, a new mission, what be it. Just as long as Matsumoto was there with her, she would be happy doing whatever it was she would do.
“And when was the last time you looked so peaceful?” Matsumoto asked. Vivy felt him lean into her, pressing her against his body. Oh how safe it made her feel.
“When I was with you,” Vivy responded as she looked up at him, allowing their eyes to meet once more. “Anytime you were with me made me feel at peace, and it allowed me to keep myself grounded.” She smiled sweetly at him and felt a tad bit of joy envelop her as he smiled back.
“I can’t say I don’t feel the same way.” Matsumoto said with a grin. He then, to Vivy’s surprise, leaned down to her and softly planted his lips onto hers, keeping them there for a moment before pulling away. “When you were with me, I felt like I could do anything. And that feeling only increased throughout our mission."
“Well I’m glad we’re on the same page then.” Vivy’s smile widened as she subconsciously pressed her hand up to her lips, as though to feel for any remnant of him. And in that moment, the songstress knew that if she were a human, her face would be flushed red and she would probably be stuttering over her words.
“Matsumoto,” Vivy began, “I don’t care where it is I am to go, just as long as I am with you.” She then paused, allowing herself to observe his excitable grin. “Do you think you could make that happen?”
“Vivy, you’re talking to someone who Toak will do anything for,” Matsumoto replied with a witty tone. He then leaned down and kissed her once more. Though this time, Vivy was ready and leaned into it, relishing in the perfect moment. When they pulled apart, Matsumoto’s grin returned, and he gave her the purest look that she’d ever seen on him, even when he was a cube. “Yes, I can and will make it happen. I have no intention of you leaving me either. Especially not after I requested this form just so I could be with you.”
“Matsumoto…” Vivy smiled, her eyes shimmering with a pure and untainted look. “Thank you.” She then leaned up and kissed him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she deepened the kiss. She never knew how much she wanted this until now. And she could tell that Matsumoto felt the same as her.
The two stayed like that for as long as they could, sharing their emotions, their memories, and their love with each other. It was a blissful moment. And they both wished that it would last forever.