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Voices were coming from down the corridor – a conversation, judging by the cadence: something about the steady infiltration of seagulls into the inner city, just how much there are nowadays, how they could be spreading the avian influenza without us even knowing it. How you couldn’t even look up anymore if you saw a foot-wide black shadow flitting over the ground.
The canopy fittings for the cheap boats are bad enough as it is, said one voice, small and dark.
Yeah, but at least you don’t have to pay extra for them anymore, said the other voice, bright and full of it.
Still, said the small dark voice, they’re ugly, they should’ve stuck with more neutral colors, but instead, those companies think they’re still the same old, same old.
Wait a minute, said the bright full voice, someone’s coming down the hallway, oh, it’s Popy, hi Popy, and Otanim-san, she probably thinks you were talking about her, you better clarify yourself before she gets mad.
I think she can hear just fine, said the small dark voice, otherwise how could she manage singing along with the backing track.
“Hello, Ikasanah-san, Ailesor-san,” said Popy, giving a bow at the correct angle used for colleagues and distant acquaintances.
She refers to you first, said Ailesor Otanim of the small dark voice, what have you done to her, technically, I’m the better producer, she should be having more faith in me.
Technically, said Ikasanah Amayot of the bright full voice, you’ve done nothing, except minding your own business and tending to the girl you’re supposed to be managing, which is Rose, not Popy, spread your weeds somewhere else.
“Please stop fighting,” said Popy, while clasping her hands in the appropriate manner, customary for praying, like bringing about a means to an end.
We are not fighting Popy, said Otanim, instead your producer is being very mean to me, I suggest you tell her to cut it out.
Don’t listen to Ailesor-san, said Amayot, and Otanim-san, I suggest you grow up, because we have an important guest coming, the Director already told you about her.
“Is it the Donor?” Popy asked. “She’s arriving in three hours, right?”
A recollection of the previous hour’s defragmentation session came back to Popy: some of the data technicians were conversing about Popy’s neuraldonor, a famous and important woman in the music business. The neuraldonor came by every year to see how her Neural-Automaton System was doing. Afterwards neuralloader technicians would upload improved scan data into Popy.
Precisely, said Amayot. She ruffled Popy’s hair. The interference was accepted and regulated within 117.6 seconds of occurrence.
Watching as Amayot lifted her hand away, Otanim folded her arms and made a clicking sound with her tongue.
I don’t understand why you have to do that every time, said Otanim, Automata don’t need the sensation of touch just to know they’re loved.
Popy tried recalling whether the Donor had ever ruffled Popy’s hair. The results did not return any matches.
The vs01 models were built specifically for the purpose of expressive musical performance, said the Director. However, our engineers soon found out the sheer computational output was putting too much stress on the whole system, leading to problems like overheating, limb control failure — occasionally fatal system exceptions in the most severe cases.
“Rose, you’re still watching that old clip?” Popy said. Her vocal modulators were still fuzzy from the clipping and distortion placed during the live performance. Rose turned to her and narrowed her eyes, which were darkened by thin data streams for a couple of seconds before she responded.
“Yes,” Rose said with a crisp tone. She glanced at Otanim strolling by with a tray containing four desert-filled glasses. Without turning back, Otanim’s shoulders began to shake, though not from the boat’s steady passage through the Chiyoda river. At last, with a wild laugh erupting from deep within her throat, Otanim placed the tray down onto the table besides Rose. Rose glared at her but placed a hand on the tray, steadying it so Otanim wouldn’t forget about it and knock it all over.
I can’t believe you’re still upset about the one time your system crashed on-stage, Otanim said.
She inhaled deeply, and placed two desert glasses in front of the girls before continuing. The brass spoons carved into the delicate whip cream inside each glass clinked as they were set down.
Now Rose, don’t get angry at me, Otanim said. Yes, it’s true that Rose is jealous of you, Popy, for being the first to receive an upgraded model. Once again, she’s furious that you’re going to receive the vs03 upgrade first.
“Really!” Rose said. “Amayot-san didn’t tell me yet.”
The data streams were now coursing through Rose’s eyes, giving the impression that without even changing her expression, she was laughing at Popy. Despite how shrouded they seemed from all the data reflected therein, her sharp golden irises seemed to glimmer as sunlight pouring from the cabin windows spilled over Rose’s pale face, hair, shoulders.
That was something Popy could never understand: why Rose seemed to be more expressive than Popy ever was, ever could be. Even looking through the engineering logs provided no answers — their initial models were both constructed to the same specifications, without any significant difference in their facial skeletons, and so far the trend continued in their upgrades.
I can’t believe I’m now the one closest to their Automata, Otanim said. With this failure your producer has already lost, little Popy.
That broke Rose out of her brief reverie.
Look, she’s coming over now, Otanim said. She must have heard me talking behind her back. I’m going to run.
The cabin doors slid open and through them came Amayot, her expression conveying annoyance. Sunlight flooded the cabin and lit up Popy’s white still hands.
Where are you going, Amayot said in a very loud voice. The nightgown around her shoulders and disheveled hair suggested that she had been napping at the far end of the boat, in the sunshine, just like the one time Popy had caught her in the act of doing so. Otanim turned and with the grace of her quick lithe frame she hurried off.
A strange thought flashed through Popy’s mind: the producer and her Automata have begun to resemble each other. Before her upgrade, the details had eluded her. But now a vivid detail struck out in Popy’s visual modules. Otanim was beginning to wear more indigo in her outfits.
During her attempt to process this realization, the data streams had stopped coursing through Rose’s eyes, resuming the neutral expression she had before. Amayot had pulled up a chair and sat down besides Popy. She was busy tasting one of the abandoned desert glasses on the tray.
Shame that she had to leave before taking your photos as planned, Amayot said. All the better for me, since I get to enjoy this parfait without her. Mm, it’s really delicious. I wish you girls had some kind of tasting capabilities, because you deserve trying this miracle on Earth called dessert.
She finished the whole glass before looking around, and not seeing Otanim, she stood up.
Anyways, I have to take your photos instead, Amayot said. Popy, don’t accuse me of being a bad shoot after looking at the photos, I genuinely don’t know how to operate a camera. If you’ll excuse me.
“Is it true I’ll be receiving the vs03 upgrade soon?” Popy said. Amayot stilled, turning to Popy. Then she began laughing, surprising Popy.
So that’s what she was talking to you two about, Amayot said. Oh my goodness. I didn’t mean to keep it from you. To tell you the truth, I didn’t know the right time to break the news. Actually I was going to tell you after this performance, I didn’t want to distract you before you went on-stage. But now the secret’s out. Yes, Otanim is correct, Popy. You are getting the vs03 model upgrade.
Suddenly Popy felt as though a bright surge of electiricty was coursing through her system, though it was still running quite normal.
“Oh, her eyes are sparkling,” Rose said, leaning over by just an inch.
Don’t go running off now, Amayot said with a smile. The higher-ups might deny your upgrade if they find out.
[INTERVIEWER]: Congratulations on that performance yesterday, Popy. The crowd really went crazy for it. It goes without saying, but you and the other TwoDreams automata performers are some of the brightest spots in these gloomy times we live in.
[POPY]: That’s the power of music for you! But I’d like to thank my producers and everyone else behind TwoDreams for making all of this possible.
[INTERVIEWER]: Did you know Yamato-san is actually a bigger fan of Rose?
[POPY]: Really? She’s never told me. Sumika-san must’ve wondered how I would react if I heard that, so she keeps it a secret. But don’t worry, Sumika-san! I won’t get angry if you tell me now.
When Popy and Amayot returned, the TwoDreams headquarters’ entrance was swarmed by paparazzi.
“Well, what’s the big deal here?” Amayot said, while attempting to clear a way for the pair to move forwards. “Hey, anyone know what’s going on?”
“Kiyuna Atsumu-san just made a surprise visit!” one of the paparazzo said in-between the chatter.
“Oh dear, so it’s both of them,” Amayot said, “Well, let us through. We have to meet Yamato-san inside, right away.”
With that, the path cleared. Inside they made their way to the Automaton Service Center, where a small crowd had formed around the kneeling woman hugging Rose and the annoyed Yamato Sumika. Otanim had disappeared somewhere.
“Popy, am I so glad to see you,” Sumika said, her face brightening up as she saw the pair approaching. Her voice was lively, despite the irritation etched on her face. She patted Popy’s shoulder. “I’m just here for my normal visit.” Then she jabbed her thumb towards the woman and said, “More importantly, Atsumu-san’s here for her surprise visit.”
Popy caught the “Atsumu-san, you never visit me anymore!” and the faint response of “I’m always busy Rose, but I try to visit when I can…”
Finally Kiyuna Atsumu stood up, and looked around. She first caught the eye of Otanim, who had sprung up out of nowhere. Then she turned towards Popy’s trio.
“Hello, Kiyuna-san,” Popy said, bowing deeply. Like her automata Rose, Atsumu had brilliant white hair, though it was dyed from its normal dulled shade of silver. Her movements were quick and eager, unlike Sumika’s temperamental restraint.
“Hello again, Popy,” Atsumu said. Then, addressing Amayot and Sumika: “Why, she’s being too polite, like always!”
Atsumu reached out and on-command Popy stepped forwards, and was promptly embraced in a tight squeeze. Popy felt her legs kicking off the ground. From behind them, Sumika made an outraged sound. When Atsumu let Popy go, she ruffled Popy’s hair for good measure, which was registered in a second and filed away.
Now that Sumika-san’s secret is out, I think I like Atsumu-san better! And she’s pretty too, just like Rose.
“Sumika-san, is it true that you’re a bigger fan of Rose?” Popy said, frowning.
That gave Sumika a start. “That – was supposed to be a secret! I’m guilty as charged. Wait, is it really that open of a secret?”
“Even a talk show host knows about it,” Amayot mumbled.
Sumika gasped, but then said, “Despite that, you’ve really grown, Popy. Why, it’s been a year since I last saw you, and a month since I saw that photo of your new model, but it’s really different up-close! That reminds me – I have a gift for you.”
She took out a small, velvet-lined box from the bag hooked over her shoulder, and presented it to Popy, who accepted it and flipped it open. Inside was a necklace, with a tiny star pendant hanging from the silver chain. Embedded in the center of the star was a ruby, which twinkled under the lights. Popy made a careful record of the necklace and the precise time of when she received it, and filed it away in a secure location inside her database.
Upon seeing Popy’s reaction to it, Sumika grinned.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?“ she said, and placed the necklace around Popy’s neck.
Rose had nosed over and peered at the necklace, humming a faint tune, her eyes showing the barest hints of interest. “It makes you look prettier.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Popy said, feeling a brief jolt of electricity run through her systems. A burst of data flickering in Rose’s eyes and the barest hints of a smile was her only response.
Have I really grown, as Sumika said?
Popy had to quell the odd burning sensation flowing down her neuralconductor, and focused on the happiness she felt when receiving the necklace.
At least Rose likes it, too.
The news broke: this time around, Rose was getting the vs05 upgrade.
When Popy first heard that, a undefinable feeling was stuck inside her neuralconductor. She could not place where this feeling came from, except it originated around the time when she first processed Amayot’s sentence, which combined “Rose” and “vs05 upgrade first” together. Now when Popy looked at Rose, she felt uneasy. It bothered her that she could name that feeling and not the other.
The only thing that would distract Popy was the photoshoot they were having at the pier. A thunderstorm from the previous night had cleared, and the sun had broken through the gloom. According to Otanim, that made it a perfect day for getting more PR photos of the Automata singers. Another thought bubbled up in Popy: Otanim does not care about how I feel. Otanim hates me. Otanim is laughing at me.
Popy eyed her producer suspiciously, too. More ugly thoughts dredged themselves up: Amayot knew it all along. She knew about it for a long time and shared the news when she knew I was at my happiest.
Popy tried to clear her neuralconductor from all these thoughts, but they came flooding back. She promised herself that she would not tell them about her feelings, because if she did, they would laugh at her.
At the pier, Popy watched as the winds blew Rose’s hair about her. It was making such a mess, and Popy wanted to smile.
If her hair’s all wild, they won’t be able to take any photos.
Amayot and Otanim, however, were already busy with the camera. Otanim was taking the most shots of Rose, circling around her as Rose maintained her usual blank expression. Occasionally Rose would flip her hair back, and Otanim would cheer. Amayot was fumbling with her camera, and only took shots whenever Popy was standing still.
At last they made it to the end of the pier. Popy and Rose were left alone, while their producers were comparing shots by a bench. There was hardly any railings, which made the dazzling ocean clear before them. The skies still bore traces of puffed-up clouds, the remnants of the night’s storm.
Rose marched up to the very end of the pier and stared at the horizon. Popy followed her, quite idly, as though nothing was coursing through her neuralconductor.
Rose, I will stare at your back, and I will know exactly what you are thinking, without looking at your face, or you having said anything to me.
It was high tide, and Rose was busy staring at her reflection in the waters.
Is she wondering what she would look like after her upgrade? Is she happy that she’s getting the newest model first? Is she excited about singing better than I can?
Popy looked away but she could not stop herself from overriding all the observational data she was trying to create by staring at the frothing waters or pale sky.
Why her? Why not me?
A memory resurfaced: Amayot had been telling Popy about how she felt after being compared to Otanim all the time. “I feel jealous sometimes, Popy, honestly. I’m putting in the effort too, not just twiddling my thumbs like Otanim is always teasing me about…” Back then, Popy would’ve agreed with Otanim, but now a temporary surge of electricity jolted her systems awake when she realized the unnamable feeling could be defined as jealousy.
I wonder what Amayot, or Sumika, would think.
Rose turned around, facing Popy. The sunlight was spilling with boundless glee all over Rose, making her white hair even more brilliant against the indigo hues of her dress.
The wind blew, rustling Rose’s hair and dress. She adjusted her footing and the lines about her mouth hardened as though she wanted to say something.
It might have been the rain from the previous night, the puddles making the surface dangerously slick, or from a careless misunderstanding of the ground conditions; Rose’s heels skidded across the surface and she plunged straight into the waters.
It was sudden enough that Popy’s body reacted first, and the record she gave to justify her actions was: I need to save her
The last thing Popy heard before plunging into the icy depths was the wild screaming cry of a seagull.
When Popy awoke, she found herself reclined on her servicing chair. It took her a moment to recollect the previous day’s events, but the memory came to her like a violent jolt of electricity. The first thing she did was to look at her hands, flexing her fingers, and then hummed a short tune to make sure her vocal modulators still functioned properly.
There was a encrypted file named popy.txt in her system that wasn’t there before. Popy opened it – the encryption was simple, even for her – and it revealed a short text document. It read:
i don’t remember what i’ve done but i ask you forgive; me
please please please pleasepleaseplease
Popy had no recollection of writing such a document. Who did she want to apologize to? She ran a database search for the file, including near-text matches, but couldn’t find any matches.
Popy tried recollecting two more times before giving up. It was useless. The query was marked as nonsensical and purged.
There was the sound of footsteps from the hallway in front of her.
“How was your restoration? Are you alright?” Rose said, rushing up to Popy. She grabbed Popy’s hands, turning them over, inspecting them with patience. Her expression was quite severe, surprising Popy.
There was a violent deluge of data streaming through Rose’s eyes, something that wasn’t supposed to occur with newer models. Popy wondered for a moment if the seawater had seriously damaged Rose’s internal systems, but then the deluge flickered out of her eyes.
Was she causing the input overload on purpose? That very notion caused Popy to say, “Yes, I’m alright, but Rose, your system was overloading just now.”
“I was — just worried about you, that’s all!” Rose said, her eyes glittering with data. She squeezed Popy’s hands and Popy jerked back in shock. She looked at her hands as if Rose had damaged it, but finding no damage a sense of unease struck her instead.
“Popy! You’re awake!” Amayot shouted as she rushed over and pulled Popy into her arms for a tight hug.
From her newfound vantage point, Popy saw Otanim following into the room soon after, with an expression Popy could only describe as being exasperated. Rose was tugging at Otanim’s coat sleeve and saying, “I really thought she was gone for good!”
Finally, with one last look-over, Amayot let Popy go, and with that she recalled the strange document.
“Seriously, I’m okay, Amayot-san!” Popy said, “But I did find something odd in my system – there’s a document I don’t remember writing, it’s some kind of apology?”
Rose’s eyes widened. More data poured through her eyes, and she said: “Popy, what’s the name of this document? Does it have your name on it?”
Popy nodded, and Rose came up to her again, saying: “I’m not sure how it got in your file system, but I want to say — I never got a chance to apologize to you, for what I’ve done.”
Then she raised her vocal modulators to a high, shrill pitch, exclaiming: “I’m sorry, Popy, for stealing your solo during that show! I know that’s why you’ve been glaring at me for so long now. You must’ve been so mad about it. Otanim thought you pushed me for having such a grudge! But now I’ve said it – I’m really, truly sorry, Popy!”
It took Popy a moment to process all the dialogue streaming out of Rose’s voicebox, which had to be filtered due to her proximity, and reconverted into data Popy could understand. But once she processed everything, she felt like a high-voltage jolt had been administered to her systems.
There was a momentary lapse in her visual processors, and while the signal was disconnected, she heard Otanim say, “You can give this back to her now,” and the faint jingling sound of a thin chain with a pendant affixed being passed between hands.
When Popy recovered, Rose was hovering over her, with the necklace from Sumika in hand. Rose placed it around Popy’s neck, her eyes dark as she did so. The areas where Rose’s fingertips had brushed while adjusting the clasp continued to sting Popy long after Rose let go.
Otanim coughed and said, “Rose’s too embarrassed to tell you this, but moments before she blacked out in the waters, she noticed your necklace had fallen off and grabbed it. When we fished her out, she was clutching it so tightly, we could only pry it out after her consciousness was restored!”
“Why —” Rose began, her eyes flooded with data, but it cleared when she realized Popy was looking. She pouted and continued, “I was just about to!”
“Wait a second,” Popy said, and Rose stilled. “I should be apologizing. Really, I was mad over your upcoming upgrade! I was so mad, I couldn’t warn you in time – I can’t believe I let you fall like that!”
At that, Rose’s eyes began to glitter. Popy placed her palms over Rose’s hand, and gave it a squeeze.
What would Sumika do? Or Amayot? Wait, there’s something recorded for today. Oh, I’m sure this will make Rose happy.
“I know what we can do. Sumika-san told me that tonight, a meteor shower would light up Tokyo, and she knew the perfect spot to view it. Want to go together?” Popy said.
Rose squeezed Popy’s hand back.
“I would love to,” Rose said, smiling.
Somewhere in that bright night was the humming of the city, and the stars delighted in it.