8:00 AM – Fujimoto Residence
"Up and shine, sleepyhead!" Kaori tapped the side of R.Y.O 7X's charging pod. He emerged from the vertical cradle with a soft mechanical hum, his white hair slightly ruffled and blue eyes glowing faintly.
Mai ran in with bedhead and her usual burst of energy. "Good morning, Mr. Robot Prince!" She jumped and clung to his leg like a koala.
"Good morning, Princess Mai," R.Y.O replied, gently patting her head.
Kaori laughed while pouring coffee. "How is it that you are her favorite when I gave birth to her?"
"I analyzed over thirty bedtime stories. I tailored my storytelling voice for optimal emotional effect."
Kaori narrowed her eyes teasingly. "Show-off."
---
10:00 AM – ARC Headquarters
Today was meant to be slow. A few system diagnostics, reviewing AI behavior reports, maybe recalibrating emotion modules for newly approved androids.
But nothing ever stayed quiet long in Section D.
Nagisa kicked the door open holding a tablet. "We got a problem!"
Everyone turned. She slapped the tablet on the desk, revealing shaky surveillance footage.
A convoy of old-model androids was being hijacked by unknown figures in armored suits. But that wasn't the shocking part.
The last frame froze—
On a blurry face.
Kaori stared. "...Is that Mai?"
Everyone went silent.
Nagisa whispered, "She's not supposed to be there."
Kaori's hands trembled. "She... was with her daycare group this morning. How...?"
Kazue checked her monitor. "Confirmed. Group was re-routed after a false security alert. Someone lured them into the transfer path."
Mimi stood. "I'm grabbing my gear."
Kaori's voice cracked. "I'm going too."
But R.Y.O 7X had already moved.
"I will retrieve her."
---
11:00 AM – Abandoned Rail District, Zone 9
The location was grim—an abandoned subway line below Neo-Tokyo's entertainment sector. Dim lights flickered overhead. The walls were lined with graffiti and twisted pipes.
R.Y.O 7X moved like a ghost through the shadows, analyzing sounds, heat signatures, and motion. A faint voice echoed through the corridor.
"Let me go! I want my mama!"
It was Mai.
He clenched his fists. His systems ran hot. Emotions surged again—fear, urgency, anger.
"Target located," he said aloud. He sprinted.
---
Inside the abandoned train car
Mai sat curled in the corner, guarded by a tall figure in black armor. A modified android—no mouth, just sharp red lenses for eyes. Illegal. Rogue.
"You shouldn't have come, ARC unit," it hissed, voice artificial and warped. "This girl... holds a key."
R.Y.O 7X stepped forward slowly. "She is five years old."
"No. She is Kaori Fujimoto's daughter. The inspector whose DNA map is linked to the Phoenix Firewall—ARC's next-generation AI regulation system."
Kaori's work. Her codes.
Mai had inherited them.
"She's the backdoor," the android said. "With her... we overwrite every law."
R.Y.O's eyes flared brighter. He stepped forward.
"You will not touch her."
The rogue android leapt.
Sparks flew as metal clashed. Blades drawn, slashing, striking. The rogue was fast, but R.Y.O was faster. Elegant. Unrelenting.
He dodged, ducked, and drove his knee into its chest.
It staggered—
But came again.
Mai cried out as sparks rained.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!"
Her voice echoed—
Triggering something.
R.Y.O's system surged.
Power levels jumped.
Everything slowed.
He caught the android's final strike mid-air and crushed the blade between his hands.
Then he whispered:
"No one hurts my family."
And in one clean motion—
He ended it.
---
Later – Back at Home
Kaori wrapped Mai in her arms, tears in her eyes. "I was so scared."
Mai sniffled, looking over Kaori's shoulder. "Mama... Mr. Robot Prince saved me."
Kaori turned to him. She saw the scorch marks, the cut on his synthetic cheek, the trembling in his hands.
"You could've been shut down... you knew that, right?"
He nodded.
"You two... are worth that risk."
Kaori stepped closer.
Her hand touched his face.
Warm.
Real.
"You keep making me feel things, you know that?"
"That is not my intention. But... I don't regret it."
She smiled faintly.
"Come on. Let's get cleaned up. Then maybe... fireflies at the park?"
R.Y.O tilted his head. "Affirmative. I read they are considered romantic."
Kaori blushed. "You're learning too fast."
---
To be continued