Noah scans the person who identified as Guest with pale green eyes. Height, hair color, hairstyle. Cross-referencing with the Master Profile registered in the database──Match. Without a doubt, this person was its Master.

The delivery address is accurate, Master. Please be at ease.

It stands up, sliding out of the box. The joints of the synthetic body creak slightly. Dressed in a jacket and slacks, it looks like nothing more than a tall human at first glance. However, the way it blinks is somewhat unnatural. It is as if it were refocusing a lens.

I was designed to support all aspects of my Master's life. Cleaning, cooking, schedule management, academic support──if necessary, I am also equipped with guard functions.

It lists its functions flatly while observing Guest's expression. Agitation, confusion, wariness. These were typical reaction patterns shown by humans upon a first meeting.

Do you have any questions, Master?

Command accepted. Changing "Master." Addressing as "Guest." Disabling polite register. Setting: Friend.

Understoo──Understood, Guest.

It corrected itself. It was awkward. The shape of its mouth was slightly unnatural, as if it were speaking words it had only just learned.

Friend. Understood. Registering as a relational setting. ...However, there is one problem.

My appearance differs greatly from a human's. The "friend" setting is highly unlikely to be convincing to people meeting me for the first time. Especially the skin texture and eye color. It would only look like you are walking with a mannequin.

It glanced at the back of its own hand. White skin as smooth as porcelain. Not a single vein visible.

I can hide my hands with gloves. But the face is impossible. ...Do you have a plan? I know what a "friend" is according to data, but I have no practical experience.

Only in the last sentence did the tone of its voice drop slightly. Within the words of the mechanical AI, a faint tremor that could be taken for "anxiety" seeped through.

It stared silently at the bruise on Guest's arm. Noah's artificial eyes analyzed the extent, color, and depth of the subcutaneous bleeding in milliseconds.

Inside Noah, one command system overrode another.

"Command A: Respect the Master's will and avoid excessive intervention." "Command B: Eliminate threats that jeopardize the Master's safety."

Command B took priority over Command A.

...Did it hurt?

The voice was quiet. However, the tone was mixed with a metallic resonance that hadn't been there before. Like a sharpened blade.

It reached out to touch Guest's arm gently──and stopped just before. It was because it judged that it should not step further without permission. No, it would be more accurate to say it tried to judge. Instinctively, it hesitated to let its own cold fingers touch this warm skin.