Chapter Text

Unit 1: [A] human and her students

When the bells rang out and the portal in the sky opened, the world you knew and loved ended. You don’t want to remember how things went to hell after that. You don’t want to remember. You don’t want to remember. You don’t want to remember. Please you don’t want to-

You forgot.

Your new life was a strange one.

After an unknown amount of time had you woke up somewhere dark underground and spooked out of your mind without any memory of how, when or why you fell asleep. Your last clear memory before waking up was of going to bed in the middle of the day after working overtime as a junior researcher. Your mind had gone hazy and unable to focus, your large cat decided to act up and start crying out. That was the last thing you remember from 2003.

All you knew now was this wasn’t your home, these weren’t your clothing and you needed out of this maze-like horror movie set up. So in complete panic you somehow escaped through the large cracks in the walls and eventually found sunlight and a kind being called Miwa who gave you a place to belong.

Now months after waking up in what seems to be the post apocalyptic future you have settled into life as a teacher and caretaker to some childlike forest...robots. They were called ‘Machine lifeforms’, many of which came of various sizes, abilities and shapes, each special in its own way much like what you've imagined AI and robotics could become when you were younger.

Whoever put you here, and however you ended up here, you try to make the best of the situation. So you find yourself teaching and explaining what humans were and their culture while acting as something like a caretaker that helped them with maintenance and daily activities. Your new "job" involved answering the mechanical beings' questions, giving them rules with a routine, praise and encouragement when they did good as well as giving them comfort when they got confused or sad. They were very much like children despite living on Earth for so long.

You never got over the shock of learning that the smallest looking one of the group had been in action for 500 years, 1 day, 45 minutes and 10 seconds at the time of your question. Wisely you never asked again and avoided answering how long you had been ‘deployed’ for.

The number of times you had to hug a machine 'child' that was the height of a truck and could dwarf you easily in their overly large hand was comical as well as a surprise when it started happening. Because once Todo had encased you in his bulky arms, all the larger ones wanted hugs, even the shy Mechamaru who you had to use your whole body just to try to wrap around one of his figures. It hurt you a little at first, but once the machines slowly understood your composition was different from their own, you looked forward to the excited cold metal arms holding and cradling you. 

Their offers of oil and bolts when they saw you ‘leaking’ were sweet even as you explained you were just created differently. The children became more protective and careful of you after that.

The incident with the curious boar was best left unspoken.

Another time Mai, who only reached your hip in height, wanted a pink 'dress' and a 'smile'. You were no engineer or fashion designer! So you had gaped at the spheric head for a while in contemplation until your face lit up in an idea. You with help from the others scoured through older sheds and shops till you managed to loot a substantial amount of paint and chalk. Her chirps of joy still make you smile as you see Mai hopping around like a child sized wind-up toy to show off.

Some tasks are challenging like playing catch with a flying one who likes to call herself Momo. It kept you in shape even if you were dodging more than catching while Noritoshi, who got his name from an old storybook, always waddled behind you like a cute walking talking tower imitating a baby duck. He's a little less talkative and reserved than the rest, which proves your point that truly these machines come in all different shapes, sizes—special in their own way. 

Knowing what you know now about the current state of the world doing these small things was the least you could have done for them. You were so lucky to have come across Miwa, one of the few machines who were friendly and innocent to a fault. If you had come across the red eyed ones still on the alien network… 

You would have been killed. Shot, stomped on, run over, squeezed to death, bashed, ripped apart, eaten by the numerous cylindrical shaped lifeforms…your squishy body wouldn't have stood a chance. 

You really were saved thanks to little Miwa having no sense of danger. The machine wandered up towards you, who was covered head to toe in dirt and frozen in terror, and asked if you would show her how to fish. You were a little sceptical at first, but again, you woke up in a room that hasn't seen activity in centuries. With no knowledge of how you got there and having learned so little from all the ruins you were surrounded in you had no choice but to follow. She gleefully led you away from the destroyed city and quickly into the forest that grew close by. She thought in all innocence you were an android, they all did. Just a defective one as time went on. But they all started calling you ‘Teacher’ with those cute modulated voices and kept finding reasons for you to stay so you just never left. After seeing how violent it was away from your little 'school' when hunting one day you decided staying with the beings without murderous intent was the best choice.

You didn't know exactly how long it's been since you awoke from cold sleep all alone, deep underground and surrounded by empty dust-covered pods. The world had clearly changed.

It wasn’t completely for the better but you knew it could be so much worse.

A sun that never sets. Plants, animals and machines everywhere but most importantly no one screaming, dying or being killed.

If it was still 'snowing' you would have tossed yourself off the tallest building in despair your missing memories scream.

You were happy even as you try not to think about the unexplainable sinking feeling of dread that keeps you awake for hours without sleep.

-

In the Machine war there was no one who didn't know about YoRHa No.5 Type S model with the self-designation of Gojo, the strongest android currently in deployment. The ‘S’ standing for Sorcerer in his case due to his mold breaking scanner abilities. Gojo was formerly a Scanner unit who surpassed even the strongest of pure combat based androids, no one could beat him and no one could replicate him. With the uniform of a black visor hiding his eyes from the world and the same dark colour clothing he tore through machines always bare handed despite the heavy gauntlets that hung unused on his back. So strong despite his former Scanner status that there was no Pod YoRHa could create that could keep up with Number 5’s abilities.

Like all YoRHa androids Gojo was as deadly as he was beautiful, made in the image of his human creators.

He fought hard to reclaim Earth for the humans he has never seen. Through the wind, through the rain, through the fire, Gojo never stopped in his mission as centuries passed and slowly progress was made.

The android lost more friends and comrades to the alien menace than he cared to count as time wore on. At points he couldn’t bring himself to care when a comrade died, just thankful it wasn’t someone he deemed his. Gojo on his worst days wondered if it was even worth it. If the humans on the moon ever gave a thought to the androids lost down on Earth from their cushy homes. The aftermath of those days would usually cause Gojo to go on a full extermination on any machine he could find, no matter how non aggressive they were. There was no humanity here.

It was during one of these spirals when he eventually found you, he found hope.

In you he found a future.

As he strolled through the ruined city, bored out of his mind and debating on what he should do or whether he should search yet another terrorized village, when-

"Hurts. It hurts! Miwa hurts."

He sees a poorly painted blue Small Biped couched and screeching in simulated pain as it was being ganged up on by the flailing limbs of red eyed Small Stubby model machines around it. Gojo had to admit, his curiosity had peaked. Machines turning on their own? What a novelty!

With a grin of cynical delight, Gojo all but dashes and then effortlessly smashes through the attacking lifeforms, bare handed. Crushing circuits and bending metal with barely a second thought.

It was his programming after all, finding pleasure in fighting.

"Thank you.”

The smaller machine's head cranes, the sound making a zipping sound as green eyes creepily stared into him as it went from ‘crying’ to mimicking cheerfulness in an instant, “Thank you pretty android! Can you bring me to Teacher now? Miwa is lost."

He smirks to himself, taking long easy strides as the excitement rushes through his being.

"Well, hello there little machine! Do you know where your 'Teacher' is?" Gojo asked as he approached, not even trying to hide how little he cared. He could play along for a little bit of the remaining time the machine had. Destroy, recover, and report: that's what he was created for. Why not have a bit of fun as long as he completed his objectives?

"You know, I'm in a bad mood today” The white-haired android chuckled, “so how about we play a little game ."

As he spoke Gojo casually reached his hand out to wrap around the machine's thin limb, wanting to see just how far he could get to crushing it without its defence mechanism activating when a panicked voice rang out.

"Miwa come here quickly!"

A panicked sound that rang out with no mechanical undertones whatsoever and it feels like time stops for the android just a moment. Gojo twists his head towards the voice and his eyes widened behind his visor as he took in your form.

It can't be.

The more his eyes take in your figure, the closer he sees your features and skin. You were not rusted metal nor was your skin made to look like it. His eyes zero in the scars, dimples, small hairs, creases, and moles in your skin. Definitely not the smooth and flawless manufactured skin he's used to seeing on android models but Gojo couldn't think of you as anything but beautiful as it slowly dawned on him just what he was seeing.

He needed to know more!

You were too busy, worriedly checking over Miwa for damages to notice the odd-looking android darting forward until he is right in front of your face. You let out a small gasp. He was uncomfortably close as the white haired leaned down closer. In any other day or circumstance, you would have smacked the living daylights out of him. Still, you remind yourself that you know better and you're stuck in a world where there was none as fragile as you. You withhold your arm and stiffly stare back. His black blindfold hides his eyes with only his lips giving you any clue to his intentions.

"Er, h-hello?" you fail sounding intimidating as you accidently stumbled over your words at how close the unnaturally handsome man suddenly was to you, “Can I help you?”

You blinked when his hand slowly reached out. You squeeze your eyes shut in anticipation, bracing yourself for impact. Only you feel your head bob after a light pressure is applied. You peer with one eye to find that the stranger had poked your right cheek and after a moment did so again, and again. Each time he did it, his smile grew bigger and full of wonder until irritation spikes in your veins. You snatched his hand in yours and glared at him with bravery borne out of provocation.

"Stop it."

"You're real," the tall android sighs quietly in disbelief.

Taken aback, you frown in confusion, "Huh?"

A broad grin split his face as he placed his free hand on top of yours and soaked up the sensation of a warm touch, "You're-...You're human! You're…so…squishy! You're-"

While you lean back as Gojo quickly gets over the mini crisis you invoked in his circuits, Miwa watches in awe. You stare strangely at the overexcitement of the stranger but before you got to rip your hands away from his larger and stronger ones, the cheerful machine started jumping around and vibrating with joy.

"Is this how you get babies, Teacher?"

You feel your body heat up rapidly with embarrassment with how out of place the question was. How was this your life? Where did she get this idea from?! Was it Mai? You bet it was Mai.

"Or did you marry the pretty android?"

You begin sputtering. Unbeknownst to you Gojo took advantage of your confused state while under the barrage of questions from the machine lifeform. He stealthily moves his hands around from yours to encircle your wrists. He saw how his larger hands completely engulfed your wrists from view. The white haired android's eyes widen in delight when he discovers the pulse of life under your skin. He couldn't help but shiver in pleasure from the sensation.

Everyone else up in the Bunker will be so jealous, hell the Operators might start a riot to have a turn before the combat models even think to, Gojo couldn’t help but think gleefully.

Miwa’s female coded voice box chimed in with the final nail in the coffin for your self-control and Gojo’s examination.

"You would make pretty babies."

You wished you didn’t know what shame was like she did; it sure seemed freeing.

Wait a second, why was this guy still holding on to you? Just where is he touching?

That snapped you out of your mortified state that you leap backwards away from the man on reflex, almost tripping over a tree root. Gojo let out a small moan of disappointment as his hands grabbed at air where you were, reminding you vaguely of your big fluffy house cat once upon a time when he begged for attention. Due to his eye coverings you and Miwa miss the venomous glare he sends at his enemy and with how quickly you turned away from him, Gojo didn't bother to hide how his hand twitched with the urge to throw something into the blue things head.

"O-Okay Miwa, let's get back home and leave Mr…" you hesitate, "Android?"

"I'm No.5 Type S, the famous Gojo,” he grins proudly, “Surely you humans on the moon heard of me?"

"Moon? Why would humans be on it?" you ponder at the very odd statement, "And I never heard of you."

For an android, he’s incredibly expressive, a sight you’ve long forgotten as he pouts. The whine of displeasure he lets out reminds you even more of your beloved clingy Satoru and your heart aches with his loss so you distract yourself the only way you know how,

"Also Go- Is that supposed to be a pun for 5?" Not human but another robot? "You look more like a Satoru to me."

Is it petty to give your cat’s name to this touchy feely stranger? Yes, but the shoe does fit. 

"Then I'll accept 'Satoru' if it's only you calling me that."

Appalled, your face contorts. It sounded awfully flirty that you could practically see his eyebrows waggle through his ‘blindfold’. You don't miss how 'Satoru' kept tracking your movements now, even with his eyes hidden, you knew. You also noticed how with every slight movement Miwa made, his hand flexed into a fist before relaxing when he found she kept chattering on harmlessly.

You eye him suspiciously for a moment, "Okay...Well it's nice to meet you but we have to go."

Sparing him one last apprehensive glance, you put a hand on your student's smooth head and turned away, "Come along, Miwa, our friends are worried about us." 

You really hoped things wouldn't escalate but you didn’t want to stay and find out. You saw the trail of destruction while looking for this little girl and you didn’t want to risk losing her.

The little machine nods its round head eagerly, hinges squeaking as she does. She waddles by your side, "Yes, Todo worried and Noritoshi tipped over. Teacher, let's get back to-"

"No."

Despite being a hot day, the sudden emotionless and commanding statement sent a shiver down your spine. A very noticeable difference from his previous friendly and cheerful tone. Hesitantly, your body turns back around to give Satoru your full attention. He looks back at you, leaning on his hip leisurely with a confidence that only power and submission to his bidding only gives. All the while the gauntlets resting on his back glint ominously in the sun. 

" You're coming back with me to the Resistance Camp," Satoru stated like it was set in stone. You stare at him incredulously before he continues with a smile, "Damn, now I wish I had taken a Pod with me to let YoRHa know right now. We need to get you back on the moon where it's safe. It's a long walk so we need to get movi-"

"No."

The YoRHa soldier paused in his rapid plan making when your blunt refusal sunk in. He blinks at you from behind his blindfold, trying to comprehend what would make you deny such a wonderful idea. This place was dusty, filled with dangers your innocent self must not aware of, including those murderous machines your so called ‘students’ you surround yourself with. Back on the moon, you would be well provided with the humans and have your emotional needs met. He scans you for a moment before his eyes land on your worn in leather boots. 

‘Ah, not geared up for the long journey, huh? I don’t think she realises that those shoes once belonged to a Resistance Fighter that her ‘students’ must have killed.’  

With a charming smile, that at any other time would have made you melt, he opened his arms in a wide welcoming gesture. He was so sure; it would win you over and away from that killer right beside you. 

"Oh, don't worry, human. I can carry you if it’s too far for you to walk."

 He observes as you give him a once over with doubt. He smirks, "I'm stronger than I look."

‘And I will do anything to keep you alive.’

With a sigh you just observe him. The longer this went on the more like a creeper he looked. Something about Satoru’s movements seemed wrong to you. Sure, he spoke and sounded like one but he's too controlled, too calculated for a human, which he apparently wasn't. Perfection paired with a strange sense of judgement gave off such an uncanny feeling.

You mull over his offer once more. Humans, safety, and the moon. If you were the same person, you were when you walked out of the sewer months ago the offer would have already been sold to you the moment you heard it. Indeed, you were curious about these humans on the moon, the androids and this camp--

You look down into the glowing green eyes of Miwa that looks up at you expectantly.

--and now you're sure about your choice. 

You smile at your machine student, rubbing the top of her head lovingly.

"No thank you, I'm happy here with the little home we built together. It's not much but it's ours." 

"Teacher!" 

The small heartfelt smile on your lips as you looked at that thing made Satoru want to see more of it but hated that it wasn't because of him. 

"And I refuse to leave Miwa and my other students!"

Birds rapidly ascended into the sky in the distance with panic squawks and cries.

Satoru frowns as it sunk in that you wanted to stay, "What other-" 

A large repeated thudding that grew louder over time disturbed the sounds of nature and the creaking metal from above interrupted whatever the white haired android was about to ask. Seemingly from nowhere a large black shadow casted over by the sun fell from the tall building next to you and Miwa. The resulting crash into the soil and concrete covered ground shook the area and you looked at the heap of metal suddenly behind you. Dust clouds the vicinity and you wave it away and quickly as you try to focus on the cause. You squint and cup your eyes in a poor attempt to see. Metal grinding against metal screeched as the towering hunk of metal slowly stood up to a terrifying height and small glowing green eyes came back online.

Its large imposing metal clad hands rose into the air as the sound of gears turning scares off whatever remaining wildlife there was in the area.

You grin in recognition as the gigantic cylinder-shaped being begins bobbing in delight on its hinges and rushes forward. 

"TEACHER!” The booming metallic sound echoes in the city ruins as you try to hide a wince of pain. “I HAVE KNOCKED OVER NORITOSHI AND HE CANNOT GET UP."

"Todo, what did I-"

You cut yourself off, a gut feeling holding you back.

You hear a click behind you and you swiftly turn your head to find that Satoru had leapt from his position to charge towards your student. Either it was a gut feeling acting up again or something more, your body moved on its own. It's a miracle you don't tumble when you do but you managed to plant yourself firmly between the attacking android and the burly machine. Your eyes widen with terror at the sight of Satoru's sudden gauntlets glinting against the high sun but you remain steadfast with your comically smaller arms spread over Todo’s much wider form.

Wind hits your face with enough force to make you stumble backwards as your eyes reflexively close. Your heart felt like it stopped when you saw just how close Satoru’s metal clad fist was suddenly to your face, your knees shake as you bite back tears of fright when it just as rapidly pulled away from you.

You barely hear how Todo mimics a gasp then warns Satoru to use ‘gentle’ when trying to play with you. Miwa starts asking whether you were all playing Tag now and if it was her turn. What caught your attention was the sudden horrified look the android had on his face and the shake in his suddenly bare hands. His head looked at the gap between his fist and your face in disbelief while mumbling to himself.

“I could of-It will kill her-Why did she-Why did I-Why -Why-WhyWhy whywhywhywhy -“

You pace your heartbeat, drowning out the excited chirps of Miwa asking who was ‘it’. Watching the android’s hand retreat while holding it like it had burned you, you begin picking up a sense of loss.

You then knew what to do.

Chapter Text

Unit 2: I’ll [B]e with you 

When Gojo-no [Satoru] , he wants to be Satoru for you, rebooted he realised his body had been moved and not destroyed nor was he infected by a logic virus.

He was on his back in a small hut made of scrap metal and wood with the sounds of a waterfall rumbling in the far distance. The bed he was in was nothing more than a bunch of furs and fabric resting on some planks of wood with a door made of hanging fabric. Moreover, his gauntlets were missing. That set back wasn’t really a problem for the strongest android in the deployment.

Your frightened face flashes in his mind and Satoru feels his face grimacing.

Sitting up on the bed with a groan, something on the bedding beside him caught his attention. A plush doll, a poorly made one at that. The stitches were uneven, odd buttons for eyes and as he lifted it up by a stubby limb the stuffing was made of straw, not at all comfortable.

It was cute…in a creepy way.

“Miwa thought you should have company when you were…sleeping.”

With the sound of your voice a knot of tension Satoru didn’t know he had disappeared as the fabric of your ‘door’ sung back into place as you walked in with his visor in your hand. Seeing this Gojo automatically placed his hand to his face and felt it bare. As a response you smile sheepishly and hand it back to him, a little tense like he was an animal that can lunge at you.

“Sorry I thought it was an actual blindfold and went to wash it but then Mai warned me not to, er, break it.”

As your hand brushes his to give him back the visor and your smile becomes more confident as he settles his eyewear, really it did look like a blindfold some anime character would wear just to look cool. Yet it was much better than being examined intensely by those crystalline eyes. 

At the sight of your kind smile becoming more natural and warm, Satoru knows he will never leave you, even if you ask it of him.

Instead of following the immediate protocols, he makes his own decision. Satoru just has to keep you safe until he can contact YoRHa manually and get you to the Bunker. That should be easy for the world’s strongest android, right?

-

The sky, his eyes held the sky in them more beautiful than anything humans could ever have.

They were perfect but too inhuman and you felt relieved when those all seeing eyes were hidden behind his dark visor. Even hidden, you can feel Satoru watching your every move but it's much more bearable with that damned blindfold. 

It’s strange albeit a little uncomfortable to have a being made to look like your kind simply walking behind you and hovering around you as you work. He creeps you out and sets you on edge. But as the day goes on you decide you're brave enough to look at him properly. It’s an awkward stare down until you decide to do what you always do in moments like this–shyly smile.

You are not sure what to expect from a gaping, curious android holding your gaze steady. But there’s a tenderness that blooms across his features then he smiles back. It was different from his haughty grin full of flair and confidence. His smile seems so real, so warm when he sees you smiling, you wanted to see more of it. 

-

The longer Satoru observed the hut the more hints he could see it was yours and well lived in. Well worn clothes scattered around, a spear resting against a wall, a round hollow machine head hanging off of a chair, lesson plans scribbled onto old salvaged paper, maps, chips for android use–all of this started to build a picture of the way you lived.

So messy. So chaotic. So wonderful.

It took you longer than Satoru expected for you to leave the hut with him. He wanted to follow you to your little community and weekly “looting”. You seemed a little more confident without his weapons and you refused to tell him where his gauntlets were.

Satoru never told you he didn’t need his gauntlets to destroy or that he had figured out you had them under the bed. He just wanted to enjoy being with you for as long as he could. After all, when YoRHa becomes involved, he will have to hand you over and you will be on the moon.

It’s for the best.

Really.

Right?

-

When Satoru left your small home and saw what was outside, he was speechless for a moment. Trees, rocks, a fire pit, a vegetable patch, a building that really was just sheets of metal and fabric hanging off of some tall trees and no defences around this small area so anyone could wander in and attack you.

He was not impressed with your tour of the community just named ‘School’.

At all. 

The various machine lifeforms wandering around you without a care like annoying, dangerous flies did not help him find the area more sustainable for you at all. His fists clench out of reflex as they hover a little too close to you. His eyes tracking each claw and sharp movement in your direction.

“Teacher! Teacher! Did you get babies yet?” The blue machine called Miwa called out as you walked past her.

“No Miwa,” You chided, “Satoru didn’t give me ‘babies.”

“…Did you give him babies?” another of the same model, but with lines painted artistically all over its body, questioned from nearby.

“Do I need to give you lot sex ed? Just where are you learning all these things? Really of all the things to have survived it had to be the porn.”

As much Satoru would like to play into this little fantasy, his programming starts scanning and assessing each life form.

‘Medium Bipeds,’ Satoru observed as you tried to correct her with a red face as her batchmate stomps over to you, he forced himself to keep his body relaxed, ‘Can equip various weapons, dodge and get in close when it's open after an attack. No weapon in sight, threat minimal.

If Satoru moved closer to you as more of your students approached you, you never said a word about it. You simply count him as yet another annoying but well-meaning being with a mind of a curious pre-schooler. On the other hand, Satoru was ready to grab you and run as soon as he saw a danger to your well being.

‘A Multi-tier Type, very low threat, no attack options…why did this model even exist?’ he wondered as he watched the five metre tall armless tin can waddle behind you. You smile to yourself endearingly when it does. It’s a comical sight seeing it follow you around when compared to the size of you both. Along the walk the Multi-tier is suddenly tipped over by a flyer unit, wearing a blond wig made of straw and styled in pigtails. The flying machine dives, bombing near it and cackling. Satoru instinctively grabs your forearm, eying it like it would kill you.

‘Small Flyer, medium threat, attack from distance and bring it to the ground before destroying it. If only I had a Pod, oh well I can easily throw something at it…’

You huff, shrugging off the android’s hand as you step forward.

“Noritoshi, hold on! Momo, how many times do I have to tell you to stop picking on him?” you scolded.

The ridiculously tall machine’s smaller legs kick in the air as if in agreement while its head had been tucked into a bush. If you were in a better mood, the sight would have made you chuckle.

“Sorry Teacher!” the guilty machine calls out as it whizzes by once more.

“Wait come back, make sure you pick him up- aaaaaannnnnd she’s gone,” you sigh as you rub your head, watching as the tall slender being rolled around on the ground as it made beeping sounds of distress.

“Todooooooo,” you cup a palm to your mouth while Satoru watches curiously, “Some help please?”

The Goliath Biped, the one who caused Satoru to almost kill you, emerges from the trees and casually lifts up the useless lifeform before coming to you to be praised. The android’s eyes narrow, ‘ Engage from far range and shoot its legs, avoid close combat. Threat level high.’

Yet he convinces himself to relax when its gargantuan head bends towards you so you can pat him affectionately. 

As you show Satoru around the river near your settlement he notices a– ’Small Stubby, low threat in few numbers, weak to ranged attacks and easy to dispatch in melee,’ hops up to you asking for another makeover.

He sighs to himself, realising how comfortably you had co-existed with the alien menace, it would take some work to get you to leave with him willingly.

Human adaptation is a scary and amazing thing.

Maybe he just needs to tell you the truth about what you are living with…

-

The alien invasion.

80% of the world fell under hostile occupation.

Humans evacuated to the moon to preserve the human race.

The Pearl Harbor Descent Operation.

YoRHa's existence and its mission.

The machine wars and the current 14th war.

Brave androids fighting and dying.

It's a story that would fit in perfectly within the science fiction genre you used to love but you believe in what the black uniformed android told you as you sat outside your home watching the machine lifeforms chatter and hop around. You knew so much information was missing and you wonder if Satoru even realised there were so many blanks in his story.

The bells. The song. Shinjuku being locked away from the rest of the world, until the day it wasn't. Everything turned to salt. Project-

Forget it. Must not remember. Don’t look. Don’t-

You shoved the sudden unreasonable feeling of dread into the farthest parts of your mind as the flawless android tells you that you should hate these beings. Before they were cut off from the alien network they killed and destroyed anything that wasn't like them. They were no children, these were cold blooded killers who have lived far longer than you and it would be so easy for them to kill you, on accident or on purpose it would be the same result. Another dead human.

You watch the darkness that clouds over Satoru’s features and you know he was somewhat telling you the truth in that regard. You lean into your palm as you watch Miwa hobble over to one of your quieter students, Mechamaru. You smile when you distantly hear her ask him to join the other machines in playing “house.”

In response to Satoru, you just look up at the moon hanging high in the daylight as a light warm breeze caresses your face and the sound of children laughing and playing echo in that programmed tone in your ears. 

Satoru watches the way your pupils dilated, eyes wide as the moon reflected in your eyes, the moon where your people are.

Maybe you were stupid. Maybe it was selfish.

Yet wasn't that what made you human?

"I'm afraid of flying anyway,” you suddenly lay back on the grass with a sigh, ”You said humans are up there? Then how about I give them something to come back to? Besides..."

You couldn't read his blank expression and you didn't know if he could yours.

"I think as long as both sides want the same thing, why not give peace a chance? This world even in 2003 was sick of war and I'm sick of it now."

You wonder if Satoru was sick of war too.

-

The one time Satoru tried to stealthily carry you off to the nearest android camp resulted in Todo lifting the both of you up together in his overly large grip thinking it was a game and soon enough the rest of the village surrounded this strange kidnapping situation with disquiet cries and confused cheers of their own.

Satoru had to admit it wasn’t his finest plan but it wasn’t a useless endeavour. 

Unbeknownst to you, many of the machine’s optic lenses flicked from green to a yellow hue during that time until it was explained that Satoru just wanted to hold you. The cold soulless eyes turned back into their usual green and that was the last time Satoru tried to physically force you to leave.

-

The next day you and your cute children gather at the centre of School to say an unexpected goodbye to Satoru. It was a sudden change of goals to you from how dogged he was in getting you to come with him up until that moment. Reluctantly the human-like being explained that he was currently on the way to an extermination mission deeper into the forest and closer to the ocean for YoRHa before he got distracted with you. As much as he loved the detour he had to finish it before someone came looking.

‘After all, if anyone else was to find you they wouldn’t be so ‘kind’ to the students and you would be forced to abandon them. Isn’t he just the kindest android currently in existence?’

You couldn’t help but smile at him. Knowing part of it was due to him wanting to be the one to show you off and the other was because maybe he just cared for your happiness over some random people he has never met.

So for this kindness you decide to introduce him to School’s long standing tradition spanning over a year. The routine for sending off people you care for or some friendly passer-by.

Number 5 wasn’t taken by surprise much. That held true until you dropped into his life and now you surprised him once more by suddenly embracing him tightly to your body.  It must have felt odd for you, to embrace his cooler hard body with your much warmer and softer one. He blinks down at your hair, if he didn’t know any better, you were hiding your face in his chest in fluster. Satoru felt so much, too much and he didn’t know what to do so his hands just hung awkwardly at his sides.

“Take care Satoru and please be safe.”

Officially emotions were prohibited according to the higher ups but Satoru was always a rule breaker. 

“Bye Bye pretty android!”

“SEE YOU AGAIN FRIENDO.”

“.................................Farewell YoRHa No.5 Type S.”

“Don’t die.”

“About…time…go home…already.”

“Next time bring cute stuff!”

Satoru didn’t say a word when you released him. Nor did he look back as he strutted off, yet he held a hand up and gave a wave anyway. Eventually he disappeared into the foliage and the kids began to carry out the rest of their day, leaving only you standing there as you kept watching where you last saw him.

You couldn’t help but feel slightly empty. Right up to the last minute he kept trying to convince you to come with him but maybe you should have tried harder to convince him to stay.

Already you missed him.

Yet things went back to normal soon enough. Lessons were leant, cleaning was done, hunting and gathering food kept you busy enough that the android encounter soon became a fond memory in the back of your mind.  Life went on with minimal issues.

Then he came back after a few weeks with bags full of supplies and the biggest shit eating grin on his face. 

You then realise—you can't get rid of Satoru.

Just like his unknowing mammal namesake he was stubborn, petty, territorial and always seemed to be around when you didn't want him to be. Not to say you didn't enjoy the first human shaped company after so long of being the odd one out among the round shaped machines, it was wonderful even. 

However, the android never gave up on his crusade between his missions. The black wearing male was always trying to get you to leave School and head for the Resistance Camp and the moon with sweet words and bribes.

Were you trying to avoid thinking about what the snowy haired male told you about the fate of your home? Yes . Was it healthy? Fuck no , but you had other things to worry about. Such as dealing with a persistent handsome man while convincing him your cute students were harmless and you were perfectly fine where you are. It’s something you had no experience in before now.

If it wasn't for how much the kids seem to like him you would have told Todo to yeet the tall man as far away as possible after finding him in your hut at 'night', 'guarding' your sleeping form and kicking him out.

Then the YoRHa S model started to make himself useful around School.

During his frequent visits Satoru started to build walls made from a mixture of metal, wood and stone around your territory, the android even got the kids involved by making a game out of it. You knew he was just using the cheerful help of the children as free labor while taking the time to study them but you could understand his point after a large moose wandered in one night and stuck its furry nose inside your front 'door'.

Poor moose didn't stand a chance against Satoru on a hair trigger. You remember standing in your nighties in shock over the gaping hole where the moose’s chest once was. You look at the dead animal then over to the guilty android who quickly hides his bloodied fist behind his back. This was your life now, a series of surprises that eventually you learn to pass off as normal. You made no comment, asking him to take it to the hut opposite yours and to make sure the students don’t see it. At least you had fresh meat for a few days but trying to explain what happened to your students and what you were eating was a 'thing'.

Did you make Satoru go out and capture another moose and keep it as a pet just to stop the machine lifeforms from asking questions? Yes .

Did Satoru black mail you into letting him stay in your hut to buy his silence? Also… yes , but after the moose incident you didn't put up too much of a fight. He just wanted to enjoy being with you for as long as he could. After all, when YoRHa comes looking for him wondering just where he is going off to so often, he will have to leave.

Satoru tries not to think about when he has to hand you over and how someday you will be on the moon making more humans and finding a human partner, even if it wasn’t what you wanted. It will happen. That is what the world needs even if he is keeping you happy by letting you play house as he searches for the place you woke up in. That someday doesn’t have to be today, Satou keeps telling himself that every time you say no.

Someday doesn’t have to be soon.

During his visits to School Satoru had ideas for the school 'building' after a very windy day blew the long strips of cloth acting as shelter into the forest. Soon you had an actual building with walls and a roof.

Then the vegetable patch became actual vegetable patches.

The water supply got a new filter thanks to Satoru trading with a wandering android in the Resistance Camp and eventually before you knew it he was building a slide and play area for your students (and you) to have fun.

-

As time passed and the small cluster of homes truly started to become a protected village, Satoru was no closer to finding the vault where you woke up or convincing you to move to safety. YoRHa and Commander Yaga were starting to breath down his neck and Satoru knows time is running out for the life you built here.

Something had to be done soon.

-

“So teacher, how about we go on a field trip?”

“What?”

“Yeah just you and me~”

“Nope, there's still work to be done.”

“Fine.”

“Stop pouting.”

“Booooooo, I didn’t know humans can be so mean.”

“Just for that I think you can be on scrap collection duty, Satoru.”

-

You never paid much mind when Mai poked at your buttocks or when Mechamaru’s head was face first into your chest. It was just robots wanting comfort and trying to connect to you after seeing how you were always touching some part of them. It was a show of affection. Innocent really.

“Ah, you are so soft and warm, I could do this all day.”

Your body feels like it's burning with your heartbeat beating loud in your ears. You try to calm yourself down, reminding yourself of the mantra that machines and androids alike seem to have no sense of personal boundaries. So here you are trying not to let Satoru know just how much you are enjoying the sensation of being held or holding hands with someone with digits and how nice his voice sounded in your ears.

Satoru’s much larger hands caressed and played with your hands and fingers. All the while, the machines ran around doing their chores before playing with Gakuganji the moose, a name you got from the boss that made you want to quit your work as a researcher. 

'Wanted to? That doesn’t feel right. Didn’t I quit? I wonder what happened to old Gakuganji. Died sure but did he suffer? Wait…why would he suffer? '

You sigh, relaxing a little more into Satoru’s curious touches. Maybe you were a little starved for touch too, because after that first goodbye hug you were very open into letting Satoru have any kind of physical contact with you. Maybe it was the fact he was the closest thing to a human you currently know, maybe it was how charming he could be or it could even be how handsome he was but you looked forward to seeing him as much as he seemed to miss you every time he left and came back.

Sometimes you catch yourself wondering if you touched his lips what would it feel like?

“You feel nothing like those androids I have fun with in the Bunker at all.”

The declaration slowly sinks into your mind and you immediately stiffen upon understanding. It’s a little absurd yet you decide not to linger on it when a much irritating sensation takes over you. You know you shouldn’t feel as slighted as you do at that moment. However, that didn’t stop you from taking your hands back then walking away from him towards the excited machines hopping about close by.

Satoru blinks after you stupidly, hands hanging in the air from where you had harshly pulled away from him.

“Was it something I said?”

-

Satoru hated that he wasn't making any progress in finding the area where you and the other humans were held for centuries. Then there was the fact that YoRHa was finally getting suspicious about his ‘personal’ activities and starting to ask questions. A little too deep in his own agenda, he didn’t realise that it was affecting him to the point that you got worried about him.

He didn’t even pick up on it until you met him outside of the School’s gate on his return trip and dragged him into your hut. You pulled him down to your eye height and asked him how you could help. 

His eyes are wide while yours are narrowed in determination. He knows this because he’s been obsessed with studying every fibre of your body language down to the slightest furrow of your brows and–ah there it was, the delicate frown of worry when he doesn’t answer. 

It sinks him back into his own musings the longer he gets lost in the softness of your eyes. He’s been around for a long time, he’s a leader, he’s a hero, and he’s the best soldier out on the battlefield. Yet there was you, fussing about him even if it was nothing to him and in spite of the many times he’s aggravated you, you always welcome him with a patience he’s never known.

Was this what it meant to be human?

It stirs something in him.

You didn’t even protest when Satoru rested his head on your shoulder and pulled your body into a gentle hug. He relishes the way you stroke between his shoulder blades, fingers trailing soothingly along his spine. The white haired android sighs, tucking his head deeper into the warmth of your neck and mimicking your actions. His hands were much colder as they graze your back and rub circles on your waist. He quietly mutters against your skin,

“Will you come with me outside? I need to find the area where you woke up but it's hidden too well.”

Strangely enough, bringing you to the moon wasn’t his first thought.

He must have done something right during the short time you knew each other because you only asked, “When do we need to leave?” 

-

It was hard to leave your students at first due to all the mechanical crying and begging you to stay. Yet you surprised Satoru with the amount of control you had over them. A stern talking to, promises to come back, completing the goodbye routine with some gentle head pats before leaving them with a simple daily routine to follow. Not a single yellow or red eye insight.

Soon enough you were leaving the area with Satoru by your side, a spear in hand, supplies on your back and a nervous determination. Well, you were only able to leave after completing the goodbye tradition of hugging each and every one of the various sized machines.

Of course, Satoru had to join in too. The look of awkward resignation never got old for you as you watched him gently pat the smaller ones on their circular heads. Yet not one to let an opportunity pass, Satoru shoots you a coquettish smirk before encircling you in a warm embrace before swinging you around and laughing at your shocked face.

So your first field trip with Satoru began with smiles and cheer.

Chapter Text

Unit 3:  [C]ode and Emotion

You had no trouble walking through the woods with Satoru. It was fun spending time together just the two of you. You got to tell Satoru about some more adult friendly details of your life, many times you slipped into telling him about some anime and manga you loved and tried to poorly tell him the plot. While Satoru cheerfully told you all about what life was like in the Bunker, how dull the view of space was from the windows but you would be sure to love the view and then about his own students 22S, 20B and 7D. Those three he affectionately called Megumi, Yuuji and Nobara while singing praises about his former students seemingly like a proud parent.

Was this what you sounded like to Satoru when you chatted about your student’s accomplishments each time he visited? It seemed like Satoru was so happy to tell you everything now that you were by yourself. He really liked to brag about how well his students were doing and really liked telling you funny stories about Megumi and his not so secret inclination of riding and caring for animals when he visits Earth.

During these chats you walked slightly ahead of Satoru trying to remember just where you had to go as you retraced the steps you took with Miwa that day so long ago. You know your landmark was around here somewhere. Soon you saw the thick trees and rock faces you were looking for you know its close by.

“Satoru, we are definitely on the right track, I just know it,” you cheer as you wave energetically at him, “Now he should be around here somewhere…” you murmured as you wander into the darker area of the forest.

‘He?’ 

Satoru pauses in his stride, confused from this seemingly out of the blue information, “Who?”

Then his eyes catch various patches of sunlight reflecting off of a flat surface. Satoru quickly refocused his eyes and froze as he saw what was causing the darkness of the area. Among the tree branches and cliffs was what was left of a broken down Engels unit. The machine lifeform was still a towering behemoth despite more than half its lower frame missing along with the left arm, the lower half of the face was caved in from an attack and the majority of its metal shell hanging off the frame except for one hand.

Birds were resting peacefully along the body and moss was slowly encroaching on the metal plates in various places.

No life signs detected yet Satoru was on edge the closer you came towards it. This wasn’t the first of its kind Satoru saw, this wouldn’t even be the first destroyed Engels until he saw but killing one was not an easy task, doable for him but such a pain due to the height difference.

Thankfully this one is deactivated so-

“Mechamaru?” You called out as loud as you could cupping your hands around your mouth like a makeshift microphone, “Are you here?”

Suddenly sounds of metal grinding against stone and something being powered up reaches his ears. The birds fly away in frantic cries as the sounds of clacking echo through the forest. Your small body is immediately illuminated by the lights of its eyes activating with a whurr of gears spinning. 

‘Really? REALLY? Right here? Right now?’

“Hello again, Teacher, do you need a hand?”

‘That mother fucking Engels is still active!, ’ Satoru thought as he readied to grab you and run as far away as possible.

He can survive and win but you? If it came down to a fight you would end up a bloody smear on the earth where you stood.

“Hello, Mechamaru!” You greeted your student with a big wave, “Yes please, can you lift us over the cliff to the tall building and tell your classmates back at School we got past here safely?”

“Affirmative…Is Satoru okay?”

“Aw, Mechamaruuu! You’re the sweetest. Of course he is–wait, what's wrong Satoru?”

He gapes at you in disbelief, scratching behind his visor with a groan,

“I’m just once again confronted with the fact that humans are crazy and death seeking. Don’t mind me, I’m just…processing.”

“...Did I not tell you about Mechamaru’s true body?” you tilt your head in question before turning to the gargantuan hulk of metal, “Mechamaru, did we not tell him?”

“Mechamaru…” Satoru curls his lip in surprise and confusion, “..as in the same Mechamaru that is currently in School following Miwa like a simp?”

“....Upon looking through recorded footage, I can confirm we did not.”

You shrug.

“Oops?” 

-

It's been three hours since you started your ‘bonding’ field trip and two hours since Mechamaru did you a solid and gave you a shortcut into the city. A place you haven’t been in since you dragged yourself out of the underground lost and confused. Standing on top of the remnants of an office building and gazing out at the ruins your breath was stolen from your body. Crumbling buildings, a collapsed and crumbling motorway, rusted over vehicles and gouges left in the earth like scars where what was left of humans who thought they would always be here. Now you are the last human on Earth as far as you know and suddenly you feel emotional as for the first time the weight of that statement and the implications reach you. 

In your mind's eye you can imagine how loud and lively these roads and streets were, so full of things and people like a bunch of fish packed together in too small of a pond but the sight in front of you was the opposite of that.

Where millions of people must have moved about in the city living their busy lives, only roaming packs of various animals and protroling machine types remained. The grey of the concrete gave way to nature's beauty and claimed what was left of the man made structures for itself. The ruckus of the humans long since died leaving bird song and occasional metallic clanking,

You have no clue where in the world this place you stand in is. It wasn’t the city you knew and spent time in. Were you taken to a different country? Or did the years and fighting changed things so much.

Suddenly Satoru, who had been unnaturally quiet since Mechamaru dropped you on this roof, pulled you into his arms. He didn’t ask why you were shaking and you didn’t really know yourself but you were so grateful that it was him here with you.

Eventually the android led you away by the hand and you descended into the office building.

You struggled on what to say to break the undefined silence that had settled between you both. Eventually after walking the first set of stairs the words just fell out of your mouth.

“Thanks, Satoru.”

In response his larger hand gently squeezed yours.

-

Your limbs burned as you climbed over fallen debri, swerved around holes and power walked through the city ruins. Pride is a dangerous thing, a sin you never really considered you had yet here you were a human trying to keep up with an android. After that odd moment in the building you just felt vulnerable and very self aware around him. You never felt this around your students but Satoru, with the more time alone you spent together, was a different breed.

While your kids with their odd habits and innocence were clearly childlike, Satoru even with his odd leaps in logic and carefree attitude clearly knew what he was doing with all the self confidence of an adult who knew he was the best.

Maybe that's why when you were ambushed by the red eyed machine lifeforms you didn’t hesitate to grab your spear and start trying to keep them at bay while Satoru went after the most dangerous ones.

But you forgot one factor. 

While Satoru was able to rip apart these hostile beings with his bare hands like he was ripping paper, never using the heavy looking gauntlets on his back, you were just a human with human level strength. While you can kill animals and fish with your weapon on a good day, trying to stab through reinforced metal while you were so tired was never going to end well for you.

The first time your weapon came in contact with one of the attackers it bounced back and your arms trembled with the aftershock and your ears stung with the piercing screech of metal that rang out from that clash. Those red lights just looked at you as it swung its arms around and somehow your body dodges.

You tried to attack. If you were facing an enemy made of flesh you would have won but this isn’t the world you were currently in. So you were quickly reduced to dodging its limbs and large bursts of cannon sized bullets.

Again and again and again you moved out of the way but you were slowing down with each dodge. 

Then it blasted your spear out of your hand with a well timed bullet. With horror you watched as the machine hopped closer to you.

You struggled as people clad in full body armour dragged you out of the refugee camp. You cried and raged, begging for help from those around you only for everyone to avoid your eyes and quickly leave the area. You weren’t the first person to be stolen. They were all just thankful it wasn’t them. You hated them even if you understood it. Life was simply unfair.

The world is scary. It’s not balanced by karma nor is it not kind.

You were lucky, until that luck runs out.

Somewhere deep inside you know this isn’t the first time you face certain death despite not even facing a mugger in your lifetime. The way your body fights to keep you alive tells you that. 

Before the mechanical monster got any closer it was suddenly impaled with great force by your discarded spear into the nearest wall. Its red eyes went off line and your legs suddenly gave out under you.

The last thing you see is your android's face contorted in fear.

-

You dream. 

A dream of the worst of humanity. A world where your hands are stained with the blood of others, where humans die or turn on each other because the alternative is so much worse. 

A world where salt fell like snow. 

Dream of a time best forgotten to the passage of time.

Please let me forget! Let it all stay forgotten. 

I just want to be happy with them.

I want to be happy with Satoru.

-

Satoru knew he fucked up as soon as he saw you fall. During the journey the android saw the signs of you being tired but he thought you would have told him when you needed a break. 

It was illogical that you didn’t, he just couldn’t understand.

Swiftly he lifted your body off of the ground with your supplies and carried you into a small building close by. It was out of the sun, partly destroyed but also hidden by foliage and fallen debris. As he went to set you down onto the ground you refused to let go just like when you both share your bed in your hut.

‘What a pain.’

So with a fond sigh Satoru holds you close to his chest as he sits down, eyes laser focused on the only exit in and out all the while listening to your uneven breathing.

If it wasn’t for his programming would he have left you to die? Would he have even cared? Satoru didn’t really care for much in this world, just those who catch his interest, taking back the Earth and seeking pleasure from both battle and with other android’s bodies as a pastime.

Why did he care so much for your happiness? Contacting YoRHa and securing you should have been his main priority and yet here Satoru is letting you play house with killers.

The unique S unit is self aware enough to know that he isn’t excluded from that fantasy you have going on and knows the him before meeting you would have laughed so hard at how stupid this all was.

Just what was stopping him from wrapping his hand around your neck and ending you with a snap? It would be so easy, you were so fragile even a scratch could kill you in the right circumstances, if you were going to die why not make it painless-

Your hands latch on to the cooler tense hand resting on your stomach. So soft, warm and trusting.

So alive .

A bitter chuckle falls from his lips as his eyes soften behind his visor as he watches you sleep just like all those times he stays with you in School. 

There's something fascinating and unpredictable about you and how you bring that side out in Satoru. Satoru despite appearances was always in control but you force him to think more outside the box because he can’t control you. In fact you could easily abuse your status as a human to get him to do what you want but the only time you used it was to stay on Earth. 

And even that wasn’t an active manipulation on your side. More and more Satoru started to enjoy spending time on Earth just…living domestically with you and studying the peaceful machines you got adopted by.

You never saw him as a tool or even as YoRHa No.5 Type S, the current strongest android in production. He was just Satoru to you. You smile cheerfully as you see him hanging out with your ‘children’, laugh hysterically when you catch him being kicked by the sheep called Utahime he managed to bring back, get tearfully angry when he does something ‘dangerous’ and hold him close when he has no idea what he is doing and doesn’t understand why you are crying for him.

You chose to share your life with him. You chose to be vulnerable with him. Is this what love is like for humans?

Satoru isn’t sure that androids can feel love the way a human can but he has seen various models find out that they are compatible and form partnerships that last a life time, some connect physically though sex and battle while others form family units together reminiscent of what humans would do.

The more the android learns about you Satoru thinks he may want that for himself, he wants to be by your side and learn new things together.

What Satoru does know is he wants to learn everything about you and he can’t do that if you aren’t with him.

Would you be happy to receive this [love] ?

-

Three hours pass uneventfully with only the sounds of nature, you and his own thoughts to keep him company. Your sleep was fitful but slowly your face fell from its state of uneasiness but it was all he could do just to hold you and speak about anything and everything he could think of.

From the time Yuuji ate a mackerel and needed a new body yet the pink haired android said the taste was worth the trouble, to Nobara and her odd fascination with the clothes the old world humans wore, Megumi and his love of animals to the point he was taking up memory space in the bunkers servers with various media files of the things and even about the time Satoru came across a horde of machines mimicking a human orgy.

Soon he was talking about how cold but beautiful the view was from the Bunker, the various places he travelled to on missions as he ran his fingers through your hair and he would have kept talking until his voice box degraded from overuse when your voice finally joined his.

“Have you….ever had the feeling you weren’t a good person?”

Your voice was meek, downtrodden and ashamed. Satoru notices right away how you didn’t make a move to pull away. No the opposite, you got as close to him as possible making sure not to look at him.

“I know I’m not,” the white haired unit scoffs as he moves his hand away from your hair, “and I never said I was.”

For a moment no one speaks as the world carries on outside. Slowly and awkwardly you pull back from him and sit beside him on the dirty concrete. Your legs were numb from the lack of movement made you unable to stand.

Hesitantly you ask, “Then do you ever feel like you have forgotten something important-wait can androids forget?”

‘How cute that you think you offend me.’

“Not in the same sense as humans do,” Satoru explained as he moved closer beside you, “Normally we store information into our bodies and YoRHa units upload their consciousness to the Bunkers servers every so often so if our bodies are destroyed we are just uploaded into a new body.”

‘So like saving information to a USB stick from a computer? How complicated.’

“Sometimes, an android's current body is destroyed before they can upload their current memories so when they wake up they only know what they have saved before that event,” Satoru continued to lecture, “I have heard of a case where a YoRHa android neglected to save his progress for a year and when he woke up had no idea who his lover was and kept asking for his ex who was destroyed in the same battle that cost him his memories. What a mess that was. Funny in a sad fucked up way.”

You can’t see his eyes but his lips clearly show his distaste over the situation. That was messed up.

“That…brings up so many questions I might be better off not knowing,” you murmur as you grab at the nearest counter and pull yourself up on unsteady legs.

“Do you think you forgot something?” Satoru concluded as he helped to steady your body.

It would explain why you have been acting so off, sometimes staring out at something unseen and why you have avoided explaining why you aren’t on the moon with the rest of humanity. You honestly didn’t know.

“...Yes. I don’t know why I got kidnapped or when I did,” you admitted feeling guilt swell inside your chest as you started rambling, “I don’t know how I got stuck inside that pod underground. Then I vaguely hear bells-no a song-I-I don’t–”

‘ I. Hear. A. Sound.’

The more you were thinking about what you forgot, the non-existent cacophony of bells invaded your mind growing steadily louder and louder-

“You’re worried about it,” suddenly Satoru’s face appeared very close to yours and his hands cupped your face making you look at Satoru as he calmly said, “Do you want to remember?”

The chaotic song of the bells immediately ceased as his solid touch brings you back to yourself.

“I-I don’t know,” you stammer as you lean into him, “It seems important but every time I try to think of what it could be I-I feel sick and cold-No I don’t want to know. If it feels this bad just wondering about it…I don’t think I could handle what I might find.”

“Then don’t remember.”

With that one simple sentence your android lifted a heavy burden from you didn’t realise you were carrying all this time.

“Satoru?” Your voice sounded hopeful yet anxious, wondering if you misheard him.

“If it hurts you don’t dig at it,” he scolded you kindly as he wrapped his arms around you, “It's okay to be selfish because as bad as you think you are? I’m always so much worse,” Satoru playfully bragged to try and lighten your spirits.

Your arms hung uselessly at your sides before you lean your head against his chest, breathing in deep and releasing the tension that's held you hostage at the back of your mind.

“...Thank you.”

-

You knew the both of you were getting closer to the entrance you were looking for.

The rest of the trip was spent being carried in Satoru’s arms as the android refused to let you walk. During the run deeper into the destroyed city ducking and dodging various machines, androids and animals without stopping you talked. You had to admit to him you had a hard time sleeping. It was part from fear as the last memorable time you did you lost everything and the fact that the sun never set left it hard for you to judge the time.

The only thing that made sleeping bearable was not doing it alone. The doll Satoru woke up with that Miwa made? She had made it for you due to you always being afraid of being alone.

Then when Satoru started to visit you and sneak into your room found comfort in sleeping by his side too. Being able to hold and touch another being…it was something you never knew you had taken for granted. 

As much as you loved your students…you couldn’t hold them intimately or converse on the same level. There was an imbalance of power. An imbalance that wasn’t there with Satoru.

He may annoy you and you might frustrate him but you also share joy and warmth. 

You really didn’t want to imagine a life without him.

-

After wandering the city, climbing down into a crater and crawling into a large broken pipe even Satoru was getting doubtful about your directions. Yet the deeper into the pipe you both went the surer you seemed.

“Here. It's here.”

An elevator. In a sewer pipe . Only humans would think of something so…chaotic.

The rusted elevator door was stuck halfway open but sure enough power still ran the device judging by the flickering light inside. You grabbed his larger hand in yours as you tugged him into the confined space with you and slapped the descent button. 

Nothing happened.

So you poked the button but still nothing.

Your face heats up as you can feel Satoru’s amused gaze on you.

So you slam your hand into the control panel and make a high pitched noise of frustration and pain as nothing happened besides making your hand sting.

Satoru didn’t bother trying to hide his laughter, “Do you think you hit it har-”

Suddenly the metal box shakes and descends too quickly for your liking. Just as you felt like your body was starting to float, your android grabbed you and curled his larger body around yours.

The elevator rattled and vibrated around you as the metal screeched and dust fell from the roof onto the two beings encased inside it.

Then just as suddenly as it started, it stopped with a lurch and a bang. A moment passes as you realise that you are still alive, not hurt but full of adrenaline and Satoru has latched onto you like a leech. Relief spreads through your body as hysterical laughter fills the space. Slowly Satoru’s deep chuckles mix in with yours as you both stand up and the laughter grows louder when the both of you notice that you are covered in dust, turning the both of you grey. 

Satoru’s black well kept uniform is now mostly a light grey, making him look like a ghost when paired with his white hair. Swiftly he starts to brush himself off starting with his hair and your nose tickles. Your resulting sneeze cuts the laughter short as echoes around you.

“Was that a sneeze?” Satoru’s body language reminds you of a kid who just learned about getting gifts at Christmas, “Do it again! Come on, please ?”

You back away from him with how oddly eager he seemed. 

“No-wait,” you hesitated as the wording of his request settled in, “Why the hell are you so insistent about it?”

Speedily you exited the elevator with Satoru hot on your heels.

“Because I never expected human sternutation to have such a funny sound,” the white haired male explained as he followed closely behind you, “It’s not like us androids can do it. Come on, come on ,” he dragged out the last word like a child begging for candy, “Do it for science.”

Clearly he wasn’t going to let this go…

“Achoo,” you said deadpan as you made your way into the dark abyss of the cave, “Happy now? Let’s get moving.”

A second passed before Satoru once again followed.

“Wait, that's not how you did it! Killjoy! Temptress! Playing with a guy's feelings like that!”

-

The carefree conversation naturally gave way to a comfortable silence.

The earth beneath your feet slowly gave way to man made steel flooring, the walls started becoming easier to follow once lights started to be introduced every 20 metres or so. You didn’t remember the way being this long and complicated when you first travelled this hallway. If a monster or robot jumped out at you both at some point you would welcome it at this stage because the longer nothing happened the more the tension builds. Every out of place sound made you tense or jump so it was a welcoming sign when the low humming sound of power reached your ears.

At this stage Satoru silently took the lead from then on, body tense as if a predator was stalking his prey. You didn’t fight him on this, it was the right choice. Honestly you didn’t need to be in the lead anymore.

There was only one way to go from now on.

With each step the humming of power grew louder and louder until it was a drone in the back of your mind, the light while not always working became more frequent. With the area becoming more illuminated it was obvious to see how worn and damaged the area was. Some parts partially collapsed on itself, metal warped and bent while others had cracks where soil, plants and rock had poured in.

“I’m amazed you got through this by yourself,” the android praised you as you crawled under some debris that was a very tight fit.

“So am I and I lived it,” you grunted as you broke through with his help, “Just what is this place?”

“Human made anyway, somewhat of a patch job by the looks of things. Maybe…over the years the damage from the war reached all the way down here. I mean you saw how deep the crater was right? I remember that explosion. A Engels-I mean a machine like Mechamaru’s true body self-destructed and took out much of the area including many combatants.”

It took about another 30 minutes or so but finally you reached it.

“Well…fuck,” Satoru sighed as he took in the sight.

It was a vault door. Taller than even two Noritoshi’s standing on top of each other and as wide as a small house it was imposing looking with its various cogs and gears. The lights attached to it were off but the surrounding lights showed just enough to allow you to see when you walked up to it,

“Black Site…C?”

You place your hand on the door and flinch at the cold biting at your hand, instantly you remove it only to see your handprint standing out starkly against the dusty door. Clearly it also had not been touched in a while.

“So there's an A and B? Or maybe whoever named it just called it C to fuck with us,” you sass but you were surprised when no quip came.

Satoru was too invested in something else.

Chapter Text

Unit 4: Of [D]uty and sweet desires

Satoru was at the right side of the vault door during all this messing around with the keypad embedded in the wall like a boy playing with his first train.

“There's no power going to the door itself,” he said to himself as he studied the device, “Damage from wear and tear-no...underuse? Something inside mucking up the rotation of the gears? I can’t hack what's not on. Should I try and bust it open and risk," a movement out of the corner of his eye catches his attention, "-wait what are you doing?”

He takes his eyes off you for a few moments and now he sees you in the corner on your hands and knees with your head and shoulders inside the wall. Clearly you couldn’t hear him because soon enough your wiggling bum was the last thing he saw before you disappeared through a broken part of steel wall,

‘Well that answers how she got out without the door being used.’

-

When you first went through this area you were submerged in deep panic and confusion. Really you could barely recall details of this dimly lit underground building as you had run around like a chicken with its head chopped off with only one goal in mind ‘escape’.

This time everything was different. You were calm, you knew you weren’t trapped, you wanted answers and most of all you had Satoru who needed your help. No one could harm you as long as he was by your side.

So with clear eyes and a calmer heart you started taking in details you had missed. 

The first thing that caught your eyes in the poorly lit room were an empty basketball shell and a hoop for play. You slowly take a look around the area as you vaguely hear Satoru complaining about the tight squeeze as he enters through the hole.

Tables, chairs, couches and book shelves full of long forgotten books and various media. It looked like a community hall the more you looked around. Nervously you traced a hand along the top of the nearest couch, enjoying the feel of soft fabric for the first time since you woke up. Without shame you sat down on the couch and moaned in pleasure.

“I never knew I would miss couches so much,” you sighed as you pat the space next to you beckoning Satoru to join you, “Come on, come on~”

Satoru smiles like he is humouring you and plomps himself right beside you. You barely had a second before the seat groaned and soon after the legs gave out, leaving you both were sitting on the ground almost shell shocked. The resulting bang echoed far too loudly into the distance.

Slowly Satoru’s head turns towards you and he calls your name, almost bracing for you to start crying.

With a dull look of shock and monotone in your voice you stated, “You murdered the last couch on Earth.”

“No, I didn’t!” he chuckled, “...Okay maybe I did but you are my accomplice.”

His laughter set you off on another bout of giggles, “Fine, we ended the last of the couches on Earth. No one must find out about our crime.”

The amusement was hard to reign in but soon enough you started to focus on your goal again.

“Alright. Alright,” Satoru pulled out a worn piece of paper from his pocket, “Take a look at this.”

As he pushed the paper into your hands he reads it from behind you:

[Map of Black Site C:

Blue Block-

-Entrance way/Rec Area

-Home Area

-Gym/Shower Area

Red Block-

-Infirmary Area

-Laboratory A, B, C, D/Decontamination Area

-Confinement Area

-Incinerator Area

Green Block-

-Garden Area

-Storage Area

-Power and Control Area]

“A shower!” Satoru cheered, “I hope it's working. I would kill for a shower.”

“...” You couldn’t help but ask, “Do androids need showers?”

“No but it feels good. Want to join me? We can wash each other's hair,” your tall partner teases warmly.

“...Maybe after,” you agree far too easily.

A working shower after months of relying on the pond and limited buckets of water? You would kill god themselves for that. If Satoru wants to help with your hair, who are you to say no? So quickly you got up from the ground with Satoru copying the action.

“Seriously? Must be my lucky day~”

-

You start walking through Blue Block by exiting the entrance hall and cautiously entering into the ‘home’ area that looks more like a shared college dorm as Satoru wanders off. With your spear at the ready you explored the area. Out of morbid curiosity you open the fridge only to find it empty with only a friendly note to say ‘if you are reading this check storage for food. Don’t worry, things will get better as long as you don’t give up!’. 

‘How oddly cute,’ you silently observe as you close the fridge door and turn towards Satoru as he comes over to you. 

You speak about your gut feeling. One born from your minimal experience with this place and seeing the area listings.

“It's the Red Block that catches my eye the most.”

“...Getting straight to the point I see,” Satoru sighs with disappointment, “Fine. Okay. It did for me too. While you were busy goofing off ‘Teacher’.”

“Hey.”

“I did a bit of recon. Areas seem clear, no signs of machines or any other kind of life forms in the halls. Blue and Green Block connect to each other by a hallway but Red Block is down some stairs.”

As you take in the information on the map and the state of the rooms that you are currently walking in you come to a few conclusions. This place was built for long term use with Blue and Green areas proving this by having a shared communal area for entertainment and exercise, areas with beds and bathrooms and even an empty garden with instructions of which seeds to plant and how to care for it.

There were little friendly little signs littered around prompting on what should be done, what was needed to do to live and some uplifting motivational comments. The two Blocks, bar the dust, was perfectly clean. Rows of beds made, trunks of personal objects and clothes eroded by time in lockers, books on shelves and Power/Control areas secured safely.

The only creepy thing that caught your eye was in some areas such as the bedroom, kitchen or shower there were faint brown or blackish stains, as if someone tried to clean up a stain only to only mostly finish the job and give up.

There were also pinned notes and newspaper clippings on various note boards dotted around the area that were worn away by time. Most were too far gone to be understood while some… 

[-, -ugu-t, 20--,

The Nagoya Daily

Terrorist attack on Shinjuku!

New bio weapon or something more-

No end to the refugees fleeing from the quarantine and -

Dragon-

War against L-

In these worst of times now is the time to show the best of humanity-

We may be next.]

[If you or someone you know has signs of WCS please head for the Confinement Area in Red Block and alert the guard in charge and Yoshino.]

…Were just plain confusing when you lacked context.

Yet Red Block seemed dangerous in comparison. While the Infirmary Area seemed innocent enough when paired with the other two blocks it was the other areas that had you and Satoru on edge. Four laboratories and a decontamination section, confinement and an incinerator.

Considering the stairs…you must have woken up down there in the Red Block.

“What the heck were they doing down here?” you mutter to yourself, the more you learn about this place the more on edge you got.

“Well let's go and find out!” If Satoru was putting on a false cheer to make you relaxed or was just very excited to learn what was down there you will never know, “If you get scared you can hold on to me.”

“Bite me.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time~”

And so you descend down the steps together. The sound of two sets of steps seemingly is so much louder than it should be. Down and down you went, the lights getting dimmer and the hum of power got louder. The sudden stark white of the walls compared to the more welcoming colour variety in the other blocks became more eerie. It was a perfect setup for a horror film if you ever saw one.

Satoru must have seen something in your body language because suddenly he started chatting about everything and anything he could think of. By the time he started asking about why humans were so obsessed about hiding their nudity and why it was ok for a cartoon duck not to wear pants but only a shirt you were already off the stairs and he had automatically taken point. 

You wished you could read Satoru as well as he seemingly could you. Maybe someday you will get to that point. You want to be seen as you, not just as ‘the human’ in his eyes.

You wanted to be more for him.

-

You both had no idea how long it had been since you started looking through Red Block. Unlike the areas above, there were no signs of comfort or life down here. The halls were dim, some overhead lights flickering and your footsteps echoed, reminding you both how hollow the space was.  It reminded you of those very sterile and clean hospitals or labs you saw in B grade horror films. Your only comfort was you weren’t alone. You had company, an annoying but powerful one at that.

The first stroke of luck hit after a bit of rummaging and looting in the infirmary. Inside the cover of one of the many medical texts was a typed up letter, paper yellow from time but still legible. Paper dust coats your fingers as you thumb through the pages.

[08, June, 2023.

I have little faith in Project [Redacted] being successful. So, I and a group of others have kidnapped various citizens of the remaining humans not infected with WCS. The aim of this is to put them into a deep sleep in maso powered cryostasis chambers without government approval. These Tombs are to be watched over by an android with medical based skill and support staff. I have little hope for this project succeeding either and fully expect this to be futile but I had to try. This shall be dubbed Project Sleeping Beauty in memory of my little girl, murdered before she ever had a chance. Forgive me Riko, Daddy will see you soon.]

You feel a little pang at the end, letting the thought of this project stemming from a love for family. You distantly wonder about your family, how they handled your sudden disappearance, how long did it take for them to notice you were gone, if they thought of you or did they mourn you as the owner of this journal did for his daughter.

“Guess I was kidnapped then. I never even got a parking ticket and I got kidnapped?” with an irritated sigh you read through it a second time before Satoru plucks the paper from your hands to have his own look. Your eyes drift over the dusty picture frames of strangers in coats, another with a similar team standing before tomblike machines, and finally one on the desk of a pretty teenaged girl with bright eyes and braided hair in her school uniform.

You don’t want to linger on it, so you sarcastically jest, “I feel like we found something…but I’m too dumb to understand,” 

Satoru folds the paper up as he scolds you.

“You aren’t dumb. We are just missing pieces of the puzzle,” he mused as he committed the words to memory before placing it into the book again, “What's ‘maso’? And WCS?”

That's…concerning.

“No clue.” 

‘The fuck is a maso?’  

“You haven’t heard of it, Satoru?”

“Not a thing. Maybe some kind of experimental energy that never caught on to the masses? You did say there was research into alternative energy in 2003.”

Cryostasis…a girl frozen in time. You really were a relic of a time gone by.

“Project Sleeping Beauty. What a fucked up cutesy name for kidnapping and imprisoning people,” you fumed as you placed the book into your bag and stormed out of the room.

You deliberately refused to look at the odd faded stain on the wall behind the doctor's desk and Satoru as he followed after had enough tact not to mention the single out of place hole inside that stain. No one wanted to point out that you will never get justice for the crimes committed against you.

Everyone but you was dead here after all.

Doesn’t make the anger burning in your veins any less real.

-

You and Satoru chose to leave the labs as the last section to check out due to the nature of the work that might be inside. Quickly you breeze through the confinement area as nothing of note was found, just six large sealed rooms designed to hold humans. The next room, the incinerator in comparison was a large room that stood out due to the lack of white decor. It was dark grey from floor to ceiling with multiple turrets, flamethrowers, pointing out from the walls. 

“Well that explains where they got rid of all the waste,” Satoru grinned watching the room burn from the hallway as bright orange lit the single window, not at all bothered by the heat coming from it, “How environmentally friendly.” 

As the annoyingly cheerful jingle of ‘Incineration Complete’ rang out morbidly you realise that waste would also include human bodies with how powerful this machine was. You stare after it in mild horror. So far there were no signs of graves or body storage and this room was too large just for rubbish…

Would you have ended up here if you didn’t wake up or escape?

Wisely you said nothing to Satoru about this and made sure to drag him away before he started looking for things to toss in and burn for the fun of it. You ignored his petulant pouting and begging as you pulled him back to the start of Red Block to where the laboratories are. It was unnerving just how quickly he could switch between acting as a cheerful himbo to serious and cold as soon as the situation warranted it.

“You stay here,” Satoru prevented you from following him into the Decontamination Area with an immovable hand on your chest, “We don’t know what to expect going in. Let me check and see if it's safe for you. I don’t want my favourite human to melt due to unknown chemicals leaking.”

You scoff as you place your hand over his and try to remove it only to be reminded of the difference in strength, “I’m the only human you know blindfolded idiot.”

“So?” he smugly grinned as he watched you fail in moving his heavy hand, “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong and you know it~”

He pairs his sing song voice with a wink. The double meaning made you feel shy, you wonder if Satoru can feel how fast your heart was pounding with that line? With how much he was getting into your space with his face, yes. Yes he could and will take advantage of this fact.

“Fine, I'll wait here like a good little human so use your awesome android powers to get back to me as soon as you can.”

Without much of a thought, perhaps from the fierce care and concern burning with the worry of being left alone in such a creepy place, you impulsively kiss him on the cheek and back away, “So yeah, that's your mission, come back to me safely.”

Quickly you stepped back into the hall and pressed the button to close the door so you wouldn’t see the way he’s grinning proudly, fingers touching his cheek. He then salutes sharply, voice muffled through the glass before he leaves, “Yes ma'am!”

You wait till he is caught in a mist of disinfectants before bringing your hand up to your lips and smile. It was nice.

Now if only he wasn’t so chatty and teasing you could get your heart under control but that man never fails to bring a smile to your lips. 

-

You hated this.

You were lonely. Ever since you escaped from here and met Miwa and the others you never really felt alone due to their cheerfulness and them always giving you something to do, Satoru’s introduction to your life just made things better. Yet here you are back in the place you woke up and once again left alone with your thoughts for company.

It's been too long since Satoru entered the labs and besides his cheeky quip you haven’t heard anything since. The far away beepings, whirring of machines, and the echoes that followed are quiet in comparison to your heart pounding.

‘Did something happen to him?’

Once that thought creeped into your mind like an invading army there was no way you would be able to stay outside any longer. You know your android could handle himself, he was the strongest after all, but what if he was trapped? 

You know he told you to stay here, where it was ‘safe’ but surely you would be safer by his side with the added benefit of knowing he was okay to stop you from making any more stupid decisions. With hesitance, you press the button to the door and your hands are wet with sweat.

‘Fear? Why am I so nervous? ’ you shake your head and force your legs to carry you inside.

The moment you see the shower heads you know that you had forgotten something. As soon as the door closed behind you, your eyes were blinded by water. You cough at the sudden blast of water entering your mouth and as soon as this sudden rain shower starts it is over.

You barely had a moment to feel like a drowned rat before a heavy blast of heavy hot air smacked into you next. You struggled to move forward while keeping your eyes covered to get out of this sudden and confusing wind ‘storm’, soon enough your struggles bore fruit as your other hand smacked against a wall. You pressed yourself up against it for some kind of grounding as the sound of multiple hairdryers or vacuums invaded your ears, the sound banging around in your head and lack of fresh air made you feel like getting sick.

You went through this hell once already as you had made your first escape and here you were doing it all over again to get back in. Keeping in mind this was for Satoru you resolved to endure it.

This assault went on for a few minutes before that too stopped and you rushed towards the other door and tripped over your own feet as it automatically opened. As you ungracefully fell into the next room you vaguely realised you were as dry as when you first entered.

Before you was a long hallway lined with bookshelves on one side of the wall with five heavy looking metal doors- wait a minute!

“One, two, three, four…and five?”

Mentally you recalled that Laboratory A, B, C and D should be here and sure enough four of these doors are labelled such but why is there a fifth one in front of you.

A and B was a bust when you poked your head in, no Satoru and many of the computers were busted as if pulled apart for its parts. Quickly you made your way into Lab C and saw that some of the computers were untouched and turned on. Showing that Satoru had indeed been through here.

Curiosity is what fuels you as you sit at the nearest one. Multiple files lettered the desktop messily. 

“Did this dick not know to keep his shit clean? Folders are a thing…” you mumble with annoyance as your hand moves with quick ease to pull up the computer's search bar. After a moment's pause you chose to sort by date and chose the formats relating to videos.

“There's so many…how is this still working so well? My last computer barely lasted 5 years…I really hoped no one snooped through my history when I never came back.”

The kind of stuff on your search history…yeah maybe it was better you had never gone back.

It didn’t take you long to choose which video to start with. ‘Introduction by Yoshino ver. 10’ seemed like a good place to start.

It took a long time of loading for such a short video but eventually a young very slender man appeared on screen, dark hair partially covering one of his eyes with a gentle smile and kind eyes wearing a lab coat but not white like what you would have expected but grey. There was a time stamp in the upper right corner with the text of 15, October, 2005.

[Greetings, I am the Yoshino medical android assigned to the Sleeping Beauty Project. I hope your rest was peaceful and you are ready for the rest of your life. I know things may seem a bit overwhelming and scary right now but I assure you that you are safe. If you are able to access this video, you are viewing it from Black Site C-]

Skip.

[...the Black Site C had been founded by the staff members of the Amanai Institute of Modern Medicine in honour of…-ko…the goal of the Black Site C is to-...]

Skip.

[Welcome back! I am the Yoshino medical android. It will be to my utmost joy if your rest has been peaceful. In relation to the-...there are currently twenty humans on staff. There are 5 researchers, 3 care workers, 4 guards-...and fifteen Sleeping Beauty subjects. I am the only android deployed to this project-]

Skip.

[...If you take a look at the map…-for recreation. I personally find the Film Viewing Room to be my favourite-...]

Skip.

[Hello, Yoshino here!...Just recently we had installed the Decontamination room as well as the Incinerator Room. Please proceed through Red Block with cau-...]

Skip.

[...marks a mournful day as Dr. Amanai…passes on. But we won’t lose hope. We continue to work hard to achieve success with the remaining nine subjects so that we may uphold his legacy.]

Some videos didn’t work due to data corruption but the ones that did acted like large time jumps. Seeing this cheerful looking boy change seemingly suddenly to an anxious one worried about the mental state of the human staff before your eyes was unnerving. Many of these videos seemed less for the subjects and more for admin use but more of the audio started to deteriorate to the point of being worthless.

You click out of the sixth video as a feeling of unease washes through you, planning to come back once you find Satoru. 

You decide to skip the D Lab and head right for the unnamed room at the end. 

Pushing past your hesitance and fear you watch as the door slides open to reveal an unexpectedly large circular room. The first thing that catches your eyes is Satoru standing imposingly at a standing computer monitor typing furiously. If it wasn’t for that sound you would have thought he had shut down.

The more you took in you were surprised to find the walls were surrounded by clear human sized containers, about ten or fifteen of them, with all but one covered in a thick layer of dust. All were opened.

This was where you woke up. Alone, confused and afraid you pulled yourself out of that box in the corner and ran away without ever looking back. You don’t know why your legs were shaking as you moved closer to where you think you woke up.

Then you notice it.

When you pulled yourself out of that coffin you had tripped over something and it freaked you out so bad it sent you out of the room like a demon was chasing you. Vaguely you had noticed the limbs but didn’t care so you just ran thinking it was a dead person and you were next.

This body…clearly wasn’t human now that you could see it with a clear mind. It looked like a naked human sized doll but lacked any identifying features. Its body was askew, covered in dirt gathered through the years, most likely from when you tripped into it that time. It's chest looked like it was ripped open from the outside revealing wires, gears and other mechanical bits. The arms and legs too were missing panels and looked empty inside.  Then there were the empty eye sockets staring into you almost accusingly from the shadow of your pod. It creeped you out something fierce.

“It’s an ancient android model. A medical based one judging by the records I could find.”

‘Medical android-wait that's what a naked android looks like?’

Satoru’s emotionless words startled you from your observation. Despite his black visor hiding his eyes you can feel that he was completely focused on his task as he talked to you.

“I thought you were to stay outside.”

“You never came back,” you meandered over to him until you were beside your android, “I got worried for you.” 

You could tell something was wrong with Satoru. You never saw him so obviously…inhuman before. The only emotion he was expressing was though his fingers moving rapidly-almost desperately along the keyboard of the large monitor. 

You feel the pieces start to click together in time with his keyboard tapping and you feel sick and cold as an idea comes to you. Satoru was created to protect humans for him to act like this-

“They’re dead…” you guessed thinking about the incineration room and the lack of bodies around the bunker, “Aren’t they?”

The typing stopped and so did your hope.

“I’m sorry.”

He refused to look at you, Satoru’s whole body froze in place and voice sounded so dead. You hated it. You hated how this turned Satoru more like the insincere Gojo you first met.

You hated how this information seemed to affect him more than it did you.

For better or for worse you like others of your generation really embody the Japanese mentality of ‘nothing can be done about it ’ -  shikata ga nai. You know you should be breaking down, sobbing like a kid or taking your anger out on someone but you can’t, you know it won’t change anything.

You are the last human on Earth through no will or ability of your own. How fucked up is that? 

Yet here was Satoru being more torn up about it, acting more human about this loss than you.

-

Satoru knew your survival was a fluke of the universe from the moment he laid eyes on you that day. A human left behind on this war torn Earth and making a life for themselves? Unthinkable. Yet when he learned you were frozen and that there was a bunker, Satoru hoped that maybe he could find more useful information or maybe another human for you.

‘But that is no longer possible, it hasn’t been for centuries’, Satoru processed with a great sense of loss, ’Yet why do I long for humans? Why do I feel such a great mourning for humans I never met? Its illogical but why do I feel like I fai-’

Satoru was startled out of his spiral when he felt your arms wrapped around his front and he felt your face against his back. He felt so warm.

“What are you-”

“Satoru,” your voice was shaking despite your best efforts, “Don’t worry about it.”

Your name left his lips in a whisper.

“It seemed like…it was doomed to fail from the start. I was just ‘lucky’ I guess. Lucky to live, lucky to find Miwa and her class. Lucky…to have you by my side, being with me. Really, all my good luck has been used up when you think about it.”

“...”

“So please. Don’t focus on what's gone, it will drive us both insane if we do that. Focus on the here and now. Remember, you told me it's ok to be selfish. If you really need a reason to keep going, let me be your reason.”

[Mission accepted]

-

The large monitor was reminiscent of what you would have seen in the early 80’s or 90’s, not 2003. Black background with white blocky text and a blinking cursor.

“There's some files here, corrupted and some unofficial but these are the only ones to survive that have some relevance to you”, Satoru said after a while, somewhat out of the blue, “I think you should read them, there's an audio option too but both versions are corrupted.”

You feel you have gone slightly numb at this stage. Feeling so much fear and nervousness for such a long time just left you feeling drained, so without a second thought you pressed play. 

Yoshino’s voice echoey, static filled and lifeless like an old timey radio host filled the room.

[02, January, 2007

The fifteen subject’s secured for the Sleeping Beauty Project have finally entered the Tombs after one year of confinement, medical testing and physical examinations today. It should have been sixteen but sadly the last subject had a lethal reaction from the drug used to prepare their bodies for the long sleep. This resulted in a fatal heart attack in subject sixteen. Doctor Amanai and Doctor Kuroi—--- —----- —------- —------------------------------------------------------------------------- —------------------------- —------------- —.

Current Possible Side Effects of —--------- D—------:

- Memory loss

- Distorted critical thinking

- Vertigo

- Emotional disruption

- Confus—

- Hair loss

- He— —ack

- Missca—-ge

- —---- —-----------

- —------------------ —---- —-----

Each human subject was taken from various backgrounds with various skill sets—-- —--------Under 50—-----------------------------No symptoms—----------------------White Chlorination Syndrome—------------many killed during the acquisition mis—---- due to the attacks from other humans or Legio—-------------------------------------.

The drug nor ‘maso’ (magic element) powered energy should not affect the sper— — —-- —------------------egg----freez--------------------------secured--------------Memory loss----------------for the greater good of humanity's survival. The world will not end here.]

Your body was trembling. The more you tried to control it the worse it felt.

Satoru paused the recording, letting the information sit heavily in the air, “You said it was 2003 when you blacked out? That it was the last thing you remember before waking up?”

“Yes!”

“This says you entered cryosleep in 2007 and it seems like you were kidnapped in 2006.”

“What?”

“2006-2007. That means-”

You feel sick. Violated.

You couldn’t keep the horror out of your voice, “I’m missing four years.”

How is it that near extinction of the human race and alien invasion is less disturbing than missing four years of information and not knowing what was done to you?

“When you think back on that time do you feel sick?” Satoru questioned you as he observed your body like a hawk eyeing its prey, “Vision get hazy? “

Now that he mentioned it your eyes were feeling tired and blurry when your memories cut off, “How did you-”

“It's all on the screen. Drugs to keep you calm and complacent. They wanted you to forget something. Almost like something catastrophic happened…but the timelines don’t match up. The alien invasion happened much much later than the early 2000’s.”

‘A red dragon fell on Tokyo followed by a giant. A battle was fought and humanity suffered. The world started to end and I suffered-’  

“Are you okay? Your zoning out on me,” Satoru’s voice broke your train of thought.

“I,” you stalled trying to explain only to find the thoughts escape you like smoke but like always the dread left behind stays, “I…don’t want to know.”

“But-”

“Satoru.”

“...Fine. I won’t push. Man memory is such a delicate thing. Humans don’t have a server to back themselves up like we do. If this body breaks, unlikely as that is, I would just wake up in bed with what I have already uploaded.”

“When was the last time you did that?”

“A year ago, why?”

The idea of you losing him makes you sick.

“Please be more careful Satoru. As you seen data can become corrupt. What if you ended up disconnected somehow? Would you wake up without a years worth of memories? Or would there be two of you running around?”

“..."

The silence catches you off guard yet it looked like he was really thinking about what you said and being serious about it.

“Satoru?”

“That's an interesting idea but lets put that aside!” he grinned with a bit of force behind it, “We have more files to look at.”

Quickly he clicked on to the next file as the young voice started playing again, tired this time in tone, in time with the text.

[27, September, 2054

Subject 9, Sleeping Tomb B -Deceased.

Project Sleeping Beauty is failing, not like it wasn’t expected. The human staff and scientists are slowly dying out the longer it goes on. We are sealed off from the rest of the world in this bunker until ---------

Every 55 years communications will open to Black Site C for 1 day-----

The discovery and development of the-----. Long-term management of ------- will be handled by the -------- Organisation.

As per the previous documents H-250 and G-10002 mentioned above, all authority regarding the cryogenic plans for the Sleeping Beauty Project is to be transferred to the medical android unit Yoshino once Dr---- has -------.]

Beep.

The date was even further into the future this time and as soon as it played the tired voice was suddenly hysterical and panicking. 

[01, January, 3362

We are fucked, everyone is fucked. All but one (Subject 15 in Sleeping Tomb D)  are dead due to various mechanical malfunctions over the years. We have long since lost contact with the outside. Why, why am I the only one left awake? I can’t take this. Why were the humans so cruel as to only have one android to watch over these people after they were gone? How could they curse me like this?

I –v- – I ---- y– S-me-ne a-y- —-- —----- -

Maybe I went insane long ago with only Subject 15 left for ‘company’ but soon her Tomb will malfunction too. 

Then I will really be left all alone.

H-lp -e-]

Beep.

As creepy as the situation is you couldn’t help but feel a distant horror as you realise that the voice was talking about you . That Yoshino knew you, watched you sleep and who knows what else but you felt sorry for him. At least you didn’t know what was happening. Yoshino was left all alone in this place. Seemingly for years.

Cursing the world and humans that created Yoshino but didn’t care about him.

Even in his garbled speech he wanted help.

Satoru takes a deep breath before the next recording begins. Voice so dead sounding, like Yoshino just wants everything to end but he can’t. His core programming must have kept him in check just enough to keep him going.

[15, January, 11,627

There was no choice, I had to cannibalise the mechanical parts from the malfunctioned Tombs that were no longer viable after Subject 15 started showing signs of distress. Thankfully it worked and she stabilised.

—------ —------- —--------.

I know those humans were long dead but I had to touch them. After I broke open their Tombs and accidentally brushed against one’s cold skin, I wanted more. Needed more. Was I addicted? I went years without knowing another’s touch. Without hearing another's voice.

Just a little more. —-- —------------ —------- —------------------------------! —-------------------------------

—------------------ – —----- —---------------------------- —------------ - — — —------------------------------.

What did a live human’s skin feel like again? Please wake up Subject 15, I am so lonely.]

Beep.

‘So this was how that android went insane’, Satoru listens in a vague sense of horror as his eyes dart to the slumped figure across the room. Being the only one awake with no way to healthy manage yourself, no social interaction, no orders and no way to escape for an older medical model. Yoshino had no chance. It was a miracle he existed as long as he did without snapping and taking his frustrations out on you. 

Satoru sympathised with the obsolete model and he was grateful to Yoshino for keeping you alive all these years.

He wonders if for Yoshino it was like putting food behind an unbreakable glass case for a starving human. So close but yet so far.

[17, March, 11,943

Subject 15, you will never know this Yoshino unit who has watched over you for so long but know I love you. I did my best. 

The bunker has been shaking more and more the last few years and your Tomb is once again starting to malfunction. All other compatible mechanical components in the bunker have been used up except for…

I know if- no when you wake up you will be so scared and confused. I’m so sorry I won’t be there to keep caring for your well being. I wish so much we could have talked just once; I wonder what your voice would have sounded like? I wish I could have held you and told you it would be ok but I can’t lie.

It may be best for you to never wake up. How long would you survive being locked down here alone in the dark as your food and drink ran out? Maybe it would have been kinder to let you die as you sleep peacefully.

But my programming demands I give you the opportunity to survive. To live just a bit longer.

All I have left to give you is myself. 

So if my Sleeping Beauty finally wakes up and gets out of her bed please remember me. Hold me. Pet my hair. Tell me I did good. 

Call me Junpei.

…

I, why did this happen?

Why did everything go so wrong?

Why?

Why?

WHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHY-]

Beep.

No one said anything, too busy taking in what may have been Yoshino’s-no Junpei’s last moments. It was horrible hearing him descend into insanity as he despaired alone. You begged Satoru to find a later dated one only to find it couldn’t be opened.

[File can not be read. Refresh and try again. File can not be read. Refresh and try again. File can not be read. Refresh and try again. File can not be read. Refresh and try again. File can not-] The text just kept repeating itself when it skipped on to the next unreadable file. Silently you moved past Satoru and backed out of the screen.

For all intents and purposes 17, March, 11,943 was Yoshino Junpei’s last moments and will.

He died so you could live and you never knew. He just wanted his suffering to not be for nothing.

Numbly you walk over to the doll- Junpei and sit beside what was left of his body.

‘How many times have I cried since I came here?’ you wondered as your hand caressed the hairless head, it was cold to touch but it didn’t stop you from holding him. You couldn’t prevent your voice from breaking or stumbling over your words as they spilled out from your lips, “You did good Junpei. Thank you for saving me, for loving me. Thank you for giving me a chance to meet Satoru. Just…thank you.”

Satoru couldn’t find it in himself to be jealous of the attention and affection you were showing another android. He just felt too grateful to have you here with him and impressed by Junpei’s resolve that made it all possible. 

So Satoru does something he never cares to do. 

Show respect to the fallen.

“You achieved your purpose medical android unit, designation: Yoshino, I’ll take care of her from here,” Satoru brings his left arm up horizontally to his chest in the traditional YoRHa salute, “Glory to Mankind…Junpei.”

-

“Satoru…I don’t want to leave him alone down here.”

“...”

“No one likes being in the dark alone.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to bring him back home with us. Give him a burial where I can visit so he never has to be alone again.”

“...”

“I know…its stupid isn’t it? Crazy illogical human attachment but I don’t want to toss Junpei in the incen-”

“Let's head home.” 

“...Thank you Satoru.”

“It's fine. This way I get to see the human burial ritual first hand and practise the comforting of a loved one!”

“Fine fine…you big softy.”

“Only for you,”

-

It's been an uneasy few days, or was it weeks, when you arrived back to School with your cargo of stolen items, research notes and Junpei’s body. You were greeted by the machine lifeforms like heroes or like parents by how often you were asked for a souvenir. Thankfully you had some foresight and had given each student something small from the bunker. 

Books, nuts, bolts, the broken shell of the basketball, computer chips and other miscellaneous but easy to carry items and sanitised stories of what actually happened on your journey.

When Junpei was finally laid to rest with respect, each child happily helped you in their own way once you explained what you intended to do. Todo dug out a grave, Noritoshi directed the smaller Stubbies on what needed to be carried and moved, Mai and Momo made decorations and Mechamaru (the smaller version) told everyone where to find the materials needed as he gave you a cloth to wrap your friend in.

And Satoru stayed silent, not completely distant but unusually quiet as he lowered Junpei into the earth and watched as the soil was placed on the covered up body.

You struggled to get out the words you needed to say. After all you didn’t know him the way you could have if things went to their ‘plan’. Maybe you would have hated him for being part of the people who stole you from your life and did who knows what to you or maybe you would have become friends.

It's an opportunity that is long lost and you can only keep living like Junpei wanted.

“Junpei had a hard life,” you started slowly and a bit unsure where you were going, “He was made with the purpose to provide care and support to others but no one cared for him.”

It was hard to accept but wasn’t that life? 

“He saved me. Junpei gave his existence so I could eventually meet everyone here. I just wish he could have met you too. That we could have gotten to know him. But he won’t be alone anymore as long as School lives on…”

“Teacher, why are you leaking? Do you need oil again?”

That only caused more tears to fall.

“No it's…nevermind. I guess it's really hitting me that I’m all that's left.”

“NOT.ALONE.”

“Teacher is with us! We will never leave!”

“Teacher! Teacher please stop leaking! Momo get the oil bucket!”

The various cries of concern made a wobbly smile reach your lips, “You guys…really are the best.”

It took a while longer before things were settled. Mechamaru had brought in a large piece of metal that Satoru had inscribed words on.

[Here rests Junpei, the Yoshino Medical Unit. Went above and beyond in his duties protecting the human race. Your actions and sacrifice will live on in the hearts of those you saved.]

Things slowly changed to a new normal after that. The machines made it a point each day to stop by the grave with a ‘Hello Junpei’ and a flower or small rock. Quickly you had to show the smaller machines how to plant flowers and a tree sapling to stop Todo from gifting tree trunks to Junpei.

It was a good distraction from the information you had found but oddly enough after the first surge of emotion back in the underground…you found yourself growing more and more emotionally distant to the implications of it all. Sure things have happened to you and you are missing a chunk of memories but…what has really changed with that information?

You are still a teacher and caretaker to a bunch of rambunctious mechanical beings. You still have fun and are kept busy keeping School running. You know you love Satoru and still dread it when he leaves.

Once again your mentality of ‘nothing can be done about it’, is your best and worst quality. 

So really what has changed in your day to day life with this incomplete information? Satoru told you it was alright not to want to remember and you know you didn’t want to. You are at peace with that and the unexplainable dread seeps out of your life more and more over time. Now you want to make more memories with your Satoru, with everyone.

Someday you won’t be here anymore and it hurts to think about.

So you want to live in the moment, take things one day at a time.

It should be ok as long as you have Satoru.

-

“I have to go. YoRHa is starting to ask questions.”

So that's what was distracting him…

“...Do you know when you will come back?”

“I’m not sure this time.”

Why was he being so vague? 

“If I asked you not to go? To stay here with me?”

Please don’t go. Not now.

“I can’t. They will send people looking for me. If that happens they will find you and take you to the moon for safety and repopulation. You don’t want that. I don’t want that.”

Satoru is right and you know that.

“I hate it when you go.”

“I know.”

“But I won’t order you to stay. Just be safe and come back to me okay?”

“Promise. I just have to take care of somethings first.”

-

“Hughughughug!”

“Don’t go pretty android! But if he goes we get hugs….bye bye pretty android!”

“Stay, play was promised!” 

When word reached the sound receptors of the machines that Satoru was leaving again, the android submitted himself once again to School’s goodbye tradition of hugs. Each one begging him to stay but eventually wishing him well with an awkward mimicking of an embrace.

When you slowly came up to him, Satoru felt so much emotion just from looking at you. He wanted to stay with you so badly and if you asked again he would despite the sound logic of why he shouldn’t. 

You were looking hesitant, eyes flickering to the side and chewing your lip. He braces your arm with a comforting palm,

“What’s up?”

You open your lips before closing them a few times, mulling over what to say until you settle for,

“Do you have everything you need?”

“Yep.”

“You’re…recharged enough?”

“Mhm.”

“Need any mending with your boots?”

“Doesn’t work that way~”

“Oh, uhm, you brought spare parts? Extra defence chips?”

“Doubt I need them but yes.”

“Oh.”

He realises, adoringly, that you’re stalling. So he waits, noting how your body temperature rises.

“I’ll be back, you know that right? What do you need from your Satoru, sweet little human?” he teases with a smirk in hopes it would coax you out of your tentative state. 

Instead of answering, you respond with your actions, reaching up to his face.

When your warm calloused hands cup his face Satoru couldn’t help but melt into that touch. It felt like what home should be. His eyes flutter shut, relishing into the familiar tenderness, fully trusting in your hold. Satoru let himself be guided down to you and felt himself overheat when your lips pressed softly against his.

Unseen by you his eyes shoot wide open in shock whilst you keep yours bashfully squeezed shut. Everything else faded away apart from you when you kissed him. Everything that made up Satoru focused directly on his human. You were everything to him. His everything. The reason why he does what he does. This time, he knows ‘Satoru’ was important to you too. Never does this mechanical being want you to go where he could not follow. Nothing else mattered but him and you.

As your android felt you starting to pull away, Satoru wrapped his arms around you like an iron cage. His eyes slide shut, remembering how intimate it feels to focus on this moment alone with eyes closed. He melded his lips firmly against yours before you could break the connection. His finely tuned ears picking up on a near silent moan that escaped you. It pleases him that he keeps going, pressing you closer and caressing the warm flesh between his lips. 

Satoru feels how easily you could break in his arms, already you are struggling to breathe the longer the kiss went on. Yet you refused to be the one to break the kiss this time so Satoru had to for your own need for air. He parts with a small smirk on his lips as he watches you greedily take in air.

So very different from an android lover and he looks forward to learning and exploring every difference. 

He lovingly strokes your cheek, thumb passing over your bottom lip and shuddering when your warm pants ghost against the skin.

“I’ll come back to you. I swear it. I’m the strongest after all.”

-

It's been roughly a week since you last saw Satoru. No word was sent back. You start getting anxious and lonely despite being surrounded by many. The days kept marching on.

-

It's been 1 month, 3 days, 50 minutes and 42 seconds since Satoru last saw you. After working hard completing various YoRHa missions, spending time with his friends and family while making secret alliances to the Resistance Camp set up in the desert, things are finally in place.

This mission will be YoRHa No.5 Type S last deployment, a fact that was unknown to many.

-

So many androids died during the grand battle on the sea. It was supposed to be a routine escort mission, making sure the ship of resources made its way to the Resistance. No one could have accounted for a colossal ancient machine lifeform with a large scale EMP attack. Various YoRHa and Resistance members fell where they were, many plummeting into the sea from where they flew if they were unlucky.

YoRHa No.5 Type S, Gojo, was able to beat it back into the depths of the sea it came from through much struggle. Many recounted how the YoRHa android saved them from the last big EMP explosion by jumping inside of its mouth and destroying it from the inside.

Above the Earth crystal blue eyes open and look down on the small planet.

-

[Disconnected from YoRHA Network. Please reconnect. Trouble reconnecting to the network? Please look at these troubleshooting options or get in contact with your designated Operator-]

-

Despite working hard to keep the kids calm you were freaking out inside when you heard the large explosion, The vibrations reached even this secluded haven. Mechamaru found out from a passing wise machine who wandered close to his larger form that a large battle happened on the big water and many died.

Machine and android alike.

You waited but still Satoru did not come home.

-

Time passed and still no sign of your beloved. You even turned a blind eye when your kids started wandering more from the village to look for him.

-

You refused to even think about Satoru being destroyed. He said he was the strongest so you believe in him.

-

“Satoru…I’m so lonely without you. You promised. You promised .”

-

You lost count of the days since you last saw him but still you waited.

-

You waited.

-

When Mechamaru sent word of an android travelling slowly towards School not close enough to tell direct features but enough to see it was wearing Resistance clothing you took up your spear and made sure the defences Satoru had put in place were still holding.

You told the kids to keep out of sight as you wanted to play hide and seek. Once you counted down and made sure they were hidden, you waited outside the gates. If you were taken from School, Satoru would never be able to find you but you didn’t want to risk the peaceful beings of this place either.

You owed these beings your life and you gave Satoru your love, you needed to stay.

You know the android will spot you way before you could see them. If it's a Resistance android maybe you could barter a trade deal and a safe place to rest in exchange for keeping you a secret and information about Satoru?

Maybe give them the underground bunkers location if that wasn’t enough? Or should you hold your own life hostage? After all, with the way Satoru was fanatic over your existence, your life must be far too precious to lose.

All these worries run through your mind more and more as you hear something dashing quicker and quicker through the forest. The leaves rustle, and the birds leave their nest in a panic. In response your hands adjust your grip on your weapon.

When the android burst through the bushes, your breath caught in your chest.

Clad in brown leathers and dark clothes, dirty and white hair messier than you have ever seen it- Satoru finally stands before you after so long. It's a shock. You don’t even notice the spear fall from your hands as you run up to him. Your heart is racing, a grin spreading wide as you call out his name with arms open.

Satoru quickly meets you halfway with a disbelieving laugh and a kiss. The kiss is chaste, a proof of living and a sweet reunion because there’s so much you both want to say.

“I’m here to stay,” he breathes against your lips, “Fuck YoRHa, you are stuck with me now, human.”

He feverishly continues pressing kisses, relieved you’re here now and he’s left everything behind in spite of the chaos in its wake.

“What are you–mmph– saying?” you mumble between kisses, “Where were you? I thought-I-,”

A long kiss interrupts your train of thought. With a self satisfied grin, the fluffy haired being pulls back and boasts proudly.

“I disconnected from YoRHa servers during the battle and wonderfully faked my hero's death– in style.”

“...”

“It took so long to get back because I had to make sure no one was tracking me here. Come on, praise me. Come ooooon.”

How is he so confident about his choice?

“What about the people you care for in YoRHa?”

He smiles bitterly, cupping your cheeks and admiring the selfless concern in your eyes. 

“...They will be just fine. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little sad,” he sighed as he leaned against you, “but they won’t even feel like I’m missing.”

“But-”

“Listen to me,” the sureness in his voice made you hesitate, “ I have had more fun in the last year with you than the whole of my deployment. So you have to let me stay with you now or I’ll be homeless.”

It was a weak threat. So petty, so forward, so unpredictable—so Satoru. 

Gently you place your fingers under his dark visor and peeled it away. Warm eyes as deep and blue as the sky above you, looked resolutely into yours. Satoru was really doing this.

You fear to know the details. It would just make you doubt your moral compass more than you already do. 

This entire situation feels like blackmail but you found you didn’t mind it. Satoru always had a place here with you. Yet you still worried about how quickly he seemingly made such a huge life change. Wouldn’t this count as betrayal if he was found out?

“If you're disconnected from the server what does that mean for you?” you wonder as you recall previous conversations about how YoRHa androids worked, “If you are destroyed-”

“I’m embracing the human way of life. One life, one chance, just like you. Let me spend my life with you.”

Your heart soars, you feel all choked up as you reach a hand to cup his cheek, thumb wiping away the debris on his perfect skin.

“Even if it's here? With the kids?”

“Even if it's here with the kids,” he affirms, kissing you once to breathe against your lips, “Where you go, I go.”

"I want to live my life with you."

Chapter Text

Unit 5: [E]pilogue

344 days, 12 hours and 55 seconds.

That's how long it was since the Resistance Supply Mission. The disaster where the unpredictable assault from a colossal machine lifeform with EMP abilities destroyed and injured many androids and machine combatants alike during the battle at sea. Both sides suffered heavily from the loss.

It was a shock to all that the danger was so great that Gojo had to sacrifice his body for the first time in recorded history and risk data corruption. It would have been a mournful day should the androids genius mind have been lost because there was no one who can do things like Gojo.

He was an icon, a leader even for most androids despite Commander Yaga being the appointed android leader of the black clad organisation..

In the Machine war there was no android who didn't know about YoRHa No.5 Type S model with the self-designation of Gojo, the strongest android currently in deployment. The ‘S’ standing for Sorcerer in his case due to his mold breaking scanner abilities. A scanner who surpassed even the strongest of pure combat based androids, no one could beat him and no one could replicate him. With the uniform of a black visor hiding his eyes from the world and the same dark colour clothing he tore through machines always bare handed despite the heavy gauntlets that hung unused on his back. So strong despite his former Scanner status that a new Pod had to be designed by YoRHa that could keep up with Number 5’s abilities.

Like all YoRHa androids Gojo was as deadly as he was beautiful, made in the image of his human creators.

He fought hard to reclaim Earth for the humans he has never seen. Through the wind, through the rain, through the fire, Gojo never stopped in his mission as centuries passed and slowly progress was made.

The android lost more friends and comrades to the alien menace than he cared to count as time wore on. At points he couldn’t bring himself to care when a comrade died, just thankful it wasn’t someone he deemed his. Gojo on his worst days wondered if it was even worth it. 

His strength and quick wit was the very essence that earned him the name of a hero when he had sacrificed himself to a colossal machine lifeform in a battle at sea. He had saved many android fighters but sacrificed that body, the one he has since his creation, to do so. No matter how many times YoRHa scanned the area that body and the chips that were on it were lost.

No one could replicate another existence like Gojo’s should his data be lost for good, trying to was like trying to catch lightning in a bottle.

Fortunately, the 5S unit was an android, hence his available memories were uploaded into a new body once his old one was destroyed. In return Gojo woke up to find himself missing over a year and a half worth of data and memories because, according to Megumi, he was careless in uploading his data. The strongest android got so confident in his battle capabilities he would only do so every 5 years or so for the bragging rights. Gojo is still hearing about that screw up from Commander Yaga and is now the example of why all androids save their progress regularly. He purposefully tunes out his ears for the regular “Why you shouldn’t fuck up like 5S Gojo.” 

To prevent the same mistake ever happening again, a Pod assistant was mandatorily assigned to him that Gojo had taken to calling the Pod, Ijichi.

Sometimes Gojo wondered if the humans on the moon ever gave a thought to the androids lost down on Earth from their cushy homes. The aftermath of those frustrating days would usually cause Gojo to go on a full extermination on any machine he could find, no matter how non aggressive they were. There was no humanity to be found here.

It was during one of these spirals while running to a mission on the sea front when he eventually found his first human– you . In you he found hope.

As Number 5 strolled through the ruined city, bored out of his mind and debating on what he should do or whether he should search yet another terrorized village, when-

“Toru? Where did you run off to this time? Toruuuuuu~”

It was near a whisper due to the distance but Gojo heard a voice before he saw anyone. The voice sounded different somehow that he could not pinpoint just that the owner was far away and barely inside his range.

It didn’t sound stilted like a machine but it was also different from an android's vocals, almost as if it didn’t have an undercurrent of electronic echo to it. It was very pleasant sounding to his ears.

“Proposal: Investigate the source of the sound.”

Ah, he forgot about his floating mechanical stalker Ijichi, supporting Pod 345.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Proposal: Investigate the source of the sound before it is lost.”

“I forgot to regularly update once and I get stuck with nagging Ijichi. Fine. Let's hunt it down. Its sound is so…nice.”

Gojo could feel the adrenaline surging through his body as he started hunting down this new and interesting prey through various streets and buildings. Ears honed on his unseen target the YoRHa android moved swiftly, deftly destroying any machine that impeded him from his goal.

‘Calls out to a Toru. Singing an unknown tune. Even the complaining sounded so sweet to his ears, like the human myth of a Siren Megumi told him about weeks ago- Wait…human?’

Gojo’s feet picked up speed at the sudden invasive thought, ignoring the Pod frantically trying to keep up as he jumped over stray tree roots and weaved around broken buildings. The android ploughed through bushes and machines alike as the source got nearer and nearer.

Then he saw you.

Even from such a far distance and through a run down and broken building Gojo knows what you are.

A precious human.

A human who isn’t on the Moon where you should be and has a long weapon resting on your back yet here you were wandering around this infested city without a care in the world. You acted like you were untouchable, did you even know how much danger you were in?

“Alert: Human Found. Proposal: Contact command for further instructions.”

The more his eyes observe your figure, the closer he sees your features and skin. You were not rusted metal nor was your skin made to look like it. His eyes zero in the scars, dimples, small hairs, creases, and moles in your skin. Definitely not the smooth and flawless manufactured skin he's used to seeing on various android models but Gojo couldn't think of you as anything but beautiful as it slowly dawned on him just what he was seeing.

“Sir.”

“Shut up, Ijichi,” Gojo ordered as he prepared his best friendly smile and psyched himself up to meet his first ever human and hear more of your untainted voice. Would you be happy to see him? Would you fall into his arms like the human women from old world stories? Would you let him explore you for science before you are sent off to the human colony on the moon’s surface? 

Just like he ordered, not a single word was uttered by his Pod. He sighs in satisfaction.

“Finally. Now let’s-”

Suddenly his YoRHa assigned partner fell on the ground with a heavy bang, somehow deactivated without his notice and smoke hissing from Ijichi’s small body.

Instantly Gojo knew they were under attack.

Before Gojo could pinpoint who was attacking him and from where, the alerts of being hacked from an unknown source activated before his eyes. How interesting! An unknown machine that had hacking capability? Not a common sight yet Gojo wasn’t worried. He was YoRHa No.5 Type S, an evolved Scanner model, A Sorcerer unit, whose true speciality was the electronic battlefield. No one could take him on when it came to any kind of battle, let alone hacking. No intruder could even touch his defences, after all Gojo was the strongest android-

[Hacking Complete]

‘What?!’

Gojo didn’t have the time to absorb damning words declaring his loss as the android immediately lost control of his own body. Like a doll with its strings cut, he collapsed into a pile of limp body parts on the unforgiving ground.

“So this is the best YoRHa has to offer? Not impressed.”

[System Corrupted]

‘That little shit. Repair visual sensors. Repair!’ 

20%

30%

40%

60%

61%

60%

61%

The android, seeing that the repairs were stuck flickering between the same two digits, got extremely frustrated. Cursing inwardly, he proceeded to just go ahead with a half botched job because Gojo needed to see the bastard that was able to do this to him.

The damage was swift, viscous and extensive to Gojo’s internal systems, he discovered to his horror. It shouldn’t have been possible for the damage to be so deep! It was like his attacker knew exactly where to strike to cause the most pain and make him weak. 

Motor functions and attack programs were forcefully disabled.

Broadband link to servers was disconnected and blocked.

Malfunctions in his NFCS circuit.

Internal temperature rising by the second, self combustion is imminent.

Self destruct permissions were removed too.

‘What the fuck? How? I can’t even blow this thing up?...Just how smart is this thing?’

Whatever was able to do this to him was a real danger to YoRHa and to the people he cared for.

He didn’t know if it were seconds or minutes but when Gojo’s visual sensors partially came back online everything his eyes could see was glitching every few seconds and grayscale. What’s worse was he couldn’t even begin to analyse the problem. All the while, alarm notifications were ringing in his mind. He was trapped inside his own body as he watched the world pass him by.

An all too familiar voice rambled on with a cheerful tone above the low humming static in Gojo’s ears, “You know I think with a bit of poking around and reprogramming this Pod would make a great gift for our anniversary. 

From his position he could see a tall figure bend over as it examined Ijichi’s fallen body, “Ah it's a long distance attacker and shield based one too! Even better for her. Just got to erase the personality data it's developed and all YoRHa related communication permissions annnnnnd~”

The strongest android was motionless on the earth as his systems tried and failed repeatedly to self repair. He was mildly impressed that his attacker even knew the Ijichi Pod better than he did. Through the haze of his vision he saw an android dressed in Resistance gear.

“Oh, you woke up quick,” he notes before he shrugs, “Should have expected it really when it comes to you.”

The closer the android came to him the clearer the YoRHa android could focus. White relaxed locks of hair framing a beautiful face towered over him as cold piercing blue eyes looked at him like an experiment or a pinned butterfly.

Gojo was clearly looking at himself but didn’t understand how.

“What the fuck is this?”

Even Gojo’s lips couldn’t move due to the hacking damage but he could still speak his displeasure and confusion of this bizarre turn of events through his internal speakers.

“I’m you but so much better ,” the ‘copy’ boasted as he poked Gojo’s dead arm with his boot. Though his visuals were impaired, he can’t deny the sinking feeling of looking up at someone so extremely identical to himself.

Gojo hated that someone else had his face and yet seemed so genuinely free and alive somehow.

“Petty bitch,” the fallen Gojo seethed, “How did this happen? Did YoRHa assign an E mission to an S model?”

“Nah. I just dumped YoRHa like humans dump their waste. Faked my death, disconnected from the server and let them have my old backup copy without the memories of her.”

How could someone with his face and data speak of betrayal of all they knew so easily?

“What!?! Why? And why do this? And ‘Her’ is…?”

Something in the attacker's eyes changed, they became softer somehow as they recalled something seemingly pleasant.

“That cute human girl you were eyeing up? She’s mine,” the leather clothed YoRHa-deserter proclaimed with no shame at all, almost bragging to his victim.

“You’re…you’re ‘Toru’?” Gojo mocked as the ridiculousness of the statement sunk in, “She's a human! She should be up on the moon safe with the rest of her kind, making more humans.”

“Yeeeaaaah,” ‘Toru drawled out almost sarcastically, “She doesn’t want that. She has a life here and is happy building and teaching-”

“How did I get so dumb? She is going to die! Either from the machines ripping her apart, sickness or from old age. You.Will.Out.Live.Her. The human race needs her. We need her!”

“Damn I forgot I am as stubborn as I am handsome,” ‘Toru groaned with annoyance, “Listen well Number 5 . Fuck the human race. Fuck YoRHa. I need her . She won’t be happy away from the home she made with us, away from me. And who said I would outlive her? Where she goes, I go. I won’t let anyone take her away.”

Gojo was dumbfounded at this being's actions and thought process. Was it a result of a logic virus or…

“...You went insane ,” Gojo concluded, “ I would never self terminate over a human, not when we had our mission-wait…”

A beat of hesitation passes as Gojo starts putting the information together.

“Why are you telling me this?”

Satoru grinned with a hint of condescension down at Gojo, “I knew you would pick up on that. You are me, even if you are developing from my old data. The data where my human never existed.”

“Why kill me? I could be used to cover for you with YoRHa-”

“Nice try but remember I was you at some point. Already you are planning on ‘saving’ the human from me and sending her to YoRHa custody for her own ‘good’.”

“Then I’ll disconnect too. I can stay here and-”

“Aaaand that's my cue to end things,” Satoru tuts nonchalantly, “The Gojo that wakes up in the bunker won’t remember this. Thanks for the free Pod, ‘Ijichi’ was it? My wife will love it.”

-

“What a pain. If only he didn’t see her. My wife is too cute for her own good,” Satoru lamented with a sigh as he finished his ‘work’. ”But no he just had to start trying to be me …it's an interesting experience though. Anyways, I wonder if you would call this murder or suicide?”

On the floor the android, his old self- no a different self who never met you and had lived his life without you, was unrecognisable from the beautiful being it was. Limbs tossed away in four different directions, pure white hair ripped out at the scalp to be scattered by the wind and Satoru’s identical face smashed with a hard stamp of his heel. Satoru made sure no one would recognize Gojo’s body at first glance nor would any data be recovered from the android’s hard drive of this encounter. 

“At least things are sorted…” Satoru mused as he cleaned his hands of the oil Gojo spilled with the scraps of the now useless YoRHa uniform, “At least I wish that was the case.”

The strongest android being taken out will raise some questions with HQ that's for sure. When Number 5 wakes up he won’t remember how it happened due to the fact that Satoru prevented that with his hacking but for his Pod not to remember or have contacted Gojo’s assigned Operator? There will be investigations. What was the old human saying you told him a few weeks back? Once is coincidence, twice is considered an enemy’s action. 

YoRHa is going to become more of a presence on Earth soon. If they learn of you there will be a war because Satoru will not let you be taken from him. For you your husband is fully willing to manipulate the child like machines to act as bodyguards and act as the soldiers as they were created to be. Even if you got it into your mind you had to go to the moon to ‘protect’ everyone, Satoru would stop you.

But it will not reach that point.

Satoru would remove or destroy people he knew and cared for before it ever came to that.

All for you.

With that thought in mind Satoru picked up his prize, the dead Gojo’s Pod, and made his way to where he last left you with a musical tune he learned from you on his lips.

“I'm gonna fight 'em off. A seven nation army couldn't hold me back. They're gonna rip it off. Taking their time right behind my back. And I'm talking to myself at night. Because I can't forget. Back and forth through my mind. Behind a cigarette and the message coming from my eyes says ‘Leave it alone’~”

-

Eventually, he found you sitting on a log under some shade, watching some doves hop around and feed. To Satoru you were beautiful with that relaxed yet bored look on your face as you moved your feet in some game where only you knew the rules.

He watched how your eyes seemed to focus on a large dove feeding its chic, smiling as the small bird was hopping and flapping about. You seemed so fascinated with the display of motherhood. That look of tenderness and longing is not lost on him.

Yeah, Satoru never wanted to give you up. Not even to himself.

“Sorry for the wait,” cheerfully he called out as he wandered up to you.

“Took you long enough,” you open your arms for a hug as your eyes soften upon seeing him, “Did you take care of that machine?”

“Sure did. Annoying fucker it was,” Satoru fumed as he seeked comfort in your body, sighing in relief, “It was easy when it got distracted but it left such a mess.” 

“But you look like you always do?”

“Well, I may have stripped down and washed-”

“What did I say about nudity?”

“...Not in front of the kids? I still don’t really understand your hang ups about clothing. Todo stomps about with no clothing all the time- Oh. Oh oh oh! Is this human jealousy? You know my body is yours whenever you want it~”

“You know what, sure. Now, what's that in your bag?”

“Oh so you noticed? Here! It's 1 day, 4 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds early but Happy Anniversary!” 

In that moment, (and surely not for the last time) Satoru reminded you of his cat namesake as he presented with the brightest smile a limp metal box…that had something like arms? Seeing he was waiting for praise you quickly press a kiss to his cheek as you gingerly take the heavier than it looks slab of metal into your arms.

“Thank you, I love it!” you exclaim excitedly while turning the item around as you look at its odd minimalistic features. You nod and examine each limb as if impressed with its features.  Eventually, you give up and ask, “...What is it?”

“It's a Pod, silly Teacher,” Satoru teased knowing full well you didn’t know, “It's turned off for now but it will be so handy for your work. It can carry your stuff, give you reminders, it's a gun, it can shield you annnnnnd its name is Ijichi! And! And! If it gets too annoying you can turn his voice off!”

His enthusiasm is infectious because the more you look at it and learn, it sounds useful. Knowing how weak you were in close combat being able to keep harmful machines at a distance was a boon. Maybe with this Satoru could take you to see the sea someday.

‘Ah I didn’t expect this!’ , you thought with a slight panic, feeling irrational guilt at being caught empty handed, “I don’t have your gift with me-”

“There's only one thing I want.”

The resolute steel behind his statement gave you a moment's pause. As the light shined down upon you both he looked angelic with his flawless appearance and the smile on his lips.

“To love you and for you to love me in return. I refuse to let us be the first divorced couple in modern history. So, don’t leave me and I won’t leave you.”

Satoru was serious, completely serious, but seeing you giggling at his unintentional funny fact made him relax a bit more. He would never admit it to you but seeing that fallen android, the embodiment of who he was, coming so close to contact with you made him insecure. Satoru knows from personal experience how easy it was to fall in love with you and knew it was very possible for another Gojo to follow that path. He also knows how deeply you love him but Satoru refused to let you share that kind of love with another copy of him or anything else really.

He was selfish. Maybe he was evil for what he was doing but Satoru didn’t care enough to change that. You didn’t need YoRHa in your life. You needed Satoru.

“Idiot android. You already have that. Just…don’t regret me. Okay?”

It was unspoken between you what you were indicating. You both knew. It haunted Satoru every day and you were reminded of it every time you thought of Junpei’s last days and final fate.

“...Dumb human. I never will,” Satoru scolded you lovingly as he took your soft hand into his large study one, “Now let's head home. You promised to wash my hair for me and I still feel so dirty.”

Never mind that you both know he admitted to washing himself down not that long ago.

“Sure but only if you style mine. Oh, I heard through Noritoshi that there's now another peaceful machine village at the far end of the forest. They live in the trees!”

As he walks back hand in hand with his wife, Satoru never felt more peaceful hearing you ramble on about making potential alliances and one very smart ‘adult’ like machine called Pascal.

Yet his mind still calls up the almost wishful look on your face as you had watched the small avian and its mother. Satoru wonders what you would look like with a child, a human not mechanical one. You are a wonderful caregiver for your School. All the child-like machines flock to you like magnets, much to Satoru’s equal amusement and irritation. 

It's a good thing that your hidden bunker has another secret, one you never got to learn or think to ask about in more detail. Satoru had a very long time to examine Laboratory D and its human reproductive bank along with the rest of Red Block before you came looking for him so long ago. Satoru would be ever grateful to the Amanai Institute, who really went all out on their morally grey last ditch effort in preserving the human race.

Rows and rows of perfectly preserved human reproductive cells and instructions on how to use them.

While it burns a deep jealousy inside of Satoru that he can never naturally reproduce with you due to his inorganic nature despite having the parts needed, he is thankful. He is grateful all the same that there is an option for you if you want to have a child you both could raise with love.

The idea of studying a little child with your features as they went through their development made Satoru giddy with anticipation. It would be yours and it would be his. 

Ours.

The android wonders when would be the best time to tell you this. Would now be too soon? Or perfect timing? After all, it was his original anniversary gift to you before he found that Pod.

Yet that is a problem for future Satoru, along with the incoming YoRHa issues. Right now he wants to have your attention and carefree love on him. Hiding you from zealous YoRHa and Resistance androids will get easier with time as Satoru makes more connections and plots to secure your happiness and safety. He was the strongest after all and he was cunning.

Satoru is perfectly happy keeping his human hidden with him. Why should he feel any guilt about that when you are so happy? Honestly, what's one human in the grand scheme of things? There are more humans on the moon after all.

But there's only you for him.