Andoris/Profile

Andoris

Story

Profile

Quotes

"I can't sleep yet, I still have work to do..."

This article still needs to be completed. You can help us by contributing.

Record 1

Imprint Model: G36K-KSK. A civilian Doll developed by IOP for the service industry. Andoris' model boasts design features such as an attractive appearance, friendly demeanor, accommodating character, and flexible applications.

To achieve such a high level of humanization, Andoris is equipped with an advanced emotional-reasoning module paired with a high-capacity data storage unit. However, this design decision indirectly causes her memory cache to be operating at near-full capacity at all times, resulting in a critical flaw—while proficient at collecting and storing information, her moment-to-moment data processing and decision-making skills are lacking.

In other words, she's an airheaded beauty.

While a joy to have a leisurely conversation with, she will spell disaster for anyone who forgets to promptly issue instructions and leaves her to her own devices during an emergency. As a result, despite her pleasant and approachable demeanor, she received a large volume of complaints for her poor customer service efficiency. Consequently, all of her stints in employment were short-lived.

When she had reached her rock bottom, Andoris was taken in by Springfield, the manager of a café in the satellite city.

Through a series of events, her excellent information-gathering skills and storage capacity caught the eye of Leva, an occasional customer at the café, who then recommended her to Klukai. She was eventually recruited as a member of H.I.D.E. 404 Team A.

Although Andoris is tolerant in most circumstances and rarely gets emotional, her demeanor gives people the impression that there's more than meets the eye... However, close acquaintances of hers know very well that she really is just an extremely accommodating and "slightly" laid-back individual."

Record 2

"...In summary, your performance during the trial period did not meet our company's requirements for the position. Therefore, we regret to inform you that..."

In a tiny room measuring less than 20 square meters, Andoris carefully reads the termination notice she just received.

"Hah...? Why are you highlighting the reason you got fired for?"

"To see if I can improve upon my mistakes?"

"Come on... It's clearly a copy-pasted template; there's no point reading into it. Listen to me sing instead."

The room's owner, Andoris' colleague—or former colleague, to be exact—sits across from Andoris with a guitar on her lap.

"Thank you for taking me in even though we're not colleagues anymore, Annie. I am very grateful."

"Because you're great to have around! So pretty and gentle, you're the best Doll I've ever met! It's the manager who overreacted", the colleague responds, seemingly upset at the injustice her friend suffered.

"All you did was not react in time."

"Well, letting the shutter door hit customers in the face is not okay... especially for the third time in a month. I can see why the manager got upset."

Hearing her colleague sympathize with her, Andoris gently smiles.

"Besides... I'm nowhere near being the best Doll ever. My model has already been discontinued due to the data processing speed not meeting expectations along with the frequent crashes."

"How could that be... none of this is your fault. If anything, the designer should be the one held responsible."

"Maybe, but it's okay."

Andoris stands up and walks to the window—with the room located on the 37th floor, she can overlook the entire city.

The night is late, but the city yet sleeps.

Colorful patches of light from the nightlife flicker as sporadically as the error messages popping up in Andoris' neural cloud whenever she crashes.

"I'll keep searching. Maybe a place better suited for me waits somewhere else."

Record 3

Taking care of the elderly is no small feat.

Although Andoris had studied the ins and outs of being a caregiver before accepting the position, it wasn't until she actually started working that she fully realized just how complex and sizable of a job it truly was.

Life at the nursing home may seem uneventful on the surface, but unexpected situations can arise at any moment. It's during these moments—when multiple commands must be executed at once—that Andoris' performance limitations become apparent.

For example, once, while assisting a senior in the shower, she forgot to execute the command to turn off the showerhead. As a result, both of them got soaked, and worse, slipped and fell.

In another case, a senior suddenly began choking while Andoris was pouring water for him. When she attempted to intervene, the new command conflicted with the previous "pour water" instruction, causing her to crash on the spot.

Records of similar incidents number in the dozens.

Eventually, Andoris was assigned to care for an elderly woman with Alzheimer's.

Her body and memory were slowly withering away, like an antiquated tree in the final days of autumn.

Most of the time, she sits silently in her wheelchair, staring out the window like a statue. Beyond her basic needs like food, and hygiene, she asks for little else.

As long as things remain predictable, Andoris will not need to worry about crashing. Everything moves smoothly when she's around this woman.

During rare moments of clarity, the woman would flip through an old photo album, recounting faded stories behind the pictures. Stories of her daughter, her son, her friends, and herself.

These aren't particularly remarkable stories, but to Andoris, they stir a strange sense of familiarity... a feeling she once felt with her previous coworkers.

When Andoris shares this feeling and asks how she might preserve it, the woman pauses, looking at her with a calm and kind gaze.

"That feeling... It's the bond between people."

"The bond...? You mean...?"

"When I talk to you, a small, fragile bond forms between us. And when people go through joy or sadness together, that bond deepens. The stronger the bond, the stronger that feeling."

"I... I don't really understand..."

The woman smiles.

"Everyone has a different name for it. For me, the people and places that give me that feeling are my belonging: my husband, my children, the house I lived in... But now, I can hardly remember any of it."

There is a trace of loneliness in her smile. Andoris instinctively places her hand over the woman's.

"Belonging?"

"Yes. It's something many people search for. It's hard to put into words... but it's a place where you feel safe, where people accept one another. A place that just feels right."

Andoris ponders the words, then nods, as if something clicked.

"Then, for me... this job brings me peace. You tolerate my mistakes, and I feel happy knowing I'm needed. So... this is where I belong."

"Before coming here, I was always searching for a job that would accept me forever... Maybe that's just how my base-layer code works. Even now, I mess up a lot and struggle to keep up, but doing this makes me happy."

"I hope I can stay here."

The woman, who has been listening silently, gently closes the album in her lap. She looks at Andoris directly.

Her eyes, usually clouded by illness, now hold a rare clarity.

"My girl... if that's truly your wish, then I'm afraid this isn't the place you're looking for."

The woman has always been kind, more forgiving of Andoris' mistakes than anyone else in the nursing home. But now, her words leave Andoris dumbfounded, her usual smooth procedure halted mid-operation.

Andoris has crashed again.

The conversation has now ended abruptly, interrupted by Andoris' system failure and the woman's growing fatigue.

Later, the woman's condition deteriorated rapidly. The last time Andoris heard her voice was through a recording given to her by the director.

"My girl... I'm sorry. That conversation we had that day... We'll never get to finish it face-to-face. I don't fully understand how a Doll's mind works, but if a human keeps searching for something... it must mean it truly matters to them."

A pause. The soft hiss of the ventilator and the steady beeping of medical equipment fill the silence.

"That job you kept looking for—that place where mutual acceptance exists—might've been pre-programmed, just like you said, but over time... It has become part of your heart."

The recording falls silent for a long time.

"A human's life is short... and fragile... especially for someone like me, already at the end of their road... I'm sorry, my girl. Belonging is made of people and places. And this place... can only be a temporary stop for you..."

Her faint voice, muffled behind the breathing mask, is like the winter gales, sweeping across the barren land and encompassing all in its freezing cold.

"Go find more places... meet more people... or perhaps... more of your own kind."

My own kind.

Andoris repeats those words in her mind.

As the recording ends, the world begins to shift. The breath of spring starts to melt the frost.

And within Andoris' neural cloud, a thought quietly takes root:

—to leave this place.

—to find new people.

—to seek where she truly belongs.

Record 4

Kzzt—[Sound of switching video]

"Welcome, welcome♪ 404 has finally welcomed a new member~!"

"We might not be going on missions together just yet, but once you're in 404, you're family! If you need any help, just contact me directly, okay? Hehe~"

Kzzt—[Sound of switching video]

"Having made it through 416's test successfully... You are worthy of my expectations after all~ Well done, Andoris. You've finally found a place that you need and also needs you in return."

"From now on, please take care of 416 and Gr G11 while I'm away with Lenna. I hope you can steadily become the trusty backup they can rely on."

Kzzt—[Sound of switching video]

"Andoris... your thighs are really nice, super comfy to nap on~ Truly worthy of the title 'Sanctuary of the Midday Nap'... What does that mean? Oh, I just made it up~"

"See? Just like this, I lie down... and count to 3... 3..."

"Zzzzzzzzz......"

...

As the highlight of Andoris' welcome party, the screen plays a series of short video messages recorded by the founding members of Squad 404 to welcome their new member.

Despite being out of the loop, Klukai immediately notices the video has ended after just three clips.

"What about me?" A simple question carrying a dreadful aura.

"Well, you're just too intimidating, Klukai... The technician in charge of filming said she was afraid you'd scold her for being superfluous or disrupting the training... See? She's still hiding back there, peeking at you..."

"Oh my, I think if our new leader has to keep frowning for another 30 seconds, she might just quit this party right now," says Leva teasingly.

"I-It's not THAT dramatic, Leva..."

"Anyone would be scared if the 'Krokodil' giving them the death stare~"

Glancing at the girl peeking nervously from behind the curtain, Klukai sighs and tries to appear a bit more approachable.

"...Leave her be."

Unexpectedly, Andoris starts cheerfully waving in that direction the very next moment.

"Hey Miss Jolin~ The Leader asks if you can come over for a moment~?"

"What are you doing, Andoris?!" Klukai asks, clearly flustered as Jolin cautiously approaches.

"Aren't you a little disappointed about not being in the welcome video? Miss Jolin still has the equipment, we can still film your part."

"I'm not disappointed." The curt reply stands in contrast to her evasive gaze.

"I see... Then let's say I am the one who would feel disappointed if I didn't get a proper welcome from my new leader. Is that okay?"

"...Make it quick."

"Of course~ Leader Klukai~ Let's find somewhere quieter to film with Miss Jolin, shall we?"

As Andoris gently tugs a visibly awkward Klukai off to the side, the other three members of Squad 404 let out a collective breath of relief.

It has nothing to do with strength or with experience.

From now on, Andoris won't have to leave again.

Record 5

Although Andoris isn't especially proficient with firearms—to the point of being jokingly referred to as a "white-armored goon of a certain space-faring empire" by Mechty—she's very fond of her imprinted weapon: the G36K-KSK.

Back when she was still a civilian Doll, Andoris didn't know much about firearms. As such, when it came time to choose an imprint-compatible weapon, she was completely lost amid a sea of incomprehensible model numbers and code words. And yet, despite not understanding a thing, her eyes landed on that specific rifle instantly.

Even though her compatibility with it wasn't particularly high, she chose it without hesitation; simply because it reminded her of Centaureissi—the backbone that propped up the Zucchero.

With weapon imprints being the fundamental aspect of any given T-Doll, by picking a gun similar to that of Centaureissi, she hopes that maybe—just maybe—one day, she could grow to be just as strong as her.

Most people, upon hearing her reasoning, would realize that there isn't much correlation between one's imprint and strength, yet none have the heart to crush Andoris' hopeful dream.

In her free time, Andoris' favorite activity is maintaining her weapon.

In fact, merely maintaining it isn't enough; she spends the majority of her paychecks on paints and accessories.

Urban camo, dazzle camo, jungle camo, desert camo...

Every so often, she gives her gun a complete makeover.

"Whoa... you actually have THIS many spray cans just for camos?"

On one occasion, Mechty visited Andoris' dorm and was stunned to see the neatly arranged spray cans covering an entire wall.

"Wouldn't painting new camo every so often be a big hassle? You have to remove the old paint every time..."

"Hehe, not at all. Just like how you never get bored playing games, this is my hobby."

"Interesting. You weren't even a T-Doll originally, but you're more obsessed with weapons than most of them..."

As Mechty babbled, Andoris paused her cleaning and gently ran her hand along the barrel of the rifle.

"I used to think I'd be stuck forever in the service industry. I wasn't even doing a good job... Becoming a T-Doll was something I would never have dreamed of."

"Becoming one showed me a future with potentials I would've never realized. As for weapons... they are the embodiment of a T-Doll, which is probably why I've grown so attached to them."

"Ah~ Affection by association. Makes sense."

Mechty nodded in understanding.

This cold, destructive instrument of power gave Andoris a sense of purpose.

With her rifle in hand, she's now filled with the will and strength to protect everything... Including her past self who was once lost, rejected, and afraid.

Record 6

"Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen you get angry before, Andoris."

Andoris, who's working on a puzzle, slowly pauses and turns to look at me.

"Do you want to see me get angry, Commander?"

"It's not that I want to. I'm just curious. Have you really never experienced anything that made you upset?"

"Hmm..."

She idles for a few seconds, seemingly digging through her memory.

"I think... I've never experienced the emotion of anger. But, if you're curious as to what it looks like, I can try to imitate it, Commander."

"Wait... You can imitate that?"

"Hehe, Dolls were meant to be imitations of humanity after all."

"So... shall I begin?"

Andoris closes her eyes for a brief moment, and by the time she reopens them, an expression I've never seen before takes over her face.

"COMMANDER! Just who was staying with you in the ops room last night?!"

Her expression darkens as she steps forward, looming towards me until I instinctively lean back into my chair.

"Uh... it was—"

"Didn't you say that I was all you need? Why did you break our promise?! Why go back on your word?! Answer me!"

"Because the shift schedule was—"

"I don't want ANY excuses! I. Want. You. To. Explain. Yourself. RIGHT, NOW!"

At this point, she looks like she's about to come and grab me by the collar.

"Okay, that's enough. Stop—stop, Andoris!"

At my command, she closes her eyes again and takes a deep breath.

By the time she reopens them, she's back to her gentle, familiar self.

"...Andoris, don't tell me you were using that opportunity to—"

"Opportunity to?"

Andoris tilts her head, wearing a sweet and innocent expression.

"Never mind... that was a very convincing performance... Who were you imitating?"

"Hehe, just some scattered fragments of neural data. Nothing to worry about, Commander."

Record 7

One day, I run into Andoris in the lounge while she's working on some handicrafts.

"You're still up at this hour, Andoris...? Huh? What's that?"

She holds up a green dinosaur plushie to show me.

"It's Mr. Pizza, Vepley's little dino. She said it had been ripped and the threads were torn open. I wanted to see if I could patch it back up."

I watch her sew in silence for a while before commenting:

"Sometimes, I feel like you're taking care of everyone like an older sister."

"Me...? An older sister? Hmm... I don't really think so."

She continues with a calm tone while sewing the plushie.

"If anything, I feel like I'm the one being looked after. This is just my way of giving back to everyone."

"Why would you think so?"

Perhaps to avoid a crash, she stops sewing and turns towards me with full attention as she answers.

"With how my performance issues routinely impact both my work and life, even if no one has the heart to say it, I know I can be a burden at times. So, I try to make up for it in other ways whenever I can."

"You say I take care of others like an older sister... but to me, I'm just really grateful, grateful that I've been given the chance to take care of everyone. Especially you, Commander."

"Especially me?"

"Yes. Because I know you don't really need these things taken care of for you. You're plenty capable of accomplishing most things on your own. In fact, I know it's probably more convenient for you to just do them yourself. Yet, you intentionally left them for me, just to make me feel more at ease, to help me feel useful, and to let me know it's okay if I mess up."

"In the past, I've always been afraid that if I didn't do something well enough, I'd be cast aside. And that was usually what happened."

"But here at your side, Commander, I feel like I'm needed. Not just because I can achieve these things... but because you've entrusted me with them; that feeling of intention is what matters the most for me."

"I think... this might be the feeling of belonging I've been searching for all along."

Record 8

"Commander, were you looking for me?"

Seeing Andoris step into the ops room, I put down the work I had on hand. In my mind, I quickly rehearsed what I was about to say.

"Here's the thing. Andoris, your capacity for understanding and empathy is really remarkable. Not to mention you're always able to offer uplifting encouragement when others are feeling down. I truly admire and like that about you."

"Hehe, glad I can help everyone out. I also always hoped I could shoulder more things for you outside of work, Commander."

"But... there's something I want to know. Do you usually comfort people with hugs?"

"Hugs, you say?"

Before I can continue, a soft pressure suddenly presses on the back of my head, and I'm gently pulled into a warm embrace, my face buried in something incredibly soft.

"...Yes."

"I believe hugs are one of the most effective ways to express comfort and care," Andoris says in a harmless, tender tone.

"Like during that time when Miss Krolik and Miss Nemesis were fighting, I hugged Miss Krolik, and that did effectively stop the argument in terms of result."

...The truth is, rather than "effectively stopping the argument", it would be better described that her action instead triggered a new storm of confusion in Krolik's head.

"Ahem. You know, Andoris—everyone has their own way of receiving support, and not all find the act of "hugging" comforting. Not to mention there are those with malicious intent—"

"Malicious intent?" asks Andoris as she slightly loosens her hold.

I take the opportunity to catch some breath.

"Whew... I was just worried that your system is defaulting to "hugging" as your way of offering support. I don't want you to do this to someone you're not familiar with just because they seem emotionally off. Doing so without first knowing what kind of person they are can be risky."

"I do know the difference between strangers and close acquaintances, Commander. Things like this are reserved for those who are close to me."

"But... you're right. Maybe not everyone finds hugs comforting..."

Her hand rests gently on my shoulder. She tilts her head, looking a little lost for a second, then smiles.

"But—YOU do feel comforted when I hug you, don't you, Commander? That's all that matters."

Her arms tighten around me, and this time, she doesn't appear to have any intention of letting go anytime soon.

Memories

Doll Instinct 1

"It's finally done."

I switch off the terminal and give my back a good stretch; the joints crack audibly a few times.

"...Whew, I've been sitting so long my whole body's stiff... Hmm, maybe I should take a break."

...

Gunshots in the distance reach my ears long before I arrive at my destination. I'm greeted by Andoris' focused silhouette as I approach but her shot grouping is...

"It's a bit hard to look at, wouldn't you say?"

"Ah, Commander."

Andoris notices my presence after completing her round and exiting Level II. She puts down her rifle and runs up to me.

"It's quite late already. Shouldn't you be resting, Commander?"

"Just wrapped up my work, thought I'd exercise a little..."

"What about you, still training at this hour? Didn't you just return from a mission an hour ago? You should take some rest first."

"Hehe, indeed I did. However, the mission revealed some of my shortcomings: I'm still too prone to crashing during emergencies."

"And... as you can see, Commander."

Following Andoris' gaze, I turn my attention to the screen again.

Andoris had the simulation set to breakthrough mode, meaning the virtual targets would constantly close in on her. This mode requires the test subject to quickly identify a breakthrough direction and prioritize certain targets.

"I wanted to see if I could optimize my reflexes and decision-making speed through practice and data tuning."

"And... while I was making good progress before, I struggled to keep up as the difficulty increased."

Andoris looks at the virtual targets and strokes her cheek in frustration.

"But I guess the Leader did say these things couldn't be rushed. I have to take it slowly."

"Do you think so too, Commander?"

"She's right."

"You know, most of your issues stem from hardware limitations. While processing and model optimization can help, an enormous library of data is required to make a difference... As such, progress won't be particularly noticeable at first."

"I'm fine with that. I'm happy to make a little progress each day and help you with missions or your routine, Commander."

Andoris flashes an angelic smile.

"Feels kind of... warm..."

"Pardon? What exactly?"

"Er, I mean... seeing Andoris work so hard really warms my heart..."

"Say, if there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."

"Really? Is that really alright?"

"Of course it is. Seeing how hard you're working to better yourself, I want to do something to help you."

"Hehe. I'm so happy to see you being this considerate, Commander."

"In that case... if you have the time, would you mind playing some chess with me? I've read online that chess is good for developing reaction time and decision-making skills."

"Even though chess is good for exercising the mind, I'm not sure if that applies to Dolls... but it can't hurt to try."

"I'll check my schedule and see if I can set aside time for it."

"Hehe, sorry to bother you like this, Commander."

"In return, I'll have afternoon tea ready for you, Commander."

"Sounds great, I'm looking forward to it."

Doll Instinct 2

"Hmm... I think I'll make this move."

I glance at the situation on the chessboard.

"Pawn to e5."

The chessboard generates a holographic projection of the piece at the designated square.

"Um..."

Andoris' pupils contract as she slips into a trance, staring at the chessboard motionlessly.

"...Looks like it's just a bit of lag."

"It seems the computational load required for a game of chess is still too heavy for Andoris."

I pick up the terminal next to me.

"F-f-f-f4."

"Are you sure?"

"Hehe. I've made my move."

"Queen to h4."

"Ah, that diagonal is exposed... Hmm..."

My gaze shifts back to my terminal, waiting for Andoris' latest lag to end.

Another ten seconds goes by, and Andoris blinks.

"Ah... Looks like I crashed again?"

"No, just lag I think, it didn't last long. I haven't even made it through a page yet."

"Umm, I'm feeling a little guilty."

"It took us so long to make just these few moves. Am I wasting your time, Commander?"

"Huh? Not at all."

"I marked today for R&R anyway, so spending some comfy time playing chess with you is honestly perfect. Besides..."

I hold up the terminal in my hand.

"I was just wondering, are you reading an ebook, Commander?"

"Yeah. I haven't had time to read in a while, since it's rare for me to take a break."

"You always seem to find these little pockets of calm, Commander, no matter the situation."

"Gotta make the most of precious moments... It's not every day that I get to be this laid-back, and I'm really enjoying it."

"Take your time, Andoris. As long as you need."

"Hehe. Okay."

"Let's see... Hmm..."

"Oh, wait. I think it's time for the a-afternoon t-t-t-tea-a-a-a-a-a—"

"Andoris?"

Andoris does not respond but stands up abruptly.

"A-afternoon t-tea, c-c-chess..."

Andoris picks up the teapot and walks to the door. I get up and follow behind her, worried she might bump into something.

"N-no... c-chess, continue..."

Andoris returns to the table and stares blankly at the chessboard.

"Q-queen... butter cookie... to e3—"

Andoris suddenly falls silent. Then, her body collapses backward, and the teapot slips from her hand.

"!!"

I quickly reach out and catch her with both hands, but the teapot can't be saved and falls to the floor, shattering into pieces.

"Andoris?"

I try to wake her up, but a red light flashing in her pupils attracts my attention — a telltale sign of a system crash.

And so, I gently lay her down on the sofa.

...

I look over at Andoris as I hear the rustle of fabric.

"You're finally awake."

"Oh dear... I'm so sorry, Commander. I crashed again."

"It's fine, that was only the first one today. However, I have no idea what triggered your crash... Could it be the afternoon tea?"

Andoris sits up and slowly tidies her hair and skirt.

"Well... My speculation is that upon noticing that afternoon tea time was coming up, I loaded a bunch of recipes all at once..."

"Doing so while trying to process the entire chess game was likely too much for me to handle at once, which resulted in the crash."

Just as I'm about to comfort her, Andoris tilts her head and looks at me.

"Although everyone says I should take things slowly, I feel like that's not always practical."

"It would be suboptimal if I got in the way of important matters, after all."

"Hehe. Looks like I have much more to optimize."

Andoris' leisurely tone is like a soothing aroma, bringing an inexplicable sense of relief. I can't help but indulge in it and relax as well.

"Optimization is one thing, but there's no need to be overly anxious about things that have yet to happen."

"Even if things do go south, it's more likely due to my own negligence and failure to plan properly as the Commander."

"Plan?"

"Yeah. Naturally, I would be inclined to assign you tasks you're more comfortable with."

"Hmm... Tasks I'm comfortable with? That must mean data transmission."

Andoris happily taps where her core is located.

"Hehe, I've got a lot of space here, you know? Leader often says I'm a walking hard drive, so I'm quite flattered."

Andoris' delighted expression seems genuine. I can't help but admire Leva's ability to read people.

"Ahem... You have a great personality on top of an excellent memory, Andoris. No everyone is this good at sensing others' emotions and offering support. Hmm... maybe you're better suited for communication-focused work."

"Communication-focused, huh... But my experience from before says otherwise. I was a little tardy when working in the service field, to put it mildly. The complaints I received were so numerous that the letters could pile into a small mountain; it was quite the sight."

"And as a result... I could no longer find employment."

Recalling her past experiences, Andoris looks a little helpless, but she quickly regains her reassuring smile.

"Hehe... Fortunately, the problem was ultimately solved with the help of Miss Springfield and Miss Leva."

"Though, most of our current commissions are combat-focused and have little to do with communication."

"That's to be expected. You're in a T-Doll squad after all."

"But that's not to say communication isn't crucial. The success of some commissions hinges entirely on building rapport with the client. One needs to fully understand their needs to negotiate a satisfactory deal for both parties."

"The problem is, the client may not want to disclose their true intentions for various reasons. Your attentiveness, friendliness, and empathy are nice to have in such a scenario. Just leave the decision-making and planning part to me."

"That sounds like a pivotal role."

"If circumstances call for it, I wouldn't mind giving such tasks a try."

"Is that okay, Commander?"

"Of course."

"Actually, I believe there's one such appointment tomorrow. Let me check..."

I open the terminal's mission interface and take a glance.

"Here."

"Check this out."

"Ohh... It seems the client intends to introduce additional terms, and they're rather disadvantageous to us... Is that right?"

"Correct. I've dealt with her before. She is rather cautious and distrustful."

"But you come across as much more approachable, so maybe you can make her drop her guard, if just a little."

"If you believe that could work, then by all means, let me give it a try."

"Very well. Let's go together tomorrow, Andoris."

Doll Instinct 3

The sliding door to the maintenance room opens. Mayling, already prepared for the repair upon receiving the message, quickly runs over.

"Commander, are you— Ah! Andoris... How did she get so badly damaged?"

With the remaining half of Andoris' body in my arms, I carefully place her in the repair bay.

"We got ambushed by the client's rival while discussing business with her... Mayling, come over and assess the damage."

"Ah... R-right away!"

"Uwahh... This is hideous..."

"I'm fine, Mayling..."

Andoris strokes Mayling's head, then pats her still intact core.

"I-I just completed a self-diagnosis. My crucial storage capacity has not been impacted. Hehe-hehe-he-hehe."

"This isn't the time for you to be comforting others."

Seeing Andoris smile apologetically, I let out a sigh.

"Whew... The neural core is fine... Thank goodness!"

"But all the leg components need to be replaced... as well as the right arm... and the synthetic skin... It would be easier to just replace the entire frame!"

"I'll go make the preparations now, Commander. Can you upload Andoris' neural data?"

"No problem. Be quick."

As Mayling trots away, the maintenance room suddenly falls silent. All that remains is the constant beeping of the sensor.

"You're not hurt, are you, Commander?"

"...Look at the state you're in. This isn't the time for you to be worrying about these things."

Andoris shakes her head.

"The safety of my Commander is my utmost concern. I have to make sure of it."

"A Doll's frame can be repaired and restored to its original state, but the same can't be said for people."

"(Sigh) ...I don't want you to hold on to that kind of thinking."

"Even if a Doll's frame can be repaired, it still hurts when you get injured, right?"

"It does hurt."

"It's okay to get hurt because I can be fixed. That's not the mindset I want you to have when making reckless decisions, Andoris."

"Reckless decisions?"

"You know, I was prepared for whatever we might encounter during the outing, but I never got the chance to make use of my contingencies since you barged in first."

"The forcefield would've been enough to protect us, and you wouldn't have suffered such severe damage."

"Are you saying I only acted recklessly because I disregarded my own safety, Commander?"

"No... I know you're just trying to protect me... But I want you to take better care of yourself, too."

"Speaking of which, your reaction time back there wasn't as slow as usual."

"Did I... react quickly?"

Andoris slowly blinks.

"Well... I just checked my neural records from that time; the data processing log just prior to my action of protecting you reads... nothing. In other words, I didn't perform any kind of consequence analysis back then."

"There was no "I'm just a Doll, it doesn't matter if I get hurt" or "my own safety isn't important"... None of that crossed my mind."

"Huh? Dolls usually process their actions first and then execute. Having your body jump straight into action like that is quite unusual..."

"Indeed. Could it be a glitch in my neural cloud? If so, I'll have to bother Miss Mayling to take a closer look later."

Lying in the repair bay with her mangled frame, Andoris once again shows a gentle, calming smile.

"Hmm... My body sprang into action without my conscious thought. This is indeed a first for me."

"Is this what the books call the "instinct" of a living being? But I'm clearly a Doll..."

"Don't worry, Commander. Maybe the glitch will go away after I switch to a new frame."

"I hope so..."

I gently caress Andoris' head, my feelings tinged with sorrow.

Andoris has always been gentle and attentive when caring for others, but when it comes to herself, she can be quite insensitive.

This might save her some hassle, but I find it hard to admit it's a good thing in the end.

"Good night, Commander."

As the sensor beeps to signal that the neural upload is complete, Andoris also enters hibernation in the repair bay.

Doll Instinct 4

It's already late evening by the time I've finished the day's work. I arrive at the dormitory and heat up a cup of milk to continue reading the book I started earlier.

Come to think of it... It's been a while since I last saw Andoris.

If I recall correctly, as soon as she got her new frame, she went on an emergency sortie with Klukai while I had my own matters to attend to. I wanted to take some time to visit her, but our schedules never lined up.

Just as I'm thinking about whether she's gotten used to her new body or not, I hear the sound of the door sliding open.

"Huh? Andoris? What a coincidence, I was just thinking about you."

"How is it? Does the new body—Oof!"

Before I can finish, I receive a brief but gentle hug.

"Andoris?"

I softly pat Andoris on her back, but she does not respond; instead, she hugs me even tighter.

Her soft strands of hair move with her, lightly brushing against my face.

"What's the matter?"

"..."

"I can finally stop being worried after seeing you in such high spirits, Andoris."

"Worried...?"

"You were afraid I'd get worried, and this hug is to comfort me, right?"

"Hmm...?"

A hint of confusion can be heard in Andoris' voice.

"Oh... I guess I got it wrong then."

"Umm... No, Commander. Were you... worried about me just now?"

"I was. You just had your entire frame replaced, which would be the equivalent to a major surgery for humans."

"Plus, it takes a while to get used to a new body, even for a Doll."

"Hehe. I see."

"As you can see, I'm doing great. I can move around quite well."

Andoris lets go of me and straightens up in front of me. She looks good as new with her neat dress and frame in perfect condition.

"Even Leader Klukai agrees that I'm ready to go racing against Thoads now."

"...That's good to hear."

"Oh, right. I just got a new portable charging station. I'll bring it over now. Think of it as a thank-you gift for saving me..."

Just as I turn around and prepare to leave to fetch the charging station, a pair of arms suddenly wrap around my waist.

"Andoris? Is something wrong?"

"Ahh... How strange, my body is moving on its own again..."

"Again?"

"Yeah. Just like earlier, as well as in the mission before, my body is moving on its own without my conscious control. It doesn't seem like a malfunction either..."

"The neural cloud of a Doll is a mysterious black box. Sometimes, even Persica herself can't figure it out."

"So, no need to overthink it. Just do as you see fit."

"Oh, alright then. Can I hold onto you like this a little longer, Commander?"

"By all means."

Right as I say that, I feel the arms around my waist tighten a little more, then loosen slightly as if afraid of hurting me. Gurgle—my stomach growls at the worst possible moment, overcome by hunger.

"Uhh..."

"Have you not had dinner yet, Commander?"

"I forgot about it. Speaking of which, it really is a shame..."

"Shame?"

"I'm talking about the dishes the client prepared when we met up."

"A table full of delicious food, all wasted before we could even dig in because of the ambush..."

"Hehe. If you don't mind, I can make you something, Commander."

It may not be as sophisticated as those delicacies, but you definitely won't leave hungry."

"Sounds good."

...

"Although, is it really okay for you to cook? I remember Springfield mentioning that complicated dishes might cause you to crash or something..."

"That's right. That's why I deliberately studied dishes that aren't too complicated, thinking I could make them for you whenever you crave them, Commander."

Andoris retrieves a bag from the cupboard as she speaks.

"Pancake mix?"

"Yep, it's relatively easy to work with."

"Please don't be disappointed, Commander."

"How could I? Compared to compressed biscuits, pancakes are a rare treat."

Andoris smiles and begins preparing the pancakes. Perhaps to avoid processing too much information at once, she moves at a rather leisurely pace.

"This feels... kind of embarrassing."

"To have you make food for me when you just came back from a mission."

"No... I want to cook for you now, Commander. I don't want you to go hungry."

"Hmm~ Maybe that's why I subconsciously found myself wanting you to say with me a little longer?"

"Wanting me to stay? You mean that hug was meant to keep me around?"

"That's my guess, since if I really wanted to, I could've simply said so."

"But still, my body moved on its own... as if guided by that very "instinct" we talked about."

Andoris pours the pancake batter into the hot frying pan and skillfully flips it.

"Maybe it's because you're the most important person in my thoughts, or perhaps... I simply want to be with you, Commander."

The pancake takes shape and releases a rich aroma of creamy milk.

"And then, after realizing that you're the one at the center of all this, maybe letting this "instinct" guide my actions isn't such a bad thing."

"Hehe. Having the Commander become my "instinct" sounds very sweet."

The fluffy pancakes are neatly served on a plate and topped with golden syrup. They all look very appetizing.

"Guten Appetit."

"Well, I'll dig in now."

"Hmm... Delicious. And the tenderness is just right."

"Wonderful, I'm glad to hear you like it, Commander."

"I like it a lot."

"Hehe. In that case, may I request something from you, Commander?"

"That's quite unlike you to ask for things so directly."

"It's an unreasonable request."

"Tell me about it."

Andoris flashes a somewhat sly smile, a rare sight coming from her.

"Finish the pancakes... then I'll tell you, Commander."

Undecided Victory

"Bishop to e5, blocking the check."

"Then I'll have no choice but to capture your bishop."

"Ah! Uhh... I still can't outwit you at this, Commander."

"So, all the enigmatic act was just to get me to play chess with you regularly?"

"It isn't that outrageous of a request, is it?"

"I think it is, since I'm monopolizing a lot of your time and energy, Commander."

"It's not just me, you know? Everyone wants to spend time with you, Commander, so I feel a little guilty for making such a request..."

"However, it's just about claiming you for myself; I also want to show you the fruits of my recent training, Commander."

While I'm still processing her words, Andoris moves her piece to a tricky position.

"This move..."

"Hold on. Was it just me, or did your reaction speed get faster?"

"The duration of my lag has also been reduced."

"And you've started to employ more tactics too. Good job, Andoris."

"Thank you for spending so much time with me, Commander."

"Also, it's not just chess. I've noticed my reaction speed improving and crash frequency decreasing during missions lately."

"I assume that phenomenon where your body moves on its own without processing is also much less frequent now, right?"

"I'm not sure about that."

"Since the phenomenon only seems to arise when I'm in your presence... I also don't want it to be gone."

"After all, letting you become my "instinct" feels like a special bond between the two of us, Commander, one that nothing can break. That thought alone fills me with so much happiness."

"Even so, I hope you can take more care of yourself."

"I am. And in choosing to care for myself... I want you to be the most important person in my life—the one encoded into the deepest layers of my mind."

"A game of chess isn't mine to decide the outcome of, but when it comes to who holds the highest place in my heart... that choice belongs to me alone."

"I hope you can embrace this outcome without worry, Commander."

Private Meeting Logs

Andoris

Commander, is everything okay lately?

Your health report shows that your stress level has been on the higher end over the past month~

I've arranged some activities to help you relax. Would you like to give them a try?

Alright, I'm sure you'll walk away satisfied, Commander~