Do Robots Fall in Love?

Hey, Aldo, did you know this tavern has the absolute BEST hot sauce of all time?

The absolute best, huh? I take it you're a big fan of spicy food?

Yep. If my mouth isn't on fire, it's not a real meal to me!

Even dessert? I can't think of anything sweet that you'd want to add spice to.

Really?! But that's the best combination! Here, let's get you some hot sauce and ice cream!

I...don't think my taste buds are refined enough to appreciate, huh?

Those guys over there are really staring at us... Do you know them, Shanie?

Which guys? ...Oh! Oh, I think they're...

You're the young lady who was dining at the tavern last night, yes?

Yeah, I did...

Aha! Now I've got'cha!

Feels like I've been searching for you my whole life, my love! Marry me!

What?! Cut the crud, man, you're already married!

AND you're super old too!

Hah! True love has no age or legal status, boys!

I'm not liking where this conversation is going...

*sigh* Not again...

It's the same as before...

No, this time it might actually be worse. Because, y'know, there's three of them.

A numbskull like you? Think again, knucklehead!

Oh? Like you can talk, short stuff!

Well, neither of you stands a chance against a silver fox like me so you can both forget about it!

Wow, they're really going for it.

And only yesterday they were palling around, drinking smoothies together... That's really the worst thing about this charm. Seeing friends turn against each other and knowing that it's my fault.

Now wait a minu...

Look, don't worry. I'll fix this!

What?

Hey, my good sirs. How about we all calm down here? All this fighting isn't making Shanie happy, you know?

Hunh? And just who are you?

Yeah, that's what I wanna know too.

Yeah, what are you to her? Huh, punk?

I-I'm honestly just a friend of hers, but...

Lies! You can't fool me, "good sir"!

Wh-What the?!

Run for it, Aldo! This way!

They're getting away!

After them!

Sure hope we've lost them now...

I'm sorry, Shanie. I thought I could maybe reason with them, but I just made things worse...

Come on, silly! You just wanted to help me, right? I really appreciate that. Besides, I'm the one who should apologize for getting you caught up in this kind of mess again.

Hey, you got me out of it too so let's say we're even. But what do we do now?

The spell will gradually fade if I avoid them for long enough. But it's barely been half a day so it'll take a little more time.

Then we'll lay low until the heat dies down, then sneak out of the city.

Sorry to further inconvenience you but that really would be for the best. Let's start with finding a place to hide out at. Say, the Inn.

Hiding out in a building somewhere makes way more sense than staying out in the open.

Right. That'd be the easiest option too. Okay, let's do it.

Excuse me. I'd like to rent a room, please.

Phew, sure am glad they had a room available.

Yeah, now we can relax.

Are you sure about that?

Wha, ! Where'd you come from all of a sudden?! And how'd you find us?!

Heh heh heh. Never woulda guessed I'd find me a Sweet Sugar Muffin at my age! Now come to me, my beloved buttercup!

If those're the kind of pet names I'll have to put up with, you don't leave me much choice. You're bothering Aldo, too...

Shanie? What are you planning to...

It's okay, Aldo. Just close your eyes.

Huh? L-Like this?

Over here, you Passionate Potato, you!

Gaaah! My eyes!

Come on, let's get out of here!

*huff* *puff* ...I think we lost him.

What exactly did you do back there?

Oh, that? I just made my magic sword shine real bright, that's all.

I learned how to do it in the early stages of my Magic Blade training. Never stops coming in handy.

Wow, you really know how to do a lot with magic, don't you? Speaking of magic, I wonder how he found us so easily in the first place. That was pure sorcery.

Yeah, I don't know. It felt like the sigil's influence on him was a lot stronger than it usually is. Maybe he was tired and couldn't fight it as much?

Whatever the reason, that determined look he had was something else. Pretty terrifying...

Then maybe we shouldn't wait to skip town. At this rate staying here could result in more casualties.

Let's try camping out on Route 99. It's bound to be deserted.

Good idea, actually. All right, lead the way!

I was worried we'd run into even more trouble but it looks like finally we're in the clear, thankfully.

Yeah, I didn't notice anything suspicious on the way here either. Let's keep going for now, just to be safe, and then we can take a break.

All right. This should be far eno...

Argh! I can't move!

W, Why is my body shaking?

Heh heh heh...

All according to plan. Using a trap was a genius idea, if I do say so myself.

A trap?!

That's right! People act like they're so useless and unoriginal, but you can't argue with these results!

Either that or...we're extremely unlucky...

Nope, no luck involved whatsoever! Just pure calculation! Y'see, I spent the whole night setting these traps up all around Elzion. After all that work one of them was going to catch you by surprise eventually!

Since last night? Oh man, the charm's effect must be really bad this time!

That's not the only thing that's really bad! I still can't move!

Now, my flaxen fantasy, there's a romantic dinner back at the tavern with our name on it, and...

Ngh!

Not on my watch!

Wha, ?! Impossible! You should be...

Shanie, over here! Hold on!

Okay!

Nooo!

Geez, I thought the hex was bad before but this time really takes the cake.

Route 99 is probably littered with traps too. We should try leaving area via the airport.

But to do that we'd have to go back to the city.

At this point we're out of other options. Let's head to the Theta District via the Gamma District elevator. If thing's get hairy, I'll, uh... I'll think of something, don't worry.

Heheh, it's okay. They might have got us last time but that'll be the final time for sure. I won't let my curse put you in danger anymore!

So far so good.

Yeah, zero sign of those guys. Maybe we finally lost them for good.

Fingers crossed. After we exit the elevator in the Theta District, then we...

...Tch. Missed.

Was that a bolt of lightning just now?

H-How did you do that?!

With a GEE-ZAR-15 Advanced Model Stun Gun, of course.

Where and how in the world did you get your hands on a thing like that?!

Oh, it's only something I personally put together from a few hundred cheap junk parts or so. Tinkering with tech is a longstanding hobby of mine. I designed and built it from scratch in just one night!

Man, imagine what you could achieve if you put that passion into something worthwhile.

Ah, but I could never be as passionate about anything else, you see! Now, settle down and come away with me, my love!

We're toast if we get hit by that electricity! We've got no choice but to run!

Oh, you can try but you can't run from love!

Whoa!

Tch. Another miss? Got no choice then... Turning all settings up to "M4X1MUM P0W3R"!

No, a malfunction! Why now of all times?!

Aaaaaargh!

I knew I should've shelled out for the pricier parts...

I don't know what just happened, but now's our chance. Run for it!

Uh...right!

I really hope that's the last we see of him.

......

What's wrong, Shanie?

N, Nothing. I'm fine! Peachy, even.

...I'll admit though, I'm slightly worried about that old guy.

I'm sure he's fine. He made that gun himself so I'm sure he made it injury-proof. Probably.

Y-Yeah, I'm sure you're right! Ahaha...

Really? I don't know this place at all so you'll have to lead the way.

No problem. It's not far from here.

Now that we're here we should be fine. It's practically always deserted.

Kekeke... Or so you thought!

AGAIN? You're senior citizens! Aren't you all tired out yet?

This is strange. They're too obsessed, even by the standards of this spell. For a start, how in the heck did they know we were here?

Oh, that's simple. You're wearing a tracking device.

Y-You what?! Since when?!

It was genius all right. Actually, you ever considered trying to get a job with the COA?

Indeed, you were always good at this kind of stuff, even back when you were a young'un. Don't let that talent go to waste, y'hear!

All right, listen up. I've stayed my hand until now because I know Shanie's anxious enough as it is.

But you've shocked us and shot at us and tried to kidnap my friend. Enough! I'm ending this madness here and now!

Hah! You wanna rumble, kid?

We're ready. Come on! Go, DR-34M M3CH-4!

Uh... What is that?

This metal baby's the mecha fruit of our collaboration, perfect for the demands of any difficult courtship.

Improved artillery. Paralyzing attacks. And an inbuilt tracker for this lovely lady. It's a priceless labor of love in itself.

And above all, it's malfunction-free!

They made sure of that this time, huh?

Well, that's inconvenient. Not to mention unexpected. I didn't want it to come to this but my back's really against the wall now. All right, Aldo! Ready?

This little love story has dragged on for way too long!

Take that!

No! Our Mech! It was too young to go like thi, Uwaaagh!

Gwroooh!

My eyes... My ears...!

Now!

Right!

...There's no way they'll come after us this time, right?

Probably not. Besides, the shock should have helped break the spell.

Even so, I feel awful kicking their butts and then just leaving them there like that.

You're right. There has to be something we can do.

...That's it! The Administrator might be able to help! Let's go ask.

I understand the situation. It sounds like it was quite the mess. Although, considering your track record of sticky situations, I can't say I'm surprised.

Heh heh... Thanks...

Thank you so much for helping us. We really appreciate it.

Don't mention it. I'm told that your three friends have been safely recovered from the airport.

Um, speaking of those three... They're not bad people, I swear. It's just that because of my charm, they...

Hm. Well, fortunately, nobody apart from you two was affected. I promise to let them off with a warning and leave it at that.

Wow, really? So this is what it's like having friends in high places...

Well, it must be said, you're a bright and peppy young lady. I can see why they might have fallen for your charms.

In any case, I have already confirmed their safe return. You can go now. Take care.

Was that a compliment just now? Can't say I think I'm the sort of person deserving of compliments...

That's not true, Shanie. Don't you think you're being too hard on yourself? Well, either way, I'm just glad you didn't get hurt.

You know, Aldo... I was wondering... Um... Why are you always so nice to me?

Well, that's what friends do, right? They're kind to each other, they help each other out...

Oh, right, yeah. Because we're friends...

Something wrong?

Yeah, sorry if what I'm saying makes no sense.

It just worries me when you're like that, that's all.

Hm?