A Prologue for Someday

Hey, goody-two-shoes. Lend me a hand, will you?

Huh?

Isuka? Help, with what exactly? Is someone chasing you?

Yeah, and that someone is an absolute nightmare.

Wow, for even you to say that, they must be bad! Who's after you, a Twilight assassin or something?

Trust me, I'd prefer that a million times over. Though...technically you're not wrong.

Um... What does that mean?

Wait uuup!

Why are you running away from me?

Because you keep bugging me!

Premaya was the one chasing you?!

The brat asked a dumb question, and I'm not answering it. I keep pushing her away, but I just can't shake her. She's driving me insane.

Lies, lies, lies! I know it makes sense to you! Everyone else watching the movie clearly got it!

Movie? Let me get this straight. Premaya, you just want to ask Isuka a question?

Yeah. I wanna know about love!

Love? What do you mean?

Why she'd think I was the one to ask, I can't even begin to imagine...

But this is perfect. I'm sure the worldly Aldo can answer your question far better than I ever could.

Um, Isuka... What are you...

Good luck, Aldo. You're going to need it.

Hey! Wait up!

Great. I guess this is my problem now...

Is that true, Aldo? Do you really know about love?

Nope, not in the slightest. So why are you suddenly interested in love anyway? Is it something to do with a movie?

Yeah... I watched this movie before...

Heheheh! There's nowhere left for you to run now.

Why so scared? We only wanna play.

Stop! Somebody, heeelp!

Stop right there!

Mind your own business, android.

No. You are upsetting her. Let her go or pay the price!

(*swoon*)

(I've never felt this way before... What is happening to me?)

Hmm... I really didn't get that movie.

Was that "love"? But how is it different from friendship?

Wow, what a great movie! That was some tearjerker all right!

I was crying so much, I couldn't even see the screen. Pure love between a human and an android... I can't see it working in real life though.

Nah, it's just fiction at the end of the day. A human would never actually get with a non-human in real life.

......

Oh. It was a love story between a human and an android?

But I don't get it. If you see somebody getting attacked, isn't it normal to go help them?

I get why it might bring you closer, but why would it make you fall in love? Why did everyone get so emotional about it? And what is love in the first place?

Oh, THAT'S why you were asking about love.

Sorry, but I don't think I'm the one to ask about this either. I'm not exactly an expert on the subject.

Grrr! Why is NOBODY I know interested in love?!

Fine. If you won't tell me, I'll just have to find someone else who will!

I should probably go with her. Best not to leave her while she's in that state.

Boy, if Loah got wind of the fact that Premaya's suddenly interested in love, he'd totally flip out...

......

"Love"?

Yeah, you're so clever, Maya, that I figured you'd be able to tell me something.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about it either. But I'm led to believe that in love, experience matters more than knowledge.

Experience, huh? So what you're saying is that you have no romantic experience.

Premaya!

......

Hey, what's wrong, Premaya? Why are you looking at me like that?

It's nothing, Master...

Premaya, it's rude to say things like that.

No way, for real?

Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! Are you mad at me?

Don't be silly, I have no reason to be mad at you.

However, it seems you and I are at the same level in matters of love.

So how about this? Whoever finds out how it works first tells the other?

Ooh, so it's like a competition? That sounds like fun!

I'm gonna do sooo much loving! I'm gonna beat you to becoming the ultimate lover, Maya!

Premaya, you REALLY need to watch how you word things!

I'll make sure to give you a worthy challenge.

You want to ask us about love?

How's this for an answer? No. Now go away.

Whaaat? But why?

You know full well I had no such experience during my youth.

Oh...

I guess everyone from Twilight spent all their time fighting with KMS...

Don't feel bad for me. The idea of a romantic entanglement doesn't appeal to me in the slightest.

Don't you agree, Toova?

Toova?

Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about the past...

The past?

Back when I was in Pador. I was close with one of the titans. He would carry me up to the top of the tallest tree, and we would gaze up at the stars together. Those were the days...

What?!

Th-This titan guy was your lover? I had no idea...

No, I'm afraid we never had that kind of relationship.

You didn't?

Back then, I wasn't in a position to be thinking about lovers.

I just wanted someone to be close to. They didn't have to be a lover.

Toova...

When you've lived as long as me, memories inevitably fade away. Yet some memories remain, shining like a jewel.

The elf girl I parted with long ago. The titan I met in Pador... And my beloved, standing beside me as we speak. That is all I need.

I feel the same, Toova.

Heheh, long may it continue.

Um, Aldo? Do you think those two are in love?

Toova and Suzette?! Um...I mean, I don't think so. But then again...

Are you gonna try asking Dewey? Because I have a feeling he won't answer...

Don't be so negative, Aldo! We won't know that until we try!

You never know, he might have a whole secret love life! Plus, I want to hear from a boy's perspective.

Tch. You're really killing the vibe of this place, you two.

You want something from me?

Um, yeah! I wanna ask you something...

Is that you, Aldo? And Twilight Premaya?

What brings you two here? Wait...

There you are! I've been looking all over for you! What on earth are you doing in a bar? You don't even drink.

*sigh* Yep, the vibe's officially dead now.

Can't a guy go to a bar unless he wants to drink? I just like the quiet atmosphere, that's all. I like to sit alone. In peace. Not being bothered by a pain in the butt like you.

What did you just call me?!

No fighting, you two! Please? Just play nice!

But while you're both here, there's something I wanna ask you.

Both of us? Sure, fire away!

Okay, what does love mean to you?

L-Love?

See what you've done now? Go on, you've made your bed, now you gotta lie in it. Answer her question.

Um... I'm afraid I can't help you there. I don't have any experience in that area...

It figures. No wonder you lost your cool around that KMS PR girl.

Um, miss... You work for KMS, right? You see, we're...

You're looking for someone.

Huh?! How did you...

That much is obvious. It's written all over your cute little faces.

Cute?!

Hey, that was...

Wait, how did you know about that?!

And then there was that time you got surrounded by all those schoolgirls. Boy, did that get you steamed up!

Why you...

Oh? They're gone...

......

Listen, maybe you need to be more selective about who you ask.

Yeah, maybe. So far nobody's told me anything...

But who should I ask? Do you have any ideas?

Hmm... Pom, maybe? She seems to know a thing or two about love. Though she can be a little...intimidating.

Hmm... I'm not sure. I don't really know anyone who talks about that stuff.

Heheh. This sounds like a job for me!

Wait, is that...

For problems of the heart, I'm your girl! My Evil Pink Brain can solve any issue at all!

You're an expert in love?

But of course! I've binged just about every romance drama and comic there is!

She certainly seems confident enough. You should try asking her.

Sure! Um, so...

I understand.

You are in love with love itself! This is textbook stuff in the school of love.

In love with love... But how? Don't I need to have, like, someone to love?

Heheh... If you wish to meet your soulmate, go to the clothing store.

Why a clothing store?

For a glow up, of course! Transform your look, and you'll transform yourself into a true girl in love! If you want to BE the part, then you have to LOOK the part.

So...if I put on some cute clothes, I'll be able to fall in love?

Now you're getting it.

Just leave this to me! I'll help you pick out the perfect outfit!

But I can't decide. Which would suit you better...girly or sophisticated?

No, maybe we need to switch it up. Street style could work. Or perhaps you could rock a punky look?

Um, I hate to interrupt while you're in the zone, but...

Huh?

WHAAA?!

When did you change clothes?! Oh my gosh, you look sooo cute!

Teehee. It's not so much a change of clothes as a change of settings.

Do you think I look cute, too, Aldo?

Huh? Oh, um...yeah. It's a very pretty outfit.

Yay! I'm so happy!

You look so different. I didn't even realize you had clothes like this.

The Professor made them for me, for infiltration missions and things.

Seriously? Isn't it a little conspicuous for undercover work?

Anyway, now that I've changed my look, I'll be able to meet my soulmate, right?

All right, here we gooo!

Hey, Premaya! Wait up!

*sigh* So much for our shopping trip...

Strange. No sign of my soulmate yet... Where could they be?

Wait. Where's Aldo?

Excuse me, miss. Can I talk to you for a sec?

Um...sure. What's up?

Uh...

I think you're radiant!

Radiant? Am I radiating something?

Huh? No, um... I mean like, you look really pretty.

Oh, that was a compliment. You're saying you find me attractive?

Yes, exactly! Crazy attractive!

(Urgh... What am I doing...)

Whoa! Loah?!

Aldo! You have to seduce Premaya!

What do you mean by that?

Do I really have to spell it out for you? You've got to pick her up!

Here, use this active camo kit. If you disguise yourself as someone else, she won't realize it's you.

Hold on a minute, you can't just jump out and start laying these bizarre demands on me!

Besides, why can't you just do it?

Are you insane? I'm the closest thing that girl's got to a parent! That would be wrong on SO many levels! I want her to realize that she's capable of falling in love. It will give her confidence.

So just do it, okay? Or are you happy to see her crushed with disappointment?

Of course not! I want to do whatever I can to help.

But pretending to be a stranger and hitting on her isn't exactly what I had in mind. Plus, I can't even act...

Look, just imitate the way I talk and you'll be fine. And if you struggle to think of anything to say, just throw her a compliment.

Tell her she's radiant or cool. That kind of thing.

Is that really all it takes?

Just trust me. I'm actually quite the ladies' man, you know!

(Loah said this would work, but I know I'm acting crazy suspicious right now.) (And I feel so guilty about deceiving her like this...)

Hey, are you listening to me? Are you my soulmate or not? Well?

Oh, uhhh... Maybe I am, maybe I'm not...

......

Y-You're so...radiant!

Um, Aldo? What are you doing?

Huh?

Aldo, run! Premaya's static charge has disrupted your active camo!

You've got to be kidding me! Why did I let myself get involved in this...

Ngh! I'm so sorry, Premaya!

Not the Professor, too! Was this all just some elaborate prank?

Hey, miss, you got a minute?

Who are you? You're not Aldo, right?

Aldo? Nope, never heard of him.

Listen, you were at the movie theater earlier, weren't you? I saw you when I came out of the movie. I haven't been able to get you outta my head since. I finally decided to pluck up the courage to talk to you.

Huh?

Wait, are you saying...that you've fallen in love with me?!

Love? Yeah, maybe.

Did you hear that, Aldo? Sounds like there was nothing to worry about after all.

Almost as if that whole humiliating charade was a total waste of time.

Hmm. You're in love with me, and I wanna fall in love...

Perfect! I'll just fall in love with you! Then everybody's happy!

J-Just like that?! You make it sound so simple...

But it IS simple! The Professor is always telling me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things!

......

Okay then. I guess we're lovers now. I'm Eloi, by the way. It's nice to meet you.

Yay, I did it! I'm officially in a couple!

So, um, what happens next? What do couples...do, exactly?

Uh, I guess we could go on a date? There are all kinds of dates that we could go on...

But since we're right outside a café, why don't we go inside and chat?

Sure!

Well, I can safely say I did not see that coming! That has got to be the fastest pick up in history!

Wait, um, Loah? Everything okay there? You're emitting some kind of dark miasma...

Oh, sorry. It's just that seeing her actually getting picked up... I just suddenly felt this inexplicable fury well up inside me...

(...He really acts like a father worried about his daughter.)

That's it! We have to follow them!

Isn't that taking things a little too far?

Not even slightly. What if he does something strange and causes Premaya to malfunction? Besides, how are we supposed to trust this rando? We don't even know anything about him.

You do have a point there... Fine, I'll come with you.

Teehee, this dating thing is so much fun! Where to next?

Premaya's clearly enjoying herself. Maybe there wasn't any need to follow them after all.

Mm...

Loah?

That outfit. It wasn't really for infiltration missions.

Oh? Then what was it for?

Twilight Cardinal Vestige had their eyes on Premaya. It was only a matter of time before they got rid of her. My research was on the verge of being shut down, so I rushed to put it together for her... To help her blend into human society and live like a normal person.

Oh, I see...

But in our time layer, she never had the luxury to think about things like love and romance. We were in the middle of a war when she was created, after all.

Yeah, so I heard from the others...

It makes me happy to see her enjoying herself now, yet I can't help but feel a sense of responsibility.

Not in a parental way, necessarily... I just don't want her to suffer anymore, you know? I will admit that man didn't seem to have any bad intentions...but I can't help but worry.

You once said that Premaya had infinite possibilities. Since I've known her, she's learned to fear death and even care for others. She's grown so much.

Maybe her interest in romance is just the latest step in her growth.

Yeah, you're right. It's probably not helpful to be this overprotective.

Okay, let's call this off! I'm not cut out for this tailing business anyway.

You wanna go to Route 99 next?

There's something I wanna tell you. And I wanna do it someplace quiet.

You have something to tell me? Could it be...

(Is he about to confess his feelings like in that movie?!)

Huh? Was that a static charge?

......

You wanna head to Route 99? Then let's go.

Are you sure this is the right place? It's pretty creepy out here.

Yes, this is perfect. No prying eyes are gonna see us.

Have you not been enjoying our date?

What makes you think that?

Well, you obviously like quiet places. And everywhere we've been has been all hustle and bustle.

Not at all, I've really loved our date.

But...I brought you here because I have something really important to tell you.

*gasp*

(This is it! Just the two of us, alone...) (This is exactly how that movie played out!)

Premaya. This truth is, I...

(Here it comes!)

(But how should I react after he confesses? In the movie, they...)

I'm actually a synth human. I've been using active camo to trick you into thinking I was human. I'm sorry. You must be so disappointed.

Yeah, you got that right! I was sure you were gonna confess to me! Instead, I get this...

C-Confess? That's what you're disappointed about?

No wait, let me get this straight. You're not surprised to learn I'm a synth human?

Nope, I'd already figured that out. When I let off that static charge before, it disrupted your camouflage. I'm not about to get fooled by the same trick twice in one day. Besides...

You're not the only one who got all dressed up today!

H-How did you, ?!

...Oh, I see now. You're a cyborg.

But you've got me wondering... Why were you pretending to be a human in the first place?

I've always envied the humans. From movies, to books, to games... They can create these fictional stories and share the joy they bring. I was so jealous of that way of life that I chose to live in human society. None of my peers get it, though. They call me a traitor. A defective unit.

Yeah, I get that. I love movies too. Whenever I'm feeling down, watching a movie always makes me feel better!

But um, not that romance movie. I didn't get that at all, heheh...

To be honest, I actually heard you talking to yourself outside the movie theater.

Hmm... I really didn't get that movie.

Was that "love"? But how is it different from friendship?

That's why I decided to talk to you. I thought maybe together, we could make sense of this "love" thing.

But...I guess I was wrong. This date was really fun, but my feelings for you aren't romantic. I'm not human after all. I am unable to love or to form any true connection with others.

......

The others were right. There is an unbridgeable gap between humans and synth humans. We'll never understand each other.

That's not true!

I agree that there are times where we misunderstand each other or hurt each other's feelings...

But the human and the android in that movie managed it! They were able to hold hands and laugh together.

It was so beautiful to me. I just wanted to find out how to get that for myself.

I...

Hey, you over there!

It's them...

Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in. Made a little human friend, huh?

What're you doin' out here? You spyin' on us for the humans now?

I don't like your attitude, mister!

Now leave us alone! We're just...

Um. Come to think of it, what ARE we doing? We're not exactly on a date anymore...

Heh. Looks like today just ain't your lucky day. Prepare to die, traitor!

Do whatever you like with me. But she has nothing to do with this. Leave her out of it!

Heh, you pick that line up from the humans, traitor? 'Cause you're only makin' this worse for yourself!

Tear this cowardly piece of scrap apart!

Why you...!

Cut this out! All he's saying is he wants to be friends with the humans! That takes a whole lot of courage! There are so many people out there who hate those like me and you.

Yet you'd still rather tear him apart than listen to what he has to say? You're the cowards, not him!

You...

Brave words, but they won't save you. Take 'em both out!

Huh?!

If you want to hurt Premaya, you'll have to get through me first!

Sorry I'm late, Premaya. Are you hurt?

I-I'm fine. I can fight too!

Then let's deal with these guys!

Right! But no breaking them, okay?

If I'm goin' down... I'm takin' you all with me!

Oh no! It's gonna self-destruct!

I can't believe this is happening... This is all my fault.

Don't worry about a thing.

I can fix this.

Huh? Why isn't it exploding?

Snap outta it! They're your enemies, not us!

Teehee. It doesn't take orders from you anymore. This little cutie's MY friend now. Okay, you know what to do! Chase them away!

Aaargh!

You don't want to follow them?

Nope. I think they've learned their lesson.

Are you all right, Eloi?

I think so... You saved my life. And that's not all. Your words saved my soul, too.

Really? My words did that?

Your words touched my heart in a way no line from a movie ever has! So thank you, Premaya. I'm sure that someday you'll find your soulmate.

Here's hoping!

I've learned so much, from the Professor, Aldo, Maya, the other me, everyone.

So I know that someday, I'll be able to fall in love too. As will you, Eloi.

Yeah, we can do this. Good luck to you, Premaya.

That's that, then. We broke up. Is this what heartbreak feels like?

Um, no, I don't think so...

At least it was an amicable split. You could always stay friends, if you wanted.

Anyway, I have a bone to pick with you! Have you guys been following me this whole time?

Yeah, sorry about that. Loah was really worried about you.

I-I was not! I just didn't want anything to go wrong again.

I don't know, when that guy revealed himself as a synth human, the look on your face told a different story. It looked like you were just itching to jump out and scream at him for deceiving Premaya like that.

Yes, thank you for that, Aldo. You could've just kept that to yourself, you know...

*sigh* It doesn't matter anyway.

I guess things never go quite like they do in the movies. Love is complicated.

Yeah, but you don't have to emulate the movies. Just find your own way of doing things. There are as many ways to love someone as there are people to love.

My own way...

He's right. Even in those movies you watch, things never go as planned right from the start. The characters find themselves against a wall, all the odds against them. But they find a way to move forward.

Hey, are you even listening to me?!

......

Why are you staring at me like that?

It's nothing!

All right, time to find my soulmate!

Is she really going to be okay?

We have to leave her to find her own way now. Love is all about making mistakes.

Besides, she's still just a kid. She's like a decade too early to be thinking about real love.

Haha! And here you were talking big about it giving her confidence!

Heheh. And like any good parent, any man who wants to date my Premaya will have to get my approval first.

Hm? What is it, Premaya?

I thought I should tell you something.

When you came to my rescue earlier, you were just like the hero in my romance movie.

Huh?

Maybe you're my soulmate after all?

Who knows! Teeheehee! Later!

Why you...

Whoa, whoa, whoa! L-Let's not overreact here! I-I'm sure she was only kidding...

Ahhh, don't kill me!

Haha! I was only joking. If anyone were to get my approval, it would be you.

But if you two keep acting like this, you'll never even get to the prologue of your story!