ARCHIVED HEARTS - Mr.Z

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUmTPEFXO9

The man led us through the enormous mansion.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOkSL33QDj

I couldn't stop looking around.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1aylBmXq9

The place looked more like a secret research facility than a house.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lFSIuW2gF

White walls.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qcMuRYANP

Huge glass windows.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojkz1TAlYA

Advanced technology everywhere.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVrx7zDig2

What the hell...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakoJfujHI4

Who even are these people?

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx1wPjIOZp

I finally stopped walking.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdt7u54Qnp

"Okay."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzgM4zTcFU

"I'm done keeping quiet."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68yl6Ufkt6

"Who are you people?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkUlgvrIjG

The man smiled.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAX7RDxrNn

"We are the people behind X."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvxMLX07VC

My eyes widened.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk9dSBDISn

"The website?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrETCpoE2m

He nodded.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJXb0VYU9A

"Yes."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtLq4NQgqv

"We are a private organization."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAyKcCPIsw

"Our identity has remained hidden from the government for years."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGOGzYdn7V

"We search for extraordinary minds around the world."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxffU9INr5X

"And you..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsSwOZZfjV

He looked directly at me.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsRFhaSNmW

"...were one of them."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq092oIjf2

I pointed at myself.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfqhG4Nq7q

"Me?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6p485tvTT0

He smiled again.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDglrmLq3d

"E001."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfirHKqWZLh

"We never imagined that someone with almost no formal knowledge of robotics..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoVx7Y0SS0

"...could successfully build a humanoid robot."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQznaV3DdW

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOvA3khdg8

"Yeah..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz47WYR8kMg

"Honestly..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTPZwDZzPG

"I didn't expect that either."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2SwXaHhi3

Everyone in the room laughed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSUm3oJ8lV

One of the women walked toward me carrying a black jacket.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OYJTJlaNs

She handed it to me with a warm smile.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNygESPjpKj

"Welcome to X."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUOurGWy8g

The jacket had a silver emblem stitched onto the sleeve.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJufgQP3OI

E001

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPgI2TVjjr

Right below it.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE5DbZkRl5

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfjbqO89f1

Wait.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS5C1aATf1

Do I actually have a cool hacker jacket now?

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtieTfgSShH

Another person handed me a sealed envelope.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMxtx4KhPO

I slowly opened it.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPj1UPNcMm

Inside was a letter.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxmrSOkGfn

Invitation to join Project X

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4BFVFh4vw

To: E001

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXKkedUW75

Your creativity, determination, and achievements have earned our respect. We would be honored to have you as a member of our team.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RULG3KClh

I looked up.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6NEn2hFqZ

"You're... inviting me?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKtljGBFOc

"We're not forcing you."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR3FKU8j8o

"It's entirely your choice."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycneyqKDPr

Then one of them smiled.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2r5yvUSQzC

"And..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQEQ2nWpUw

"The Maldives lottery?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMP17gsDiQw

I blinked.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjE5bPwSCnR

"What about it?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS3hdMaPkb

"We created it."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQZrLKP2FK

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzNmKZw1Ju

"What?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFecjdgRppx

"It wasn't random."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NhVG6FifQ

"It was designed to bring you here."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A6dcMDeFk

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMK9BjDxIP

I stood there completely frozen.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7T0Jn3o5D

"So..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKw2gAlDUjV

"I didn't actually win?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIMJHvDW2I

"You did."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxnsQzUAAh

"But only because we wanted you to."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zTCgCKAez

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtmlxZYKLn

"That's cheating."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CV8Uxzut9

The whole room burst into laughter.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6XmPfgw8a

I couldn't help laughing too.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuAt7fYSoc

For the first time...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEJs6rKOoQ

It didn't feel like I was surrounded by strangers.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAUufixsrF

It felt...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepfDcZTe71

Warm.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pITmeHXtg

Like a family.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS3v4NlOdV

One of the senior researchers smiled.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LAzwzfGWw

"If you'd like..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYO6muNlKy

"You can stay here with us."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CYryVcPwL

"There are many researchers your age."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt0Hsq8w1i

"You won't be alone anymore."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqOaOsUVFJ

I looked around.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVu5ZJi1VP

There were so many young women working on computers, robots, and holographic screens.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnNdXMDgoZ

Some waved at me.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWz0DtnhX0

Others smiled.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsT0BQvs6Ls

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CE7BX8Ni5

Honestly?

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47SJOs7anW

It looked kind of cool.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVAyhAJdAF

"I'll stay."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQcfPuSIFf

"Welcome home, E001."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ0SfhJhGT

They showed Rei and me to our room.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uyxSvgv0h

Surprisingly...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAmhzIDD7P

Nobody questioned Rei.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoZlzty5Kj

Nobody tried to examine him.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToYILtt1SV

Nobody even asked how he worked.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHEQ6Z78QG

It was as if...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSTl54ctlZ

They were interested in me.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkghZ7nkYN

Not my creation.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN5SyD3OxA

After dinner, I excused myself.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjVEzQX0P4

"I'll be back."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1Yvs07rRY

"I just need to wash my face."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2beshCi0x

"My Lady."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RcY0kODzW

"I will remain here."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSA2JF8jLS

The restroom was quiet.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKcv63C8h5

Only the sound of running water echoed through the room.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKENpIhd8J

I splashed cold water onto my face.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BheT5BGK2

"Ah..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XvZ66poOz

"That feels better."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMSyuKE0tU

I slowly looked up into the mirror.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9RQ1ULvb5

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ396Pm952xI

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzFeEFRs4t

A tall man was standing behind me.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfD2qhx9HIO

Quietly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoDTIsrBWK

Watching me.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bUJRsllWi

I screamed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lUKmcpwkP

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr3VnQnals

I spun around so fast I nearly slipped.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qqkgVlvz0

"Who are you?!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGL8vAnXKj

"A freak?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoSl7VxVxi

"A kidnapper?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1zbwE0PIW

"Or are you blind?!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2qSTvU7Ig

"This is the girls' restroom, idiot!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOu4jb7IVE

The man didn't panic.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQj2LlOPOP

Instead...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfU9CtgJk0

He smiled.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKsOjfv0Wl

"Hey, Shortie."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX666kQ4j4

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPn5KmNhYP

"HUH?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD76L4VWmN

"You don't even know me!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuKQMiZl9p

"And you're talking to me like we're childhood friends!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxc4jYP5dO

He chuckled.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pvzYSlVFv

"You already know me."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyfRpn6f4v

I finally looked at him properly.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPgsVEbRKS

He was ridiculously tall.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4HpUzC3Jk

Messy black hair.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpDjRwZ1D4

Bright blue eyes that almost seemed to glow.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n4TmynvwB

He honestly looked more like a model than a scientist.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZJ9I1KSzz

I blinked.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk3RB8fKzE

"...A model?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Onqr9cTv

He laughed.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8bq07Qsph

"Haha..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwncn2Tu6Xh

"You're funnier than I expected."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2fwEBr0dV

I narrowed my eyes.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKDxmVKg2s

"Who are you?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfkyYkp1Hq

He stepped closer.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZNOZ9whU9

"My name..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPpUNeXxbU

"...is Mr. Z."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIgmP5RxlY

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhrarVBeYv

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQPu2sly1h

"WOOOOOOOAH!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjJtiXW10q

"YOU'RE MR. Z?!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccSqVV5Uc5

"The one who's always helping me online?!"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZsKDeHYBN

He nodded.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKURWLi9O9

"My father created X."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5SGlpJo0P

"And now..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk64yS6YcK

"I lead it."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFM6QhPClo

I stared at him with my mouth hanging open.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5t6UymSdP

My brain had officially stopped functioning.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuE0eWcdTbK

Then he smiled again.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrOU2QAQEn

"Oh..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBim9o8WkYy

"There's one more thing."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnz5TbXq3YS

"I also created the AI assistant..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNngDk3fAg

"...that you've been talking to every single day."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS5hRvlL30

...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aFt1Baiyy

I froze.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5ST5iGtyI

The world around me suddenly became silent.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndOVZplui6

"What...?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoUQLzZiec

"You..."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03hGIE64Wc

"...created Rei?"

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8OEfPvhma

He shook his head with a small smile.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLi7Uihzbqu

"No."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGAQUQpcnB

"I created the assistant."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIxiZDUXIH

"The one who helped you before Rei ever existed."

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwK0Fz0itO

My heartbeat quickened.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ116u5d5BQa

There was still so much I didn't know.

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEIKVLR642

And somehow...

6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5EMSAFC4x

I had a feeling that meeting Mr. Z was only the beginning.6Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNTvRQk7bt

ns216.73.216.151da2

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