Kanda and the others waited in silence aboard the main ship, their eyes following the large vessel approaching them. It moved with slow precision, its size comparable to their own, before it came to a halt beside Kuune's ship. A low hum filled the air as a transfer tunnel extended from the new ship and connected with theirs.
~Ten minutes later
The door that bridged the two ships slowly opened. Two figures emerged from the tunnel.
The first was a woman dressed in a similar uniform to Kuune's—green and white, the material hugging her form and a light green cape flowing behind her. Her short black hair framed her face, and her expression was calm but slightly inquisitive.
The second was a young woman with long, light brown hair cascading down to her waist. She wore a white one-piece dress, and mechanical cat ears perched atop her head. The quiet elegance of her appearance was matched by her gentle demeanor.
"Hello, everyone," the girl in the dress said, her voice soft but clear. "Thank you for welcoming me to your planet. I'm Lawry. It's truly an honor to meet you." She gave a small bow, her cat ears flicking slightly in the process.
"Nice to meet you, Lawry. We're happy to have you here," Kuune replied with a smile.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Kuune began introducing everyone to Lawry. When she came to Kanda, Lawry's eyes lingered on him, her expression thoughtful.
Kanda raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her gaze. "Uh, Lawry-san… is something wrong? Is there something on my face?"
For a moment, Lawry's green eyes shimmered, turning a soft gold, as if something had sparked within her. Then, without warning, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kanda in a sudden, tight hug.
The room went still in surprise. Kanda froze, unsure how to respond. "L-Lawry-san? What…?"
Lawry pulled back just as quickly, her eyes snapping back to green. She blinked, realizing her mistake. A deep flush colored her cheeks as she quickly bowed her head. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened. I… I just couldn't help it when I looked at you. My body… it moved on its own. Please forgive me."
Kanda, though still a bit surprised, chuckled softly. "It's fine, really. I don't mind."
The black-haired captain who had accompanied Lawry stepped forward. "Captain Kuune, my duties here are complete. I will leave Lawry in your capable hands. We'll be heading back to our station now."
"Thank you, Captain Anne. We'll take good care of her," Kuune replied with gratitude.
"I appreciate everything, Captain Anne," Lawry said with a polite bow. "Thank you for bringing me here."
Anne smiled warmly, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "It was my pleasure, Lawry. And I must admit, seeing Earth has been an experience I'll never forget."
With a final wave, the transfer tunnel retracted, and Anne's ship slowly drifted away.
Kanda and the others—excluding the catgirls, who had their own duties aboard the spaceship and led Lawry back to their home on the planet. Inside, Claris and the maids had already prepared refreshments, and everyone gathered in the living room, where they settled on comfortable couches.
Lawry sat across from Kanda, surrounded by several Assistroids, their mechanical eyes studying her with quiet curiosity.
"So, Lawry-san," Kanda began, trying to keep the conversation light, "I'm curious about you. I noticed you have the same mechanical cat ears as the Assistroids here. And, just to reintroduce myself properly, I'm Ichijou Kanda. Feel free to call me either Ichijou or Kanda, whichever feels more comfortable."
"Thank you, Ichijou-san," Lawry responded politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you. As you've likely guessed, I'm an Assistroid, though I am a first-generation model—created long before the current design."
Aoi, intrigued, leaned forward. "First generation? What does that mean?"
Lawry's gaze softened as she began speaking, her voice taking on a reflective tone. "Before the current generation of Assistroids was created, we looked almost identical to Catians. The only real difference was our mechanical ears. We were designed to serve as helpers, companions—anything our masters needed." She paused, and her fingers toyed with the edge of her dress. "But… being so similar to them, we were eventually phased out."
Antonia frowned. "They stopped making your kind just because you looked too much like the Catians?"
Kanda interjected softly, "Antonia-chan, think about it. Imagine if someone who looks just like you—has the same abilities, maybe even surpasses you in certain ways—was created by your own hands. It might make you feel… uneasy, right? Even if they meant no harm, just their presence could be a reminder of your own vulnerabilities."
Antonia was quiet for a moment before nodding, understanding dawning on her. "So it was more than just appearances…"
"Yes," Kanda said. "Sometimes it's not about intent. It's about how we feel when we see someone we created surpassing us in ways we hadn't expected."
Lawry nodded gently, her green eyes darkening as she thought back on those days. "Ichijou-san is right. My generation of Assistroids was far more advanced than the later models. We could think, feel, and even learn. There were only ten of us made… and I am the last of my kind. As our abilities grew, so did the fear from those who created us. The higher-ups couldn't accept that. We were seen as a threat, not because we ever hurt anyone, but because of what we represented."
She stopped for a moment, her lips curving slightly as she remembered her master. "But my master… he didn't see us that way. He understood us, protected us. He never treated us like tools, even though he was cast out by his people for taking us in. He loved us. He cared for us, just as he would for any family."
Her voice trembled slightly, but she continued, her smile warm despite the sadness in her eyes. "He was an outcast on his world, yet he took us in and gave us a place to belong. We were never just machines to him… we were his companions. He made sure we knew that we mattered."
A soft silence fell over the room as everyone took in her words, the depth of her emotion clear. Kanda gave her a kind smile. "I'm sorry for what happened to your master, Lawry. It sounds like he was an incredible person."
Lawry's smile faltered just slightly, but she nodded. "Yes, he was. And… I'll carry his memory with me for as long as I can."
"What brings you to this planet, Lawry-san?" Manami asked, her tone friendly but curious.
Lawry gently placed her teacup down before answering, her eyes soft and thoughtful. "Well… the reason I came here is quite personal. I wish to fulfill my late master's final request."
She paused, then looked around at everyone with a faint smile tinged with melancholy.
"My master… was originally from Earth. He left this planet a long time ago when he was taken to Catia. But he never stopped thinking about his home or the family he left behind here. Before he passed away, he told me that his biggest regret was not being able to return. So, I came here in his place… to honor his wish."
"Eh? So you're saying someone from Earth had direct contact with Catia before?" Antonia blinked in surprise. "That's… pretty incredible."
Lawry nodded gently. "Yes, although… I'm not entirely sure this is the same Earth he once lived on. The galaxy is vast, and with so many parallel dimensions and alternate Earths, even we Assistroids can't say for certain which one he truly belonged to."
"What do you mean?" Antonia asked, leaning forward with intrigue.
Before Lawry could answer, Kanda chimed in thoughtfully. "She means there could be multiple Earth-like planets across different dimensions or timelines. Some of them may be very similar, but still different in subtle ways. Space exploration hasn't unraveled all its mysteries yet."
Lawry gave a small nod, impressed. "Exactly. My late master… he wasn't just any ordinary traveler. He was a deep-space explorer—someone who charted unexplored territories and braved unknown regions. His mission was to expand the frontiers of what was known, but deep down… he was always searching for a way back to his origin."
Her voice slowed as she spoke, her expression now faintly clouded with sorrow.
"One day, during an emergency evacuation from a hostile planet, our ship encountered a serious malfunction while making a hyper-jump. We were thrown into a distant, uncharted area of space. I could function without issue since I'm mechanical, but…"
She hesitated, then spoke softly, "…my master, being human, couldn't survive in that condition for long. The life-support systems began to fail."
Everyone fell silent.
"He… he held on as long as he could. In his final moments, he asked me to keep searching for Earth. He said he wanted to see the ocean one last time—the ocean where he had once played with his children, and where he said goodbye to his wife. He smiled as he remembered it… and then… he was gone."
Lawry's voice cracked just a little, though her expression remained serene. "Even if I don't know if this is truly his Earth, I want to believe it is. That's why I'm here. I want to stand by the sea he loved so much… and imagine he's standing beside me."
Kanda leaned forward, his expression gentle. "Thank you for sharing that, Lawry-san. I'm sure your master would be proud of you."
Lawry smiled faintly. "I hope so."
There was a short pause before Claris refilled everyone's cups and brought over small snacks, helping lighten the atmosphere again. They all began to nibble and sip quietly.
Then Kanda, watching Lawry curiously, spoke again. "By the way… Lawry-san, if you don't mind me asking, how are you able to eat and drink like this? I thought Assistroids didn't need to."
Lawry chuckled softly. "You're not wrong. I don't need food or drink to survive. But I was designed with a special module—what we call a 'sensory emulation system.' When I eat or drink, the items don't go anywhere in the traditional sense. Instead, they pass through my mouth and are processed by a chamber lined with sensors that analyze taste, texture, and temperature."
"So it's like you're tasting it, even if you're not digesting it?" Manami asked.
"Yes. My creator believed that sharing meals was a beautiful way to connect with others… something he hoped we could do naturally, like humans or Catians. Unfortunately…" Lawry glanced down at her teacup, her voice growing quieter. "Our appearance made people uncomfortable. We looked too similar to Catians. Most saw us not as companions, but as uncanny imitations."
"That's really sad," Aoi murmured. "You were made to be close to people… but they kept their distance instead."
Lawry gave a soft nod. "That's why only ten of us were ever built. My generation was the first and last of the humanoid Assistroids. Our design was abandoned, and we were quietly decommissioned… except for those of us who had someone to protect us. My master… he defended us even though it cost him his standing on Catia."
"He was a good man," Kanda said softly.
"Yes… he was," Lawry replied, her smile distant and filled with quiet warmth.
After a moment, Kanda shifted the mood again. "So… what's your plan now that you're here on Earth?"
Lawry straightened up, her mood lifting. "I'd love to visit as many places as possible. I've read so much about this planet through archived records, but I want to see it with my own eyes. Most of all, I want to find the sea my master loved. Even if I don't know which one it was, just standing near the ocean… that would mean everything to me."
"Then we'll take you," Kanda said with a smile. "But not today. You've had a long journey, and I think you need some rest first. Tomorrow, we'll show you how people here enjoy an outing."
"That sounds wonderful," Lawry said, bowing her head slightly. "Thank you very much, Ichijou-san. I'll be in your care."
The room slowly returned to its relaxed state. They spent some more time chatting lightly until dinner was ready. The warm meal was filled with friendly conversation and laughter, with Lawry joining in, her laughter soft and almost musical. She seemed more at ease now—like she was starting to feel she belonged.
Later that night, each of them returned to their rooms. Lawry was shown to a guest room specially prepared for her—a quiet, comfortable space with a view of the moonlit sky.
She stood by the window for a long moment, looking out quietly.
"…I'm here now, Master," she whispered softly to the stars. "I'll see the sea for both of us.
END OF THE CHAPTER.