"Fetish for System Integration. Specifically, for acquiring unique, high-spec female units for her personal command structure."
"What are you talking about?!" I exclaim.
"Observe the data," Haruka says, ticking points off on her fingers.
"Data point one: When her inhibitions were lowered, what was her primary analysis method with me? Direct tactile interface. She needed to feel the 'specs' for herself. Data point two: Even before she knew the technical details of Kotori's divine-hybrid nature, she sensed her unique potential. And what was her first instinctual, sober command? Declaration of ownership. She immediately and possessively claimed Kotori, integrating a powerful new asset directly into her sphere of influence."
Kotori tilts her head slightly.
"Clarification: I am not an 'asset.' I am Horikita's assigned protector. The distinction is relevant."
Haruka leans forward, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of a perfect theory.
"She sees a powerful, unique female, and her core programming compels her to analyze, claim, and integrate them. It's a classic harem protagonist algorithm. She's not just making friends; she's building her roster."
She turns back to Lenah, her smile utterly smug.
"And therefore, she is the perfect candidate to initiate the direct physical interface. Her subconscious drive to acquire and analyze will make the process intuitive."
Lenah stares at Haruka in disbelief.
"That is the most illogical, absurd, and frankly insulting theory I have ever heard," Lenah states.
"You are basing a critical tactical decision on a 'harem protagonist algorithm' derived from… Cartoons?"
"Not cartoons, Lenah. Pre-Calamity narrative data sets," Haruka corrects her cheerfully.
"And it's not a theory. It's a data-supported hypothesis. The correlation is undeniable."
"I am not building a… A 'roster'!" I finally manage to choke out.
"And I don't have a… A fetish!"
"Ara, ara, Kita," Touko purrs, leaning in to whisper in my ear.
"Don't be so shy. If you're building a harem, you have to make sure Onee-chan is your number one, okay?"
"Onee-chan!" I yelp, pushing her away.
"This is not helping!"
"Harem… Protagonist…?" Kaito mutters from the side.
"I feel like I've heard that somewhere before. In some old anime, I think."
Lenah's eye twitches again.
"We are not in an 'anime,' Kaito,"
"Haruka. Stop this nonsense. What are you getting at?"
"In layman's terms, Horikita has a gift," Haruka declares.
"An innate, subconscious talent for connecting with and understanding unique, powerful women. She's a natural at finding the 'input port,' if you will. Both metaphorically and, I hypothesize, literally."
"Furthermore, if Horikita makes this girl part of her 'collection,' then the android's system will be more receptive to her commands. It's a psychological hack, Lenah, not just a technical one!"
Lenah opens her mouth. Closes it. Opens it again.
"You want my student to… To seduce a machine?"
"Seduce is such an emotionally loaded term," Haruka counters with a wave of her hand.
"I prefer 'establish dominant user status through targeted intimacy protocols.' It's more precise."
I'm not following any of this!
"What am I supposed to do?!"
"For now," Haruka says, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial, instructional tone,
"You're going to perform a full-body diagnostic."
"Diagnostic?"
"Correct. You need to find her primary interface port. It's a physical connection point for direct system access. Think of it as… A keyhole. And you, my ace, need to find it."
"You want me to… To search her body?"
"Precisely!" Haruka confirms.
"Full-body tactile diagnostic. You need to check for any seams, panels, recessed buttons, or unusual thermal variations. The port could be anywhere. Behind her ear, the small of her back, the sole of her foot… Even more… Intimate locations. You must be thorough."
"I-Intimate locations?!"
"Haruka," Lenah interjects.
"This is inappropriate. There must be another way. A less… invasive method."
"There isn't," Haruka states flatly.
"And besides, doesn't it sound exciting, ace? Don't you want to be the one to unlock her secrets? To understand what makes this beautiful, powerful machine tick? To be the one who brings her back?"
Her words… They're a trap. Ridiculous, insulting, completely insane trap.
And I'm walking right into it.
I want to be the one to save her. I want to understand. I want to be the one to break the chains, whatever they are, and see who she is underneath.
But more importantly...
Haruka grins.
"You want her power, don't you?"
"I—"
My denial dies in my throat.
It's not a lie. I do want to save her. But her power… The way she moved, the divine material of her knives… It calls to something in me.
Desire to understand, to master, maybe even to possess. Haruka saw it. Of course she did. She sees everything.
"See? The data doesn't lie, ace."
"The drive to acquire power, to add another unique unit to your roster… It's your core programming. It's beautiful."
"Is that true, Horikita?" Lenah asks, cutting through all of Haruka's noise.
It's not just power.
When I told Kotori to obey me, it wasn't just about power. It was about… Connection. About having someone who would listen, who would trust me completely.
And... Give themselves to me.
My voice shakes slightly, but my eyes are firm as I hold Lenah's gaze.
"I… I want to save her,"
"But yes. I want to understand her. I want to know what makes her so strong. And if that means… Doing this… Then I will."
Lenah stares at me and then sighs.
"Very well," Lenah says, giving a nod.
"But Haruka, Touko, Kaito. All of you leave the room. If this must be done, it will be done in private. Out of sight."