LUH-21416 ch2

Jisabella-san, what is this...?
Eh? You've never seen a vending machine before, Luh-chan...?

It's a machine where you push a button to get the drink you want.
It's my first time seeing one...

I've... never really gone outdoors all that much...
...Ng!!

I-I see...
That was close... She almost found out...

about my ulterior motive...
about the fact I'm an android...
If that gets exposed...
I'll be shot down for sure...

Continuing their road trip while hiding their identities and motivations...

Pick whichever one you want~ My treat!
Are you sure!? Thank you!

I'll go with this one!
Huh?

This thing doesn't even have AI~!
It's just a lump of simple electronic parts!
Yet it dare makes fun of the hi-spec Luh.

Pfft...
Luh-chan, nothing comes out unless you put money into it.
I'll put the money in right now.
Wha-!?
Cute...

Is it good?
Yes! I can feel the energy!

Something this sweet is sure to be filled with calories!
Fufufu... I'm hi-spec, which means I'm equipped with a state-of-the-art fusion reactor.

I can function by converting human foodstuffs into energy!
I can efficiently use the calories in these foodstuffs just like...

Zero Calories

...
Why would humans even make stuff like this...?

Sh-She looks kinda down...
Is she getting hungry?

Luh-chan, if you're hungry, there's also one of those...
I was gonna take her to a restaurant, but...
One of those...?

A vending machine that serves food. You don't see many of these in the city, though...
Ooh~

This looks high in calories!
I-I guess so.
Why does she sound so happy when she says that...?

I'll have this!
A hamburger, huh?
Guess she was hungry after all... I should've noticed sooner...

Go ahead and push it.
There!

...?

You have to wait a bit with this one.
Wha-!?
What is this cute lifeform...?

Is it good?
Yes!

...If we keep on going,
we should reach New Koromo by morning...

Luh-chan... really is cute...
?

When you have all this time in the world...
moments like these go by in a flash...

...Jisabella-san's been starting at me for a while now...
Luh-chan's so cute...
Does she suspect I'm an android after all...?

If I recall... food is something that humans share with each other...
It's really good. Wanna bite?

I-Isn't that an indirect kiss...?
Mmg!? Urk
...Jisabella-san?

Aah, I got something... stuck in my throat...
Y-You're that against it...?
No. I want it, but that's not what I mean.

I wanted... to have an indirect kiss... with Luh-chan...
Eh!? She collapsed!?

Ah, is there something caught in your throat!?
Is that what this is!? Wh-Wh-Wh-What should I do!?

I'm so stupid...! As hi-spec as I am, I don't have any programs for dealing with medical situations...
Hrm~
Erm... When food gets stuck in your throat... Erm...

You have to suck it out!
!?
Aid via suction
*This is dangerous, so please follow the correct procedures.

wheeze... hah... hah...
...Aah... I thought... I was gonna die...
Hah...
Sh-She kissed me...
Hah...
...Thanks... for saving... me...
Hah...

Luh-chan... That's... dirty, so...

swallow

?
spit it.. eh?

Eh!? You... What... You swallowed it!?
Did you need it, Jisabella-san?
No! I don't! Are you okay? Won't that ruin your stomach!?

I'm fine! I can convert it to energy!
What are you saying!?

No. I'd hate it if your stomach got ruined, Luh-chan...
But... Thank you...

Luh-chan... Even if it was to save me life, you kissed me...
which means... maybe I can do it back...?
Ah...

Jisabella-san... Your nose is bleeding again...
I-I'm fine... I can hold it back...
Luh-chan is my friend...

Don't think about weird stuff! I'm such an idiot!!
Jisabella-san!?

8pm...
There's a lot of vechile robberies at night...
Normally I'd be chasing them all night, but...

Luh-chan's with me, so maybe we should stay at a motel... What to do...
?
She doesn't look sleepy, though. Maybe she's nocturnal...?

Nocturnal, huh... At a motel with me...
I won't let you sleep tonight. I'm nocturnal, after all...

No... I need to think seriously right now...
About what...?
She's not thinking that I'm an android, is she!?

I'm hi-spec... but I guess she's gonna found me out...? If she does... she'll shoot me...
Luh-chan?

You can be at ease around me.
There's no need to be afraid.

I'll protect you, Luh-chan.
She's been looking worried this whole time...

I want her to be at ease... but she did have to save my life just now.
I'm not very realiable... am I?

Jisabella-san... I'm gonna sit next to you.
...?

Mind if I snuggle up to you for a bit?
...Eh? S-Sure.

...

I-Is she sleepy? It has gotten dark, hasn't it? That's the only explanation...!!
Aah, contain yourself, my ulterior motive! No need to explode...!

It's about time for good girls to go to bed.
Let's stop at a motel in the next town.
If she clings onto me any longer, my ulterior motive is gonna come out...

U-Um... Actually, I don't have any money...
Eh?
How can I repay you...?

So Luh-chan was worried about that, huh...
I don't have any money...
so can I pay you... some other way?

N-No, I've known from the beginning
that I can't demand such a thing from a friend... let alone one who saved my life.
Jisabella-san...

Woah...
?

It's gotten cold all of a sudden.
I-I guess so!
I'm fine, though.
Since I'm hi-spec and all...

Luh-chan, you're gonna catch a cold.
Eh?
Put on my coat.

Aren't you cold, Jisabella-san?
I'm fine, I'm fine.
I'm hot enough from holding back my ulterior motive.

How is it? Feels warm, right?
...It's strange.

I'm fine in both hot and cold situations...
but...
When I wear this,

it's like I'm surrounded by Jisabella-san.
It puts me at ease.

So cute... Oh man... My ulterior motive...
...

p10

Ah, crap... A little bit of my desires... or rather, my nosebleed spilled out.
Maybe it'll get better if I look up.

Ah.

Wow...
So pretty...

Look at the sky, Luh-chan!
?
The smog has cleared up!

It's been ages... since I've seen the starry sky.
I guess the wind cleared it up?

It's pretty, huh... Do you like the stars, Luh-chan?
I love...

Jisbella-san.

Is Luh saying "love" towards the beautiful stars, or could it be...?

Warning