Iris on Rainy Days: Dismantling- 7 Days Before

Dismantling

“Take care on the road! Come home earlier!” (Iris Rain Umbrella)

Dismantling: 7 Days Before

At the center of the Venus Fountain Plaza, there stood the statue of a stunning goddess.

She has slim limbs, skin as white as silk, and a great figure. Today, the goddess is still wearing a gentle smile on her face, silently observing the surrounding crowd.

Oval Town had once burned in the flames of war. That time, most of the town was burnt into ground, only the goddess statue survived without so much of a scratch, just like a miracle. From that day, the statue of the goddess became a symbol of hope and revival, and has been protected as the most important cultural asset of our country.

Beside the goddess statue that is about a hundred and seventy centimeters, the fountain is blooming flowers of water, having colors of a rainbow. On the dark tea-colored benches that were placed around the fountain, there are old men chatting with each other, children playing around, and lovers proclaiming their love for each other. It is a harmonious scene that looks like it came from a painting.

—it’s indeed similar.

A squeaking sound starts to ring, and I start to adjust the pupil function of my visual system. After focusing my pupil of the white goddess statue, I sigh lightly.

The goddess statue looks like Professor. Professor is the top researcher of robots, Professor Wendy von Umbrella. She has a tall figure, black hair that is beautiful and luscious, wears glasses with a sleek, silver frame that suits her very much, and is the professor that I am proud of.

While thinking of the beautiful outline of Professor, I stare blankly at the goddess statue when the sweet sour smell of circlet cigarette floated over. I start to turn the angle of my neck, confirming the source of the fragrance.

The person who sat on the bench, smoking a circlet cigarette, is a middle aged man donning a dark blue suit. He is reading today’s copy of Oval Daily, but from just now, he started to peek at me once in a while. I use a gentle smile to greet him, and he shyly shifts his gaze.

By the way, circlet cigarettes are products used for smoking cessation. Its shape is as the word ‘circlet’ in its name indicates, and its size is about the size of a circle made using the thumb and the index finger. When people start to smoke it, the ring-shaped cigarette would immediately straighten, and then the tip of the cigarette could be lit.

Although it is a replacement for tobacco that was made to prevent the mouth of the people who are trying to quit smoking to be too free, but recently the smokers who buy it because they like its smell is gradually increasing. Among the similar products, the one that sells the best is the type that combines two circlets into the shape of the number 8. This type of cigarette can be split into two halves, half of it to smoke, and the other half to fill the ashes.

The reason that I am so knowledgeable about this, is because Professor Umbrella loves this type of circlet cigarette.

— Mnn.

I shift my gaze to the goddess statue again, and suddenly started to ponder. The goddess statue looks very similar to the tall professor. However, I just have this feeling that it is lacking ‘something’. Every time I see it, I would have this uncoordinated feeling in me.

When this meaningless question surfaced in my mind, time’s up.

— After five more minutes, you will be unable to reach home in the scheduled time.

The inorganic, electronic voice of my mental circuit starts to urge me to hurry home.

— Alright already, it’s almost time to go home.

With my back to the plaza, I start to walk home quickly. The shopping basket in my right hand is stuffed full of the ingredients for today’s dinner, and a La Bier fish that is glittering in rich silver is tied to my back, causing the pedestrians who pass by to turn their head around when they see it. Seeing me carry a huge, one meter long fish while I’m only a hundred and fifty centimeter, being surprised would be quite natural. But after they notice that I am actually a robot, they showed an expression that said that this is understandable.

Differentiating between humans and robot is very simple. The ones that have a round antenna on their ears (It looks really like an earphone) are robots, the ones who don’t are humans. “It’s the robot from the Umbrella residence!”— a voice clearly projects into my auditory system. So, I smiled back at the person. Though robots used in families is not uncommon, but since Professor is a famous person, I get noticed sometimes when I walk in the streets.

After walking about ten minutes from the Fountain Plaza, I arrived at the Umbrella residence. Looking at the blue door that is full of ivies, I started to say: “Certification number HRM021-α, Iris Rain Umbrella. I’m back.” After the electronic voice says “Certification complete, please enter”, the large door opens silently.

The Umbrella residence is a grand mansion. There is a courtyard here that is the size of three station squares, and it is a large residence that would not be inferior to the mansions of administrators. The outer wall that was formed by red bricks makes people understand the grandeur of the history and traditions of the Umbrella family.

After entering the mansion, a luxurious hall could be seen immediately. The sunlight that entered from the skylight passes through the chandeliers, giving out a colourful radiance. The carpet spread on the floor is similar to the style of the ones in old castles. Large paintings are hanging on the walls, and the value of each work can provide for a luxurious life.

Passing through the corridor with the shiningly exquisite floor, I first place the fish in the freezer. I feel much better after that, and I started to walk towards the west-most room on that floor— the research room. The research room is stuffed full of materials and tools, the clean but chilly space is like a snowy field on a winter day.

Sitting on the creamy white bed near to the wall, I start to confirm the gauge on me.

Battery level 82.50%, waste in body 1.73%. The energy level is more than enough for labour, but charging my battery is the order that Professor had given me. So, I immediately start to charge.

After sterilizing the long, thin tube with a chemical for two times, I open the lock on my wrist, showing the connection plug. If I made a mistake in the steps, the black machine oil might just splatter through the whole room, so I must be more careful.

I insert the tube into my right and left hand in succession, then pressed the switch on the machine. Electric power and additional lubricating oil slowly flow into the connection plug on my right wrist. At the same time, the tea-colored waste in my body is being sucked out from my left wrist.

In the introduction manuals for robot maintenance, they would usually say that the system is similar to humans using IV drips. In reality, as the system undergoes the excretion and cleaning of the inner part of the body, it is more like artificial dialysis when compared with IV drips.

While looking upwards when charging my battery, I stare at the metal boards on the ceiling. The ceiling that is like a smooth mirror reflects my whole body.

Technically, there’s not much difference in gender in robots, but I should be a girl. My age setting is fifteen. I have blue eyes, with delicate eyebrows on it. My maroon hair is slightly wavy, and the length reaches my shoulder. The length of my limbs are similar to Professor’s, and my face is that of a beauty, just like professor— this is my own knowledge, and not just my opinion. It might be because Professor always praising that I’m cute that I feel like that.

The maid costume that I am wearing was designed in a fairy tale style. A maid’s headdress lightly waved on my head, while the cutting of the apron emphasized the curves of my breasts. The peach coloured dress tightened at the waist, while the dress itself is quite loose, and would make people think of a wedding dress. Where did Professor buy such a lovely maid’s costume, I wonder? Right until now, it’s still a mystery.

After twelve minutes and one second, the process of charging finished. Battery level 99.93%, body waste 0.02%.

—Alright, target level achieved.

I jump down from the bed, leaving the research room. My destination is the kitchen, because I have to prepare for dinner.

In the large kitchen that is not inferior to high classed restaurants, I start to make a Bill La Bier stew pot. There’s a lot of pots, sinks and gas stoves here, but I would always cook at the left side of the kitchen. Professor is very rich, and she could even hire over ten, or even over twenty chefs, but she didn’t hire any up till now. Not only a chef, she didn’t even hire other maids, and I have to handle the whole large Umbrella residence. I could only use all my effort, diligently finish the chores like cooking, washing the clothes and sweeping the floor.

I quickly cut the La Bier fish, and lightly picked up the pieces of peach-coloured fish.

—200.0025 grams.

While referring to the recipe searched from my mental circuit, I finish the preparations of making the Bill Labier stew pot. By the way, “La Bier” is a fish very similar to salmon fish, while “La Bier” is actually the name of a person. I’ve heard that a fisherman called La Bier caught a large La Bier fish long ago, then he used a night to finish the whole fish. His way of cooking is was to cut the fish into big pieces, then stew it with the spices— that’s the origin of the La Bier stew pot. It sounds like a simple dish, but if you want to cook it well, there’s quite a lot of techniques. For instance, you have to accurately handle the fire and patiently scoop out the foams.

From the moment I pick up the kitchen knife, twenty seven minutes and twelve seconds has passed, and my job is done. I store the remaining food into the freezer. Professor doesn’t have much visitors, so these leftover portions would probably rot in the freezer. With the large amount of ingredient buying and the large kitchen, the Umbrella residence is usually that wasteful.

As I complain in a small voice, an electronic voice starts to ring in my mind.

— Professor Wendy von Umbrella has returned.

“She’s back!”

I rush out of the kitchen, passing through the hall, and violently pull open the doors to the outside. My dress fluttering in the wind, I start to run to the forecourt.

— Professor, Professor, Professor!

The person that is passing through the gate, is a tall, black haired woman who is wearing a jacket that is light like a swan, and looks incomparably beautiful although it doesn’t seem like she has any make up on her— my Professor walks over to me slowly. And then, she waves suddenly to me.

Not caring about the battery loss, I run with all my strength to the professor. I am running with the speed a hundred meters in nine seconds, and emergency braked three meters in front of Professor. I am not sweating, or even panting too, but my body is giving off heat like a steaming stove, as if my body has been lit up. The image of Professor swirls in my mental circuit.

“Welcome back, Professor!”

I open my arms while beaming, welcoming the return of Professor. Although I’m somewhat overreacting, this is just a way of showing my love for Professor.

Professor looks at me, showing a gentle smile. She puts out the fire of her circlet cigarette and keeps her ash tray. My olfaction system detected a sweet sour smell after that.

“I’m back, Iris. Are you a good girl today, too?”

That is a somewhat deep, cool and silent voice for a female. The silver framed glasses on her nose makes her wise face even more striking.

“Yes! Professor’s Iris is a very very good girl today too!”

“Is that so. What about dinner?”

“It’s the same as what I told you, a La Bier stew pot!”

“What a good girl you are.”

Professor extends her right hand to me.

— alright, it’s coming!

I happily wait for that moment.

Professor’s hand lightly touches the top of my head. She used a gentle, but somewhat rough movement to caress my maroon hair.

This is really a happiness that cannot be compared with.

I look just like a kitten that had been caressed, making satisfied sounds with my throat. I enjoy the pleasure of contact with Professor’s gentle hand, and the sweet sour smell of the tobacco that tickles the nose.

♠

Dinner time has always been the most nervous time for me.

Professor slowly scoops out a piece of La Bier fish from the pot. She continues to use a small knife to cut the fish, sticks a fork into in then swallows it with her rose colored lips.

Because of the chewing action, Professor’s face is moving slightly. I stare at her face, slightly worried.

— Professor, how is it? Is it good? Hmm? Is it?

I ask repeatedly in my heart, waiting for Professor to express her thoughts.

“Hmm……”

Professor twists her neck. Then, my mental circuit suddenly cools down. Describing from the angle of a human, that would mean that a chill went up my back.

“E- e- e- errmmm, i- i- i- i- i- is there a problem with that?”

I ask in a rapid fire speed, feeling slightly dizzy. For Iris Rain Umbrella who is proud of her ability of doing chores, being told that my cooking is bad would be the same as questioning the meaning of my existence.

“To be frank……”

Professor raised one of her beautiful eyebrows, saying with an obviously displeased tone.

“To- to be frank?” I waited nervously for her next comment.

However, Professor’s mouth slightly curls, a smile surfacing on her face. She says suddenly.

“It’s really good.”

I am quite shocked, and couldn’t help but make an idiotic “…… Eh?” sound.

“Ah…… Eh? Aren’t you disliking it……”

“No, it’s very tasty. And the handling of the fire is especially good.”

“…………”

“Oh? What’s the matter, Iris? Why are you showing me a tongue-tied expression?”

You can say that Professor is an S. The S in SM. A sadist. She always uses these simple traps to trick me. By the way, this is already the twenty forth time. The pitiful thing about robots is that they even remember how many times these meaningless things occur.

“Really, Professor! Haven’t I said not to make these types of jokes!”

I throw the napkin at Professor angrily.

“Oi oi, that’s too much of a waste.”

“According to your words, the La Bier stew pot today is the wasteful one! Telling me to buy a whole fish, what are you preparing to do with it!”

Professor casually answered “I’ll finish it after two days,” and continues to eat. I answer “You always lie……,” crumple the last napkin up, throw it, and it hits Professor’s arm with a plop.

“Mnn, it really is tasty. Iris is really good at cooking.”

Professor comments deliberately, and places another piece of La Bier fish into her mouth. Although I feel somewhat frustrated, but seeing Professor enjoying the stew, a send of satisfaction appeared in my heart.

After dinner, Professor goes to the washroom. While cleaning up the dishes, I recall Professor’s childish actions, laughing for a moment, being annoyed for a moment, but a smile still surfaced on my face in the end.

Today, Professor is still pretty, likes to bully people, is gentle and stroked my hair.

— Mnn, I’m satisfied. Up till now, I have no comment.

The peaceful night gradually passes, and it is now time for sleep. I changed into my beloved pajamas that has pictures of flowers on it, then knocked on Professor’s bedroom door.

“Professor, sorry for bothering you.”

I walk into the room. As usual, Professor is wearing a purple pajamas slightly open at the chest, and is lying on her bed. She has a circlet cigarette in her mouth. The sweat sour smell is mixed with a slight smell of peppermint, and the smell floated over along with the smoke. The slogan used on television is “The taste of your first love,” and I think that it’s quite apt. That’s right— it’s the taste of the first love to me. The love between Professor and I— I really want to feel that too, but the only one in love is me, Professor is always calm.

I understand these feelings would only be useless, so it’s better for me to be careful.

“Professor, smoking on the bed is too impolite.”

“It’s not against the law.”

“And it could cause a fire.”

“I never heard of cirgarettes causing fires.”

Professor looks at the ceiling, continuing to puff out smoke. That’s right, ‘cirgarette’ is another name for circlet cigarettes.

“The total data says that eight incidents occurred this year.”

I block Professor’s vision determinedly, looking at her from above. The smoke almost burned my eyes.

“How many times had it happened in Oval Town?” Professor continues to smoke.

“…… zero.”

“Then it’s okay.”

“But that can’t be used as an excuse, Professor.”

I stubbornly snatch the cirgarette away from Professor’s mouth. “Ah, give it back!” Professor sits up, extending her hand to my elbow.

As revenge for Professor making fun of me during dinner, I run around the room while holding the cirgarette. Professor climbs up from the bed too, chasing me. I hide behind tables and chairs so that Professor cannot catch me. Although it’s childish, there’s still an undeniable charm to it.

After playing two short rounds of catch in the room, Professor says ”It’s time for bed” and takes off her silver framed glasses. She stares at me with her eyes that are like a colourful glass. Professor is a beauty when she wears her glasses, and she is still a beauty after she takes off her glasses.

—Ah.

The goddess statue isn’t wearing glasses.

“What is it?” Professor stares at me from the bed. I lightly tilted my head, honestly speaking my thoughts: “Professor is indeed…... suited for glasses and cigarettes.”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly saying that.”

“No, that’s just my thoughts. …… Then Professor, is it okay?”

This question means can I snuggle into Professor’s blanket.

“Be my guest.”

Professor lifts up her blanket and waves to me. I said “Sorry for this,” then nervously lies down beside professor. After that, I curl up my body and raise my head to look at Professor.

We are very close together, and I can see myself reflected in Professor’s pupils.

“Good night, Professor.”

I bury my head in Professor’s large, soft hills. It’s so soft and has a nice fragrance to it.

Professor hugs me gently, stroking my hair. Then, she says “Goodnight, Iris” and kisses my forehead.

After changing my status to sleep mode, I enter the world of slumbers.

I went through a happy day today, too.

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