The sun, still sleepy, barely peeked over the horizon as I flew towards the library. My stomach churned with a mix of nerves and something that felt suspiciously like excitement. It was a weird feeling. On one hand, the thought of talking to a girl like Kirei Suzuki, who was so confident and smart, made my palms sweat under my Perman gloves. On the other hand, the Copy Robot had promised to guide me through it. Via Bluetooth. The whole idea was insane, but also... strangely comforting. Like having a super-intelligent cheat sheet for life.
"Alright, Mitsuo," the Copy Robot's voice, perfectly calm and clear, crackled in my ear through the tiny earpiece he'd provided. It was connected to a small, hidden Bluetooth device tucked into my Perman suit. "We are approaching the rendezvous point. Remember your posture: confident, but approachable. Not too rigid, not too slouched. Maintain a steady flight path."
"Roger that," I muttered, trying to straighten my back. My cape billowed around me, catching the first golden rays of dawn. The air was cool, smelling faintly of dew and exhaust fumes from the waking city.
"Hey, don't you think I'm a bit late?" I asked
"Yes, you're approximately 10 minutes late. It's important, perman isn't a free guy." He said with his neutral tone.
I spotted her. Kirei was already there, standing by the library entrance, her back to me, looking out at the city. She was wearing a stylish, light blue jacket and jeans, and her hair caught the early light. The white poodle from yesterday sat patiently by her feet. Even from this distance, she looked... amazing. My heart did a little flutter-kick.
"Land smoothly, approximately five meters to her left," the robot instructed. "Do not directly approach from behind. It can be perceived as aggressive."
I executed the landing, trying to make it as graceful as possible. My boots met the pavement with a soft thud. Kirei turned, and her face lit up.
"Perman! You came!" she exclaimed, her smile as bright as the rising sun. The poodle let out a happy little "woof."
"Good morning, Kirei," I said, trying to sound as confident and 'Perman-like' as possible. The robot's voice in my ear was a constant, calming presence. "So what did you wanted to talk about?" The robot didn't even apologized
She chuckled, a melodic sound. "Straight to business, huh? I like that. Come on, let's head inside. It's a bit chilly out here." She gestured towards the library doors.
"Alright, Mitsuo, follow her lead," the robot whispered. "Observe her body language. Maintain appropriate eye contact – approximately 70% of the time during conversation, 90% when she is speaking. Avoid staring."
Inside the library, the air was warmer, filled with the comforting scent of old books. Kirei led me to a quiet section, less frequented than the main reading area. She pulled out her tablet, tapping away at it with nimble fingers.
"So, as I was saying yesterday, my dad's projections are usually super exclusive,"
"She's flexing." The copy robot told me.
she explained, holding the tablet up to show me. The screen displayed a dizzying array of charts and graphs, colors, and numbers. "This particular one," she pointed with a stylus, "shows the predicted growth in sustainable energy investments in the next decade. And this section here details the potential impact on developing nations if there's a sudden shift in global trade routes."
My eyes glazed over a little. Honestly, it was a lot. The robot had given me a memory dump of some of this stuff, but seeing it all in real-time, being explained by someone so passionate, was different.
"Ask a clarifying question, Mitsuo," the robot prompted. "Something that demonstrates engagement."
"Uh... what does 'sustainable energy investments' mean for... a regular person?" I blurted out, perhaps not the most brilliant question, but it was the first thing that came to mind.
Kirei's smile softened. "That's a great question, Perman! It means cleaner air, more jobs, and a stable energy supply for everyone, not just big corporations. It's about building a better future." She looked at me, her eyes thoughtful. "You know, you're not just a hero who punches villains, are you? You actually care about the big picture."
My face warmed under the mask. "Well, I... I try," I mumbled. The robot remained silent for a moment, letting the compliment sink in.
"She's just flattering you. Even a child knows what sustainable energy investment means." the robot finally said. "But since you've already said it, there's nothing we can do."
"Thank you, Kirei," I said, trying to sound genuinely appreciative. "This data is highly valuable. It provides a deeper understanding of the societal challenges we face."
"You should've waited for her to say something." The copy robot said
She nodded, clearly pleased. "Anytime, Perman. I'm always happy to help. My dad always says that true leadership isn't just about making money, it's about understanding the world and making smart decisions for everyone." She then looked around, her eyes widening slightly. "Hey, Perman, you know what? This is really cool, but it's also a bit... public. Maybe we should find somewhere more private to chat about these top-secret global economics?"
My mind flashed back to the robot's strict rules about discretion. And the time he'd publicly endorsed a politician. 'Public' was definitely a bad word for him right now.
"It isn't about business anymore. You can treat it as a date, just do what you want," the robot's voice came through. "If possible, Suggest a neutral, secluded location."
"Yes, you're right, Kirei," I said, trying to sound natural. "A more private location would be prudent. Do you have anywhere in mind?"
She tapped her chin, thinking. "Hmm, my house is a bit far... Oh! I know! There's a cafe not too far from here, 'The Quiet Corner.' It's usually pretty empty early in the morning, and they make amazing coffee. We could talk there?"
'A cafe,' I thought. 'Food. That's a problem for the robot. But it's Kirei's suggestion.'
"I'm leaving the decision to you. I can manage the dietary implications."
"A cafe sounds excellent, Kirei," I said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice. "The Quiet Corner it is."
She beamed. "Great! Follow me, Perman!" She led the way out of the library, the poodle trotting happily beside her. As we walked, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of accomplishment and terror. I was talking to a smart, beautiful girl, absorbing complex knowledge, and all thanks to my incredibly logical, slightly ruthless, Bluetooth-enabled clone. This was either going to be the best month of my life, or the most awkward. Probably both.