Chapter Text
Isagi is in a cheap lab gown and lab coat, sitting at his desk looking over a file for a particular mechanical from Germany that is deemed impossible to work with due to the mechanical’s closed mouth problem–ignoring people, basically.
According to his file he tends to ignore connectors and he’s been found smiling at them when they get up and leave, suggesting he gets a kick out of wasting people’s time.
Isagi is interested in the frizzy long haired Michael Kaiser because he’s another mechanical being that’ll make Isagi work for that “human” connection he’s hired to do.
Isagi’s job is boiled down to making mechanicals, humanoid robots, take the artificial emotions they were programmed with and make them real so they experience what it’s like to be human. These mechanicals are given different personalities, trials and emotions so they feel what different humans feel.
Isagi is the most recommended connector next to Rin because he excels at his job when it comes to being a connector, a person whose job is to make artificial emotions real to the point they understand what it’s like to be human, to the point they slowly become integrated into society without the general populous having knowledge a mechanical being is walking among them.
There’s more information on Kaiser, but there’s a knock at Isagi’s door that prevents him from flipping to the next page, but he feels he doesn’t need that. He just needed a general summary which is what Isagi was given.
Isagi pockets the flashcards he made just in case and he walks out his office with the knowledge Kaiser is now coming, so Isagi will set himself up in the man’s designated room and begin his plan.
-
Isagi sat in a chair across another chair that’s currently occupied by Kaiser.
Isagi smiles, laughs, and gasps at his manga, fully enjoying himself.
He knows Kaiser is watching him and sitting patiently–or as patiently one can be as after 4 days of this ongoing silent treatment.
It first started with Kaiser coming in with the robotist, Ness and they were talking, which clued Isagi in on them being rather close if Kaiser is willing to open his mouth and formulate words with anyone else but a connector.
Isagi waved while facing away, and that’s it. No greeting. No exchanging of names or pleasantries.
Isagi kept himself tucked in his chair, reading his favorite manga that he’s likely read to completion a 100 times.
He kept up this charade for 4 days and each time Isagi checked his watch, packed up and left, Kaiser looked disgruntled.
Isagi would turn and look at Kaiser for a moment, shrugging, then walking out the room.
Day 4 is around and Kaiser is bouncing his leg, but Isagi ignores him with intention, pretending he’s in a dazzled room that only houses one person.
Isagi will admit it’s getting boring and he started considering the flashcards he made.
But when that thought came, his manga was snatched away angrily and Isagi kept his mouth closed, looking at Kaiser towering over him, eyes narrowed and lips curled tight, silicone hand squeezing the open manga.
“What are you doing?”
Isagi blinked, “So you can talk.”
“Excuse me?”
Isagi stood up, meeting Kaiser half way.
“You can talk. Either you're a selective mute or just a jerk. Both can be true.”
Kaiser now looked offended, likely catching on to what Isagi did because Kaiser looks smart and his file speaks highly of him.
“I made flashcards and I was going to use them if you didn’t speak to me today, but there’s no need. You spoke to me.”
Mechanicals can’t breathe to calm themselves down, but Kaser did something akin to it.
He roughly pressed the manga into Isagi’s chest.
Kaiser slumped back in his chair, stared at the ceiling and Isagi stared up too, looking at the fake vines decorating the ceiling, avoiding the light fixtures.
Isagi thought of something.
“Do you like roses or all flowers?”
“Roses.”
“Why blue?”
“Blue roses are artificial, like me.”
“You’re artificial, but I don’t view mechanicals like that.”
“Is what you think supposed to be important to me? Vines are already engraved on my metal arm and inked on my fake neck skin and fake hand.”
“I don’t think what anyone says is important to you, but regardless of its importance, I will still say what I want.”
Kaiser laughed lightly.
Kaiser sat up straight, looking directly at Isagi and Isagi looked at him.
“I’m Isagi Yoichi. I like manga and kintsuba.”
“Are we really doing this?”
“I guess.”
Kaiser stood up again.
“Fine. I’m Michael Kaiser, I like psychology and rusk.”
“Sweetened or unsweetened?”
“I like both smells.”
“Of course.”
Isagi is glad Kaiser didn’t decide to nit-pick on Isagi’s lack of words when he came to which type of rusk Kaiser likes and it appears they both know when to pick at the other.
“Want to shake hands?” Kaiser asked.
“Yes.”
Their hands came together and the silicone hand making contact with Isagi’s felt strangely comforting.
Isagi’s watch went off and that was Isagi’s que that the session was over.”
Isagi and Kaiser break contact, Kaiser wiping his hand on his white button up.
Isagi smiled at the fact Kaiser felt the need to wipe his hand like he’ll catch Isagi germs, a new type of germ.
“Will you speak to me tomorrow?”
“I might.”
“I can take an ‘I might’. I might show you the greenhouse with roses.”
Kaiser smiles back.
“I’ll consider talking as long as you show me that greenhouse.”
“Perfect. See you tomorrow?”
“See you tomorrow, Yoichi.”
-
Isagi stopped by Kaiser’s room, knocked on the metal door and it opened, revealing a shirtless Kaiser. His face, neck and chest is silicone skin, his torso is transparent and you can see the artificial organs working to the max.
Importantly, his long hair is frazzled in different directions and Isagi couldn’t help giggling.
(He’s seen Shidou naked, so Kaiser being partially naked means nothing.)
Kaiser clearly came out of sleep mode, so of course he wasn’t looking his best.
“Give me a moment.”
“Sure.”
Kaiser shut the door and it was silent, no sounds of shuffling since the interior of each of the mechanicals rooms are lined with sound canceling material.
It took a minute, give or take, and Kaiser was out.
He didn’t look “tired” anymore. He’s instead dressed casually and looking his best, his long hair is frizzy like it should be.
“Let’s go.”
“I thought we were going to stand in the hallway and just talk.”
“Absolutely not. Show me the greenhouse.”
“Ah bap bap. I’m hungry. Cafeteria and I’ll walk you through the important parts of the building.”
Kaiser squinted.
“Is eating while giving a mechanical a tour professional?”
“Are you bothered by it being unprofessional?”
“I don’t care.”
“I know you don’t.That’s why I said I’m hungry.”
“I see.”
They continued to the cafeteria and Isagi bought his steam pork bun, giving Kaiser a smell which he didn’t like, but it’s okay because he only didn’t like it due to Isagi just waving the bun under his nose Otherwise, Kaiser said he smelled good, so that made Isagi feel good.
Isagi nibbled on his pork bun while he showed Kaiser around.
He showed Kaiser the TV room
A group of Mechanicals and humans are gathered around the TV, watching a horror movie and Kaiser stands to watch for a bit.
He looks like he wants to say something, but decides against it.
Isagi walks while chewing his pork bun.
He shows Kaiser the art/music room and people are also gathered around there. The music teacher is absent today, but permission has been given that the mechanicals can draw.
Their special teacher is Shidou after he was also given special permission to become an art teacher on certain days since he’s so far the best mechanical at drawing.
Isagi caught Shidou’s eye.
“Isagi?”
“Hey, Shidou.”
“Great that you’re here! Tell me if Sae put up my drawing of him riding a dolphin.”
Isagi smiled awkwardly because Sae has been rejecting Shidou’s objects of affection, calling the drawings lukewarm and sometimes soulless if he really felt like throwing a punch.
Isagi never reported these jabs to Shidou.
“Unfortunately not.”
“Damn. Oh well.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s cool, I will get him.”
“You will. Maybe stop messing your face up on purpose though?”
“You have no evidence I am doing that.”
“You’re right, you’re right. It just so happens that your makeup, that Sae works hard on, is conveniently messed up on days Sae is here in the cosmetic department, which I always found curious that you know that.”
Shidou shrugged with a smile, “As Isagi said, it’s only a coincidence.”
“Definitely.”
Kaiser coughed.
“Yard. Now.”
Isagi brushed his pork bun by Kaiser’s nose and he wrinkled his face up.
“Don’t do that again.”
“Do what? Let you smell my pork bun again?”
Isagi ate a piece of his bun.
Kaiser narrows his eyes.
“You’re kinda killing it with the eyeliner and dyed hair.”
Kaiser looked at Shidou.
“Eyeliner is tattooed. Maybe get this Sae person to do that for you since tattoos take time.”
Shidou looked surprised, then gleeful.”
“I would hug you, but I don’t touch men that aren’t Sae.”
“I’m okay with a pink cockroach not touching me. Let’s go, Yoichi.”
Isagi sighed around his bun.
Isagi waved Shidou goodbye and he walked Kaiser to the play area.
It looks like a room for children, including the bright colors, but reports come back that mechanicals enjoy the various activities since it’s another form of entertainment, a way to keep their wiring minds busy.
Kaiser wasn’t interested and walked out.
Isagi walked beside him and asked a question.
“Do you like puzzles?”
“I think puzzles are fine.”
“The playroom has puzzles.”
“I prefer doing puzzles on my own.”
“I see.”
Isagi showed Kaiser the library and he seemed happy to see the vast selection of books he could choose from.
“I’m coming here more often.”
“I come here when I want to relax.”
“And?”
“That’s it.”
Isagi smiled.
Kaiser looked blinked twice, averting his eyes afterwards.
Isagi showed Kaiser the last place, the gym that's also attached to the pool room.
Isagi walked Kaiser to the pool room because he wanted to see if a certain mechanical was there.
Isagi didn’t see him, but he was on guard.
He sensed a presence behind him closer, closer, and closer.
Isagi and Kaiser whipped around at the same time, both spotting a defeated looking Kurona.
“Kurona, I told you that sneaking up on me like that won’t work. Be creative, be a shark.”
“I would be a shark better in water, water.”
“I know and I’m trying to get them to authorize you becoming waterproof.”
“I don’t understand why I’m being singled out, out.”
“Me neither,”
“They know I’d be too powerful, powerful.”
“Too powerful for any mechanical and human.”
Kurona nodded twice.
Kurona looked at Kaiser, bringing his arms up and curling his fingers, chomping his teeth, and Kaiser copied every move to the T.
Isagi mentally notes that Kaiser knows how to be silly.
It’s endearing.
Kurona stopped what he was doing and Kaiser did the same.
Kurona then used his hand to judge the height difference between him and Kaiser.
“Tall, tall,” Kurona comments.
Kaiser does the same gesture, “Short, short.”
“Are you waterproof?”
“I am.”
“Must feel nice. How’s swimming?”
“Fun I guess?”
“When I become waterproof, can you please show me how to swim?”
“Why should I?”
Kurona looks between Isagi and Kaiser.
“If you’re too embarrassed to check out a book, I’ll get it for you,you.”
“Who says I will be embarrassed to check out a book?
“Everyone gets embarrassed. Especially anatomy books.”
Kaiser huffed a laugh.
“Yoichi, make sure he’s waterproof.”
“Feeling generous or are you possibly embarrassed to check out a book?”
“Feeling generous.”
“He doesn’t want to say he’s embarrassed about checking out anatomy books, books.”
“I think so too.”
“You two will not gang up on me.”
“Kaiser feels ganged up on?”
“Yeah, Kaiser feels ganged up on?”
Isagi and Kurona stared at Kaiser.
Kaiser dulled his eyes like he’s trying to diffuse the situation with his glaring stare.
“Yoichi.”
“Okay, okay. Kurona, I promise I will keep pushing for them to make you waterproof.
Kurona threw up his arms and gave the dullest yay twice.
Isagi and Kaiser walked away, Isagi still eating his pork bun.
“I’ve held it off long enough. We can go to the garden now.”
“Finally.”
Kaiser followed Isagi all the way to a hall full of large windows that gave way to the view of a peculiar garden–a sensory garden.
Sensory gardens engage with all your senses. These gardens are full of wonderful smelling flowers, various textures like sand and pebbles for you to touch and feel, ambient sounds like artificial chirping and buzzing.
All of the plants and smells are artificial since the directors don’t think it’s necessary for mechanicals to take care of live plants.
Except for one.
Kaiser looked dazed just from the view of the massive garden, eyes darting different places, taking in the breathtaking serenity.
Truthfully, despite its fakeness, Isagi always thought it was beautiful and a lot of craft was clearly put into making it as real as an experience could be.
Isagi gestured Kaiser to follow along.
Isagi stopped walking when they came up on a door, Isagi told Kaiser to take the lead and he did, opening the door to the heavenly expansive garden.
Kaiser walked in slowly, and if mechanicals could breathe, Isagi would say Kaiser’s breath was taken away. Isagi will settle for speechless.
Isagi finished his pork bun, licking his lips.
“Is this beyond your expectations?”
Kaiser looked at Isagi with that same wondrous expression.
“It’s beautiful.”
Isagi feels happy that Kaiser is indeed soft.
He will cling to that fact even if Kaiser were to deny it.
Kaiser felt the sand, felt smooth and rough pebbles alike, took his shoes off to have the grass tickle his silicone feet, and he smelled the aroma coming off the lavender flowers.
Kaiser walked along a smooth cobble path, his ears likely picking up the fake bird chirps.
Kaiser seemed immersed in this, the loving craft clearly touching Kaiser’s artificial heart.
Isagi didn’t bother showing Kaiser to the greenhouse because the mechanical man was so engulfed exploring every crevice of this garden that he eventually found it, baby blue eyes shining bright like when the sun makes the ocean glitter.
Kaiser approached the greenhouse, gently opening the glass door and taking a careful step inside, Isagi coming inside as well.
Isagi misses his pork bun.
“I worked so hard to get the directors to approve this, so you better be appreciative.”
“I..wait. You did this?”
“I didn’t personally set this up, but I argued for a whole week with the directors to let a greenhouse be built, eventually a compromise is you buying the seeds from the store with your allowance and growing the roses yourself.”
Kaiser looked at the many pots, picking one up and his sleeve slid down to reveal the vines engraved on his metal arm.
Isagi read about the many strange alternations Isagi requested, but seemingly forgetting to ask for a haircut.
“Why would you do this?”
Kaiser didn’t make eye contact with Isagi when he asked that question. Instead he kept his eyes on the pot that he’s rotating, sleeve sliding down more to his elbow and Isagi can now see the parts that make up his joints in his elbow.
“Because you like roses.”
Kaiser finally made eye contact with Isagi after that answer.
“I’m a mechanical you don’t know.”
“It’s because you’re a mechanical I don’t know is precisely why I requested this greenhouse.”
“What?”
“I mean, if a mechanical likes something, I make it my job as a connector to make them happy as best as I can. Joy and such are emotions every living being feels, artificial or not.”
Kaiser looked put off by Isagi’s honesty.
Kaiser eventually set the pot down, turning to face Isagi fully.
“Do you just like kintsuba or do you have a taste for other sweets?”
“I love sour gummies, they’re delicious.”
“Great to know.”
“Why is that great to know–?”
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s go back inside.”
“Alright.”
-
One-on-ones like the ones in Kaiser’s room are timed and short, but outings around the facility aren’t exactly timed, so the limit is nonexistent in a sense.
Really the only time mark is you leaving work and going home and it’s time for Isagi to go home.
He said his goodbyes to everyone and visited Kaiser last to say goodnight.
When Isagi saw him again, he was naked up top and Isagi noted more than his disheveled hair as it wasn’t quite disheveled yet.
Isagi stared at the silicone neck, eyes wandering from the rose tattoo down to his silicone pecs, particularly the right where the tattooed vines are.
His arm is metal with joints and it’s decorated with masterfully engraved vines, the shape of the vines aligning well with the crown on Kaiser’s silicone hand.
Isagi has seen Shidou naked on multiple occasions, but Shidou has a mostly full human looking body except for his see-through stomach that’s filled with glittery pink.
Kaiser looks different though. Something about Isagi being able to see the mechanical man’s organs and spine made Isagi feel the sight was too intimate.
He closed his eyes.
“Goodnight.”
Kaiser stood there silently.
Isagi felt a hand come down to stroke his head.
“Goodnight.”
Kaiser retreated back into his room, closing the door afterwards.
What was that?
Not just on Isagi’s end, but Kaiser’s as well? Didn’t his file say he is adverse to physical contact? Unless that doesn’t extend to him touching others.
Isagi sighed, opening his eyes.
He would think about it some more, but his lower abdomen is currently hurting and he wants to curse god for this.
He usually tracks it, he’s rather good at remembering and writing it down, but he completely forgot all about it because his attention was drawn away from it and towards preparing everything he could for Kaiser.
The directors and the request of the greenhouse.
Reading over Kaiser’s file again, again, and again. Taking time to remember and note things that might help Isagi get through to him and help the journey of Kaiser becoming human.
Making those damn flashcards in German and Japanese in case Kaiser wanted to switch his voicebox back to his native tongue.
Isagi curls over as he walks the halls, cursing inwardly.
He can handle this, it’s only the beginning and he has this in the bag.
Isagi knows his limits and he’s always priding himself on pushing past them. This is no different.
Isagi Yoichi can overcome a few days of period cramps and hormones.