I think it’s fair to say I won’t be coming back here.

Peace out, y’all. It was good writing with you.

│⚙️│ It was known to be quite the rare occurrence for the robotics club to ever receive a visit from a student that wasn’t from within their ranks. Most students knew to leave them be; their club room was sweltering hot from the electronics they all ran, and their club was socially awkward enough only to speak to those who shared their interests. They were left in peace and quiet to do their own thing, and Kibo enjoyed it that way. A hybrid couldn’t be scorned if he hid himself away in a small club room.

So, when a member of the drama club had approached them for assistance in their latest show, his fellow members had decided to nominate him to represent the robotics club and build them the animatronics they needed. Though they flashed him sheepish grins and thumbs-up as he followed the other student out of the room, he could have sworn he picked up on the collective sighs of relief that followed as soon as the door was closed.

Oh, well. I suppose I should make the best of this situation. I doubt the drama students would cause any trouble, seeing as they need my help...

No amount of self-reassurance was going to help combat the anxiety that plagued his thoughts as he made his way towards the drama club, toolbox in hand. Kibo knew his presence wasn’t exactly welcomed around herbivore students, but even some carnivores stared at him in disdain at his mixed features. He’d just simply have to grin and bear it, and try not to make a fool of himself in front of everyone.

Though, as he was welcomed into the club room, his eyes couldn’t help but land upon a certain student. The hybrid’s ears perked up straight, mouth slightly agape as he set down his toolbox. He had no idea that a wolf was part of the drama club. What was he even going to say to someone like him, anyway? That wolf looked incredibly tall and frightening...even more so than what he’d usually expect!

The student that had accompanied him had long disappeared at this point, and it seemed most of the others were busy chatting amongst themselves. Noticing that the wolf student was fiddling with what appeared to look like stage lights, Kibo found himself heaving a sigh, once again picking up his box of tools and slowly approaching the wolf, head lowered somewhat.

No need to be defensive or frightened...you were welcomed here for a reason.

“Hello there. Are you a member of the production crew?” His voice was incredibly soft, almost careful in articulation as he lifted his tools somewhat. “I apologise if you’re not the person I should be asking...but your club requested assistance from mine in regards to some animatronics?”

ncppera-bo​:

│⚙️│ Mornings at the academy were always...interesting, to say the least. Last night’s search proved fruitless, meaning many of the students who walked in appeared frustrated or merely tired. Either way, they were in no mood for a conversation, which meant Kiibo was left sitting at one of the tables with practically nothing to do except wait. The fact he couldn’t eat pained him once again, leaving him a little annoyed. Despite this, he still smiled and offered his own greetings in response to Angie as she sat across from him.

...And felt growing awkwardness cling to his emotional receptors as she continued to stare at him. The robot found his smile grow slightly strained from the feeling of being stared at, attempting to remain polite despite how much he didn’t like it. The loud laughter that erupted from the artist only served to make him flinch out of complete surprise.

“...No, I am nothing like a ghost, thank you very much,” Kiibo replied, now appearing decidedly unimpressed with the comparison. Then again, he should have expected as much from someone as spiritual as Angie. “The research into artificial intelligence may not be fully understood by those outside of the specified field, but I can assure you my existence can fully be explained by science. To compare me to a ghost is quite insulting, frankly.”

mage-ical​:

│⚙️│ “Well, I hope I have not contributed towards your feelings of embarrassment...but I will happily listen to anything you have to say, as I have stated before.”

At least she wasn’t afraid of him, like a few others were. And even if they weren’t afraid, said people would often mock him in his attempts to better understand his peers. Kiibo may not be as close to Himiko as he was with a couple of his other classmates, but he definitely felt more at ease around her. And perhaps one day, she could feel comfortable enough to confide in him without needing to worry about how he would react.

The robot ‘blinked’, remaining quiet as she fumbled around for a few moments. He would remain patient despite his overwhelming curiosity wishing for him to ask aloud what exactly she was doing; his reward was being presented the item that Himiko was attempting to get out in the first place. It was a deck of cards, as magicians were often known for. (at least, from what he had researched in an attempt to better learn his classmates...) Did she want to perform some kind of magic trick?

And no. He didn’t know what tarot cards were either.

“Um...I would like to, but what would you like me to do?”

cemeteryhavened​:

( @ctrlaltkibo​ // lyric starter call )

𝒰𝐿𝒯𝐼𝑀𝒜𝒯𝐸 𝐼𝒩𝒱𝐸𝒩𝒯♡𝑅

│⚙️│ “I am aware that you are not fond of taking breaks, but you have been working non-stop on that invention...should you not at least consider getting something to eat?” 

│⚙️│ “I can do many things, actually! I will show you why I have been given the title of the ‘Ultimate Robot’!”

Just who did this child think he was by doubting him anyway? Either way, Kiibo wasn’t going to let that comment slide without at least attempting to prove himself. Making a noise similar to an inhale of air when one was about to say something, the robot stretched out his arm. On the forearm, a panel opened up, revealing a complicated yet intricate multi-tool. Of course it wasn’t pathetic; this was awesome!

“Have you seen a robot with such an impressive multi-tool before?”

│⚙️│ “Which blue thing are you referring to, exactly? Many of the pieces have shades of blue on them.”

Kouki let out a hum of thought, metallic hand hovering over the colour sorted puzzle pieces. Something as solving a large-scale puzzle wasn’t interesting for everyone, but for his brother and himself it was rather entertaining and peaceful, to say the least. Electric hues narrowed ever so slightly, trying to focus in on what area they could focus on next with such a wide array of blue. Gently picking up a set of blue pieces, he showed them towards Kiibo.

“Could you perhaps show me what you mean?”

│⚙️│ “As a self-aware learning AI, it is beneficial for me to ask as many questions as I can. Though, I hope I did not overwhelm you while doing so, Tojo-san.”

A maid’s duties may have focused mainly on domestic work, but it was the speed and accuracy of her work that had gotten Kiibo curious. Well, that curiosity would apply to any of his classmates, seeing as he highly enjoyed learning of their interests and how they’d gotten as far as to be recognised as ‘ultimate’, but as they were the only two present within the room, the robot’s questioning was directly targeted at Kirumi.

“My unstable joints and lack of strength make it very hard for someone like me to perform chores, so to watch you work as swiftly as you do amazes me.”

│⚙️│ “If you were aware of how rude it sounded, why did you still ask me? That sounds incredibly careless of you, Saihara-kun.”

A sniffing sound emitted from the robot, one sounding close to indigence than any kind of sadness. Perhaps Kiibo gave the detective a harder time than usual when it came to statements he perceived as robophobic, but only because he placed more trust in them than most of their other classmates. He quietly made a mental note to prepare a lecture for said classmates about treating him with respect when they all next met up, but for now, he would have to direct his attention towards Shuichi.

“But I suppose I can forgive you, seeing as you have recognised that it was wrong of you,” Kiibo added, his formerly angry expression calming down to something more akin to indifference. Regardless, a metallic finger shot outwards, pointing towards them. “If you really are curious about me, you could at least ask without sounding robophobic!”

│⚙️│ “This may sound a tad childish, but I can recall the first game the Professor and I ever played together. It was simply ‘catch’.”

“My AI had been newly reborn, so the most logical course of action was to pick a bonding activity that would not be too difficult both physically and mentally to comprehend and perform. It was also used as a way to test my hand-eye coordination...”

“I think, though, that my father simply wished to bond with me, to prove that he didn’t hold my previous actions against me. So while it may be a childish, simple game, it holds a lot of meaning to both myself and the Professor. We still play it occasionally, though our preferred activity nowadays is to solve Sudoku puzzles together.”

│⚙️│ “I realise that it is Father’s Day again, so happy Father’s Day!”

“...I hope that the Professor likes the gift that I created for him...”

more-than-a-princess​:

│⚙️│ “Yes, so I have heard. Of course, shared interests are a common indicator of a good friendship bond, but it is still wonderful to share and experience such things with you!”

Kiibo held onto the boxset as Sonia set it into his hands, beaming down at it with excitement. Even something as little as this was enough to bring immense happiness to the robot, with his emotional receptors reacting with a gleeful joy. Plus, this could be a good opportunity to spend some time with the other student; he had missed out on talking to her yesterday simply because of his circumstances, but he was fully aware that she wouldn’t have minded regardless. It was this shared understanding between them that had allowed their friendship to blossom well.

Moving back to his desk so he could retain his satchel, Kiibo placed the boxset safely within it, before perking up at the offer of spending time with her. This was pretty convenient; both of them had some spare time before their schedules pulled them away again. He showed his agreement with a firm nod, not wishing to go into how uncomfortable meal times at the academy made him before he became better friends with Sonia. Instead, he attempt to wave off the concern somewhat.

“I apologise for not informing you, but yesterday’s departure was also quite sudden for me as well. Though the issue ended up not being highly serious, it still required the Professor’s help to fix,” An oil leak used to not be embarrassing, until society decided to link it with...accidents that humans sometimes did. Either way, Kiibo didn’t wish to speak of it too much. “But I did miss speaking to you, so I’m glad we are able to spend time with each other today! What would you like to do?”