CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 155.1 – “MEET THE PARENTS (AND THE AI)”

Sora Amamiya stood outside the Kamishiro family’s countryside home with a backpack, a bouquet of hand-picked mountain flowers, and an expression that could only be described as "pre-trauma."

Behind the front gate, a drone with a glowing blue eye hovered silently.

"Target identified. Intruder or guest?"Lucia’s voice echoed through the speaker.

"Uh, guest?" Sora answered. "I think."

"Answer accepted. Proceed to the door and prepare for light familial interrogation."

"What."

The door opened before he could run.

First Impressions and Parental Calculations

Aoi welcomed him first, wearing an apron dusted with flour. Her smile was warm and effortless.

"You must be Sora. Come in before Lucia scans you again."

Sora bowed awkwardly.

"Th-thank you for having me. These are... for you. I wasn’t sure if you liked wildflowers, but—"

"They’re beautiful," she said, already placing them in a vase.

In the kitchen, Ren was tightening bolts on a hover mower engine.

He didn’t look up.

"So. You’re the quantum boy."

Sora stiffened.

"Y-yes, sir. It’s an emerging field—"

"How fast is your reaction time?"

"Um... I’m better at simulations than martial arts, sir."

"What would you do if Hina short-circuited a military-grade AI on accident?"

"Turn it into a toaster."

Silence.

Then Ren finally smirked.

"Good answer."

The Dinner Table Gauntlet

The whole family, including little Hina’s younger sister, gathered for dinner.

Lucia displayed their vital signs live on a floating panel (which Sora tried very hard to ignore).

"So," Ren said, sipping his tea. "You plan to marry her?"

Sora nearly choked on his rice.

"I—I mean... that’s a very premature hypothesis. We’re still in beta phase, emotionally speaking."

Hikari leaned in, whispering to Hina.

"He’s funny. Keep him."

"I know," Hina replied, eyes fond but smug. "I calibrated him myself."

Even the younger sibling—only nine—grinned and said:

"He looks like the kind of guy who gets hacked by love."

Sora bowed to her.

"You’re not wrong, young miss."

Private Talk with Ren

After dinner, Ren took Sora to the garage. There were tools, blueprints, and a single polished Mark-85 core mounted in a case—retired, but respected.

"Listen, Sora," Ren said seriously. "I’m not asking you to be perfect. I’m just asking you not to break her spark."

"I won’t, sir. She’s the brightest thing I’ve ever met. If anything, she resets me."

Ren nodded.

"Then you’re probably the one."

He patted Sora’s shoulder.

"You panic too much. That’s good. Means you’ll double-check her robots before she sends them into orbit."