It was dark, as it had been for so very long. In this void was warmth and coolness; comfort, but paralysis. She could move and change only as much as the constrained world around her, which had been black and empty since she could remember. There was more out there, beyond this compact shell that she existed in -- she heard the noises, she felt the movements, but what were they? Muffled and vague, the outside was frighteningly limitless to her, but it was out of reach.
Where was she? What was this place that sheltered her? Why was the world distant from her? These were not new questions, for all her slumber did she dream of discovering those answers -- answers that, unknown to her, were fast approaching. What little she could decipher of the outside world had become a swirl of activity, and though that energy could not budge the motionless of her current state, that shell was bound to be broken. The girl without memories, not even of her own name, was on route to the unveiling of a new life.
The stable rush of the train and the soft-orange backdrop of a sunset would have normally unwound Miko to sleep where she sat. Work had kept her busy, but this was not her usual commute back from the offices. Instead of going straight home, she had made an exciting trip to Akihabara, but visiting the district itself was not what made her so antsy in the back of the train car. Miko had made an important purchase, having bought something she had longed for ever since she was a child.
Everything Miko wanted sat on her lap, hugged by both arms to keep the large box safe from the train’s rocking. Her fingers curled anxiously into the plastic bag the box was inside of. I just want to tear it open right now, Miko wished, her leg bouncing in unbridled anticipation. She had a dumb grin on her face, and she was grateful no one else on the train looked back to notice it. Just a little longer… I’ve waited this long. Patience, Miko.
The box was not the most important piece, however. That was but the Starter Kit to accompany the main feature -- the key to everything was grasped in her hand, held tight like a treasure. It was a chrome capsule, nicely rounded except for the tiny legs that could keep it held steady on its own. Only six centimeters wide, it was this shell that contained what had fascinated Miko even years into her adulthood; an artificial human woman, a Ga-Chan Girl.
Miko had already read the information and blurbs on the box two times before, but she was compelled to read it again to tide herself over. The same chrome color from the capsule was the theme of Ga-Chan Girls branding, a shiny layer that made the Starter Kit box stand out as not a mere toy, but a revolutionary machine capable of so much more. It was not something for children to play with; indeed, a slew of red warnings marred the box, strictly detailing the license required to own a Ga-Chan Girl and what was considered prohibited treatment. These were obstacles Miko had since overcome: she was well past the minimum age of eighteen, her background check had cleared positively, and she aced the subsequent exam to earn herself the right to purchase her own Ga-Chan Girl.
So worth it, Miko chuckled to herself, remembering the struggle of waiting that was now behind her. Ga-Chan Girls rocketed to popularity as soon as they had been released, when Miko had just become a teenager. Immediately did these tiny, artificial humans win over the hearts of Japan, and by the next sales quarter, that affection came from all across the globe. Everyone wanted a Ga-Chan Girl -- except Miko’s parents. The words they said back then rang again in Miko’s head; If you want a Ga-Chan Girl so badly, then you can buy one when you’re a responsible adult.
Miko was proud of herself, as though reaching this goal had confirmed she was truly an adult. She was twenty-four years-old and had landed herself a job lucrative enough to sustain herself and one little companion -- she was still dressed for work, itching under the flat blackness of her office dress. The neatness of her blonde hair was coming undone after bustling about in crowded Akihabara, but outside of her job, she cared minimally about her appearance.
Miko glanced at the capsule again, her smile warped in the chrome’s shine; You won’t mind if I look a little frazzled, will you? she jokingly wondered. Her head popped upwards when she felt the speed of the train shift as it slowed into the station.
The walk home was rushed, but only enough that Miko’s pace would not rattle the capsule in her hand. Realistically, it would take significantly more force to damage the capsule, let alone the Ga-Chan Girl inside -- Miko knew this, but would never take that kind of risk. Soon enough, she was climbing the stairs to her studio apartment and fumbling her way through the door, nearly dropping the Starter Kit as she hurried inside.
With a great sigh of relief, Miko placed the box atop her chabudai table, the centerpiece of the little living space. A hand on her knee, Miko beamed over her purchase. “It’s actually here…! I made it-- We made it!” she giggled energetically, bringing the capsule up to eye-level. “Oh, I can’t wait any longer… Let’s wake you up! I so want to meet you…!”
Miko retrieved the packaging the capsule had been in from the plastic bag and then stepped over to the kitchen counter nearby. Though she had familiarized herself with this very procedure, all the same did Miko mutter aloud the instructions to finally “boot up” her Ga-Chan Girl. It was actually more like awakening her Ga-Chan Girl, as these were not machines or androids, but artificial lifeforms -- until purchased and activated, the Ga-Chan Girls hibernate in a “biosleep,” a state that allows them to be packaged and shipped without risking their human-like health.
“Set the capsule on a flat surface so that it stands evenly...” Miko read aloud from the straightforward instructions. “Then… press and hold the activator button on top of the capsule for five seconds.” It was just an indent, but the button was felt under her fingertip. After letting her smile widen, Miko confidently pressed down on the button, until a jingle chirped from the device. Miko flinched, but that signal was part of the procedure, earning back her enthusiasm tenfold as she watched the capsule open on its own.
Miko loomed over the counter, her hands laid flat in suspense. The capsule popped open, and so without further fanfare, the Ga-Chan Girl of her choosing was revealed. The first glimpse of the artificial life was uncanny, initially stirring worry from Miko; the tiny woman was motionless, curled into the fetal position inside a cradle-like seat inside the pod. This, too, was normal, and Miko’s concern somewhat faded -- as much as she had hoped her Ga-Chan Girl would jump to life, the reality is that it took several minutes before they were fully conscious.
“So then… more waiting,” Miko whispered through gritted teeth. Another sigh centered herself, “Patience, patience..! Th-This is an important part of introducing a Ga-Chan Girl to your home, so there’s no helping it…” Yet, she frowned. “Still, not very fun…
“If it’s going to take awhile, then maybe…” Miko turned around, having to pry herself free from staring at the opened capsule. She returned to the table with the Starter Kit and knelt to its level, “I can go ahead and get this ready in the meantime. Shouldn’t take too long…”
The box was torn open and its contents emptied into groups. Everything needed to build a suitable habitat for a Ga-Chan Girl collection was spread out in front of her, only needed to be pieced together. Miko threw herself into the work, entertained by the scale of all that she handled. Absorbed into the setup process, she fell quiet in her focus, even as the minutes ticked by -- and while her Ga-Chan Girl’s eyes had first flickered open.
Her legs unfolded first, the most needed to stretch from her biosleep coil. The rest of her body followed suit, uncurling in a long stretch that was pure pleasure for every muscle. Her first breath was unexpectedly huge as she cherished the act, finally able to fill her lungs with a pump of life. Slowly did her senses come around; her vision was a blur, made worse by the various lights, and all she could hear was the hum of movement, so similar to the vagueness of the outside world.
Out...side…? That term, the first full word to register in her mind, was difficult to comprehend. There was no longer an outside, not one that she was not part of. What she had awoken to was that outside from her slumber, and she had been thrust into it. No longer was the world an unclear series of muffled sounds and movements, but a reality she participated in, a reality that was expansive -- until it came to the walls of whatever chamber she found herself in.
The woman trembled upward from her capsule bed, quickly learning how to balance her minuscule weight. She clung to the pod as her only shelter, scoping out her surroundings while bunkered where she began. Touching even the capsule itself startled her as she remained afraid of any number of consequences, but gradually, she found the motivation to completely exit the shell and step out into the world.
“Brr…” she shivered, hugging her arms around her torso while her legs quivered into each other. The ground was flat and featureless except for its chilling surface, and the air was cool against her bare skin. She wondered if the outside would always be this cold, or if she would grow accustomed to it; her curiosity was bounding, but her worries were just as alert to clash into all her little hopes.
Questions of all kinds clouded her mind, but the closest to an answer she could find was not far behind her capsule. She marveled at the sign that she assumed was dedicated to her, the paper material placed across the floor with its edges worn in, but its message still bright and clear. The flashy, multi-colored letters at the top of the sign could not be overlooked, a title that felt natural for her tongue: “Ga-Chan Girl…” The kanji-written tagline just under it earned the narrow of her gaze. “Your… tiniest… best f-friend…?”
She pulled away from the sign, her brow crooked with worry. The slogan she read and read again was foreboding in every character, but there was another detail that invested her so deeply. She stepped backwards and scanned the signage again; in particular, she gawked at the drawn image of a woman that was beside the Ga-Chan Girl label. This model was posed with knocked-knees and her arms reserved behind her back, donning a blue dress of white polka-dots and a large blue ribbon fashioned into her hair.
She reflected off the image in stunned silence, but was disturbed by the onset of darkness. Appearing over her was the shade of something large behind her, and she timidly turned to understand what had crept up on her. She felt a rumbling through her feet, and she heard a sharp intake of air; these were the consequences of a giant that had neared her, so huge that the cliffside of this cold surface ended at their chest.
“Eeeek!! Nooo!!” she shrieked, stumbling overtop of the sign in a desperate dash to get away. When she tripped onto her side, she rebounded swiftly and took to the capsule for cover, hiding behind the opened shell as if it could stop any action of the giant. Feeling defeated from the get-go, she squeaked with pleas, “D-Don’t hurt me…! I-I don’t know how I got here…! P-Please…!!”
Miko froze and flinched away from the countertop upon hearing her Ga-Chan Girl protest. The smile of excitement she had adorned contorted into shock as she tried to grasp the meaning behind the little woman’s reaction. She began by shaking her head and raising her hands defensively, “No, th-that’s not-- You’re okay! Th-There’s no danger here!”
But that failed to reassure the Ga-Chan Girl, who remained cowering behind the capsule as a shivering mess. The air was electric; Miko was ecstatic to see her Ga-Chan Girl alive and active, but she was afraid that they were already off on the wrong foot. Miko had been warned about cases such as these, and she had to remind herself of what procedures to follow. Think from her perspective, she told herself. She’s lost and scared in a big world… Be sensitive, Miko…
“Umm… h-hello! I-I promise, I’m not going to harm you,” Miko said, her voice gradually diminishing in volume as to not be so overwhelming. “I know you must be confused… I-I’ve been told Ga-Chan Girls don’t wake up with a lot of, err… awareness…”
Ga-Chan Girls…? That title again struck the tiny woman as she remained frightened behind the capsule. According to the sign, that was her -- whatever that was. Though it did not make immediate sense, there was a feeling of familiarity with the term, and that extended to the scenario she was in. She was still scared stiff, but the concept of a giant was slowly being accepted as a normal truth. Being small was correct, or so at least her instincts told her.
While she was struck by that sense of realization, the capsule she took cover behind was whisked into the air, completely revealing her tiny self. Miko had lifted it away, offering a comforting smile to ease her into a conversation. “My name’s Miko,” she explained with a small bow. “And, hah, I suppose I already know who you are. You’re Yukiko!”
The little woman blinked flatly, processing the name. “Yo-- Yuki...ko…?” she whispered it back. The familiarity was there once again, but that feeling was confusing her further. “That’s… who I am?”
Miko nodded, positively charged to be speaking with her new Ga-Chan Girl. “Yep! Yukiko! That’s the name on the box, anyway.” She pointed to that sign Yukiko had been studying, that of the user’s manual included with the Ga-Chan Girl. Yukiko looked it over again, mystified by these details. “Model 7 of Series 7: Yukiko!” Miko read aloud from the manual’s cover. “Seven is my lucky number, just so you know. I had a great feeling about you, right from the beginning!”
Yukiko’s eyes traced all the words as they were printed on the booklet, absorbing as much of it as she could. In doing so, she felt the pain of memories being unlocked; not memories, but thoughts that had been deeply inactive in her head, flashing to her knowledge base like strobes of light within her mind.
“I-I know, this might be a bit much to take in all at once,” Miko went on, noticing Yukiko’s unabashed bewilderment. She crossed her hands together to hold her nerves steady. “B-But there’s no rush! Take your time settling in!”
But that reassurance seemed muted to Yukiko, who continued to marvel at the manual as Miko spoke. Miko worried that her Ga-Chan Girl was struggling with her first few steps into the waking world, that her hard stare into the cover was a sign of something gone wrong. She bit her lip, unsure of what to feel when Yukiko stepped forward with a hesitant point at the picture of herself.
“... Those clothes…” Yukiko muttered, barely audible for Miko to hear. She then looked down at herself, and instantly fell to her knees, tightly embracing her own body in a concealing hug. “Wh-Why am I naked?!” she screeched.
Miko’s eyes popped with alertness. “Oh! Y-Yeah, y-you didn’t notice?” Miko said, choking back her own chuckling of the situation. Indeed, Yukiko had been nude this entire time, an aspect of the Ga-Chan Girl that Miko had been politely averting herself from. “Your clothes-- I’ll get them for you right now! They’re just over here…”
Yukiko remained shuddering as Miko dipped out of sight, reaching beneath the counter to retrieve another one of her purchases. What she returned with was a laminate sheet with doll clothes flat-pressed into it. They were listed out in a tidy array to pick from, but the most standout of the options was that blue dress with the polkadots, included with it the socks, ribbons, and black slippers, just as the outfit had appeared on the packaging. Yukiko peeled off the clothes as though they were stickers, their flatness persisting until shaken out in the pinch of her fingers.
“Here; this is your signature outfit,” Miko politely elaborated, gently offering up the clothes in the palm of her hand for Yukiko to claim. When the naked Ga-Chan Girl kept still with hesitation, Miko was left to awkwardly dump the clothes onto the countertop for her to take on her own terms. “I-I think it’s going to look really cute on you! Go ahead, put them on!”
Yukiko swallowed as she stared down at the pile of clothes, allured enough to at least twist around to face Miko. She inched herself closer, but felt too embarrassed to reach forward in the state she was in.
“... Ah! I-I’ll give you some privacy!” Miko laughed, realizing how intruding her watchfulness was. She pivoted from the counter and perched her hands to her hips in wait. “Go ahead! Just, uh, speak up when you’re ready~”
Despite the courtesy presented to her, Yukiko yet hesitated to move -- the unrelenting chill of the apartment forced her hand to scurry forth and dress herself. She first held the dress up against her bare self before slowly slipping into it, her fingers curiously grazing over the many frills and making sure to fluff up the shoulders like they were intended. It was a perfect fit -- literally designed for her. She glanced at Miko, acknowledging that she was still turned away, and so went ahead with donning the rest of the clothes; the knee-high socks warmed her legs, and her shoes protected her feet from the cold ground. The blue ribbons and hair bows were correctly added to her attire without a flinch of inexperience; the routine of dressing herself into that very outfit naturally came to her movements, something she realized only after everything was put into place.
Miko’s curiosity was tugging at her when Yukiko finally called up at her, “O-Okay… I’m all dressed now…” Excitedly, Miko spun back around and immediately fawned over her Ga-Chan Girl’s updated appearance, her hands clasped over her heart as if becoming faint. Attention pouring over her, Yukiko quaked with mild embarrassment, swaying uneasily with a redness taking over her cheeks.
“Simply adorable,” Miko cooed, her hands wanting to reach forward. “Everything fits, right? D-Do you feel comfortable? We have other clothes, e-even more than these!”
“I-I suppose I’m fine,” Yukiko meekly responded, stroking down the middle of her skirt to keep it down. “Th-They’re… a little clingy. And crisp.”
“That’s what I figured. I’m sure you’ll wear them in,” Miko said, a finger acting as a thin veil over her bubbly smile. “Hopefully you feel a bit more at home now that you’ve got some clothes on! I probably should’ve had those ready earlier, huh?”
Yukiko nervously shifted her weight onto each of her new slippers. Though still bashful to speak, she assumed it would be worse to not be open and true with this giant person -- her owner, as it were, a factor that had weighed on Yukiko’s mind all this time. “Um, i-if I’m being honest, actually…” she began timidly, “I’m still… feeling misplaced here. I-It’s sort of coming together, wh-who I am and all, but… I don’t know anything about you…”
Miko lit up, engrossed with each and every part of their conversation. “Oh my god, I barely introduced myself!” she chortled, wiping the sweat from her brow. “W-Well, like I said, I’m Miko! And, uh… my job is data entry, um, I don’t go out for much else actually…” She looked to her room, blanking on what else to talk about. “Err… I like manga! And video games and stuff! Heh, y-you could sorta call me a loner-type… A bit of an otaku, you know…”
“An… otaku?” Yukiko repeated, with questionable pronunciation. “Should I know what that is…?” She tilted her head, worried there was some sort of error with her consciousness.
“Ah, n-no, maybe not…” Miko clarified, feeling even less confident about the broad qualities she could describe of herself. “It’s sort of… like, a nerd…” Her gaze strayed aside until blinking back to life onto Yukiko. “Oh! How about you check out your new home? M-Maybe that will make you feel more comfortable!”
The change in topic happened too quick for Yukiko to notice how forced it was; her concern was then towards the concept of her new home. As tiny as she was compared to everything, how could she call this huge space a home? The kitchenette behind her was as wide a sports field, and the living area beyond her owner spanned an even greater length.
“Oh… I-It’s… spacious?” Yukiko commented, trembling to say something nice.
Miko raised a brow, then giggled, “You mean my apartment? That’s not exactly what I meant. Trust me,” she sighed, “spacious is the last word I’d use to describe this place.” An unimpressed glare scanned the few corners of her studio apartment, designed well for its minimal space but was nevertheless a cramped arrangement. “You’ll have your own home-- a house! A little Ga-Chan house~ Hah, I can’t wait to show you now~”
Yukiko’s interest had been piqued regarding her own living space, but that enthusiasm was cut into when two hands were suddenly encroaching on either side of her. She gasped and stumbled backwards, overwhelmed by the swarm of fingers reaching to take her. Shambling as she did, Miko swiftly reeled back, locking her hands together to prove they were dismissed.
“Sorry! I-I wasn’t really thinking,” Miko nervously laughed. She was relieved to see that Yukiko was not too shaken up over being reached at. “You look so grabbable! N-No offense. Don’t worry, I bought something for this, too~”
Miko ducked away again, this time bringing out a new contraption. At a glance, it looked remarkably like an ordinary purse, but a circular window allowed its hollowness to be seen. It was a pleasant teal color with the straps made of leather while the container itself was a durable plastic. Yukiko was instinctively drawn to that familiar logo embedded beneath the window, that of the Ga-Chan Girl branding; she assumed correctly that it was something else purposed for her.
“This is so cool,” Miko started. “It’s a Safe Travel Bag for Ga-Chan Girls! See?” She angled the item in the air for Yukiko to observe, though from her perspective, it was like watching a recreational vehicle be turned around just above her. “You can load inside from these side entrances, or I can unzip it like a normal purse. The best part? It has one of those gyro-thingies, so like, the floor inside doesn’t move around a whole lot, even when I’m walking around!”
Worry and wonder mixed into a curious expression as Yukiko digested the details. Miko had begun to understand that her Ga-Chan Girl was of the shy, quiet variety, and so without pressing for a reply, she sat the Safe Travel Bag onto the counter, orienting an entrance towards Yukiko. As instructed, Yukiko opened the plastic door and tepidly stepped inside. Nothing else occupied the bag, defaulting her attention onto the window; outside were Miko’s eyes, gazing within unblinkingly.
“All set? Okay! Just a short trip, hehe~” Miko grabbed the bag by its handles, both hands applied despite it weighing as much as any empty purse. Even so, she carefully turned and moved with the item held, transferring it over from the counter down to the chabudai table in just three steps. Yukiko instinctively expected her room to shake and send her off-balance, but as explained, the floor remained surprisingly stable, allowing her to awe at the quick spin around the apartment before being set down.
“Th-There we go…” Miko said as she sat on her knees nearby, ensuring she would not rattle the table. Once seated, she eagerly opened the tiny door with a finger, urging Yukiko to step outside. “Come and take a look at your new home! It’s so cute~”
Yukiko peeked outside cautiously. Her eyes grew as she looked upon the house she was brought to, baffled by its scale being so attuned to her. White walls stretched up for two stories with enough roof space for an attic, making for an impressively sized home -- a property that yet all fit atop a table inside a shabby apartment. Yukiko marveled over an idyllic house that a family would strive for, but Miko behind her was looking over an intricate dollhouse.
Miko noticed how paused Yukiko was, and so she motioned a finger towards the front door. “Go ahead inside!” she urged. “It’s all for you, Yukiko! I still have to set up a few appliances, but you should make yourself comfortable. I-I hope you enjoy it!”
The Ga-Chan Girl drew nearer to the house on the tips of her toes, as though the door could possibly swing open with a surprise. She scaled the two steps of a patio and twisted the door knob, slowly entering the dimly lit home. The only sources of light were what came in through the windows, casting a broad darkness over most of everything. That was until the power was suddenly flicked on; lamps and bulbs all over sprung to life alongside the hum of an energy flow, pushing Yukiko into a gasp.
“Oops-- my bad! I could’ve warned you,” Miko apologized, having been the one to switch on the power. “Looks like the battery is working properly, at least. That should also let the water run now, too. C-Can you go into the kitchen and try it for me?”
“U-Um… Sure…?” Yukiko replied, aiming her voice up to the ceiling -- the most appropriate direction she could decide to respond towards. With the lights flipped on, Yukiko could now see the various furniture that was placed around the living room, which she strayed away from as though it were all off-limits. She quietly slid into the kitchen as she was asked to, peeping around the corner to first comprehend the layout. Like everything else, the kitchen was uncannily spotless, having never been used despite everything situated to be lived in. In the stretch of silence, Yukiko thought she sensed ghosts of those that once resided here, but what she was truly experiencing were more ticks of memories that told her that this was ordinary.
With so much to see and test, Yukiko nearly forgot to turn on the water as had been requested. She was spying into the fridge when she remembered as much, and she hustled to the sink to turn on one of its valves. There was a worrying groan from the pipes, but a second later, water spewed from the spout, just as a normal sink would. The slight splash spooked Yukiko into stepping back, her eyes wide with fascination.
“Uh… I-It works,” Yukiko called out, still staring at the running water. There were rumblings of movement from outside the house, but Yukiko was deaf to it. She approached the sink and offered a finger into the stream, flinching at first when it got wet but otherwise persisting to allow her hand to be rinsed. The cold flow of the water pushing through her fingers was oddly cleansing for her mind, soothing the sensation that was her instincts flaring to life.
“Oh, good! That’s great!” Miko’s voice popped in from an unexpected direction, piercing through the wall that the sink was up against. Pulled out of her trance, Yukiko looked up from the water to see the pupil of an eye filling her window. Just as the eye blinked, Yukiko shrieked and jumped to the opposite countertop in the kitchen, grasping where her heart was thumping. Miko cooed with concern, “Ah, I d-didn’t mean to surprise you. It’s just me! Miko!”
Yukiko caught her breath soon after, chiding herself for acting so feeble. With reddened cheeks, she tepidly approached the sink again to turn off the water. She observed the remaining water swirl into the drain, prompting a question; “Should I worry about conserving water, o-or anything? Wh-Where does the water go…?”
Miko’s smile brightened, despite being out of view. “Oh, that’s all taken care of,” she answered. “Underneath the house, sort of where the crawlspace should be, is a whole filtering system for the water. I just have to empty it out and refill the tank every few days. Actually…”
From her angle outside, Miko tried to direct Yukiko with a point of her finger. After a few tries of turning, Yukiko’s attention was taken to a panel device between the kitchen and living room, where an array of small red lights waited to be lit. They were of similar design to lamps Yukiko had noticed elsewhere around the Ga-Chan house, their red tint having inspired something else to stress about.
“See those lights? That will tell you if there’s something detected to be wrong with the house,” Miko elaborated. “So, like, if the water is tainted, or if the power isn’t acting right, that should tell you. It tells me, too.” Yukiko heard a tapping from high above, which was in fact Miko referring to her own safety panel atop the roof. “If you notice any of these lights on, you should take a look here and then let me know about it.”
Yukiko hovered over the panel, but her vision gravitated towards the eye at the window. It sped out of sight as quickly as it could blink, but when Yukiko looked to another window, she saw that get filled as well. She shuddered, meekly entering the living room again to gloss over its full bookshelf, but still was she itchy from Miko’s stare.
“Is everything okay in there?” Miko wondered, her posture awkwardly looming around one corner of the model home. “You can get something to drink from the fridge, i-it should be stocked. You seem a little stiff, still…”
Yukiko thought to excuse her shyness, but there was no denying that she felt overwhelmed by the attention -- clearly so, if even Miko had taken notice. She massaged her shoulder while thinking of a fair reply. “I-If it isn’t too much to ask, actually--”
“Go for it!” Miko bubbled up eagerly. “Ask me anything! I-I’m here to help you settle in!”
Yukiko swallowed after having been interrupted. “Err… could I have a little privacy for a bit? I-It’s just that, with you looking at me and all, I-I don’t really feel…”
“Oh-- I understand! Totally!” Miko laughed and pulled away from the window, then shifted further away from the table itself. She held her hands together to keep them closeby, resisting the temptations to keep touching. “I wouldn’t want someone peeping in through my windows either, hehe. I’ll let you explore the house at your own pace! You can consider which bedroom to claim as your own, too~”
Yukiko staggered to the last window Miko had been at, gazing outside to see the giant having stood up. Though it was a relief to have that pressure removed, the Ga-Chan Girl consequently felt more alone due to the distance.
“I’m right here if you need me,” Miko said, unbuttoning the first buttons of her top. “I need to get undressed from this, anyway. I forgot I was still in my work clothes…” In mid-speech, she turned away towards a clothes cabinet, continuing to disrobe. Yukiko watched her owner for a time, but once her wariness subsided, her interest went right back to the house and the rest of it that she had yet to explore.
Yukiko wandered without an immediate goal, content with testing out the various appliances and examining the nooks of the house for its finest details. The most mundane of features managed to impress her, such as a stove that really could heat up, and books that were complete with full stories inside. The television worked as well, and there was a personal computer too, but those required more of Miko’s attention to be fully activated.
The space itself was open and refreshing, partly due to a lack of furniture. No room felt empty by any means, but the sparse amount of decorations was left open for the owners to fill in. Yukiko entertained the ideas that came to mind -- a chair here, a lamp there -- but was unsure yet of just how much control of her space she had. She was guaranteed, at least, to claim one of the four bedrooms as her own, but after exploring the three from the second floor, it was clear that the master bedroom downstairs was the most fetching.
What will the other three be used for? Yukiko asked herself as she hovered outside her bedroom, partially leaned against the doorframe. The house was certainly spacious and could accommodate several people -- relatively speaking, it put Miko’s own home to shame -- but it was uncomfortable to imagine the whole house being reserved for just herself. I do like the quiet, she debated, but all the time would be… maddening.
The cold creep of loneliness traveled up to her shoulders. Yukiko held herself as she swayed back into the living room, her search for a distraction hooking onto the safety panel going into the kitchen. The lights were unlit like before, but she noticed there was a button labeled “CALL” just beside a flat microphone to speak into. Having explored the house sufficiently, Yukiko thought it proper to go ahead and buzz for Miko, if only to have some company again.
She pressed the button with a light poke-- Brrzzrrzzrrzzrrzzrr!! Brrzzrrzzrrzzrrzzrr!! Yukiko gasped and collapsed to her knees, defending her ears from a siren-like noise about as loud as an alarm clock. She tried to yell over the ringing, standing up in a rush to figure out how to make it cease, but smacking the button again only restarted it. Yukiko bit the tips of her fingers out of worry; it was her first day being awake, and she was already causing problems for her new owner.
Another development added to Yukiko’s shock when the ceiling suddenly began to rise, leaking in light from outside as it came apart from the walls. Yukiko fretted into the center of the living room, the farthest away she could get from the changing structure, and stared up at the second floor being removed. Replacing the ceiling then was Miko, her shadowed face looming above after she lifted the top half of the house away. Her eyes darted concernedly, but her expression softened upon confirming that nothing was truly wrong.
“Hey there!” Miko chuckled as she set aside the second floor. Out of Yukiko’s view, she flipped a small switch that put an end to the alarm, which to Miko had sounded like a typical phone ringtone. Even after the buzzing had stopped, however, Yukiko remained shaking in the middle of the floor, stuttering in attempts to apologize. “Hey, no worries. You figured out how to make a call for me -- that’s good to know! Did you finish checking things out?”
Yukiko grasped at her heart, finding the balance to speak again. “Y-Yes… It’s… nice.”
“Great! Oh, that’s great to hear,” Miko sighed. “I’m so jealous, honestly. I can only dream about having a house as nice as this.” She lowered a hand into the living room, using a single digit to gently stroke the couch, then brush along the window curtains. “If there’s any furniture you want, let me know and I’ll look for it! My apartment isn’t big enough to decorate much, but your place is really easy to rearrange! And they make so many cute things for Ga-Chans, a whole catalogue.”
“Th-That’s fun… uh, but… is the house supposed to…?” Yukiko pointed at the walls, specifically where they were supposed to meet the now-absent ceiling.
“Ah, yep! That’s supposed to happen,” Miko answered with a nod. “That makes putting furniture and stuff inside way easier. And if something were to happen to you, I can just reach in like this.” She put her hands together, above the house where Yukiko could see them. “I-I didn’t mean to scare you by opening the house up like that. I’ll give you a warning next time!”
Yukiko giggled nervously, slowly fanning out her fears as she stood back up onto her feet. She took notice of Miko’s change in appearance, having undressed from her office attire in exchange for some loose-fitting pajamas. Scanning her through a window, Yukiko saw her owner dressed in a long gray t-shirt that stretched down to her thighs and mostly hid the pink shorts underneath. Noteworthy as well was that Miko’s hair was down, free from the hair clips that kept its blonde strands in place and allowed to sway above the model house.
“Are there, um, any other clothes for me to wear?” Yukiko asked, that curiosity brought on by Miko’s attire. She pulled at the ends of her skirt, “Th-This outfit is very lovely, but I don’t know if I would wear it everyday… or to sleep in…”
“Yes, yes! There’s a whole-- here, let me just grab it…” Miko ducked aside and was heard rustling through boxes and bags. She returned with a smile curled inward, a weak attempt at restraining her amusement. Her hand dove in through the open ceiling and deposited in front of Yukiko a pod-shaped object, its clean-white design standing out compared to the normalcy of the house. It stood slightly taller than Yukiko, and printed across its two doors was the Ga-Chan Girl logo.
Encouraged to look inside, Yukiko opened it to discover that it was a wardrobe already outfitted with a collection of outfits. They were organized neatly, still flattened like stickers between thin sheets of plastic; everything would have to be aired out once before being wearable, but the selection still put a sparkle in Yukiko’s eyes. There were several options to choose from, and even more when combinations were considered. Different pants, shirts, footwear, and accessories gave her something to wear for almost any occasion.
“And just like with the furniture, I can always get more,” Miko additionally chimed. She held her chin high with pride that she could so easily tend to someone’s wants; a significant part of the appeal to having a Ga-Chan Girl was the ability to provide so much for so cheap. “Oh, you can put that anywhere you’d like, basically. It’s your home, after all!”
Yukiko contemplated that very topic, but ran into an issue immediately. She gave a strong effort, but she was too weak to move the wardrobe effectively on her own, and was close to pushing it over rather than sliding it forward into the master bedroom. Fortunately, Miko caught the pod before it could tip, and subsequently offered to simply place it wherever Yukiko wanted.
As a few more arrangements needed to be completed, Yukiko stepped outside the model house to allow Miko the freedom to work on the inside. The internet was eventually connected to the computers within, and similarly was cable broadcasted onto the televisions. A second test was performed to ensure the electronics were working and that the water was running properly; everything checked out, listed aloud for Miko to keep up with. Every aspect of the house lifted her spirits higher, to the point she could dare admit that she was excited for the future.
Miko rested back onto a pillow seat with a sigh of relief. She stroked a wrist across her forehead, “That’s it… That should be everything.” She giggled as her glance turned to Miko. “For now, at least. There are so many cool upgrades I can get -- m-maybe on my next paycheck…”
Yukiko laughed at the small joke, a gesture that brought warmth to her human’s cheeks. “Thank you again, f-for all of this,” the Ga-Chan Girl said, pivoting back towards her new home. “It’s still a lot to take in, but… I think it’s coming together. I-I’m starting to understand what this all… is.”
“That’s awesome!” Miko cheered, controlling her volume too late. “I-I mean, I wish I could make it even easier for you. This transition has to be a lot of pressure, but I’m glad you’re getting worn in.”
Yukiko nodded as her fingers curled into the folds of her skirt. She had been biting back these worries, not wanting to draw concern during such a busy day, but the time seemed most appropriate to bring up a question that had kept her hesitant all this time. “Uh, perhaps you might know,” she began despite being unsure where to, “but… how do I know these things?”
The question was stated that simply, leaving Miko paused to reply. “Ah, well, i-it has to do with your programming… I think.”
“Programming?” Yukiko held her head gently, as if it were made of glass. “I still don’t quite understand…”
“As far as I understand,” Miko cleared her throat, “Ga-Chan Girls are activated with a certain, err, awareness already built into their minds.” The explanation was so far not working; neither for Yukiko, nor Miko herself. An analogy popped into mind: “It’s like starting over an RPG you already beat! Y-You know? You might need to level up again and find new equipment, but you’re already aware of what to do and what the rules are. Your character is at level one, but you know the game already.” Miko was amused by her explanation, but by the end of it, she feared it had gone over Yukiko’s head. “Does that… make sense?”
Yukiko was unresponsive for a second, but when pressed, she nodded in reply. “I think I get what you mean,” she said, her tone hushed as she sank into thought. “It’s weird… I shouldn’t know what an RPG is, but… I do. A… role playing game.” Her stare was lost without focus, but when Miko leaned in worried, Yukiko looked into her eyes with a reassuring grin. “I guess that’s an example of what we’re talking about. I know things, but… not until I’ve been introduced.”
“More or less,” Miko chuckled. “I’m sure it will all make sense with time. But, just know for sure that you’re safe with me! If we stick together, I think we’ll both be very happy~” Her smile widened, just as Yukiko’s was spreading in return, but her joy turned into a yawn that needed to be covered. With weary eyes, Miko looked over her precious Ga-Chan Girl and the home she set up for her; all this time, Miko had been so swept into the excitement, she forgot just how exhausted the office had left her earlier that day, and how little sleep she got the night before thinking of this very moment.
Miko unrolled her futon out onto the floor after having cleared some space for it. She would be sleeping in a corner not far from the chabudai table, a position she could keenly respond to emergencies from, but primarily, it was an angle that she could watch the Ga-Chan Girl house from for as long as it took her to fall asleep. Between the worries that something could happen to Yukiko during the night were bubbles of dreams, fantasies of what the future would hold for both of them going forward.
Yukiko had her own thoughts to reflect upon, what with there being so much to mentally unpack. Her diminutive size, her role beneath Miko, her ever-expanding memories and instincts -- questions all compounded together into one abrasive headache, but there was a lasting comfort that kept Yukiko sane. She gandered out the windows often, past the cliffside of the table’s end and across the living room, where Miko slept itchily in anticipation for tomorrow. There were many unanswered wonders, but Yukiko put her trust into Miko, confident they would brave a new everyday-life together.