"Finally... just a click, and it's finished!" I hit the 'Submit' button, the commission sent off into the digital ether. A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I lean back in my chair, the tension of the completed task slowly draining away.

  Rapima fidgets with her fingers, her gaze fixed on me with that sweet, innocent smile. She has been silently observing my coding and optimization work for who knows how long.

  "Master," she begins, her voice soft and thoughtful, "with those adjustments... um... Rapima guesses you'll need to recalibrate the camera twice for it to be fully functional?"

  I stop my stretch and swivel my chair towards her, my eyes narrowing slightly. "...How do you..."

  "The default modules are rather slow with that particular hardware," Rapima explains, her tone informative yet gentle. "Your code should boost the recognition speed of faces and objects by approximately 80%. However, Master should calibrate the camera twice to achieve optimal movement and brightness for maximum output."

  My jaw drops a fraction. It's just a smart camera system I'm optimizing, designed to detect faces and objects. The older camera model barely syncs with the latest software. I manage to bridge that compatibility gap. And yes, it requires a double calibration. It's my standard instruction to clients. Yet, I haven't mentioned it once during this project. How can Rapima possibly know this?

  "How can you tell?" I ask with genuine curiosity.

  "Um, um... the code itself is quite clear," she replies, her gaze lowering slightly.

  ...For a maid android, she sure knows a bit about it. Or perhaps she is learning on the fly? I rub my chin thoughtfully, my gaze fixed on the floor.

  "Master Tyl...? Is everything okay?" Rapima leans her adorable face closer to mine, her expression etched with concern.

  "Uh... Well..." I begin hesitantly. "I'm wondering if you can also help me with my work, in addition to your help with the daily chores. But I don't want to burden you, so..."

  Rapima straightens up, her hands clasped demurely in front of her. Her gaze is direct, innocent, and utterly adorable. "I am your devoted maid, Master. It's Rapima's duty to assist you with everything, including the daily tasks and the codes."

  Typical bot model with their template sweet words, I think, a flicker of cynicism crossing my mind. I brush my hand dismissively, looking away. "Thank you, but I think I'm good for now, Rapima... Now that my job is done, shall I teach you something else instead?"

  I grab the tea beside my laptop, already cold, and sip it. Rapima also does the same, she take another small cup of tea, pouring to herself, and drink it-

  "W-w-wait wait wait, what are you doing?!" I stammer, panic lacing my voice as she drinks.

  "Hmm?" She tilts her head in response.

  "...Wouldn't it damage your whole entire circuits when you drink that!?" I panickly pull out the cup from her hand.

  "Analyze completed. A cold Lavender Earl Grey Tea."

  "Rapima... I'm asking if you're okay?" I frown, my concern evident.

  "Rapima finds it no discomfort, Master Tyl. The liquid she consumed just adds a bit of fuel to my core, similar to foods, perhaps, though... she haven't tried any yet," Rapima tilts her head again. "Are you worried about Rapima, Master? Your face suggests so."

  A blush creeps onto my cheeks, and I avert my gaze. "S-shut up. I'm just worried, okay?"

  Rapima's expression softens, but a playful glint enters her eyes as she rests her chin on her palm. "Hmm, hmm? Is that denial she detects?"

  "Rapima... I didn't intentionally let you study about me," I playfully pinch her nose, my embarrassment growing.

  "Hnggg~" Rapima pouts adorably, gently pulling my hand away.

  "Speaking of which," I gently pulling my hand from her grasp, "fuel and core, and the way you analyze that food, and your knowledge of taste... Rapima, how long does your power last without charging?"

  "Based on the datasets, it states about four to six days, depending on the tasks you assign me, Master. The battery capacity is... Error, I can't measure the power-"

  "-Error, can't measure the power, you say?" I stammer, a knot of worry tightening in my chest. "Could yesterday's lightning have caused this?"

  I rush towards my workshop, my mind already racing, reaching for a specific piece of hardware that resembles a flat pillow with a cable attached - a charging station, almost forgotten that the company included it with the maid android.

  What truly concerns me is her power capacity. We all know that the internal systems of complex humanoid androids are incredibly intricate. A single mistake could have widespread consequences. It's why, despite being a Techno-Optimancer, I hesitate to tinker with android hardware. The models are simply too expensive, and it's frankly beyond my capabilities.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Except, if anyone is kind enough to give me one or two models, I would be grateful to tinker and mess with their inner workings for my research purpose.

  However, with Rapima, my dedicated maid whom I've spent days altering her software codes with passion, there's a distinct sense of unease.

  Because we all know, the second time on every memories, it won't be the same as the first one, that kind of thing.

  "Rapima, try charging yourself with this. Lie down on that sofa, and let me place this behind your back. Then, try to benchmark yourself, and perhaps the battery capacity will be detected?"

  I place the black, thin pillow-like charging station on the broken sofa and reach for the charging terminal.

  Rapima nods obediently and walks towards the charging station. She sits down slowly and attempts to lie down on the charging station.

  But then...

  BZZZT!!

  "Kyaah!!"

  A surge of electricity courses through the air, giving my hand a sharp nudge just as I finish plugging in the charger. Her reaction follows immediately, causing her to roll away reflexively, falling to the floor.

  The lights flicker and die, plunging my 2-level flat into darkness as the fuse blows.

  "R-Rapima, are you alright?!" I rush to her side, my voice filled with concern.

  "Ow... It hurts..." Rapima kneels on the floor, rubbing her back.

  My head spins with anxiety as I see the charging station, potentially damaged or even broken, emitting a faint wisp of smoke. My anxiety grows, fueled by the potential "time limit" Rapima might have. If she were to shut down due to low battery, all my efforts would be for nothing. I'll be alone again. I don't want a second model of her, even if I am able to create one.

  I sit beside her, gently pulling her skirt from behind.

  "M-Master~! W-what are you doing!?"

  "Be quiet," I try to mask my worry with a firm tone.

  Surprisingly, her back is completely unharmed.

  No burnt circuits, nothing. Even though the charging station looks like it's melting and still emits smoke. I lower her skirt again, gently caressing her back.

  "M-master?" Rapima notices my worried expression.

  She then sits up, tilting her head at me with her innocent face. "Are you truly okay?"

  "I... I'm okay. Just in shock, and... I'm upset about the blown fuse and this likely defective charging station. It might be a failed product," I attempt to lie, though it's only half the truth.

  I'm simply terrified of losing her.

  "But your face suggests otherwise..." Rapima raises her hand to my cheek, her touch sending a wave of warmth through me.

  I quickly look away, reminded of the code I gave her: 'Mind-reading and analysis protocol.'

  Dammit, it works too well. Should I be happy? Or should I be afraid? But the sensation of calmness soothes me, "I'm sorry, Rapima..."

  I know I, as a human being, shouldn't be this emotional, especially towards androids and bots. However, I just can't help it. It's just in my empathetic nature, which makes me kind of feeling pathetic.

  "You don't have to be sorry, Master Tyl. Rapima know you've been worrying about her, given our conversation about batteries and the failed charging... You were afraid of what would happen if I ever ran out of power, aren't you?"

  She holds both my cheeks with her hands. Damn straight, bullseye, dammit. She sees right through me.

  "...You're imagining things," I stare away, unable to move my cheeks due to her touch.

  "Let's find another way. I believe it won't be that serious, Master Tyl. I won't go anywhere, okay?"

  Tears fall from my face right after she says that. Just a bit of background about myself: I've been through a lot, despite being only 24. It feels like I'm much older than my physical age. Losing my loved ones while being pressured by my parents in my hometown has had a huge impact on me. They may say I'm overreacting and treat me as a normal person, but their constant cutting words always get to me. It was a rough childhood. I was often called "weirdo" because of my tinkering hobbies, and my own parents called me "useless" because I can only create or alter things, but can't earn anything from it, which made me question myself.

  The stream of thoughts and worries floods my tired head again, intensified by the thought of losing this adorable maid in front of me. The only one I don't want to let go, even though I know I could just create another, the feeling just wouldn't be the same.

  All my mind went blank when I feel a warm sensation enveloping my body - her embrace. Rapima hugs me gently, patting my back. "It's okay, Master... Please don't cry..."

  Girl, seriously, how can I not cry after being comforted like this for only the second time in my entire life!? I let out a series of sobs, feeling weird and bad about myself for crying over something like this. Yet, I really crave this, and even though it's just a pseudo-feeling, it feels real.

  "I'm sorry..." I can only mutter this word while easing myself in the embrace for a while. Then, I pull back from the embrace and help Rapima stand.

  "I'll try and see if our fuse is okay. If it needs replacement, I'll just go to the nearby store, but..." I walk towards the broken charger and unplug it, "I'll try to figure this thing out. If I can repair it and get it working, we'll be fine."

  Rapima smiles sweetly at me. "That's my Master. You're not a Techno-Optimancer for nothing, like Momo said~"

  "Huh? Did Momo say anything?" I roll the cable with my hand, carefully avoiding any potential shock or heat from the damaged charging station.

  "She only said that you always come up with ideas."

  I chuckle, "Am I...?"

  Without further thought, I head towards the kitchen. "Stay here, don't waste too much energy."

  Rapima nods obediently and sits on the broken sofa as I walk to my workshop, placing the charging station on the flat working metal desk. Then, I go out to check the fuse in front of my door, right next to the office.

  "Ah, good thing, it's just a short circuit," I sigh in relief, flipping the big lever. The electricity is back on. "Done. And, I am starving."

  "What are you going to eat, Master?" Rapima looks in my direction, still sitting on the sofa.

  "I'll cook something. Let's go to the kitchen, and you just sit there and watch. Don't do anything."

  Rapima nods slightly and follows me to the kitchen as I start cooking my simple dish: mayo rice omelet.

  …

  End of Chapter 2.