High atop a skyscraper towering over the metropolis, hundreds of meters above the city floor, Machina knelt on the concrete, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
At such a height, the wind should have been a howling gale, but thanks to some unseen magic of Alicia’s, only a gentle breeze brushed past them.
"Phew… haaa… whew…"
"I’m back! I picked up some fuel before we head out to play."
Alicia returned with a paper bag in hand, strolling toward Machina, whose shoulders were still trembling as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Oh? You look wiped out, Machina. Did you get a little too excited about seeing the city for the first time?"
"Hardly… This isn’t excitement. It’s exhaustion because I had to experience my first skydive before I even stepped foot in the city."
"Well, you certainly live an aggressive lifestyle."
"And whose fault do you think that is? Whose!?"
Alicia simply laughed off the accusation and held out the paper bag.
"Anyway, let’s eat while it’s hot."
"Hmph… You really are a handful. Thanks… Wait, what is this?"
"It’s a hamburger."
"A hamburger… I think I’ve seen people eating these through my Clairvoyance once or twice."
Machina pulled the wrapped burger from the bag with a look of pure bewilderment. Alicia shrugged, a playful smirk on her face.
"To think you’ve reached this age without ever tasting a hamburger. You really are a sheltered little 'Island-exiled Young Lady,' aren’t you?"
"I’ve never heard anyone call me 'island-exiled' before… though I can't exactly argue with it."
With a wry smile, Machina sat beside Alicia at the edge of the rooftop. They dangled their legs over the city as they began to eat.
Machina hesitated at the unfamiliar food, but after a moment of resolve, she took a bite. Her eyes instantly went wide, and she spun toward Alicia with a radiant look.
"It’s delicious! I’ve never tasted anything this good in my life!"
"Well, yeah. Your usual menu is just jelly drinks and military-grade canned food."
"Incredible… To think such wonderful things exist in the world. I’m… I’m actually quite moved."
"Getting that worked up over a single burger? You’re certainly easy to please. Still, I’m glad you liked it."
"I did! Thank you, Alicia!"
"Ahaha, don't mention it."
Machina ate the rest of her meal with a beaming, joyful expression. Watching her, Alicia felt a soft smile touch her own lips as she took a bite of her own burger.
The profound emotion of that moment, coupled with her gratitude toward Alicia for leading her out of the birdcage, would leave an indelible mark on Machina’s heart. In the years to follow, whenever she was asked for her favorite food, she would always name the humble hamburger.
To Machina, that taste would forever be synonymous with the precious memories she shared with her first best friend.
Once their meal was finished, Alicia scooped Machina up once again to head toward their next destination.
"Where are we now?"
"The amusement park! Walking around the city is fine, but there’s so much more to do here. This place is pretty famous in these parts."
"Whoa… it’s huge. Even at a glance, there’s so much going on. It’s overwhelming."
Even in the daylight, the amusement park felt vibrant and glittering. Machina watched the various attractions and the massive, cheering crowds with wide-eyed wonder. Seeing it in person was a world away from watching through Clairvoyance; the scale and energy were completely different.
"Alright, Machina. Which attraction do you want to try first?"
"U-Umm, I’m not sure. I’ll leave it to you, Alicia. Just… I’ve already had enough scares for one day, so anything except the scary ones."
"Okey-doke! Let’s go!"
"Right!"
Seeing Machina’s visible excitement, Alicia grabbed her hand and led her deeper into the park.
Alicia chose something close to the entrance—a classic attraction that felt like the quintessence of an amusement park and seemed to fit Machina’s request.
"Alicia?"
"Yeah?"
"Maybe I'm just imagining things, but they’ve strapped me into this very sturdy-looking guard, and we’re slowly climbing up a track… Am I just being a sheltered girl? Or is this what they call a 'Jet Coaster'?"
"Oh, yeah. That’s exactly what it is."
It was indeed a jet coaster. Not just any coaster, but the largest one in the park, a main attraction that sat high on the World's Large Jet Coaster Ranking.
Logically, picking the most famous ride first made sense. However, it failed spectacularly to meet Machina’s "not scary" requirement.
Machina turned to Alicia, her face turning a sickly shade of pale.
"Why!? I specifically asked for anything but the scary stuff!"
"Wait, what? I mean, an attraction this 'slow' shouldn’t really—oh."
Alicia cut herself off as the realization hit her. She looked momentarily sheepish, then stuck her tongue out and gave a playful wink.
"Tehe!"
"That was it, wasn't it!? You totally just had a look on your face that said, 'Oops, I completely forgot about our massive difference in physical ability!'"
"Machina…"
"A-Aah, we’re almost at the top! Wait, what are you doing!?"
"Sorry!"
"I knew it! It’s too late to get off now! Next time, listen to m—Hee-gyaaaaaa!"
At least this time, Alicia truly hadn't meant any harm. It went without saying that her physical abilities were on an entirely different plane compared to Machina's. To Alicia, this coaster simply didn't qualify as "scary."
She had assumed Machina meant horror-themed attractions like haunted houses. Unfortunately, the only thing filling the air was the sound of Machina’s terrified screams.
"Uuugh… my head is spinning…"
"Seriously, my bad. Let’s pick something that doesn’t move much next time."
"Yeah… please. But give me a minute. I can't feel my legs."
"You’re shaking like a newborn fawn."
"That was a little too hardcore for my very first ride at my very first amusement park…"
As Machina clung to a nearby pillar for support, Alicia offered a sincere apology. Machina understood it wasn't intentional, so she didn't press the issue. Once the trembling stopped, she took Alicia’s hand again and they set off.
"I think it’s better if you pick the next one, Machina. Here’s a pamphlet. I’ll explain anything you don't recognize."
"Thanks. Let’s see… Oh, how about this one?"
"Ah, that one’s pretty popular. It’s based on a movie. They use the latest holograms to make it feel really immersive. It’s not nearly as fast as the coaster, though it does speed up just a little bit at the end."
"I think I can handle that. Let’s go!"
"You got it."
They regained their spirits and headed toward the next ride, laughing and chatting along the way.
"Wow! That dragon looks like the real thing!"
"Right? Hologram tech has come a long way."
"Come to think of it, Alicia, have you ever seen a real dragon?"
"They’re delicious."
"I see… Wait, what? Delicious?"
As they enjoyed the cutting-edge visuals, Machina tried to ask about Alicia's past battles, only to receive a culinary review of the legendary beast instead.
"Pfft… Hahaha! Machina, those rabbit ears do not suit you at all! Or wait, maybe they suit you because they look so wrong?"
"Stop laughing! You’re wearing one too! Besides, what is that even supposed to be?"
"This? It’s headgear modeled after a mutation of a bipedal shark that flew in from outer space!"
"A shark from space? A bipedal shark? What is wrong with this world?"
They wandered the park wearing the absurd souvenirs they’d found at the gift shop.
"Mmm, this snack is great too!"
"Right? Hey, yours looks good too. Give me a bite."
"Sure, go ahead. But… wait. Isn’t this an indirect kiss? I mean, we’re both girls, so maybe it’s fine, but…"
"Mmm, quite delicious."
"You weren't even listening! You already ate it!"
"Here, Machina. Say 'aahn.'"
"Eh? Ah, u-uh… Aahn."
They spent the afternoon exchanging bites of stick-shaped snacks as they walked.
"Okay, the next turn is right… Fufu, this labyrinth attraction is a piece of cake."
"Hey now, Machina. Using Clairvoyance to see the exit is definitely cheating."
"Is it? Is that against the rules?"
"I won't say you can't, but doesn't it ruin the fun?"
"Hmm… Fair point. Alright, no more Clairvoyance. In that case, based on my intuition… the next turn is left!"
"It’s strange. This maze is built for kids, so it shouldn't be that hard, but I have a feeling you’re going to get hopelessly lost without your powers."
"No way! Just watch, I’ll clear this in no time!"
Without her divine sight, Machina proceeded to get completely and utterly lost in the giant maze.
"This is nice. It’s like being on a big, swaying boat. Is this what a ship feels like? But… wait. Why am I being strapped in with a sturdy guard again?"
"Because this is the version that does a full 360-degree loop in the second half."
"A loop!? We’re going to be upside down!? That’s definitely a scary ride!"
"Hey, you’re the one who picked it this time."
"You could have told me! Oh no, we’re picking up spee—Kyaaaaaa!"
Despite her best efforts to avoid the "screamers," Machina found herself shouting at the top of her lungs once again.
"Quick, Machina! Stop being shy and strike a pose!"
"When did you even get a camera? How am I supposed to do this? I’ve never had a photo taken before."
"Just try a V-sign for now."
"Like this? V!"
"Pfft… You look like a total dork."
"You told me to do it!"
They took countless commemorative photos with the camera Alicia had seemingly produced from thin air. The joyful hours passed in what felt like heartbeats.
The thick clouds that had shrouded the sky finally broke, and the amusement park was bathed in the warm gold of the setting sun. As a finale to their day, they boarded the Ferris wheel. Machina pressed her face to the glass, her excitement still simmering.
"It’s so beautiful. Everything looks so small from up here."
"We were higher than this earlier, you know."
"Skydiving and a Ferris wheel are not the same thing. Honestly, Alicia, you really are something else."
Machina giggled, watching the sunset dip below the horizon. A peaceful, gentle silence settled between them, a testament to just how perfect their day had been.
After a long moment, Machina spoke softly, her eyes still fixed on the view.
"Thank you, Alicia."
"Hm?"
"I’ve never had this much fun since the day I was born. I’ve never felt a day disappear so quickly, either. It’s all because of you. Thank you for taking me out of the birdcage."
"…"
Her words carried a weight that words alone couldn't convey. For a girl who had spent over a decade in isolation, never speaking to another soul, never going anywhere, and living a life of stagnant repetition… this day was a memory she would cherish for eternity.
Alicia smiled softly and spoke in a casual, almost breezy tone.
"So, Machina… do you want to just make a break for it? If you say the word, I can handle the rest. I can take you wherever you want to go."
Machina wasn't the only one who had enjoyed herself. For Alicia, this day spent with her new friend had been undeniably special. For the first time since Iris had passed away, she had found someone she truly wanted to call a "best friend."
"That sounds wonderful. But… no. I’ll stay. It’s not like I have a grand goal or a dream like you do, Alicia."
Looking back, that choice was the ultimate crossroads for Machina. Her worldview had shifted dramatically in a single day, all because of her meeting with this strange traveler.
At that moment, Machina had reached a singular conclusion: As long as Alicia is here, that is enough. Even if she remained in her birdcage forever, even if she never met another person, as long as Alicia came to visit, she would be content.
If Alicia had said, "I want you to come with me on my journey," Machina would have reached out and never looked back. But because Alicia left the choice to her, Machina decided that "as things were" was perfectly fine.
It was a tragedy of "what ifs."
"Well, I guess it’s not something I should push you into. But listen: if you ever decide you want out of that birdcage, just say the word. I’ll smash that island to smithereens and carry you out myself."
"Fufufu, I don't think you need to go that far. You really are extreme, Alicia."
Had Machina chosen to step out of the birdcage with Alicia that day, the Deus Ex Machina might never have been born.
In that sense, for both Machina and Alicia… perhaps this choice was the right one.
Machina: "Um… Serious-senpai fell asleep again… is that okay? The Serious Development is supposed to start in the next chapter, right?"
Alicia: "What are you talking about? There’s no way a 'Gag Character' would be allowed to hang around during a Serious Development."
Machina: "…Oh. Yeah, I guess you’re right."