Chapter 9: Name.

Jay/Bronya POV

"It's way easier to just talk normally than keep using your name like that... You're weird."

"..."

I'm speechless... How can someone be so rude without meaning to be rude?

After noticing I didn't talk using 'I' and 'you' in the sentences I use, she decided to teach me...

The worst part is that she means well, so I can't find myself to be too mad about it.

Ignoring her, I summon a scout bunny, which is basically a small drone, to scout the area for enemies. Since there is a barrier preventing energy from leaving this zone and the spacequake alarm didn't activate, I believe no one noticed what was going on here, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

"Hey, I'm not seeing you trying. Try and talk like I'm doing you just nee-..."

"Bronya can talk normally, so stop it!!!"

Ah, I snapped.

She stops herself from continuing to pester me, but then puts up a somewhat judgmental look.

"If you can say it normally, then just do it instead of talking weird. Are you dumb?"

...She is lucky she is basically a bomb, or I might have sent her flying already.

"Bronya loses track of what's being talked about while talking normally; using names makes it better."

"Isn't this super simple stuff? Why is it difficult for you?"

"...Brain damage, maybe?"

To be honest, I'm not sure if this is the genuine reason or not, but it is Bronya's, so I probably didn't lie. However, I merely mentioned it to get her to stop talking...

Still, I expected this to surprise her, but it didn't. Because she didn't comprehend what it meant, I had to explain carefully so she could understand, and her expression when she realized what it meant was pretty good.

"So you're hurt? How did this..? Is it the mecha mecha squad fault?"

Her voice at the end held a lot of anger. I just wanted her to stop calling my 'Bronya' speech weird, but she is simply worried about me... I'm feeling bad now.

"No, Bronya... Doesn't know what happened."

I just woke up one day like this...

As I began to feel depressed about my condition, the girl abruptly began walking towards the street; she did not respond when I asked where she was going, so I slowly followed behind her with a bad feeling in my heart.

The moment she passed over the accumulated rubble and could see the streets, my bad feeling came true as the spirit raised her sword. Despite being surprised, I managed to summon Project Bunny to stop her and pull her back in the nick of time. However, she continued to recklessly resist.

"Let me go! These humans are the culprits! They are always hunting me down, so I'm certain they are the ones who hurt you!"

Ahh, she's strong!

And she doesn't seem to want to listen to me...

Should I try to knock her down? No, I know how to hold back against the AST, but she is fundamentally different. Attempting to attack her would result in her becoming even more enraged or seriously injured.

Suddenly, a different energy reaction than normal came from her... Something darker. I don't know what it is, but this isn't good!

"I'll destroy them! All they do is hurt us, so let me GO!"

Dammit, the suppressive shield is reaching its limits. Do I really have to hurt her? Think, how can I calm her down? Aahhh, there isn't any time left!

Desperate, I jump towards her face, using my powers instinctively.

"EAT THIS!"

"Guh!-"

The rising spirit energy stops, and using this moment of respite, I quickly start fixing the barrier that was nearly broken while making sure to see how this stubborn spirit condition is.

She brought her hand to her face and picked up my creation I 'attacked' her with.

"...Tasty."

I sigh with relief after noticing there wasn't any destructive intent based on her actions as she quickly scarfed down the cold sweet.

"Strawberry ice cream. An human creation. Proof that not everything they do is to hurt us."

She stops licking her hand before looking at me with a scary face that screams, 'This and that are different'.

"Trying to scare Bronya with your mouth covered in ice cream is futile."

I smile as this girl turns red and tries to clean herself. I slowly floated up to her and patted her head, which surprised her once more.

"Not all humans are bad... Don't become like those mecha girls you don't like."

"...Alright, but... Why are you touching me in the head?"

Ah, since she seemed down, so I unconsciously went to comfort her. I explain this while being slightly embarrassed, until she got up and started to pat me on the head.

"I'll be the one to comfort you now."

She seemed quite proud, so I couldn't say no to her... And it hurts me to say it, but it really is comforting.

...

We began exchanging information after things had settled down; however, it seems this girl didn't know much about anything. She doesn't even have a name.

"No name?"

"There wasn't any reason to have one; I thought it was a human thing."

"Bronya, what do you want to call me?"

"...What?"

"Give me a name."

"...A name is something important, are you sure?"

She nods as she explains she wasn't going to talk with anyone else anyway... But a name? I'm not good at coming up with these kinds of things... If it's like this, then maybe...

I summon Project Bunny and some other drones; the spirit girl looks confused but seems to trust me as she waits patiently. I point at each one of the robots one by one while calling their names.

"Project Bunny 19C. Drone Bunny. Scout Bunny. Shield Bunny. Stealth Bunny..."

Her eyes slowly lose light as she realizes what I'm doing, and as I finish, my finger slowly moves towards her as she freezes in place.

"Your name will be-"

"Stop. STOP! I don't know why, but I don't want you to name me anymore!"

I sigh in relief. If she still wanted a name, it would have been bad since my mind was full of bunnies. I might have called her something on the nose like 'Usagi'.

However, her lack of name still weighed in both of our minds, but she also wasn't good at coming up with one.

As we felt stuck, one of my Scout Bunnies warned me of a target.

Since it wasn't a warning against danger, it's not the AST, and there is only one other in my database, so I know who it is. Making a small projector to look through the scout's eyes, I find Shido slowly walking in the street, getting closer to this place. It doesn't seem like he knows we are here...

"Hmm... I feel like I know him. Why are you looking at him?"

She knows him? Well, it's not surprising since he is the main character... Wait a second, is this a part of the plot where they meet? If this is true, then...

"...Bronya knows he is good at giving names."

"What?! Where is he?!"

"You can't go like this, it will scare people."

I point at her armor-like dress. There's no way her going where other people are with her spirit appearance will not cause trouble.

She looks impatient but gives a quick look at me before her clothes flashed in a bright light, and in place of her armor, the same school uniform I'm wearing appears.

With a proud look, she once again asked where Shido was, and just as I lifted my arm to point in the direction, she was gone... She is really fast.

I hope she doesn't cause too many problems...

I try to look at the situation using the projection and see a Shido being tossed around while being held by the collar... I should have been more specific and told her to not cause a scene... And when I glanced back, she was gone once again, even Shido was nowhere to be found. Where did sh-

"...-Bronyyaaaa!!!"

It didn't even take a full minute... She rushes over at unnatural speeds and stops close to me.

"Tohka's name is Tohka! .. Wait, no... My name is Tohka! Nice to meet you!"

She smiles at me, proud of her new name... Tohka, it's a good name... But...

"Hmm... Hello again, do you remember me?"

For some reason, there is also a disheveled and confused main character in front of me. It seems like Tohka brought him together with her looking at how she's holding his arm.

...This is going to be a headache.