Everyone was happy.
Aibar spoke in his usual calm tone. "I'll remember this as one of the best days of my life."
Maria wrapped both hands around one of Aibar's arms and pulled him inside.
Everyone gathered around the dining table, where a magnificent feast had been prepared. Gradually, they began enjoying the delicious food.
Aibar, however, drank only a glass of plain water before eating an apple. That was all.
Maria, who was sitting beside him, looked at him in disbelief.
"Aibar, this feast was prepared for you! Why aren't you eating anything?!"
Aibar turned toward Maria and replied calmly, "Have you really never noticed? It's alright. Let me explain."
He paused briefly before continuing in his usual composed tone.
"You might not have noticed, but whenever I eat at school, I always stick to healthy, sports-friendly foods. I can't consume sugar, flour, oily or salty foods, or anything carbonated. It's a curse or an illness..."
Maria smiled slightly.
"Don't joke about something like that with me."
She picked up a slice of cake with her own hand and brought it right up to Aibar's mouth.
With a cheerful expression, Maria said, "Come on, open wide and say 'Aaah'..."
The farther Aibar leaned his head back, the closer Maria moved the cake toward him.
Aibar calmly glanced at Azamat, signaling with his eyes for him to bring a small basin. Azamat understood immediately and quickly brought him one.
Covering his mouth with his hand, Aibar said calmly, "Just a warning. This might end in a rather disgusting way. Be prepared."
Maria smiled slightly. "Less talking, more opening your mouth..."
Aibar closed his eyes and calmly began chewing the small bite of cake Maria had fed him. After swallowing, he immediately leaned over the basin.
However, he didn't even feel like throwing up.
Aibar set the basin back on the floor and stood there with his mouth slightly open, looking a little confused but still maintaining his composure.
Only Symbat and Azamat knew about Aibar's condition, and both of them were shocked. Azamat, however, was a cyborg, so he couldn't express his emotions outwardly.
Aibar pulled the basin closer to himself and asked everyone to turn around. Everyone turned away.
Aibar then immediately took another small, freshly cut piece of cake and ate it with his own hand. The moment he did, he threw up.
The others turned back to look at him.
Aibar looked at Maria and said calmly, "Please feed me more cake."
Maria immediately agreed, maintaining her composure. She cut another fresh piece of cake and offered it to Aibar.
Aibar took another small bite and immediately pulled the basin closer.
But no. He didn't throw up. He didn't even feel nauseous.
For the first time in his life, he experienced the pleasure of enjoying food.
"Maria, more. This time, something other than cake. I need to test whether my theory is correct."
This time, Maria offered him a piece of fried chicken.
Aibar took one bite and pulled the basin closer to himself again.
No. He didn't throw up this time either, nor did he feel the slightest urge to.
Everyone, including Maria, stood there, unable to understand what was happening.
Meanwhile, Symbat and Azamat were utterly shocked.
The party continued, and Maria occasionally fed Aibar throughout the evening.
At one point, a question popped into So Hyun's mind. She smiled slightly and said, "So, what do you guys think? Aibar or Lucas..."
Aibar interrupted her, speaking calmly. "Honestly, I think this is a very dangerous question. Even the slightest misunderstanding could lead to a conflict."
However, this was a question everyone was genuinely curious about. It was something they had all wanted to ask but hadn't dared to bring up.
Lucas smiled slightly. "Come on, Aibar. Don't be such a grump. This is a genuinely interesting question."
Maria nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I actually asked Aibar this question privately once..."
Aibar remained composed. "Fine. I'll repeat the answer I gave you, Maria. If we're talking about superpowers, then Lucas and So Hyun might both be stronger than me. Experience still matters, after all."
Maria spoke calmly, though with a hint of irritation. "Yes, and let me finish. If we're talking about pure physical strength in your base human form, you could defeat me, Lucas, and So Hyun. That's what you're going to say again, isn't it?!"
Lucas smiled slightly. "Hey, hey... Aibar, I'm not that weak. Even if we're talking about our base human forms, I might actually be a pretty decent match for you."
Aibar spoke calmly. "Fair enough. I never said you were weak. I was simply expressing my opinion. I could be wrong, too, so don't take my words too personally."
Aibar paused briefly before continuing in the same composed tone.
"Anyway, let's put this topic to rest."
Maria returned to the earlier topic and asked calmly, "Aibar, going back to the food situation... What happened? Tell us everything. Have you really been unable to eat properly all this time?"
Aibar calmly explained everything to the others, bringing them up to speed.
Without a moment's hesitation, Maria continued feeding Aibar while eating alongside him.
Eventually, the party came to an end. Aibar and Lucas escorted all the girls home, and everyone went their separate ways.
Only Maria stayed behind to help Aibar clean up. Symbat had wanted to stay as well, but her parents called and asked her to come home, so she couldn't.
Maria was washing the dishes, while Aibar rinsed and dried them before putting them back in their proper places.
After they finished all the chores, they sat down on the chairs to rest.
A question suddenly occurred to Aibar. He looked at Maria calmly and asked, "Maria, can you cook for yourself?"
A smile immediately appeared on Maria's face, and she teased him.
"Ooh... Are you already preparing me to be your wife? Yes, I think I can make whatever food you want for you."
Maria smiled slightly.
"Well, even if I can't make some of the dishes you might ask for, I'd have no problem learning how to make them for you."
Aibar replied calmly, "You're the ideal wife for me."
Maria immediately blushed, her voice trembling slightly.
"Aibar... That's the greatest compliment you could have given me."
Aibar spoke calmly. "I don't want Alexey to worry, so I'll walk you home."
Aibar took the black cloak he wore over his shoulders at school every day from the coat rack and draped it over Maria.
And so, the two of them walked all the way to Maria's house.
Aibar said calmly, "Bring the cloak to school tomorrow."
After making sure Maria got home safely, Aibar returned to his own house.
Aibar finally made it home. After thinking for a moment, he spoke calmly to himself.
"Today was one of the best days of my life. I wonder... Now that I've somehow become able to eat food, will my emotions open up as well? I want to laugh genuinely, but I don't know why—I can't express my emotions outwardly. It frustrates me."
Aibar got up from his bed and looked at himself in the mirror in his wardrobe. Using two fingers, he tried to force a smile onto his own face.
He managed to do it. To Aibar, it almost seemed like a miracle.
However, when he removed his fingers from his face and lowered his hand, he returned to being the same emotionless Aibar as before.
He went to his laboratory and tried to figure out a way to restore Azamat's biological body. He worked on it for hours, but even after three hours, he couldn't do it.
Aibar sat down in a chair and thought calmly to himself.
"My master and I are both emotionless. The difference is, my master doesn't have a biological body, while I do. Yet there's barely any difference between us. Even though I have a biological body, I'm like a machine. I can't express my own emotions."
Aibar paused for a moment before continuing to himself.
"Why? It's not that I don't understand emotions. On the contrary, I understand them very well. Then why?"
Azamat finished charging and rose from his charging station.
He walked over to Aibar.
Aibar raised his head and looked at him with his usual emotionless expression.
Azamat spoke.
"What have you been thinking about, Master? You almost looked like you were about to fall into depression."
Aibar calmly asked, "Master, do you think you would be able to express emotions if you had a biological body?"
Azamat replied, "Yes, of course..."
Aibar spoke calmly.
"Then I should have been the one in your place. You would be able to express emotions. You'd be able to enjoy food every day..."
Aibar paused briefly before continuing calmly.
"But whether I have a biological body or not... I'm still wearing the same expression of steel."
After listening to him, Azamat replied, "Master, are you making fun of me? Argh... Aibar, remember this. Sometimes you may call yourself steel-faced or ice-faced. But don't forget... there are craftsmen who can reshape even steel and ice."
Azamat paused, then spoke again in a cheerful voice.
"You're only just beginning to meet your people. In other words, the craftsmen who might be able to repair your steel face. You still have your whole life ahead of you.
"Now, Master... Go away. Don't bother me and go to sleep."
Aibar stared at him calmly.
"Master, you're rude."
Azamat: "Hmph... Sometimes you really force me to do this."
Aibar looked at him with slight confusion and asked calmly, "When did you become like this?"
Azamat: "Huh!? Like what!? I'm just not going to baby you anymore. You're already past that age. You're old enough that you don't need someone looking after you like a little kid. That's all I wanted to say... Hmph..."
Aibar replied calmly, "Master. Don't get on my nerves."
Azamat: "What!? On the contrary, you're the one making me angry. You're saying you have no emotions like some little kid begging his mother at a store, 'Mom, buy me that! I want that one!' How am I supposed to find emotions for you?"
Although Aibar still appeared calm, his voice became slightly colder.
"What did you say?!"
A red aura began to emanate from Aibar.
Azamat immediately backed down.
"I'm sorry, Master... I'm sorry..."
Aibar came back to his senses, and the red aura disappeared.
He stood up and calmly said, "Good night."
Aibar went to his room to get some sleep.
Azamat watched him walk away for a moment and thought to himself,
"Tyrant... Hmph..."
But he wasn't genuinely offended. It was simply his way of teasing and pampering Aibar, with a bit of humor.
After the birthday celebration, Maria was resting at home when Alexey knocked on her door.
Maria looked toward the door.
Alexey asked, "Maria, am I disturbing you?"
Maria got up, turned on the light, and opened the door.
"Big brother, why are you still awake at this hour?!"
Maria let Alexey into her room. Alexey sat down on a chair, while Maria sat on her bed.
Alexey spoke calmly.
"Maria, I... I met our mother..."
Maria froze in shock, her eyes widening and her mouth falling open.
Trying to compose herself, Maria said, "Big brother, don't joke about something like that..."
Alexey simply looked at Maria with a slightly saddened expression.
Maria understood. Her brother wasn't joking.
Alexey spoke calmly.
"Our mother... is a member of TUTYLU."
Maria was overwhelmed with shock, unable to accept it.
Alexey continued calmly.
"This is painful for both you and me... But one day, Aibar will have to kill her—our mother. He's the only hero I trust. As for those other two... I still don't trust them.
"Our only hope... is Aibar."
Maria became saddened.
Alexey spoke calmly. "Aibar is the only hero we can truly trust. He needs to be careful around those other two. Lucas and So Hyun... I consider them dangerous. Who would've thought..."
Alexey gave a slight smile and continued.
"Who would've thought I'd come to value Aibar this much? But I guess I've already been a fan of his in a way. Yeah... he deserves our respect."
Alexey spoke calmly.
"Life isn't like a movie. Anything can happen in this life. There's no guarantee that the heroes will always win. If something goes wrong... even Aibar could lose. That's why I've started worrying about him."
Maria spoke sadly. "You're right, big brother..."
Maria was angry, but she kept herself under control. Her hands were clenched tightly on her thighs.
Maria thought to herself:
"If only I had strength like Aibar's. If only I had a superpower... If only I could participate in battles..."
Maria gritted her teeth hard.
"If only I had a superpower and could help Aibar..."
Alexey reached out and placed a hand on Maria's shoulder. He gave her a slight smile and began comforting her.
"Don't be afraid... We'll get through this, too. Your big brother and Aibar are by your side..."
Alexey slowly withdrew his hand, stood up, and walked toward the door. He stopped, then turned his head over his shoulder to look at Maria with a slight smile.
"Good night. Sorry for worrying you. I just wanted to warn you and make sure I didn't hide this from you."
Alexey left the room and closed the door behind him.
Maria lay down on her bed and remained there quietly for a while. Then, as she turned over in bed, she noticed Aibar's cloak hanging on the door of her wardrobe.
Maria stared at the cloak without taking her eyes off it.
"This thought I'm having right now is really weird... It's embarrassing. But... I'm starting to want to hug the cloak while I sleep."
Maria got out of bed, took the cloak, and draped it over her shoulders without actually putting it on, just like Aibar usually wore it.
She immediately looked at herself in the mirror of her large wardrobe.
She liked what she saw.
For a moment, she began to feel as though she were Aibar herself.
Maria smiled slightly.
"Wonderful... This is our superhero's outfit."
Maria took the cloak off and smelled it.
A happy expression immediately appeared on her face.
"Ahh... Aibar is always so masculine, and even his scent is exactly the same. I wonder... What kind of perfume does he use?"
This time, Maria actually put the cloak on and looked at herself in the mirror again.
By now, she had grown very fond of the cloak.