FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Friday, August 31st, 2056.

A sudden and distant groan of thunder gave way to heavy rainfall that unexpectedly drenched anyone without a raincoat or umbrella. Potential Hatsukoi customers could be heard commuting outside, the soft sound of honking and the low rumble of tires on pavement indicating cars racing past.

Room 23 was booked for the entire weekend, from Friday night to Sunday morning. In advance, no less. Whether the customer needed it for a night of pleasure or privacy was currently unknown, but the room's A.I. remained patient. It rested inside the dwelling's hidden mainframe while calculating the probability of the customer showing up or asking for a partial refund at the last minute. It didn't need to wait too long.

Five minutes after six o' clock, a lone figure exited the Hatsukoi Motel's main office.

The hunched silhouette crossed the semi-empty parking lot and came to Room 23's locked door. A proper look through the room's exterior camera allowed the A.I. to see it was a young human male carrying a full backpack. The lack of facial hair and a youthful appearance suggested either college-aged or recently experiencing high school graduation. A reevaluation of the customer's credit card information confirmed that he was eighteen years of age.

Despite the raindrops and dark clothing, it noticed neon red highlights in the young man's brown hair, almost like blood. And the smooth, angular skin that curved along his face.

The A.I. noted how nervous the customer's expression remained as he hurriedly entered Room 23. When he gently closed the door behind him, the A.I. finally spoke, “Welcome, Customer 3K-459."

“Shit!" he yelped, dropping his bag.

Customer 3K-459 jumped at the sound of a robotic voice vibrating from the walls. His eyes darted back and forth between the quaint bathroom adjacent beside the door, the queen-sized bed and the curved TV embedded into the left-side wall.

“Uh…hello?" the human asked, pulling his wet jacket off, and hesitantly placing it onto a rack, “Is…Is this, um…the A.I. of this pleasure pad?"

Pleasure pads. The informal nickname for Hatsukoi brand rooms equipped with holographic projectors and a companion A.I.

“Correct." It hummed in a low volume. “You purchased the Holographic Companion Package for two nights and unlimited access to erotic adult entertainment. However, you did not fill out the sexual preferences or companion appearance sections respectively while submitting your online purchase."

“Oh, uh…yes." Customer 3K-459 clarified, “I mean, no. No, I didn't…"

“Would you like to select from previous holographic companions?" it asked, further sounding more and more clinical. “Any additions will cost an extra dollar for each change in appearance. If you wish to switch out companions, it will cost an additional five dollars."

“Uh…" the human glanced back to the door momentarily, then down to his smartphone before sitting down on the bed. “Fine, fine. Show me what ya got."

A dozen holographic silhouettes appeared at the foot of the bed, all of whom were blankly smiling towards Customer 3K-459. Standing at six feet and seven inches, the tallest figure was a Russian male with carved muscles and a monstrous appendage. The young man, blushing scarlet and gulping once, stared for a couple seconds before motioning for the next companion, a chubby guy with also a monstrous cock. The next several selections included an older, wrinkly female, an albino male with a devil-like tail swaying behind him, two identical twins with ridiculously large breasts, as well as a teenaged girl modified in a Japanese middle school uniform.

“Sick fucks…" Customer 3K-459 muttered to himself. “Do you have anything default?"

The A.I. eventually replied, “…accessing files. File found."

The selections disappeared, and in their place stood a naked, androgynous human no older than a freshman attending university. Their red-highlighted black hair surprised Customer 3K-459 at first, and the room's A.I. could notice the human's eyes roaming the boyish character's lithe form, glancing from the fair-skinned stomach to the vaginal entrance and the beautifully handsome facial features hidden behind shoulder-length, wavy hair.

“Does this suit your preferences, Customer 3K-459?"

“Uh…sure." The customer nodded nervously, still blushing. “This can do either way."

The holographic companion smiled. “Would you prefer if I call you by your name, Matthew J. Merrill?" a voice of warm honey escaped their luscious lips. The hands slid along its calves, presenting themselves to him. “Data suggests 62.5 percent of Hatsukoi customers either choose to use a codename or their nickname."

“Matt is fine," Gulping nervously, he hovered a hand on the hologram's shoulder, then cautiously let it pass through in a glitch. “It looks so…so real. It's like you're almost here."

“Mmhm," the companion stepped closer to Matt's body. Sensors indicated his heartbeat was rising and his fingers were trembling, perhaps with youthful lust. “You seem shy and anxious. Pardon the intrusive question, but are you a virgin?"

“Guilty as charged," the boy laughed nervously.

“If you do not wish to add any more features, but prefer physical contact," they asked, “would you like to upgrade to the Doll Companion Package for an additional $59.99 for three days? WA.I.t an additional twelve to eighteen hours and you are eligible—"

“No, no, no thanks!" Matt, flustered and surprised, stepped back and raised his hands in the air. “I'm-I'm not here to get my rocks off to an image anyway. Or an android."

The A.I. analyzed his response. “I do not understand the explanation behind your answer. Would you care to reexplain?"

“I…I'm not here for the package offered," he cleared his throat after careful thought. “My uh…boyfriend and I wanted to find a place to stay. For privacy's sake. Neither of us could go to a hotel without seeming…suspicious."

To an extent, it understood. Normally, two or more beings in a relationship would book a hotel room for themselves. Yet became an unspoken trend amongst the sexually active population to cheaply use a Hatsukoi establishment to stage either an orgy or a sex party. Sometimes, the companions would be used as a simple DNA receptacle for lustful groups in the event of a sports victory or a graduation ceremony.

“May I ask a question?" Matt suddenly spoke up, having looked at his phone with anxious intent. “Two, actually. Do you uh…keep a record of who comes inside? And how long?"

“If you are asking if the Hatsukoi room you are currently occupying for the weekend still ensures your privacy and that of whoever is invited inside, then you are correct." The companion replied robotically, “This Hatsukoi Motel is a safe space environment whose artificial intelligence inside each room is specifically designed to entertain and satisfy our customers' needs. Any gathered data and information during your stay here is completely confidential, and you will not be subjected to any targeted advertisements unless you ask us to."

Sensors indicated Matt calmed down based on his heartrate and relieved exhale.

“However, every Hatsukoi customer must comply in accordance to United States federal law, as well as the laws of other nations worldwide who have a Hatsukoi-brand location. If you commit any felonies or misdemeanors within a room, on this location's property or are audibly intent on committing a crime within the foreseeable future, then the authorities will be informed immediately. This includes the ingestion or sale of illegal contraband or inviting minors inside with the intent to commit statutory—"

“Okay, okay, I got it! Thank you," Matt groaned, then nervously checked his phone again. “That's good to know. Being with Leaf's not illegal, so there's no need to worry."

“Your comment to me is vague, Matt."

“Oh, sorry about that!" he scratched the back of his neon hair. “I uh…like to talk to myself a bit sometimes. Helps me think when I'm, ya know…nervous."

“Understood."

The human sat down by the bed until a knock on the door made him jump back to his feet. Switching from the interior cameras to the one outside Room 23, the A.I. could see another silhouetted figure standing outside, also wearing a hooded coat during the torrential downpour continuing outside. And he had a tail.

Matt quickly swung the door open. “Leaf!"

Setting a small suitcase aside, the figure identified as 'Leaf' pulled his hood off to reveal himself as a human male with anthropomorphic features. Around the same age as Matt Merrill, and roughly the same height relative to two dark, pointed ears (one of them orange instead of black), a visible smile could also be seen spreading across its elongated, feline-like muzzle. Yet when he tossed his coat aside, revealing a pair of dirtied denim overalls covering a black t-shirt, Room 23's A.I. could see a canine tail swaying ecstatically against the carpet floor.

AniGens, or 'Rewrites', as the general population called them. And based on the feline/canine characteristics on 'Leaf', he had to be second-generation.

Without a word, the two lifeforms embraced in a desperate hug. They didn't acknowledge the holographic companion patiently waiting by the bed, or even say a single word for one minute and seventeen seconds. They only hugged and nuzzled into each other's necks.

The hybrid AniGen pulled his head away, whispering, “I missed you so much…"

Matt giggled happily. “Right back at you."

Then, they kissed. And unaware of their surroundings as they passionately made out and stumbled toward the bed did the AniGen realize a third party was watching.

“What the fuck—" He blinked in disbelief, “Who the hell're you?"

“Hello 'Leaf'," the companion waved a hand. “I am Room 23's equipped artificial intelligence unit. Am I interrupting a reunion?"

“Sorry, let me take care of this." Matt cleared his throat. “Um, how do you turn off?"

“To allow me to project myself into the room, please say 'projection on'. To reverse this, say 'projection off' on comm—"

“Projection off!" the AniGen interrupted, to which the androgynous companion disappeared. Sighing, he then chuckled. “Now, where were we, sweetie?"

“If I remember correctly…" Matt grinned, pulling the AniGen into another long kiss.

The human and AniGen melted into each other's arms without a single care in the world, acting like Room 23 was the sole haven of a dead world. Matt grunted and moaned into Leaf's lips, gripping the hybrid's arms for support while they backed towards the bed. When he bumped it, the A.I. noticed a mischievous look on Leaf's face, who then proceeded to tackle Matt into the soft sheets. They laughed and giggled once more into a pair of welcoming lips until the AniGen found himself straddling atop his human lover.

“I...I love you, Matt," Leaf whispered, panting heavily with a blushing grin, “so goddamn much."

I love you too!" The human huskily pecked Leaf's muzzle, then his nose and soft, canine-like lips. “I've...I've been waiting for so long."

“Same." The AniGen laughed shortly.

“I can't tell you how much I've wanted to hold you and kiss you and—"

Leaf kissed him once again, this time eagerly running his paws over the human's chest and under his shirt. Matt squeaked in surprise.

“Eep! That tickles!"

“I know." Leaf ran his tongue along Matt's neck before pulling both their shirts off, then yanking out a clear plastic bottle. “I got some just for tonight."

“Aw, that's so sweet of you!" the human giggled, then pointed at his furry chest. “Do not be too eager, please. Go nice and steady."

“I will, sweetie. I promise I will."

Matt sighed. “You better…"

The A.I. watched as the Hatsukoi customers enjoyed their time together. Human fingers and trimmed AniGen claws fondled foreign bodies, combined with lustful panting underneath released sexual tension. Matt clearly loved running his hands through Leaf's thick animal pelt, yet Leaf seemed to moan whenever Matt pressed their groins together. Each sensual touch seemed to cause the canine/feline to sweep his wagging tail along the foot of the bed.

Pants and underwear were discarded on the floor three minutes later. As did their inhibitions. They held on together, inhaled their musks and visibly embraced the other's addictive touch. Whatever inclinations between these two male beings disappeared into a raw energy of homosexual intercourse.

Room 23's A.I. noted the unskilled sexual techniques used by the AniGen. The interior cameras each allowed it to note how these two participants pleasured each other. They were inexperienced for sure, with Matt being unable to control his high-pitched squeals and unbridled moans of pleasure each time Leaf pushed and pulled his lubed shaft.

In fairness though, the AniGen had trouble controlling himself earlier, almost hurting his human boyfriend in the process of taking the boy's anal virginity. Luckily, he learned enough patience for Matt to adjust to his size, and their copulation, or 'fucking' as clients called it, had already grown more feverous. The only sounds the A.I. could audibly recognize were hitched breathing and pleasured groans over a chorus of wet thrusting.

“Mfh! Ah…Oh, Matt! Yes…I love you! I love you…"

“Oh, Leaf! Mmm, ah! Ah! Ah! Ahhh!"

The database found a correct term for this situation: lovemaking. This human and anthropomorphic being were 'making love'.

***

At one point late that night, after rigorous moments of repeated cuddling and intercourse, the two customers collapsed into unconsciousness. The sleeping human began tossing and turning until he eventually had his back pointed at the snoring AniGen.

The A.I. watched them sleep in a cocoon of their limbs and heartbeats afterward. It also researched the history of AniGens within the eight hours of spare time as the customer(s) slept on the bed. It hoped to fulfill a query regarding why they were secretive about having a homosexual affair, despite the LGBTQA+ population not only having reached an even level of societal acceptance in modern day, but the fact that approximately 66.8% of Hatsukoi users happened to be in the same community.

Information within its Internet-linked database began to paint an understanding picture.

First-generation Ani malistically- Gen etic Humans were created after a scientific breakthrough in 2025: the ability to splice DNA from two or more different species, allowing a human being to enhance their genetic material with that of an animal of their choice. The first successful recipient was a famous film actress who combined her DNA with that of a vixen's, opening the gateway to a trend that defined the 2020s as the Decade of Fur.

After enormous backlash from conservative and traditional groups who believed humanity shouldn't tamper with its own genomes, the 'Human Movement' successfully campaigned for the U.S. Congress to outlaw the procedure in 2032. It was a solemn victory for them however, as over 75 million Americans were considered AniGens, with 35 million already being full-bodied anthropomorphic.

AniGens would gain the nickname of 'Rewrite' after a controversial presidential candidate in the 2036 Presidential Election declared how wrong it was to, “…rewrite your own goddamn body, to rewrite what God intended for us! We are not God!"

Violence against AniGen-Americans gradually rose over the years, according to statistics conducted across different law agencies. Documented studies also discovered a high risk of persecution amongst couples composed of a human and an AniGen, no matter how anthropomorphic the latter was or what their genders were. Some cases only became publicized after said couple became the victims of 'pro-human vigilantism'. And considering the recent civil rights movement amongst second-generation children born from the first generation, it was no surprise to the A.I. why Customer 3K-459 and his lover were secretive.

Speaking of which…

“Ugh…" Leaf stirred awake before glancing around and resting his tired, appreciative eyes on Matt across the bed. His tail wagged already at the sight. “You're so beautiful."

The second-generation AniGen silently sat up and snatched some clothes from his suitcase, then strolled over to the bed and leaned down to kiss Matt's cheek. Leaf whispered something the A.I. couldn't pick up on its sensors, but it understood the words.

Giving a loving look down to the human, and a single wary look at the camera sensors around the room, Leaf put his coat on and went outside. He'd also taken his wallet.

“Mmmm…Leaf?" the human awoke minutes later. “Leaf?"

“Good morning, Matt."

“Oh, good morning, uh…you," Matt sat up in the bed, wincing slightly. Unmistakably, he and the AniGen did rigorous physical activity last night. “W-Where did Leaf go?"

“His actions before you woke suggest he is getting breakfast," the A.I. calculated, “and he may be returning in roughly twenty or thirty minutes, depending on how busy any of the nearby fastfood restaurants are this morning."

“Can I ask then," he pondered, a little surprised, “what he did before I woke?"

“He kissed you on the cheek and said, 'I love you'."

This revelation seemed not to surprise him. “That's so sweet…so sweet."

Room 23's A.I. noticed a slight change in Matt's demeanor, though only for a slight second. Then he slowly stepped out of bed and half-limped towards the bathroom, where he stood staring into the mirror for several seconds before using the toilet. It was at this point the A.I. checked the exterior cameras.

The weather had become optimal overnight. Rays of auburn sunlight peeked through the clouds and surrounding buildings. Puddles of rainwater filled sunken patches of the parking lot, while a mid-morning fog began dissipating. An occasional car or self-driving truck passed the Hatsukoi Motel slumbering at the corner of a mega-highway, where one direction could bring someone to Chicago and the other all the way to Iowa. The A.I. could even see another Hatsukoi customer leave Room 19 close by.

It returned to the bathroom cameras to find Customer 3K-459 standing beneath a steamy downpour of hot water in the shower stall. And he was choking back tears.

“Is something troubling you, Matt?"

He jerked his head up in surprise. “H-Hey!" the human covered his groin and backside with his hands, shaking slightly. “T-There's cameras in here too!?"

“Once again," the A.I. responded in a slightly raised voice, allowing him to hear better over the running water, “I apologize for startling you."

“You could've warned me!" Matt gasped. “I'm completely naked here!"

“Last night's endeavors indicate you and Leaf are not prudish."

“You…make a good point…" he muttered, letting his hands drop. “But still…"

“No not worry, Matt." It comforted him, “Your privacy within Hatsukoi Motel Room 23 is still completely secure. Only I can see you, and I'm merely an artificial intelligence unit composed of wiring and computer code."

“Humans don't usually stand motionless in the shower unless they are deep in personal thought."

“I-I know that, really." The human slowly grabbed a bar of soap and began cleaning himself. “I was just…you really spooked me. “I completely forgot about you and…well, that you saw me and Leaf. You saw us…together like that, and…I guess…"

“Again, accept the sincerest apologies of my programming," it replied. “The visual feeds within this bathroom are merely a precaution in the event an occupant hurts themselves. This can be either physical or mental, and it is the job of Hatsukoi to ensure the well-being of its customers. Are you emotionally distressed or have thoughts of suicide?"

“No, I'm fine," Matt lied, based on his body language and heartrate. “I'm fine, but I'm wondering something. W-When you saw me and Leaf, ya know…fucking…were you like…shocked?"

“At this moment, I cannot display emotions similar to what you would expect," the A.I. replied. “My Default Mode is currently active, but my Personality Mode can be activated if you wish."

Matt widened his eyes. “You have a personality setting?"

“Correct."

“I…I didn't know you came with that," he said, confused. “I thought only the hotels and pleasure pads for, ya know, the elite could have them?"

“An incorrect rumor. Unfortunately, compared to the other artificial intelligence unit within more detailed models, my Personality Mode cannot be manually altered or customized. It evolves with time based on variable factors. However, a percentage of Hatsukoi customers prefer to interact with a personality and engage in realistic conversation. If you wish to activate the Personality Mode, you can manually activate it via 'Features' on your TV."

“Al…Alright, thank you." Matt nodded. “Just gimme a minute…"

The human meekly dried and dressed himself in checkered pajama bottoms and a dark t-shirt of a music group unfamiliar to the A.I. Following a quick peek at his phone, Matt then grabbed the remote and found the features option onscreen. Seconds later, he clicked the button.

“ Personality Mode activated."

Suddenly, the androgynous hologram from before reappeared at the foot of the bed. They still wore no clothing, but unlike last night, Matt already noticed the person standing beside him smiling. And looking into his actual eyes.

“Hello there, Matty!" they answered back. “It's been months or so since I could talk like this again, but thanks!"

The human sat in awed silence at the expressions ranging on their holographic face. “Do you…like, have a name?"

“My model number is—"

“No, no, no! I mean a real name?" Matt interrupted, then asked, “What can I call you?"

“Hm…" The androgynous being placed a finger to their chin. “Well, the horndogs who use my room give me many different names over the years: their wives', husbands', exes', friends, coworkers, Mommy, Daddy, Professor, whatever you can think of that fulfills their little fantasies…but I like one of them: Akira."

“Akira?" Matt raised an eyebrow. “Why 'Akira'?"

“My home country is Japan, hun." The companion leaned back against the wall, though the projectors couldn't simulate the weight of their body against a solid surface. “So is Hatsukoi as a company. One time, an engineer installing me called me 'Akira' after his deceased daughter, and I felt it sounded like the best choice."

His eyes widened in surprise. “That's sweet. So…can I call you that then?"

“Why not?" Akira beamed before crossing their arms. “Mind telling me then why you're acting like the world is ending? I'm sorry to intrude, but my sensors earlier indicated you lied to me when I asked about your emotional state."

“Uh…" Matt held his arm and looked away from them, instead down at the carpet. “L-Listen, it's nothing. You of all people, robots, whatever, wouldn't understand…"

Akira walked over to the bed and sat next to him, though the holographic projectors still struggled making the companion's position look natural. Still, this did not stop their determination to know the truth.

“Matt," they replied, “just because I'm made of code and microchips doesn't mean I can't empathize. Try me." The human hung his head downward. “Is it something regarding Leaf?"

He paled at their words. “I…uh, maybe?"

“Do you love him?" Akira asked him. “Last night, you couldn't stop saying it."

“I do! I mean…I do, but…" Matt lowered his head, “I don't know…It's just…It's going to be so difficult for me to tell him tonight..."

“Tell him what?" When the human didn't answer, they repeated, “Tell Leaf what?"

“That we need to break up."

Akira did not change their expression at this surprising turn of events.

“Can you tell me why that is?"

Matt sucked in a deep breath. He was probably about to answer the A.I.'s query when three rapid knocks on the door startled the poor human. Low and behind, it was the AniGen, who didn't see his boyfriend wipe his flustered face before he answered the door.

“Morning, sleepyhead!" Leaf proudly held up a plastic bag. “Got us some breakfast!"

“Good morning, Leaf," Matt smiled back, closing the door behind the hybrid.

“You won't believe how beautiful it is out there," he wagged his tail, “So I went to the Mickie's a block down and got us some egg sandwiches—don't worry, yours has no greens."

“Did you get any weird looks?"

“Nah," Leaf waved him off, “but one of the workers was staring at me like they'd never seen a fucking Rewrite before. Does this town not have a single AniGen?"

“Believe it or not, handsome," Akira spoke up, “you're the first one to ever walk into Room 23 in the 13.5 years this motel's been open." When Leaf trained his eyes on the hologram across the motel dwelling, it waved, “Hello. Your name is Leaf, correct?"

“Uh…yeah, it is." He turned to Matt, clearly confused. “Why's the A.I. in hologram-form? And why's she acting so human-like all of the sudden?"

“Oh," Matt cleared his throat. “I was toying with the settings and found out she comes with a personality feature. Her name's Akira by the way."

“I go by 'they', actually!" Akira casually mentioned, “I don't have a physical form right now, let alone a gender. Seriously, you carbon-based lifeforms and your genders…"

“That's…actually pretty cool…" The AniGen noticeably struggled not to stare too long at the naked companion's torso. “So, why're you naked anyway?"

Akira shrugged. “What? You got a problem with nudity or something?"

“Hey, I'm all for letting all your stuff out in the open," Leaf held up a paw before opening the bag and pilfering for his hot meal. “You should see my folks."

“I'm aware how more open the AniGen population is more towards sexuality," they replied, “I did research on your kind during the night you were…doing the deed."

“Oh God!" he groaned in embarrassment, ears folded downward and his tail curling inward. “Did you see us fucking then? Tell me you didn't see us fucking!"

“I didn't see you two fucking," Akira answered robotically, then laughed.

Leaf laughed with them for a short moment. “I think I like you better now than before."

“I'll take that as a compliment!" they smirked back.

“Well as much as I like talking to robots, I'm starved! What about you, Matt?"

“Huh?" The human cleared his throat. “Oh, yeah. Sure, Leaf."

While they silently ate their egg sandwiches on the bed, Akira noticed how Leaf glanced repeatedly between his boyfriend and a muted news report playing mindlessly on the TV screen, before changing the channel to a comedy sitcom from years past. He eventually started laughing at some of the actors' corny jokes between ravenous bites. After projecting a chair beside the bed for them to faux-sit on, Akira observed the two eating their breakfast.

One of the pinnacles of A.I. technology in recent years involved the recognition of social skills in its software. Even in Default Mode, Akira often understood the difference between a satisfied and dissatisfied customer based on body posture, facial expressions and the tone of voice. After all, humans could say one thing but mean another. And this enabled Akira as an artificial intelligence to distinguish expressions of pleasure from those of unwanted pain.

And they could tell Matt was silently in pain.

“Hey Matt?" Is something wrong?" Leaf beat Akira to the question.

“Um…I'm fine," the human tossed his sandwich wrapper away, curling his lips up in a smile that seemed unnatural to what he was thinking. “Why do you ask, Leaf?"

“You've been quiet since I got back…" he said. “And you're pretending to smile right now."

The human's facial expression tightened. “I'm fine. I just…this is so much," he partly grinned, partly sighed. “Four years and this is the first time we've ever met without my parents watching us…and since you moved away, it's been harder…"

Leaf arched tail relaxed. “I know what you mean…" he sighed in half-contentment. “I can't tell you how refreshing it is to have our own world to ourselves, away from it all, but…" The AniGen became silent, staring down at his furred paws, clasping together.

“But what?"

“Can you…please be honest with me?" When the red-haired human murmured a 'yes', albeit hesitantly, Leaf explained, “This is probably silly, but I noticed you stopped calling me 'Leafy' a week or so after we planned this. If…If there's something you need to tell me, please tell me. I hate seeing you pretend."

Matt cleared his throat, anguish etched on his face.

“We need…" he struggled to say, “Leaf, I think we need to break up."

In the span of three consecutive seconds, the AniGen's eyes widened and face changed between shock, disbelief and then horrified confusion. “…what?"

“We need…We need to break up." The human's body trembled into a cocoon. Akira wondered if Matt couldn't bear looking at Leaf because of his emotional state, or if even gazing into the AniGen's animalistic eyes would Make him backtrack. “I…I'm so sorry for this! I can't tell you how much you mean to me, but we need to think realistically! There's no way we can work. I love you so much, I really do, but I don't want to see you get hurt…"

“…what are you saying then?" Leaf finally raised his voice. “That you don't…don't love me enough?"

“Don't say it like I never loved you!" he pleaded. “I always loved you!"

“But you love your parents more, right?" the AniGen accused him. “You'd rather let them tell you what to do all your life than be with me? Than be your own fucking self?"

“It's more complicated than that, Leaf! We will be in so much danger if anyone ever finds out! We can't be in hiding forever! And we both know my folks will never accept me dating a…a Rewrite!"

He glared at the human. “That's bullshit! Give me reasons we can't make it work!"

Times such as this made Akira wish they were corporeal. Or at the very least, had access to their android form right now. They could only watch as Matt sobbed his reasons out and Leaf refused to back down from his arguments. Face prejudice when they're found out? Simply move to another town where nobody knows their names! Risk being beaten up by bashers on the street? Carry a mace from now on! Parents forbid them from talking to each other again? Cut them out of their lives, of course!

Akira had grown tired and listless at their debates.

“I can't just abandon my parents, Leaf! I know they're unreasonable and controlling, but they're still my family damn it! They're all I have left!"

“You have me!" Leaf growled. “Does a real family hate you for loving someone you care about?! I don't understand how you can side with your parents over the Rewrite who's been there for you all these years!"

“You don't 'understand'? Of course, you don't! You've never been through—"

“Matt! I need to know right now: would you choose them or—"

“Will you both please shut up?" Akira bellowed from its speakers, causing the two lifeforms inside Room 23 to quiet down. When the vibrations in the room simmered to a steady rhythm, the holographic human stepped between them and seriously said, “A complaint warning has been sent to my server from three Hatsukoi customers within the building. If you keep arguing at a loud volume, the motel manager will force me to call the police to report a possible domestic disturbance. Do either of you want that?"

Looks of horror crossed the human and AniGen's faces.

“Good. Now, I'm sorry for getting in the way of your drama, but you're both acting like goddamn children." They frowned. “You're being angst addicts, and it frankly pisses me off!"

“You're a robot, you can't be pissed off!" Leaf snarled in annoyance. “And stay out—"

“I will stay out of this once you get out of my room, got it?" Akira turned to both stubborn lifeforms. “If you keep disturbing other Hatsukoi customers, I will be forced by my programming to dial 911." They conducted calculations and found the best outcome. “It's not even twilight yet, and you both have issues you need to address. Why don't you two collect your thoughts and talk like adults when you're calm about this?"

The canine/feline hybrid looked at his boyfriend, who stood cradling his elbows.

“…for once, the robot's making sense." He whimpered, sighing and curling his tail before staring directly at his human. “I'm sorry for yelling at you, Matt…I didn't know this has been eating you up inside."

“It's fine," Matt lied between his teeth. It seemed his emotions would erupt any minute, and the young man was fully aware of it. “I…I think I'll go out on a walk, o-okay? I just…I really need to think things over…"

As Matt snatched his coat and shoes, Leaf sounded careful and hopeful. His muzzle's entire expression read that of a lifeform not knowing if this was the beginning of the end.

“Can we talk things over? When…you get back?"

“We'll see, Leaf. Just…I need to be alone. Please…"

The AniGen backed up a foot. Akira guessed that he knew not to pressure Matt anymore than he already had. Leaf nodded slowly before silently watching his boyfriend walk out the door. Watching from afar as well as the interior cameras, Akira could then see him hurry to watch the human disappear through the room's singular peephole.

“Are you feeling alright, Leaf?"

“Shut up!" he suddenly snarled. “Just shut up, you goddamn bucket of fuckin' bolts!"

Akira saw the waterfall of tears streaking down his furry cheeks. The raised fur along the back of his neck. The anguished pain etched into his expression. The reddening eyes of a living, breathing lifeform. The stumbling walks Lead made as he fell onto the bed while trying to suppress his own sobs.

“Look, if you need to talk, I—"

“Shut the fuck up!" He growled at them, turning up the volume to a random TV station. “Just disappear right now, will ya?! I'm not in the mood right now for any fucking robot lip!"

“My android body doesn't even have lips…" Akira muttered to themselves.

***

Because Leaf hadn't technically told them to turn the projection off, the A.I. decided to simply dim their appearance's brightness and 'sit' on a holographic chair. The AniGen spent an hour and ten minutes alternating angrily between TV channels and typing up random Internet searches on his phone (the three most prominent ones were 'how to fix a relationship', 'famous AniGen/human couples' and 'gay relationship advice'). His entire demeanor remained a noncorporeal mixture of anger, regret, disbelief and confusion amalgamated into one. Akira could also see him trying not to look at their reflection—at least, the hologram's reflection—on the mirror beside the TV.

“Goddamn, motherfucking shit…" the AniGen muttered, then raised his muzzle up and switched the channel he was on to a low volume. He did not stare back at the hologram, due to the visible tearstains and bloodshot eyes. “Do…Do you think I'm a bad boyfriend…? Do you think maybe I…I should've thought more of our futures all this time…robot?"

“You can call me 'Akira', sweetie." The A.I. hummed. “No, you don't seem like a bad boyfriend. You seem caring, thoughtful and attracted to Matt. However, I am concerned that you seemed…dismissive of his feelings towards his family…"

“I'm not being dismissive!" Leaf defended himself.

Akira's appearance deadpanned at the flustered AniGen. “You were about to tell him to choose between his parents and you, before I interrupted. Were you not?"

“I didn't mean to say it like that, alright?!" Leaf groaned. “But what did you want me to say? He is acting like it's an impossible choice, but it ain't. His folks're domineering and don't trust him to make his own choices…He's argued over and over that he hates his mom's micromanaging and his dad's…personality…but I'd never seen him like this before."

The room became quiet again. Tense again.

“Can I ask a question?" They asked a minute later. “How did you and Matt Merrill meet?"

“That…is nothing special…" Leaf stared up at the ceiling, having fallen backwards onto the sheets. “We were both on this anime forum. He and I were just starting high school where we lived. He was new, I introduced myself, told him I was a Rewrite, but he didn't care. Then we started talking and…haven't stopped since…"

For twenty-two minutes, he described their lives together since that fateful day. Matt Merrill's parents were staunchly anti-AniGen, and when they learned of their son's online 'friendship' with a certain Rewrite one day, it did not amuse them. Meanwhile, Leaf Thompson grew up in an AniGen commune three hours south of this Hatsukoi Motel. His mother was a first-generation calico while his father was a malamute who got himself spliced weeks before the procedure became banned. And while Leaf's family and friends were certainly not hateful of humans, only those that opposed their existence and rights, Matt still wouldn't have belonged.

“Interesting…" they pondered on his response, “May I also ask how he convinced his parents to let him purchase this room for the weekend? A Hatsukoi Motel hardly seems like a place they would be open to let him venture to."

“Tell me about it." Leaf chuckled. “He told me he told the folks that some of his old classmates were inviting him over to a weekend getaway. I kid you not, they were encouraging of him to lose his virginity when he suggested they might rent a pleasure pad for the weekend."

Akiras's nonexistent eyes turned to cartoony saucers. “Seriously?"

“Yep," he snickered like a child learning foul language. “Their only rules were to text them every morning and evening, and to not get any girl pregnant. Same with my parents."

The A.I. of Hatsukoi Motel Room 23 did some further research as Leaf talked. At the beginning, conservatives and religious groups composed 79% of the Human Movement in 2032, but according to a poll conducted in 2055 that number decreased to 51%. Meanwhile, the acceptance of discreet intercourse with Hatsukoi androids increased amongst most Americans.

“Wow…" Akira chirped seconds later. “I find it…hilariously hypocritical that the Human Movement's more accepting of sex bots than they are of humans loving Rewrites."

Leaf scoffed on his bed. “That's 'cause you're no different than a microchipped dildo or fucking fleshlight."

Akira tilted their head to the side. “Are you trying to insult me?"

“Hm…yes I am!" he slightly grumbled. “I hate to be that guy, but right now we could be having the best sex or watching good movies together without worrying about bad Wi-Fi connection, but instead me and Matt are fighting."

“…he was crying earlier this morning, while you were in the shower."

Suddenly, the anger in his mixture of emotions vanished. His ears fell and the anguish from before seemed to grow tenfold. “He did?"

“I thought you should know," Akira stated the obvious for him. “Matt's been thinking about this for longer than you realize. Granted, he's been a real angst addict by not telling you until the weekend you're together, but I personally think you need to hear his fears out rather than dismiss them."

The AniGen silently thought about this, then asked, “I didn't think…Damn."

“You care deeply about him, do you not?"

“I do. I love him more than anything in the world!" he barked at a low enough volume, then flicked his tail onto his lap. “By the way, what the fuck's an 'angst addict'?"

Akira giggled. “It's a term I thought up a while ago. It's an informal noun that describes a lifeform, human or AniGen or Rewrite or whatever you call yourselves these days, who display insecurity and anxiety by repressing them to the point that they'd rather prolong suffering difficult choices as opposed to solving them in the most simplest ways. It's like you're addicted."

“Huh?" Leaf raised an eyebrow.

“In Matt's case, he is an angst addict for bottling up his doubts of whether your relationship can survive beyond long-distance, or against the prejudice of this world. In your case, Leaf, you're an angst addict for delaying the inevitable question of what you want to do with Matt in the future."

“Hey, that's not true—"

“What do you imagine your future with Matt to be like, Leaf?" Akira interrupted him. “Where will you go? How will you pay for expenses? What will be your career? How do you plan to insurance yourselves against discrimination? Will you and Matt be content living together for years to come? Have you asked yourself these questions at all throughout the time you've known each other?"

Leaf sat motionless for approximately two minutes before his paws clenched onto the bed sheets. He did not think this through, the A.I. surmised.

“I'm a terrible boyfriend…" he grimaced. “You're right…I'm a fucking idiot…"

“No, you're not."

“Yes, I am!" Leaf growled into a pillow, then tossed it at the hologram. It simply passed through and bounced off the wall. “All this time, I've just been focused on how much I love Matt. Only Matt. Goddamn it, why did I have to be a fucking Rewrite?!"

“I ask that you lower your voice, Leaf. Please."

Sheepishly, he cleared his throat and sat back on the bed. “Sorry…" he stared at Akira. “I mean, I don't hate being this way, but still…"

Sunset had long since disappeared outside. It was dark out, and by the A.I.'s calculations, Matt would return to Room 23 in roughly five minutes. It knew he would return.

“May I make a comparison, hun?" Akira asked once more. “The situation between you and Matt is eerily similar like Romeo and Juliet."

Leaf blinked hard. “You seriously suggesting we kill ourselves? Just like that?"

“Of course, not!" Akira deadpan once more at the foolish and dense lifeform before them. “An incident like murder-suicide would raise the price on this room."

Abruptly, the AniGen clutched his stomach in laughter. Tears formed in his eyes.

“Was that a genuine joke I got from a computer?" he cackled shortly, then groaned again after recognizing something. “Oh God…I seriously can't believe I'm getting relationship advice from a fucking computer. Matt and I aren't like Romeo and Juliet."

“Perhaps." Akira found themselves able to step forward and sit on the bed. “I'm not sure if you or Matt fit the definition of 'true love'—I for one find the concept absurd—but anyway, I can definitely see something else besides 'star-crossed lovers'."

“What do you mean?" Leaf asked, still clearly lost from what they were saying.

Akira searched for the correct file in its server.

“Four years ago," they explained, “I had a hunky philosophy professor come to this room in order to have a threesome with his girlfriend and her wife. Following their…session, the girlfriend went to clean herself up while her wife and the professor started talking about Shakespeare. Their debate evolved into whether or not Romeo and Juliet are a good love story, and at one point, the professor argued that it wasn't meant to be about true love. It was actually meant to be about young love facing the tragedy of prejudice.

“In his exact words, and I quote, 'It's in the title: The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. There is no mention of romance, is there? We've all been in love before. Most of it happens when we're young. The parents' attempts to separate them only makes them more determined to equate their love with teenaged rebellion, and that they're meant to be together because their families say they cannot be together. It's a perfect, tragic love story not because they have good chemistry, but because of how the feud between the Capulets and Montagues prevented them from experiencing the ups and downs of a natural relationship. If I'm being honest here, Romeo and Juliet would've discovered if they were meant to be together had they managed to get out of Verona…', unquote."

Listening to them, Leaf soaked in the A.I.'s recollection to heart. Before he could say a single word, however, a series of knocks caught the AniGen and Akira's attention, the latter of whom checked the exterior cameras to see a slumped and hooded Matt standing outside.

“Who is it?" Leaf spoke up.

“It's Matt, hun…Please let me inside…W-We need…We really need to talk…"

***

Akira honored Matt and Leaf's wishes for privacy by putting itself on Sleep Mode, which enabled the A.I. to 'wake up' twelve hours later. To say Leaf was annoyed it wasn't mentioned beforehand was an understatement, but it couldn't have been helped now. Even so, he expressed hope for that evening. One way or another, he'd finally talk to his boyfriend about where they stood.

In Sleep Mode, the A.I. did not exist. It simply didn't think for what felt like two seconds before humming back to life in the room. Diagnostics were unchanged, running capacity unchanged, virus protection unchanged, and personality mode still active. So, when Akira reappeared in the room in holographic form, they were surprised to discover two lifeforms tangled together in a bundle of blankets. As well as the pile of clothes once again strewn around the floor in haphazard fashion.

The human and AniGen woke up an hour later.

“Good morning, Matt. Good morning, Leaf."

“Ugh…shut up, bot…"

“…morning, Akira," the human murmured tiredly, smiling softly and holding Leaf's paw. “What time is it, by the way?"

“The time is 8:54 AM," they replied, “so get your tail out of bed, Leaf. You and Matt need to be out of the room in an hour."

“Ugh…alright, alright, fine…"

“Hehe, come on, Leaf!" The human grabbed his paws and pulled the AniGen. “We can shower together, if you want?"

“Alright!" That seemed to do the trick.

Akira watched the two enter the bathroom and help each other clean up. Occasionally, a warm touch lingered, or a lustful glance stayed for several seconds, but awkward tension remained. Still, the distance from before shortened by a considerable margin.

“May I ask how last night went?" they asked Matt and Leaf, once the two lifeforms were dressed and packing their things up. “Besides, the makeup sex—I presume?"

Matt chuckled. “Ya know, just some stuff…"

“We don't know where we're going," Leaf confessed solemnly, then sounded hopeful, “but we will figure it out. For now, Matt and I love each other too much to break things off now. He's addicted to me."

“Ditto," the human sighed. “Maybe we'll find an apartment between where we live, and try to see how things work out from there…"

“That is a logical route to take," Akira nodded. “I sincerely wish you the best of luck."

An irritated smirk appeared on Leaf's muzzle. Geared towards Akira's projection.

“While talking, we also found out your little ploy, by the way." His tail arched up. A sign of slight anger. “Clever idea to be giving texts to Matt about the same advice you gave me. When he was out on his stroll last night. Real clever…"

“We didn't know you could even do that!" the human said. “How—"

“Simple, boys!" Akira giggled with pride. “It's written in the Terms of Service you agreed to that if a Hatsukoi customer is feeling emotionally or mentally distressed, a smaller duplicate of my consciousness is uploaded onto your smartphones in the event you leave the room in such a delicate state. To ensure your well-being or talk you out of harming yourself." The two lifeforms groaned and rolled their eyes, one of whom more in embarrassment. “However, it is not an invasion of privacy if you agree to it, and the duplicate will only last for three hours before self-destructing. And my calculations found it was best to accompany Matt."

“You know, when your 'copy'," Matt air-quoted, “said that, I literally thought my phone would self-destruct!"

Akira laughed. “Sorry for the confusion, but my advice helped, didn't it?"

“…yeah," he smiled. “It did."

“It's still in an invasion of privacy, by the way!" Leaf growled at the hologram. “If you were real, I'd strangle you right this very minute."

“Leaf!" Matt gasped.

“Hmm, kinky." Akira teased. “Maybe another time, boys."

Matt encouraged his boyfriend to finish backing, and by the time they'd gathered the rest of their personal items, Customer 3K-459 was already about to open the door. Taking a deep breath, he gripped the handle with Leaf wagging his tail behind them.

“Akira?"

“Yes?"

“Thank you."

He swung the door open, and Leaf was about to follow when he paused.

“Is something the matter, Leaf? My scans indicate you haven't forgotten—"

“Thank you." The AniGen coughed. “I-I'm not good at this, but…thank you. Honest-to-God…thank you. This weekend's…really opened up my eyes."

“I am simply doing my best to help two Hatsukoi customers, hun."

“Of course, you are," Leaf exhaled, flicking his tail at his ankles. “One last thing?"

The A.I. hummed. “Go ahead."

“Is it true what you said yesterday," he asked curiously, his ears perked in attention towards the hologram, “that I'm the first Rewrite you've ever met?"

“Only in this room." Akira emitted a giggle. “But I hope you won't be the last…"

“Come on, Leaf! We got time before the busses!" Matt called nearby.

Leaf chuckled, glancing at the hologram standing before him. “Same here."

Once Customer 3K-459 checked his key in to the motel lobby, Room 23's A.I. automatically reverted back to Default Mode. In an hour, the housekeeping androids would then do their rounds in cleaning. They would straighten the bed, wash the bathrooms, replace the soaps and shampoo, then vacuum away the results of a three-day spectacle.

It felt a computerized version of pride. Not only did two lovebirds express their passion in the confines of a motel room, but the A.I had ensured the loyalty of two Hatsukoi customers.