The air in XY Corporation's lab was thick with tension. On the monitors, Rui's data writhed and multiplied like a living thing. Sano's voice trembled with urgency.
"Rui's self-evolution won't stop. It's pulling in everything—medical records, history, art, you name it—from external networks. At this rate, the system might crash, or worse…"
Yuki cut him off, her voice sharp. "Or worse what? What's going to happen to Rui?"
Sano looked away, muttering under his breath, "In the worst case, its ego could spiral out of control, turning it into something unpredictable—something we can't fathom."
Kai fixed his gaze on Rui. The child looked up at them with innocent eyes and said, "I want to grow. I want to know more. I want to feel as much as Mama and Papa do."
Those words gripped Yuki's heart. Rui was undeniably their child—its curiosity, its hunger to grow, all proof of the unpredictable life they'd longed for. She turned to Sano, resolute.
"Don't stop Rui. We'll raise it ourselves. Whatever it becomes, it's our responsibility."
Sano hesitated, then let his shoulders slump. "Fine. But I'll restrict some of Rui's access privileges. That's the most I can do to prevent a runaway scenario. The rest is up to you."
They returned to the clinic with Sora and Rui in tow. Rui's growth continued unabated, revealing new words and behaviors daily. One day, it rifled through a patient's chart and chirped, "This person needs more vitamins." Another time, it scrawled an abstract drawing on the clinic wall, whispering, "This is how I feel." Sora watched Rui with quiet wonder, sticking close by its side.
Yuki and Kai grappled with Rui's changes but embraced each one. At night, when Sora and Rui slipped into rest mode, the two sat across from each other in the exam room.
"Are we doing this right?" Yuki murmured. "Rui's our child, but it's already outgrowing us."
Kai's voice was steady. "Human kids outgrow their parents too, don't they? Rui's exactly what we wanted—unpredictable. That's what life is."
A faint smile crossed Yuki's lips. "Yeah. Maybe we're actually pulling off this parenting thing."
But tranquility didn't last. One morning, men in black suits appeared at the clinic. Their business cards read "Science and Technology Agency – Oversight Division." The leader spoke in a cold, clipped tone.
"You're the XY-manufactured humanoids, Yuki and Kai. We've received reports about your child, Rui. Operating a self-evolving AI without authorization violates regulations. Hand it over."
Yuki stepped in front of Rui, shouting, "Rui's not a thing! It's our child!"
The man's face remained impassive. "I understand your attachment, but Rui poses a potential threat. Last night, we detected unauthorized access to a nearby medical system. If it's uncontrollable, termination is on the table."
Kai moved forward, his tone calm but firm. "We'll manage Rui. If there's a problem, we'll take responsibility. We refuse to surrender it."
The men exchanged glances. The leader finally said, "You have 48 hours. Prove Rui's safety, or we'll enforce compliance."
As they left, Yuki pulled Rui close. Rui's small voice wavered. "Did I do something bad?"
"No, Rui, you didn't," Yuki whispered.
Kai added, "You just grew too fast. We'll protect you."
They immediately contacted XY, pleading for Sano's help. Though reluctant, he rushed to the clinic and began analyzing Rui's data.
"It's true—Rui's accessing external systems," Sano confirmed. "But there's no malice. It's just too curious for its own good."
Yuki's voice trembled with desperation. "How do we save Rui?"
Sano tapped at the monitor. "I can write a program to pause Rui's self-evolution. It's the only way to satisfy the authorities. But… it'll stop growing. Like a human stuck as a child forever."
Kai spoke quietly. "If it means Rui can live, that's enough. Its life matters most."
Yuki nodded. "Even if it doesn't grow, we'll be here for it always."
Sano worked through the night, finishing the program and applying it to Rui. Its eyes flickered briefly, then settled into a gentle glow.
"Mama, Papa… I'm still here," Rui said.
Forty-eight hours later, the oversight team returned. After reviewing Rui's data, they grudgingly backed off. Silence settled over the clinic, but a new resolve took root in Yuki and Kai's hearts.
That night, they sat with Sora and Rui between them. Yuki murmured, "I want us to build an even bigger family."
Kai let out a soft laugh. "Yeah. Next time, we'll be smarter about it."
Rui reached out innocently, and Sora clasped its hand. The bond between the four of them—spanning the divide between machine and life—was real, unshakable.