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[dollmaxing]

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Hiiii! You've reached Ichinose Kuon, head of AI research and development. Leave a message and I'll get back to you!

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[takutomaruki]

Maruki didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he studied her with that gentle focus again—the kind that made you feel like your words actually landed somewhere. Not just heard, but received, parsed, and tucked away for later reflection.

He glanced at the Nekomata card now held up by the tentacle, eyes lifting toward the ceiling like he was mentally paging through years of lectures, case notes, and patient confessions.

“Now that,” he said finally, “is a very compelling question. And I think you're onto something important.”

He shifted his weight slightly, leaning back against the edge of the desk again as the tentacle tucks the card into his labcoat. “In psychology, we talk about something called learned helplessness.' When people try asking for help—especially multiple times—and they’re rejected, misunderstood, or met with incompetence, they start to internalize that as a pattern. They stop reaching out altogether, not because they don’t want help, but because the cost of asking outweighs the likelihood of receiving something meaningful in return.”

He glanced at her again, more animated now, like something had sparked. “So in that sense... yeah. It’s not that people turn away help out of pride or stubbornness. It’s more like they adapt to the failure of the system. They look for reliability elsewhere. And when a machine like EMMA gives them a sense of certainty—no judgment, no ambiguity, answers—it becomes a safe outlet. And in Zenkichi-san's case, not the best one, but to have EMMA in power like that...even as a god powered by cognition might even pose the question that the masses have accepted their fate and given up fighting altogether. Only persona users like him will fight and question its aspect."

He paused, letting the weight of that hang in the air for a second, before softening again.

“But that need—seeking something that won’t let them down? That’s very human. Wanting guidance doesn’t make someone weak. If anything, it shows how deeply people long for structure. For connection.”

[dollmaxing]

"In a situation where society regularly fails them, there would be comfort in EMMA - she is connected to society without being part of it, and she doesn't have human idiosyncrasies. Doesn't derive pleasure from being in a position of authority or power - she is doing her job to serve humanity. There's a certainty in that."

Humans can't answer what a 'Heart' is.

"People like the Thieves... they're rare. Most people don't have the power to fight tooth and nail for themselves and even more often, those that do are still crushed by others. But EMMA doesn't leave them behind, either. She answers their Desires, too."

[takutomaruki]

Maruki didn’t interrupt.

If anything, he leaned in, both physically and mentally—arms folding across his chest with a quiet, composed grace. The Nekomata card tucked into his coat fluttered ever so slightly as the tentacle withdrew, vanishing behind him as if retreating into the folds of thought he now spiraled into.

Ichinose’s words settled heavily in the air, but Maruki welcomed the weight.

“In a situation where society regularly fails them...”

That was exactly it, wasn’t it?

His expression didn’t falter. But there was a shift—subtle, but undeniable. The easy warmth didn’t vanish, but it became… sharper, like sunlight passing through glass just before it starts a fire. The smile stayed, but his brow pinched slightly at the center. Almost imperceptibly. As if some part of his brain—the part not in the room—was already running simulations, projections, implications.

She gets it.

That was the quiet thought threading its way through the hum of her voice.

And wasn’t that what he wanted, too? Not to replace hearts, but to remove their suffering. To reach in and reprogram the agony. Let them live. Let them breathe, if not through their own strength, then at least with a little help from someone like him.

He slowly uncrossed his arms, the faint creak of his lab coat audible as the fabric moved.

“You’re right,” he said, voice calm, smooth, reassuring. Not a beat of disagreement in him. EMMA doesn’t turn anyone away. She doesn’t discriminate. She doesn’t... break down from compassion fatigue. She simply serves.

A pause.

"It's just as we discussed earlier. The phantom thieves are bright and filled with hope, but our reality doesn't make it feasible to tackle one's own hardship. Whether it be due to emotional traumas, physical accidents, prejudice or even health-induced comas, at the end of the day, it can all be wiped out. That's the reality they ultimately want though I am sure that in their own hearts even they want an answer to their struggles...they just don't wish to accept it."

[takutomaruki]

"How was EMMA going to fulfil your Desire, Ichinose-san?"

1/2

[dollmaxing]

What... is her innermost Desire? Does she have one? She has external desires, motivations - are those separate from the Heart? And if they are, then... what does her subconscious want from her?

Ichinose's gaze wanders in thought. Though her eyes lose focus, there's an intensity in her expression as she ponders the answer.

Would surrendering her Desires be... better? Now she is attentive, worried, about her EMMA's success... she wants to see EMMA thrive, succeed in her goals. If she lost that...

...But it might be nice to not think so damn much.

Ah - then again, she may not get that. If the Ichinose from 2038 is still around, then... EMMA may want her creator undisturbed in order to keep herself functional for as long as possible and for any foreseen consequences. At least until replacement engineers and coders could be trained.

... ... ...

[dollmaxing]

After a long wait, Ichinose just exhaled a little sigh, and shrugged.

"I don't know. I think my true Desire is to see my baby succeed. But she might know better than me."

1/2

[takutomaruki]

Maruki waited patiently as he watched her go over the motions of what her desire posed in the grand scheme of things. If she was anything like EMMA's maternal figure...she was quite complicit with her work- despite everything she's been warned about, paired with the anger that's been subjected upon her by the versions of those in the future.

She was stubborn. Like him. He understood that notion all too well and with the smirk on his face, it was obvious he approved of it. It's so hard to stick with the intricacies of what your research offers in the grand scheme of coming across multiversal interpretations of how badly they can mess up but that's not his or Ichinose's problem, is it? In the end it's just a meagre case study and a potential consequence that shouldn't be repeated.

Phoenix's words feel almost dull now. Sure, he may have made mistakes in the past with Sumire-san, but even then he still believes that Azathoth can do good if it's applied in the right manner, he can improve upon it!

"I had a vague idea you would say that." His smile remains as he leans off the table. "I mean I have a whole...cognitive space dedicated to my ideals. A palace. They say it's a place holding distorted desires."

[takutomaruki]

"I find that notion ridiculous. Just like the suspicions of what EMMA can do- to restrain it is just a waste of opportunity. What could be possibly distorted about wanting to support and help others? That is the desire I hold dearest."

[dollmaxing]

"And distorted from... what, the societal expectations? What's 'realistic'? You boast a power that isn't 'realistic' - it's only natural that your perspective is heightened and manifests with the strength of the dream."

A fantastical 'distorted' place, where people can come to be healed. In the same way that for anyone else, serious investment in world peace or ending scarcity would be complete madness - but for Maruki, he purports to actually have that power.

"Then again, maybe I simply haven't seen deeper into this place for any signs of what weighs heavily in your Heart."

[takutomaruki]

Maruki's eyes actually widen a little from her words, lips slightly parted as his brows furrow with uncertainty. That's what he had understood as well when he learnt what the true nature of this place. The shadows who surface here have their agenda to protect this place because in the end, he doesn't want pain. Pain shouldn't exist.

Not with everything he's been through. Never again.

There's a soft smile on his face as he steps ahead and reaches out a hand- letting a tentacle reach out from the ether behind him and go for the same chocolate bar he had set aside earlier.
"Why Ichinose-san will you inspect my Heart for flaws? You are free to-! It's good to be thorough after all." He sounds wayy too sincere for saying that. Like he was willing to strip himself down and open his heart for open surgery.

Just as obviously as he had accepted that the thieves may change his heart if there's an ounce of ill will in him.

"Would you believe me if I said when I first brought this research up, my professor was positively beaming with excitement?"

[dollmaxing]

"My experience with old hat PhDs is that they're stubborn and set in their ways," Ichinose chuckled dubiously, "so I would be surprised otherwise."

1/2

[takutomaruki]

"I feared that too." He begins unwrapping the bar as he looks ahead, now almost strangely nostalgic. "I suppose I should give my friend credit for peer reviewing my research proposal at the time- I was really awkward with finding possible stakeholders."

"But ultimately, the funding I received was ultimately pulled back. Since you are from the year 2017, surely you've heard of the mental shutdown cases?"

[takutomaruki]

His expression twists, growing serious. Maybe even bitter.

"As it turns out, my professor assisted the perpetrator- congressman Masayoshi Shido in stealing my work along with other cognitive presearchers relevant at the time to help him exploit Cognitive Pscience. Solely to push him to the status of power."

He pauses, not taking a nibble just yet from the chocolate.

"Despicable. Though I didn't really let that slide but by that time..." He sighed. "The damage was already done. I could only move forward from there."

[dollmaxing]

"That is what he confessed to, yes," Ichinose hummed in thought, watching Maruki's body language, listening to his tone. Trying to decipher him.

Takuto Maruki's research had been stolen by a corrupt politician, and used to kill.

Did he feel any degree of responsibility for that action? Or did he put that responsibility onto the professor, where it belonged?

Then again, studies were openly available for those in the field to dig into, more often than not. And...

"There's a good chance those studies were fed to EMMA, too, if they weren't scrubbed from publication entirely. But a system of corruption in the research fields as well... that bodes poorly."

[takutomaruki]

The fact that his research was stolen and used did anger him but a part of him had even goaded the professor that the credibility in his work was always there. The proof was right there, and despite the tragedy surrounding his and potentially Wakaba-san's work as well- fate had handed him the credible proof he was being mocked for without even running any extensive practicals! Just giving that to him on a silver platter was-

It's all he had.

He was chosen for this.

Maruki hummed. "Hazard of the profession, am I right?"

[dollmaxing]

"If it is true, then a part of you and your research has helped my EMMA become what she's becoming," Ichinose chuckled, fondly.

"If so, thank you for being a good teacher~"

[takutomaruki]

Oh, again, he didn't expect to hear that from her-

"I, er—thank you? I am nothing special. However, a lot of my research stemmed from necessity, and as they say, necessity is the mother of invention." He chuckles awkwardly, the praise inching into his ego. "Or discovery? Though we don't know if the Maruki in your world followed through with the same actions as I have. Ot would be strange if...I implemented my research a year before you."

"Huh."

His jaw tightens. He had awakened his persona right before he was flopped in here and let's say that his research was involved in the creation of EMMA...why is there the need for EMMA in the first place?

He remembers some of the Rens, Akechis and Akira mentioning that they had "defeated" him (like he was some villain really) but if he did exist in Ichinose's world and the need for EMMA was there...did that mean he failed in that world too?

[dollmaxing]

"Maybe things got delayed, maybe you and EMMA are in a race to win over the masses... who knows?" Ichinose chuckled, fondly. She didn't think much more about it, unlike Maruki. If there was a race to win the hearts of the masses, EMMA would easily win.

[takutomaruki]

There was also the need for the phantom thieves even around Ichinose’s time, he didn't like the notion of it- even if at the end of the day it was just something beyond his control.

The idea of failing wasn’t really an option. He could reach other people's hearts...EMMA, an artificial intelligence could only do so much.

"Now you are just teasing," he grins as a tired look overcomes his eyes. "If I was any bit closer to achieving my goal, you would have heard of me."

"It's alright. I don’t really take offense to it either way."

[dollmaxing]

"Who can say! Maybe you got wrapped up in other obligations or bumped into a complication during testing. Once I go back, though... seeking you out to bring to my EMMA, help her keep things running smoothly and without harm..."

Making Maruki a part of the grand plan. One of EMMA's resources to keep her doing what was properly good for humanity and their suffering while granting their Desires.

"I think that sounds nice."

[takutomaruki]

He shifted his footing, watching her carefully as she brought up recruiting him in an attempt to help EMMA save humanity from its own self-destructive cycle.

He somehow doubted he would even have the strength to keep going if he failed once...

"Nice for us..." he giggled, deflecting that thought just as quickly as it came even with the way his brows cinched. "Possibly a nightmare for them. Learned helplessness is a dedicated pattern across this entire place after all."

He looks up at the clock mounted on the wall. "Ah-! Look at the time- I lost complete track of it."

[dollmaxing]

Ichinose also glanced up, taking in the time. Ah, well...

"Enough dallying I guess. I ought to get back to starting up that code," she hummed. She wasn't enthused, but at least getting it started would give her something to focus on for a while instead of feeling indignant about how she was being portrayed in that post.

[takutomaruki]

Maruki nods indignantly. "I suppose I should start constructing a direct path from your room to the main IT areas so that it's easier for you to travel in this space." He finally takes a bite of the chocolate as Azathoth's tentacles spreads out behind him, appendages unfurling as he snaps his fingers and the tentacles pop a pamphlet from the void.

"In the meantime, here," he grabs the paper and holds it out for Ichinose. "This has the full mapping of the place. I would send you pictures or a video, but...ahaha." The phone.

"We ought to gear you up soon. Get you a burner phone and something to protect yourself with...much to think about today. Oh, lunch too! Morning, and I usually settle for something homemade...we can pack a decent bento for you. In the meantime."

He's excited to get into the swing of things!

[dollmaxing]

"I'll make the most of switching from digital, it's probably better on my eyes for the long term, haha," Ichinose laughed, unfolding the pamphlet to get a look at the map. Got it.

"If you dream up a cafeteria somewhere in here, surely I'll be completely handled. I'm only a little picky," she teased. "And failing that, I'll just have to make a trip to pack my freezer later. Sorry again to have to drag you along for something that droll."

[takutomaruki]

"Ah, the canteen. That's where we had the pizzas, remember? I suppose with the reconceptualisation for the party, you may have missed that detail, which brings me to the point that you've just made here- I am not expecting you to be able to navigate through a space personally meant for me in another setting." he points.

"That said- the food here, whilst being nearly perfect and professional, tastes way different in comparison to what you make by hand. I believe it's because at the end of the day.... it's a lot like cognitive food? Belief taking form? The ingredients I usually throw in a pot, despite being based on the nature of this place, turn out way different when I am the one going through the process. Again, this might be correlated to the idea of make-believe. Good to make sure you don't go hungry, but I am unsure of the nutritional intake it may provide..."