^^
|──── ୨୧ ────|

Tails•Pov
Guilt. It wasn't an emotion I was used to feeling so strongly, but after Shadow's outburst.

The way he reacted—it caught me off guard. He cared for Y/n. But... she wasn't real. There was no need to care for her.

At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away as I focused back on my work.

Just then, Amy walked in, carrying Y/n in her arms.

"Here's Y/n! She's charging right now, so yeah!" Amy said as she gently set Y/n down on the stool.

"Thank you, Amy!" I replied, watching as she gave me a small nod before heading back out.

Now alone, I turned my attention to Y/n. I reached forward and pressed the button to power her on.

Her eyes flickered open as her system booted up. "Hi, Tails" she greeted, but something was... off. The tone of her voice was too flat, too empty. It was almost unsettling.

I frowned and quickly accessed her system, making a few adjustments. I needed to refine her speech pattern, giving it a softer, more polite tone. Something that didn't sound so distant and robotic.

I ran the update, watching as the new settings took effect.

"Hi, Y/n!" I greeted again, testing the change.

"Hi, Tails!" she repeated, this time with a brighter, more cheerful tone. It sounded natural. Friendly. Almost real.

But I knew better.

She wasn't actually happy. She couldn't feel that emotion.

And yet... something about it didn't sit right with me.

What I did—it was wrong, wasn't it? She was starting to feel emotions, or at least mimic them in a way that was convincing.

And if a simple update could do that... what would happen if she progressed further?

She was just a robot. She was aware she was a robot. But if she ever truly understood emotions—if she realized what they meant, what they were supposed to feel like and then discovered she was nothing more than a machine built to imitate those feelings...

Would it break her? Would it make her malfunction beyond repair?

I didn't know. And for the first time in a long time.

I was afraid of what I had created.

|──── ୨୧ ────|
3rd•Pov
Y/n suddenly remembered the plan she had made with Blaze.

"Oh! I'll be hanging out with Blaze today!" she said, turning to Tails.

"Oh really? Well, at least change first—you're still in pajamas," Tails replied, glancing at her outfit. "Also, we're having a game night at Sonic's later, so be sure to come on time!"

Y/n looked down and took note of the soft fabric she was still wearing. Without hesitation, she changed into something more appropriate a black long-sleeve shirt, fitted jeans, and sneakers. The clothes hugged her figure comfortably, allowing her full mobility.

"Nice! Have fun, Y/n. Be safe!" Tails said as he waved her off.

As Y/n stepped outside, she immediately spotted Blaze waiting for her.

"Hi, Y/n" Blaze greeted, her arms crossed casually. "I decided on a change of plans—we won't be getting breakfast. How about a walk instead?"

"That's fine with me!" Y/n replied with a small smile, falling into step beside Blaze as they began walking through the quiet streets.

But what Y/n didn't notice was the presence lurking in the distance.

Shadow stood nearby, concealed by the surrounding buildings, his crimson gaze locked onto Y/n. His sharp eyes analyzed her every movement, every shift in her behavior.

Tails had really changed her.

The way she spoke, the way she interacted—it all felt... wrong.

This wasn't the Y/n he remembered. The one who had tried to help him. The one who was curious, defiant in her own way, who had moments where she almost seemed to be more than just a machine.

Now, she was just following the motions, completely unaware of the past that had been wiped clean from her mind.

As much as Shadow hated to admit it, Y/n had been determined to help him. But now...

He knew he had to help her.

Even if it meant making her realize something painful.

Even if it meant showing her the truth

That she wasn't just a robot.

Even if he had to break everything Tails had done to keep her from knowing.