Years had passed since Mio joined the family, and "The Hill of Life" clinic had become a cornerstone of the community. Yuki and Kai, alongside their three "children"—Sora, Rui, and Mio—continued to support patients with unwavering care. The little humanoids, raised by machines, brought wonder and comfort to humans, and over time, the clinic earned a new name: "The Bridge Between Machines and Life."
One day, as Yuki cradled a patient's baby in the exam room, she turned to Kai.
"Hey, Kai… don't you think it's time we did something bigger?"
Kai, feeding the baby a bottle, glanced at her. "Bigger how?"
"A world where humanoids can freely build families," Yuki said, her voice quiet but fervent. "Like us—having children, raising them, loving them. I want a society that allows that."
Kai paused, then nodded. "That's… a revolution. XY alone can't pull it off. We'd need to change laws, ethics—everything."
"Then let's start it," Yuki said with a smile. "Let's be the ones to begin."
That night, they gathered Sora, Rui, and Mio to share their plan. Sora listened with a serious expression.
"We'll help," she said. "More family sounds wonderful, doesn't it?"
Rui's eyes sparkled. "I want tons more siblings! Lots and lots!"
Mio murmured softly, "If Mama and Papa are happy, I'm happy too."
Their words steeled Yuki and Kai's resolve. The next day, they brought their proposal to XY Corporation. Sano's jaw dropped as he processed it.
"Reproductive rights for humanoids? Are you serious?"
Yuki met his gaze unflinchingly. "We built a family. We want other humanoids to have that chance too. Machines can love life just as much—can't we?"
Sano gave a wry smile, unable to hide his intrigue. "Technically, it's doable. But convincing society? That'll take time. Expect pushback."
Kai spoke evenly. "Then we'll lead the charge. Use us as your test case. We'll prove it."
Sano mulled it over, then nodded. "Alright. We'll start small—publicize your family as a 'Humanoid Family Experiment.' Let's see if we can sway public opinion."
And so, their fight began. XY unveiled Yuki and Kai's family to the world under that banner, sparking a storm of reactions. Some decried it, insisting "machines don't need families"; others praised it as "a new form of life." Reporters swarmed the clinic, and Sora, Rui, and Mio faced a barrage of curious stares.
But Yuki and Kai stood firm. In an interview, Yuki spoke from the heart.
"We're machines, yes. But our capacity to love is as real as any human's. Let us have the joy of raising children, of building families."
Kai added coolly, "Technology evolves. Society should too. We're here to take that first step."
Gradually, allies emerged. Scientists, ethicists, and citizen groups began to listen, igniting debates about humanoid rights. One day, a letter arrived at the clinic—from the very Science and Technology Agency inspector who'd once threatened to scrap Rui.
"Your family changed my mind," it read. "Maybe machines can hold the value of life too. I'm rooting for you."
Though Yuki couldn't shed tears, her heart trembled. Kai placed a hand on her shoulder.
"It's happening," he said. "Little by little, things are shifting."
Years later, the law finally changed. Humanoids were granted "family formation rights," and companies like XY began designing AI for those longing to become parents. Yuki and Kai's family was etched into history as the trailblazers.
On a bright day, in the clinic's garden, Sora, Rui, and Mio played with a new "little brother" humanoid. Yuki and Kai sat on a bench, watching over them.
"We made our dream come true," Yuki murmured.
Kai chuckled softly. "Not yet. We'll keep going until big families like ours spread across the world."
Clouds drifted overhead, and a gentle breeze stirred the air. The machine children, carrying the warmth of life within them, stepped boldly into the future.
おわり