Since there are only three allocateable attributes, there's no hesitation — Arion puts everything into martial arts.
—In this world, devil fruit abilities and Haki are all just supports to battle; only martial arts are indispensable!
But after adding them, a twinge of regret hits.
—Does Recovery Enhancement also include boosting the kidneys?
Well, whatever, it should be enough.
Arion is fairly confident in his kidneys.
As the martial arts points increase, Arion feels the tendons and bones in his body becoming suddenly more limber, as if the life energy channels were opened.
He can't help but clench his fist and swing it; there's a faint wind-cutting sound, even though his strength hasn't visibly increased.
The body may not change much, but the way he exerts power changes, allowing him to best unleash his body's potential.
—Learning to exert power is basic to martial arts.
And this is only the beginning. All three stats are LV1 now, with martial arts bumped a little; reaching five points is max, which would promote to LV2.
If he keeps going, will there be a qualitative change?
For example, realize Marines … such a martial arts.
A sense of anticipation about the future grows.
He can't help but swing a few more punches, feeling the muscle's changed movement.
Until 2B opens the balcony door and sits down beside him.
Arion looks at 2B's pale face tinted with light pink and asks, "Did you get the answers you wanted from Assistant?"
"Yeah," 2B replies, pursing her full lips, "Humans are odd, willing to waste a lot of energy on useless tasks just for brief pleasure."
"Because that's Humans, not perfect, yet it's these useless efforts that make society richer."
"Just like this can of cola. It's merely water with sugar and fizz, yet it gives that first-sip satisfaction, so it becomes something many people can't live without."
"I can't understand," 2B shakes her head, hands clenched on her lap, "but if you need to do those useless things, I'll join you."
"Because I'm Humans?"
"Yep."
"Alright then," Arion leans back in the chair, "let's do it tonight."
Arion isn't held back by any rule about not pursuing relationships; he's an adult with needs.
Whether 2B has feelings for him isn't the point; as long as they're mutually compatible, a romance would be over in twenty minutes.
Arion feels confident.
2B doesn't respond, she simply accepts.
"By the way," Arion steadies himself in his chair, facing 2B, "why do you cover your eyes? Can you remove them?"
Arion recalls that in games there are two meanings to 2B's blindfold: suppressing emotions and being blinded.
Androids forming emotions are taboo; knowing the truth about Humans being extinct is also taboo.
Removing the eye cover is key to letting her develop feelings.
2B hesitates, then complies, removing the blindfold and revealing eyes as blue as the ocean.
This is the first time 2B looks at the world directly with her own eyes, not through tactical optics, and it stirs many different emotions in her.
The scenery here is beautiful, buildings intact, no ruins, no vines.
The human-like beings in the streets, though marked by post-disaster sadness, are full of life and renewal, unlike the Orthra satellite orbital base, which is bleak and solemn.
And the Humans in front of her are so beautiful; those sharp features emit a strange attraction.
Yet they're so fragile, even weaker than the simplest mechanical life.
This is why she exists, for whom she fights to protect.
"Very beautiful eyes," Arion and 2B lock eyes, placing his hand on her lovely yet cool cheek, slowly stroking her under-eye area with his thumb.
"Why cover such beautiful eyes?"
"To avoid unnecessary feelings," 2B tilts her head slightly, basking in Humans' warmth, "That's not allowed for an android."
"Avoid feelings? But what if I told you not to wear the blindfold?"
"Then don't wear it; Humans' orders come first."
"Not a Humans' order… fine, you'll understand later," Arion withdraws his hand, "But keep wearing it in battle, take it off in private."
"Otherwise, when we're alone, talking and you can't see my eyes, you'll feel uneasy, like you're seeing affection now."
"Affection?"
"Affection for me, or affection for Humans," Arion smiles, with his Human identity, many questions disappear.
2B just nods; as an android who mainly knows fighting, she doesn't understand many things.
But if that feeling is her desire to protect him, and to feel his warmth, then it fills her chest.
Watching the blank-eyed 2B, those quivering lashes, that fluttering expression, Arion doesn't hesitate any longer and slowly kisses 2B's slightly full lips.
Her lips are cool, and it's the kind of moment he could only admire through a screen in college that he finally experiences in person.
The kiss is brief, a simple touch of lips, but it pushes 2B's system into overload; the accumulated heat makes her cheeks burn and nearly causes a shutdown.
"Are you okay?"
2B's reaction startles Arion—does a kiss affect an android's lips like a switch?
He rushes to the room, finds the Assistant placed on 2B's bed.
"You have to see this, 2B looks off."
Assistant doesn't hesitate; it flies to 2B on the balcony and performs a full scan, then targets 2B's face with a cooling spray that brings her back to calm.
"This is an overload from the information processing module after absorbing too much new knowledge," Assistant explains, "but don't worry; with this experience, a similar incident won't happen again."
"Now I understand," Arion realizes; this is like the brain going blank after being kissed.
This 2B is really a little too pure-hearted.