Teto Territory: The Story of Teto

The Song of the Eared Robot

~Teto's POV~

"Put everything together and wrap it all up nice and tight

Try to avoid the shadows, make your way into the light-"

Charlotte sighed. "Just a little bit higher on 'light'? Do it the way you did it the first time."

"Make your way into the light, walking-"

"No, not there yet," Charlotte looked back at her computer. "Try one more time?"

I stared at the ground. "C-Charlotte," I whispered, worried she would be mad at me. "I k-know that I can't sing very w-well yet, b-b-but it's my song."

Charlotte looked up at me, surprised. "You know what? You're absolutely right. This is your song, and I should let you sing it how you want. Let's practice just the first part one more time, then we can record."

I sang through it again, and Charlotte didn't comment on how I went low on "light".

After we finished recording, she dismissed me, and even though I didn't sing it exactly how Charlotte wanted, I was happy with my song. I couldn't wait till it was uploaded so I could listen to it over and over again. Music in itself was great, but music made by me? It would be all the better.

I found Uta in the kitchen next to Momotaro, giggling. "Oh, hey, Kasane-chan!" The tall robot noticed me and wiped his hands on his apron. "I'm teaching Utane-chan how to make lunch."

Uta turned towards me, and I could see she was covered in flour. I couldn't help but laugh. "It's a lot harder than it looks," she protested.

"What are you making?" I asked. It felt so good to be able to voice my questions and get a clear answer instead of just guessing things.

"Baguettes~" Momotaro winked. "Since this is a special day for you."

I grinned. "Thanks," I sat at the small table in the kitchen. Everyone ate in the dining room, so it often went unused. "but I don't think Charlotte likes my song."

Uta raised an eyebrow. "Really? What makes you think that?"

"Well..." I tried to think of how to explain how I felt. Having words was one thing, learning how to use them was another. "I didn't sing it how she wanted me to. I just didn't think it sounded right."

"Well, it is your song. Not hers." Momotaro pulled a tray out of the oven.

"That's what I said."

"Really? You stood up to Charlotte?" Uta leaned over the sink, washing the flour of her hands.

"Utane-chan, when you say it like that, it makes Charlotte sound like a bad woman."

Uta blushed, clearly embarrassed to be upsetting him. "Well, no, she isn't, she's very nice, but most of us don't have the guts to do refuse anything she says."

"Gutsy Kasane-chan," Momotaro smiled. "I bet your song is great. I can't wait to hear it."

"Put everything together and wrap it all up nice and tight

Try to avoid the shadows, make your way into the light

Walking around my world, following the signs that I see

Searching to find something of significance to me

So rotten and twisted are the things they say about my song

My words sink deeper down, still I will sing all night long

You know one plus one is two, adding the things is what we should do