Chapter Text
Sugawara Koushi (SUGA) is functional.
~
It had been a long morning for Sawamura Daichi. Karagora University was known for its gruelling work load, but today was worse than it usually was.
First of all, Kuroo woke him up at 3am to go down to the store to buy more ‘fairy flavoured’ cereal. Why he needed it at 3 in the fucking morning, Daichi didn’t know, but it was Kuroo, what did he expect? That set him off in a bad mood, not because he isn’t a morning person (he is), but because who wouldn’t be pissed if an insomniac like Kuroo decided he needed a cereal buddy at such ungodly times. So yeah, not good.
Second of all, he had a test at 8am. Usually no problem; Daichi was a diligent student, his teachers liked him, and he got decent grades. Except he wasn’t quite able to study for it as Oikawa insisted on watching a space documentary the night before, so Daichi barely had time to study. Damn that astronomy student.
So he didn't think he did quite as well on the test as he wanted.
Thirdly, he wasn’t able to get lunch. Ukai’s store on campus was well known for its convenience and good food. This time around he was let down. There was a huge line into the store, it was almost as if every student was out and about and had all decided that Ukai’s shop, out of the other seven, was the place to be. When he finally got in (what? He doesn’t trust the other stores' food), they were out of meat buns. God. Fucking. Dammit. Hinata would be sobbing if he was in this situation. Good thing the orange ball of energy was still in high school.
Daichi sighed. All he wanted was a meat bun. He needed the energy if he was going to do all that evening cramming if that test went as badly as he thought it did. After all, if he did bad on one test, he would have to do extra work on the next one.
He sat just outside of the small, humble shop, watching the students and lecturers strolling pass, on their way to their next pass time. He saw a few students rushing to make their classes, and a few who had clearly only just woken up. He waved at Kenma, who was still wearing his pyjamas underneath Kuroo's hoodie. Damn them and their cuteness. If only he had someone to lend hoodies to.
As he sat there, he heard Ukai walk out of the shop, and sit next to him. Passing him a meat bun, Ukai gave him a once over before asking him what he was doing just sitting outside.
“Well I don't want to go back to the dorm because Kuroo and Bo don't have class today, and I think we both know what happens when those two are bored, and I want to delay studying as much as possible. So I’m just going to chill here for a while if that’s alright?”
“As much as I love having you moping around my store and putting off customers, there are plenty other things to do. You have friends in the robotics department right? I heard they’re activating the AI today, its live online for students to watch but it would be cooler to see it in person,”
“Wait what? I thought it wouldn’t be done till the end of the month?”
“Yeah that’s what everyone thought, but apparently the workers really buckled down on the work for it, and got him finished super fast, that’s why there are so many people out, everyone’s excited.”
And with a quick thanks for the bun, and a goodbye, Daichi was off again.
The new AI had been a huge thing for the uni due to the robotics department making huge technical breakthroughs a year ago, and the department had started working on the first functional self-aware robot. It became an extra credit program for the students at the uni. Hearing about the students putting in extra time to get it done quickly explained Kenma’s odder than normal sleep schedule, and Kuroo’s recent odd lack of energy, as they where both big parts of the project, with Kuroo helping with construction and engineering, Kenma doing the bulk of the coding and Akaashi doing the visual design. The AI was practically their child due to the amount of time and effort they put into the thing.
As he got to the robotics department, he saw a decent group of people standing outside, clearly wanting to get a look. Luckily Daichi had friends on the inside, and texted Kenma, who always had his phone on him. A minute later, he got a text back telling him to come round the back entrance. Daichi had been in this building enough times (usually to give Kuroo a coffee or a soda that Kuroo had begged for) to know where the back door was. As he got to the back, he saw kenma gesturing for him to hurry. Odd, Kenma was never the type to rush. As he stepped inside the garage like area, he saw multiple students and professors hanging around. He waved and said hi to a few that he knew. And had a quick conversation with Takeda to rectify his test, before Kenma practically dragged him to the presentation area.
“Kenma, why are you in such a hurry?”
“Because if we don't, then you’re going to miss something cool. You’re lucky you have friends in the main production team, because most are only going to see the livestream or the news broadcast.”
“I think that is the most I’ve heard you speak at once.”
“Shut up, I haven't slept in 5 days. All because Kuroo wanted it to be done faster.”
“You love him.”
“Fine.”
As they rounded into a construction room, Daichi saw why Kenma was in a rush.
Kuroo, Bokuto, Akaashi, Iwaizumi, Oikawa and Ushijima were all already there. He thought Kuroo and Bokuto didn't have anything to do today. That explains the cereal. He smiled at Akaashi, who nodded politely back. Akaashi, Kenma and Kuroo were all on the main production team, and the AI would contribute to their thesis’. Guess Ushijima, Oikawa and Bokuto had the same idea as him; to use connections to get in.
He joined the group, and noticed that for once, Oikawa, Kuroo and Bokuto were quiet. Something very rare in their group. He finally noticed what they were all looking at.
Through a window into another room, they could see a guy lying down on a table/dentist chair thing. He was wearing a plain shirt and pants, and had silver hair and pale skin. He wasn’t moving, and now that Daichi looked a little closer, he wasn’t breathing either. His face was flat, and expressionless, and was rather…...pretty.
Daichi realized with a start that that was the AI. The robot. The android that had caused the occupants of the university to go feral. They were, after all, making history.
“This is the final activation. We’ve had a few other activation tests that have gone wrong. This time it’s waking up. For good hopefully,” Kuroo murmured softly, his face only on the body through the window.
“It already has his memory card in.” Kenma muttered, his cat like eyes fixed on the silver haired beauty.
“You did a good job with the design, Akaashi-san.”
“Thanks Ushijima-san.”
“Don’t thank him, he's a jerk. But he’s right, a lovely job Aka-chan, although not quite as pretty as me.”
“Shut up Oikawa”
“So mean Iwa-chan!”
“Shh. It’s happening.”
At Kenma’s words, everyone redirected their focus back onto the body.
Kenma moved to a laptop in front of the window, and typed on it quickly, activating the robot and starting the stream, and then stepped back to the group. The other people in the room watched silently as the robot’s eyes slowly fluttered open.
It blinked about 5 times before sitting up sharply, and bringing its hands up in front of it. It’s eyebrows furrowed as it followed its hands, to its elbow and tracing it to its torso. It’s eyes light up in recognition, and slight apprehension.
Daichi couldn’t tear his eyes away from the android who was examining its body with slight confusion as it left the chair and put its arms on its face, and through its hair.
Kenma stepped forward again, this time to a little mic next to the computer.
“Please introduce yourself.”
The robot looked up, only now realizing it had an audience. It looked at the people on the other side of the glass.
“Hi there, my name is Sugawara Koushi. Suga for short. I was designed and created by the occupants of Karagora University, and am the first self-aware AI to be created. I was designed to learn and process knowledge,” It said, in a soft, hypnotic voice.
Daichi liked that voice.
“Please run a diagnostic.”
“All functions are normal.”
“Commence test 1 through 5”
“Sure,” it said, as it rolled all of its joints.
It made a few facial expressions, and hummed. It also spoke in a few different languages and smiled at Kenma.
“Thank you Suga. We will let you in in a few minutes.”
“No worries.” It said with a soft yet empty voice.
After a few more tests, and the other people watching had left, it was only the small group of friends.
They moved Suga into the main room to do a test on conversation after most had left.
“Would any of you like to speak to him?” Kenma asked, turning to face the group.
“I would! Hi Suga, I’m Oikawa and I have to say you are just so pretty and-“
“Oink-awa you’re going to overwhelm it.”
“Iwaaaaaa!”
“I will be fine. Complex conversations are something I’ve been programmed in. Also the more time I spend around people, the more realistic I become.”
“What?! Really?! That’s so cool! Agaaashi did you hear that?!”
“I did, Bokuto-san.”
Suga smiled at this exchange, his head tilting slightly.
“You two are close, correct?”
“Yeah! Me and Agassshi have been dating since high school!”
“Akaashi and I, Bokuto-san,” Akaashi said with a fond smile
“How sweet.” Suga said, a soft smile on its face and a small tilt to its head.
“Okay so to help Suga, can everyone introduce yourself?” Kenma said.
(Suga POV)
It looked around at the people in front of it, and documented the appearances. It already had an idea of who was who, due to names being mentioned earlier. Oinkawa was that one, and Bokuto was the one with the odd hair, and Akaashi was the one who Bokuto was clinging to. It already knew who Kenma and Kuroo were, but it didn’t know who the other three were. They had talked, but their names hadn’t been mentioned. A few of them reintroduced themselfs, although oinkawa was still sulking.
“I’m Ushijima Wakatoshi. You really are a breakthrough in robotics. I am grateful to have been here.”
Suga smiled. It could already tell what kind of person Ushijima-san was. It also appeared that Oinkawa and him had a one sided hostile relationship, with Oinkawa disliking Ushijima quite a bit. If their one sided bickering said anything.
“Hi, I’m Iwaizumi Hajime, it's nice to meet you Suga.”
Straight to the point. Suga turned towards the last person, and tilted its head. So far it couldn’t tell anything about this person, but if Suga were to guess, he would say that he is the ‘adult’ in the group, and along with Akaashi, Kenma, Ushijima and Iwaizumi, were the mature ones. Although Kenma wasn’t actually very mature, he just had an introverted personality.
The third guy looked at it, as if he only now realized it was his turn. It didnt know why, but Suga could feel it’s cheeks heat up. Is that normal? Should he talk with Kuroo about whether an overheated face was a malfunction and should be fixed? But Suga found it almost liked the feeling that went along with it’s now, slightly warmer, face.
“Oh! U-um hi? I’m Daichi, Sawamura Daichi, but uh call me Daichi. It’s nice to meet you Suga.”
Dai-chi
Suga found he- found it rather liked the name. And the voice that went with it was rather nice too. Maybe he wouldn’t talk to Kuroo about this.
“H-hi Daichi-“
“- An-and um Iwaizumi-san and Ushijima-san. Thank you for coming to see me, everyone.”
“Hey Suga, are you functioning alright? Your face looks a little red, are you overheated?”
“I-I’m fine Kuroo-san, just a little overloaded.”
Suga headed to the room he woke up in, before Oinkawa grabbed its shoulder.
“Hey, you wanna chill with us for a while? Before you head back to your station?”
“W-what?” It said, surprised.
“Yeah! You know you’re allowed to have friends right? You’re more than a robot, you’re an AI, you should get to experience new things. You’re more human than a robot!” Kuroo said grinning at Suga
“H-human? Are you sure I can go with you all?”
A series of positive responses filled the air.
“You know, you’re really pretty Suga, Akaashi did a good job on your design!”
Suga’s face heated up again. It believes in human terms, it was called a ‘blush’.
“Thank you, you are rather pretty yourself Oinkawa-san.”
Iwaizumi burst out laughing, Kuroo let out an unholy cackle, Kenma and Akaashi smirked, and Daichi chuckled.
“OINK-AWA????!!!!!!” Oinkawa screeched.
“Yes, is that not your name? Earlier Iwaizumi said ‘Oinkawa’ when referring to you? Was that incorrect?”
Suga jumped when Oinkawa screeched again, yelling at Iwaizumi about “doing it on purpose”. Suga still had no idea what was wrong, and within the chaos, it failed to notice Daichi slide next to it, and whisper,
“His name’s Oik-awa, Iwaizumi just calls him Oink-awa to annoy him.”
“O-oh, thank you. Should i apologise to Oikawa-san?”
Daichi chuckled
“Nah don't bother. It’s pretty funny and Oikawa’s not actually offended.”
“Thank you Daichi,” Suga smiled.
It missed the small blush forming on Daichi’s face.
~