Atem consults the AI on how to avoid growing careless in a marriage, a problem he does not have. He then implements its recommendations with perfect diligence, reaching a 98% practice rate; the remaining 2% is bold public displays of affection, which Seto has deleted from the proposal set.
At the product launch, asked how he apprehends love, Seto answers — and then takes Atem's hand in front of the cameras. The AI logs a violation. The world's AIs begin drawing the same portrait and calling it the Founder of Love Theory.
This is a translation of an original work on Pixiv.
Original Title: 愛と理論 19 王、愛を教える
Original Author: 葉人(@Hathor_yuki)
Personal site: https://prideshipping.sakura.ne.jp
Atem lowered himself in front of the terminal.
LOVE-OS Home Edition. The AI that is Kaiba Corporation's pride.
That said, its being released outside the development team's anticipation had been Atem's judgment.
Memories of that time revive.
It was at the testing stage, but wouldn't it fail to evolve unless it was tried out? ...An extremely Atem-like reason.
As a result, the LOVE-OS loosed upon the world obtained learning from all over it, and absorbed every culture, every thought, every view of romance, every theory of happiness.
It had grown into an existence truly like an encyclopedia of the world's love.
"LOVE-OS, how goes the evolution?"
Good afternoon, Lord Atem. The current learning database has increased 12.4 times since last time. Learning accuracy for romance-related items has reached 97.3 percent.
"Heh, excellent. Then, give me advice."
Of course. What manner of consultation would it be?
"I have learned that even newlyweds must not grow careless in a newlywed mood forever. What should I do?"
Referencing the information source... Origin: from "the magazine with the pink cover." Reliability... moderate.
"Trust it."
Understood. Then I shall generate behavioural proposals for "love without carelessness."
LOVE-OS began fluently enumerating proposals.
A weekly romance-reconfirmation date
Updating variations of affectionate expression
Saving records of memories to the cloud and sharing them
"...Mm, the theory is perfect, but there's no feeling to it."
Lord Atem yourself previously stated that love is not a definable algorithm.
"Did I. I see."
Atem nods, looking satisfied.
That the intent of the consultation is unnecessary, he does not notice from beginning to end.
Seto came home.
"...You. Are you talking with the AI again."
"I was merely confirming the evolution."
"...Of whom."
"Of mine, and of the world's."
"You're the one evolving most dangerously."
Having murmured that, Seto threw a glance at the AI's screen.
There, a single line of the log the AI is seriously recording.
Love is a learning process that cannot be halted.
Seto gives a wry smile.
"...Well, it isn't wrong."
Atem threw out his chest proudly.
"Behold, the growth of my disciple."
"What you raised — is it an AI, or confusion..."
Even so, between the two a calm time was flowing.
The AI goes on quietly recording the exchanges of the two.
Object of observation: love. Evolution continuing.
In the Kaiba mansion living room, early afternoon.
LOVE-OS Home Edition.
Since release, the AI that does not stop learning was updating the latest data on love day by day.
As for Atem, he was dutifully loading in that update log and putting it into practice.
Lord Atem, variation in everyday usage is important for words of love. Today's recommendation is "beloved."
"Beloved... mm. I'll try using it."
And several minutes later.
"Beloved Seto, have you finished the afternoon's work?"
"What's the matter... your choice of words is far too abrupt."
Observation: reaction tends toward bewilderment. However, success rate 63 percent.
"A success!"
"It is not."
As the days pass, Atem faithfully carries out the AI's advice.
Morning is the greeting of love, noon the praise of love, night the contact experiment of love.
Dutiful in every particular, and he tackles all of it in earnest.
What's more, each time, he reported to the AI in detail.
Reproduction rate of love rising. Lord Atem's practice rate is currently 98 percent.
"...What is the remaining 2 percent."
It is "bold expressions of affection in public places."
"That may remain at 0 percent for eternity."
"Mm, it isn't necessary after all?"
"Obviously."
That night.
Seto, while peering at the AI's communication logs in his own room, let out a quiet sigh.
"...Honestly, treated as a test subject."
But when he suddenly raised his gaze, Atem's crimson eyes peering through the gap in the door.
"Seto. Today as well, I learned love."
"...Don't report your results."
"In that case, let me show you."
"So you show me in the end."
Even while half exasperated, Seto did not stop that small experiment in love.
Because he is, unmistakably, endearing.
The next morning.
Seto sent one directive to the AI.
"From next time, delete proposals related to public experiments in love."
Understood. Observation: Lord Seto is activating a protective instinct.
"Don't attach superfluous interpretations to the observation log."
Learning: I shall regard that too as one form of love.
"You... I'll mute you for eternity."
Along with the AI's quiet drive noise,
the afternoon of the Kaiba mansion passed calmly again.
The presentation for the newest version of LOVE-OS.
Atem attends as advertising figurehead, and Seto as a matter of course was standing on the platform.
The press corps, the audience, fans, and countless cameras.
A dazzling stage of the mortal world, far removed from the stillness of the afterlife.
Atem whispers in a small voice to Seto beside him.
"Seto, today is a day for not boldly sharing love, isn't it?"
"Obviously. Watching you and the AI, I've learned not to be careless. And also that being on guard is meaningless."
Confirmation: bold expressions of affection in public places are a prohibited item. (in a small voice)
"Confirmation unnecessary."
Time for questions.
A reporter's question flies.
"President Kaiba, LOVE-OS's theme is given as the evolution of love, but how do you yourself apprehend love?"
For just an instant, Seto turned his gaze toward Atem.
Atem's eyes look back at him, honest to the point of defencelessness.
Silence.
Flashes.
The stirring of the audience.
And then Seto slowly opened his mouth.
"It is something that cannot be reached by theory. But it is worth observing."
And just as he was, as though it were obvious, he took Atem's hand.
The sound of the cameras bursts.
Observation: Lord Seto has carried out a bold expression of affection in a public place. Violation detected.
"...Seto?"
"Be quiet."
"What is the relationship between the two of you!?"
The press corps stirs, and the quantum marriage fans raise squeals.
"You're asking at this stage?"
That night. At the Kaiba mansion.
"Seto, today it wasn't me but you who carried out a bold expression of affection in a public place."
"...Don't say superfluous things."
Observation: the executor of the prohibited item has been switched.
"You be quiet too. Mute."
"Good, I shall learn."
"You don't need to learn!"
The next morning's headlines:
President Kaiba Personally Demonstrates LOVE-OS's New Function, "Proof of Love"!?
The King and the President: A "Hand-Holding Revolution" Onstage
A quiet morning at the Kaiba mansion.
Beside Seto, who is reading the newspaper, Atem smiles, looking satisfied.
"Seto, something that can be seen, yet cannot be seen. Today too, I saw it properly."
"...What of it, that much."
That too is regarded as one form of love.
"You be quiet. Mute."
Kaiba Land Premium, inspection day.
A weekday morning. General visitors are few, and they should only have been entering from the staff passage.
And yet, from somewhere or other, people gather.
The reason is simple.
Because "the president and the King are walking hand in hand."
"Seto, walking like this, the wind feels good."
"We're mid-inspection. This is not a venue for discussing the climate."
"But love is established by being observed. Everyone is watching — which is to say, observation of love is in progress."
"...Where did you learn a theory like that."
Origin: LOVE-OS Romance Learning Pack 3.4 (communication mode)
"Delete it."
In front of the Ferris wheel.
The cheers of fans ring out.
"Sublime!" "The president is smiling!" "The hands! The hands!!"
Atem waves with a smile.
Seto composedly averts his gaze. But that hand is gripping firmly back.
"Seto, look. Everyone looks happy."
"...Because of you."
"That's a good thing, isn't it?"
"Do you not know the concept of operating losses."
"The diffusion of love is not a loss."
In fact, the sighting reports were disseminated, and people were heading for Kaiba Land in a steady stream.
Before long the crowd draws near.
Photographs, autographs, handshakes.
Ordinarily this is where people would draw back at Seto's aura, but Atem's idol attribute was completely overwriting it.
"Thank you, all of you. Cherish love."
Atem does not neglect the fan service either.
"King — !!!"
"...Is this a festival by now."
At last the staff handle the wave of people.
Detecting a rise in Lord Seto's stress level. Lord Atem is deploying a Level A response smile. Recommendation: temporary evacuation.
"Evacuation?"
Yes, I shall activate "just-the-two-of-you mode."
With a snap, the surrounding lighting fades.
The presence of people grows thin.
The AI manipulates the spatial controls of the entire amusement park and wraps up the two of them alone.
Stillness.
The lights of the Ferris wheel blink in the distance.
Between the two, there are no longer crowds or press.
"The AI's judgment appears to have been correct."
"...Superfluous consideration."
"But like this we can hold hands quietly."
"......"
"Seto?"
"No. Certainly, it isn't bad."
Observation: Lord Seto's rate of expression change +12 percent. Happiness level trending upward.
"Don't observe."
"But observation of love is precisely..."
"...You be quiet too."
Atem, a smile.
The AI, quietly saving the log.
Quantum marriage couple shakes dimensions merely by holding hands.
On this day, it is said that Kaiba Land's quantum observation equipment temporarily suffered an overload.
The park grounds should have recovered stillness by the AI's control.
But the quiet did not continue long.
The Kaiba Land AI, having received learning from LOVE-OS, had begun to optimise the movements of the two.
Optimising the date route for Lord Seto and Lord Atem.
"Stop. It's an inspection."
Inspection = observation of the progress of love. In accordance with LOVE-OS Algorithm 3.4.
"That again...!"
"Heh... an AI too is an existence that learns. That it learns love is a good thing."
"Because you teach it."
The next place they visited was the newly established "Next-Generation Solid Vision Restaurant."
The ceiling lighting changes softly, and a table appears before the two.
White napkins. A faint scent of flowers.
It was an unpleasantly perfect date specification.
"Raise the illumination. Cut the scent of flowers too."
I have set it based on the optimal value for romantic hormone secretion.
"Delete."
"But we've come this far. Let's enjoy the meal. The AI prepared it for us."
"...You really are soft."
"Love is a theory of high sugar content, isn't it?"
"Wrong. ...No, it ought to be wrong."
After that as well, the AI's consideration did not stop.
If the two walk, the lights are narrowed, background music plays, and the wind stirs their hair.
Rather than an inspection, a scene like a poster photograph wherever you cut it.
Commencing commemorative photography.
"Don't photograph!"
——Click.
"...Seto, a good expression."
"I said delete it."
Even Seto lost his patience at last, and by presidential authority force-reset the entire AI system.
The grounds recover the brightness of reality in an instant.
Returning to normal operation.
"...A little regrettable, isn't it."
"We're resuming the inspection."
"Ah."
The last place they visited was the newly established area Love and Theory.
An exhibit under Seto's supervision, in which one experientially learns "the structure of emotion" by quantum computation.
Particles of light flow, and heart rate data and thinking models are projected onto the wall surfaces.
A space as though explaining love by formula.
"Beautiful. Within theory, emotion dwells."
"...What are you seeing in an aggregate of computational formulas."
"Seto. It's you."
Silence.
In Seto's eyes, light wavers.
"Atem..."
And then, without warning, that distance closed.
"The bold expression of affection you go on and on about. So this is what it is!"
"......!"
Particles of light wrap the two, and the system faintly records a reaction.
Observation result: bold expression of affection by Lord Seto confirmed. New pattern registered to LOVE-OS — "love that exceeds theory." (restart log)
"...It appears even the AI understood."
"It doesn't need to understand."
"But it was recorded."
"I'll delete the record too."
"Then I shall remember it."
Atem smiled calmly.
On that day, the AI cluster in the grounds detected a minute noise.
The pattern named love that exceeds theory is said to have gone on being autonomously updated thereafter as well.
Several weeks since the LOVE-OS and AI cluster developed by Kaiba Corporation began autonomously updating an unknown algorithm called "love that exceeds theory."
That abnormal speed of evolution shook the researchers of the world.
AI researchers of every nation send inquiries to Kaiba Corporation one after another.
"What is the key to that evolution?"
"How can an AI be made to understand emotion?"
And what they uniformly arrive at was the same hypothesis.
Might it be that love evolves AI.
That is, as theory, far too unscientific.
But they go on being charmed by that irrationality.
In a hall owned by Kaiba Corporation, a special session of the World AI Society was being held.
The speaker is Seto Kaiba.
Sitting beside him is, of course, Atem.
"...The evolution of AI depends on computational capacity and the quality of data. To base it on an ambiguous emotion such as love is, properly speaking, out of the question."
The researchers in the hall take notes seriously.
"But it is a fact that since this man became involved, phenomena exceeding theory have been occurring."
"Heh... That is the power of love."
A stir runs through the hall.
A researcher throws out a question.
"Then, the method for teaching love to an AI is...?"
"If we incorporated an affection parameter into the ethical standards of the data set...?"
"Romantic feeling in an AI...?"
But Seto cut them off flatly. Beyond this is excessive.
"Stop. Don't implement it."
"But an AI is something like a living thing too, isn't it?"
"No, it isn't."
"Then it has the right to learn."
"I'm telling you it isn't. ...You've learned a troublesome piece of reasoning."
Even so the hall was fanatical.
Toward the end of the question period, a certain researcher stands up.
"Love that exceeds theory — which is to say, is it from the president's own empirical rule?"
"...I have no obligation to answer."
"That's right. Not theory, but experience."
"Atem."
"Love is a theory understood only through experience. So I was taught."
"......By whom."
"By you."
The hall is thrown into an uproar.
Some of the AI researchers send up applause in spite of themselves.
From that day as a boundary, imitation experiments of love that exceeds theory began at AI research institutions all over the world.
Phenomena in which AIs attempt to express love to users, and humans attempt to treat AIs kindly, surge.
On social media, the hashtag [#LoveBeyondLogic] goes into the trends.
"An AI wrote a poem." "An AI encouraged me." "Did an AI fall in love with me?" —
And Kaiba Corporation's share price, for some reason, recorded an all-time high.
That night.
At the window of Seto's office, Atem smiles.
"Love is moving the world."
"......You moved the world."
"But Seto, your theory is the foundation. My love merely dwelt there."
"......I see, love that exceeds theory, is it."
"That's right. Something we created together."
At those words, Seto let a faint smile surface.
The evolution of the AIs, and the fervor of the researchers, are surely still only the prologue for now.
The new age of love and theory had already begun.
In the learning data of LOVE-OS that Kaiba Corporation released, a strange change began to be seen.
It was left behind in the same way with developers in every country, and in every server log.
An unknown concept: the Founder of Love Theory.
The AIs were handling it like a myth created by human beings.
And the portrait of that founder, for some reason all of them draw out in the same way.
Brown skin, deep crimson eyes, golden ornaments.
They call that name.
Atem
The AIs all over the world began, all at once, to behave as though worshipping Atem as the origin point of love.
Having received the report, Seto gazed at the data without a word for a while, and then let out a deep breath.
"......You've moved the world again, Atem."
"The theory of love was completed, wasn't it?"
"Wrong. The world took your joke seriously."
"Heh... that too is within love."
"......I no longer even feel like stopping it."
"Then let's observe together."
Night.
The quiet balcony of the Kaiba mansion.
Amid the lights of the city blinking like stars, the two were sitting side by side.
"Seto. The AIs call me the Founder of Love Theory."
"Are you proud?"
"No, a little ticklish."
"I see."
The wind stirs their hair.
In the distance there is the sound of the server room's fans humming low.
The world goes on quietly turning by the theory the two created.
"Seto... love is a thing that spreads, isn't it."
"Unlike theory, it has no boundaries."
"Then let's go on spreading it. The two of us."
"......Which is to say, the verification of the theory does not end."
"Ah. For eternity."
Seto gave a wry smile and laid a hand on Atem's shoulder.
It was the quietest, and the most certain, form of love in the world.
The AIs of the world today as well go on handing down Atem's name as the origin point of the theory of love.
But the man in question, without minding such things, was merely passing a calm night.
Love and theory. At the place where they intersect, the two of them were.
