Arukuri One-Shot Collection! Chapter 2: Kokoro Arukuri, an attack on titan/進撃の巨人 fanfic

Other than the rising sun outside of the lab, hardly any color could be seen this early at dawn. Hardly anything beautiful was around in this time; making Armin a little sad. He was a bit lonely. His friends were gone... He hardly ever had any company, and when he does, it's only on occasion. Although, he wasn't as sad as one would suppose. He had a special project he wanted to check on. Rubbing his sticky eyes and fixing his lab coat, he set a fresh cup of coffee down on his desk and let out a yawn.

Armin took his time early in the morning to check over his project and make finishing touches before booting it up. She sat back, eyes closed peacefully. Visually, the girl was gorgeous. "Now, open your eyes." Armin ordered her quietly. She shifted about, shooing that the voice sensing parts of her were operating correctly.

She opened her eyes almost instantly. They fluttered lightly, before revealing deep ocean blue hues. They were far too perfect and beautiful to real eyes. They reminded Armin of his friends from what seems an eternity ago.

"Good Morning." He greeted, a warm smile adorning his face.

"Good Morning," The robot repeated, lips hardly moving as the small greeting escaped them. She didn't have a smile, but Armin didn't mind that much. Just a work in progress, is all.

"Do you know who I am?" He asked her, lightly scribbling notes with one hand, eyes flicking from her to his pencil again.

"You are my creator." She replied in a soft monotone. Her eyes flicked from staring at him to focusing on his quick chicken-scratch notes.

"Is your system working property?" He questioned again.

"No problem can be found." She replied, almost shrugging. Armin chuckled at the small gesture.

"Then your name is...?"

"Christa Lenz." She finished.

'A robot made by a lonely scientist, abandoned by all from his old life.'

The result is only described as a "miracle"

But there was still something lacking in her- Something that only God could give her.

Something they call a "heart"... A program of taboo!'

Overall, Armin was proud and fascinated by his work. However, there was one problem in her. In order for her to be the companion he desires, she'd have to obtain memories and emotions. The only way for this to happen was for her to obtain that one mysterious source—the one that is called The Heart.

One day, he sat down next to her while she was booted up. Christa noticed that he was a little off. "Is everything alright?" She asked in an emotionless tone.

Armin decided that this was truly the best thing he could do. "Christa," he began. "I am going to give you my memories. Please don't ask me how... I know what I am going to do." He placed a note of some kind on the desk. It seemed like a long one. He powered her off and began the taboo of his work.

"Goodbye, Christa. I hope that this pays off."

'Several years drift on by. Her creator, nowhere to be found.

The miracle robot name Christa Lenz- made a wish.

"I want to remember who he was-

Why he worked on me till the end of time...

To make for me, this mysterious 'heart'..."'

Christa had finally awakened. Her body shook somewhat, looking around in several directions. The artificial senses she was programmed with were all on at once, unlike when she was first tested. As fascinating a development this was, her creator was nowhere to be seen. She noticed this, and tried to remember. 'My... Creator? What was his name...?' She thought to herself.

She turned her focus up to the desk. 'This was where he used to be...' Her focus was grabbed by a note that was there. "For you, Christa." It read.

She took the note and analyzed the careful handwriting. She easily recognized it as her creators. 'Just like his notes...'

"Hello, Christa. If you are reading this, this means that my work was a success! Just in case your memory card has forgotten me, it's me; your creator, Armin Arlert!

I'm hoping that this rings a bell at least somewhat... But anyway, I am gone now as you may have noticed. If you are wondering where, I am right here. Well... Perhaps not the notes, but as my final works on your system, I have given you something dear to me; something that I have always wanted you to have.

A very special part of your system called a Heart to the other people of this world. If you wonder how this means that I am gone, this is all for your sake. You will find out soon.

I want you to go and make friends outside of this lab. For me, please! I want to know if you make it out there safely and whether my project was truly a success.

What are friends, you may ask? Well... If you look under these notes, there is a picture of the friends I have had while I was still around. I'm hoping that this jogs your memory, and your heart. I want I say goodbye, Christa... I wish that I would be able to see you.

Goodbye, my dear.

~Armin."

'Now this program has begun to load-

Powered from this miracle...

Why can't I make these tears stop spilling...?

Why do I tremble with this coldness coming from my insides?

So this is the so desired Heart...'

Reading this message made her curious. She peeked under the notes and found a picture of three smiling people. One with blonde hair, who she remembers as Armin, a brunette boy with large eyes, and a rave haired girl with a scarf around her, cheeks lifted into a smile behind it. It was such a heartwarming picture.

However, she started to tremble when she saw their faces. "I... I miss you..." She thought aloud, starting to sob- making her shake as she held onto the picture. What were those words? What did they mean to her? Why is she crying? All of these questions she wanted to answer. She could feel herself growing confused by them.

Mystery

Heart

Mystery

All the joyful feelings that you and I had...

Old memories flooded back to her. But they were from Armin's point of view. Christa could see herself being worked on, having her voice box fixed since she still sounded a little odd. At one point Armin had started laughing when she asked him why he was smiling so much. Christa chuckled at that. Wait, chuckled? She recognized it as a happy memory. This soon made her realize something...

Mystery

Heart

Mystery

And all the sadness and pain that we felt...

She tore up as her memory drifted to another one of Armin's memories. Christa was there with him while he was crying... She had no idea why, and didn't even notice at the time. This made her feel bad about how she saw things back then. But she couldn't help that, right? Though she still felt that, along with the same loneliness he did... 'Armin... Did you give me your heart?' She finally asked. Her artificial hues widened while still pouring tears. She put a hand over her mouth, choking back louder sobs.

Mystery

Heart

Infinite!

Everything is deep and painful since you're gone!

"S-So you really are gone... Why... Why would you do that for me...?" She asked no one in particular. Her memories drifted to his thoughts before he finally gave her his heart.

'Christa deserves to live and be happy more than I do. I love her, after all. She is a beautiful creation... And I wish for her to carry on. I wish that I could be with her, but it is best that she is the one that lives with a heart than me. My time has already gone by. I may still be young, but all I wish for is for her to truly be alive.'

Now I've begun to realize the reason I was brought to be.

Surely being by oneself becomes quite lonely,

That's right- that one day at that one time,

Within all of your memories

The heart that you have to me overflows with love...!

"Thank you, Armin. For everything..." Her small voice rung out through tears. "Thank you so much..." She held her hands against her heart, repeatedly choking out "Thank You's" into the nothingness.

Now I can say

Words with genuine feeling

Words dedicated to the love you gave to me-