Chapter 60: Caroline’s Flashback

Chapter 60: Caroline’s Flashback

Just as viewers were cursing the Stellaris Production Team while crying and watching the sweet scene ,the episode suddenly shifted into Caroline’s flashback.

. . .

“Caroline, time’s up. You should start studying.”

“Yes, Doctor.”

In the scene, young Caroline reluctantly set down the dolphin plush in her hands and stood up to walk toward the Doctor.

Seeing her little gesture, the Doctor paused for a moment, then extended his hand.

“Give it to me.”

His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable force.

For Caroline—raised in the base since childhood—the Doctor’s words were no different from a royal decree.

So even though she was filled with unwillingness, she still picked up the dolphin plush from her bed and handed it to him.

The Doctor took the plush, then squeezed it hard.

POP!

The cute dolphin plush burst apart in his hand.

The cotton stuffing inside floated through the air like snowflakes before Caroline’s eyes.

After doing this, the Doctor tossed the ruined plush onto the floor as if discarding trash, and spoke in a cold tone:

“Caroline, as a tool specifically raised to assist Tendou, human emotions are the most useless things in the world for you.”

“Not only will they become your weakness, they will distort your judgment of reality.”

“So put away those meaningless hobbies and emotions, and fulfill your duty as his tool. Understood?”

“Yes, Doctor… I understand.”

Caroline lowered her head, holding back tears that refused to fall.

“Since you understand, follow me. Don’t keep Tendou waiting.”

“Remember, tools don’t need to have their own thoughts.”

With that, the Doctor turned and walked out.

Caroline lifted her head.

The pair of green electronic cat-like eyes showed not even a trace of human emotion anymore—only endless calm and coldness.

At that moment, Caroline did not look like a person at all.

She looked like a machine—cold, emotionless, and empty.

Outside the door, young Tendou watched as the Doctor and Caroline came out.

In his peripheral vision, his eyes quietly paused for a moment on the scattered remains of the plush lying all over the room.

Then he followed the Doctor toward the classroom in the base, acting as if he had seen nothing.

But halfway through the lesson, Tendou suddenly requested to leave early, using an extremely clumsy excuse.

If anyone else had asked, Tachibana—who was teaching—would not only have refused but would have punished them severely.

But because it was Tendou, Tachibana agreed without hesitation.

After all, geniuses always deserved certain privileges.

However, surprisingly, after leaving the classroom, Tendou did not go to the cafeteria he usually frequented.

He went straight to Caroline’s room.

Seeing the plush fragments all over the floor, Tendou pondered for a moment, then left.

When he returned, he was carrying a needle and thread from who-knows-where.

Relying on the extraordinary vision of his Star-Eclipse Eye, Tendou quickly gathered up all the scattered parts of the plush.

He even collected the tiny bits of cotton that had drifted around the room.

Then he took out the needle and thread and—clumsily—began sewing.

Although it was his first time doing needlework, Tendou showed impressive talent; his movements visibly became more practiced with every stitch.

After spending a very long time, Tendou finally managed to repair the broken dolphin plush before Caroline’s class ended.

Because it was his first attempt, the plush Tendou re-stitched wasn’t as realistic or cute as before.

But still—something was better than nothing.

Looking at the dolphin plush in his hand, Tendou poked its belly with a grin.

“A tool? Only useless weaklings rely on something as pathetic as a tool. I don’t need that kind of thing.”

“Besides…”

Tendou placed the repaired plush back onto Caroline’s bed and stood up to leave.

“Compared to some boring tool, I think the current Caroline is way more fun.”

. . .

“Tendou? You’re looking for me?”

The Doctor looked up from the tablet full of experimental data when Tendou suddenly appeared.

Ignoring any semblance of courtesy, Tendou sat directly on the sofa opposite him, crossed one leg over the other, and said:

“Doctor, I think there’s a problem with the way you’re educating Caroline.”

“Oh?”

The Doctor lifted his head and asked:

“What’s the problem?”

Tendou uncrossed his legs and spoke calmly:

“I think human emotions have never been a burden to a Machina Type Starbearer. On the contrary—I believe they’re the key to whether a Machina can succeed in ascension.”

“And why is that?”

“Because…”

Tendou stood up, his pair of blue eyes staring straight at the Doctor behind the desk.

“Miracles don’t happen to incompetent tools that only know how to calculate gains and losses.”

“And humans are the species most adept at creating miracles, aren’t they?”

“…”

The Doctor fell silent for a long moment.

After some time, he finally spoke.

“Understood. Then we’ll do as you say. I won’t interfere with Caroline’s growth anymore.”

“…Huh? You agreed that easily?”

Seeing Tendou’s stunned expression, the Doctor smiled.

“Yes. That easily.”

“Why?”

For once, Tendou—the one who always answered questions—became the one asking them.

The Doctor didn’t hesitate at all.

“Because creating unnecessary friction with you would be pointless.”

“It’s better to simply follow your wishes.”

“After all, to me, a thousand Carolines together still wouldn’t be as important as one Tendou. It’s basic math.”

“…”

Tendou stared at the Doctor in disbelief, clearly not expecting that answer.

But his shock didn’t last long. Soon, he returned to his usual fearless, arrogant demeanor.

Standing up straight, Tendou smirked.

“Doctor, it seems you Machina Types really are rational to a terrifying degree.”

The Doctor chuckled.

“But pure rationality can’t create miracles, can it?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Tendou turned to leave, waving a hand without looking back.

“Don’t worry, Doctor. Sooner or later, I’ll place the miracle you want right in front of you.”

“And that day…won’t keep you waiting for long.”

With those words, Tendou disappeared down the corridor outside, under the Doctor’s calm gaze.

After leaving the Doctor’s office, Tendou headed straight toward Caroline’s room.

He leaned against the doorframe, smiling as he looked at Caroline standing frozen in place with the dolphin plush in her hands.

Sensing Tendou’s arrival, Caroline lifted her head. Her voice was hoarse as she asked:

“Did you make this?”

Tendou nodded, then spoke in an intentionally relaxed tone:

“Yeah. I was bored, so I figured I’d practice some needlework. Don’t think too much about it.”

“Also, that old fossil of a Doctor has been convinced by yours truly. He promised he won’t interfere with your hobbies anymore. So you can keep the plush without worry.”

Saying that, Tendou walked into the room, casually found a sofa, and sprawled onto it while shaking his head dramatically.

“Honestly, if you ask me, that old man is too stubborn. Who am I? I’m the pinnacle of this world, the solution to the Ember Equation.”

“If a once-in-a-millennium genius like me can’t function without some so-called ‘tools,’ then I should stop calling myself the apex of the world and just smash my head into a wall early.”

“So Caroline, instead of being a tool, I still think it’s way more fun when you act like a person.”

“And if you run into anything you can’t deal with in the future, don’t hesitate—just come find me.”

“Because whether in the past, the present, or the future, I don’t need to rely on anyone, and will never rely on anyone.”

“But I don’t mind letting others rely on me once in a while. Showing a bit of mercy to the weak—well, that’s a quality every strong person should have.”

“Not to mention, we’re the best partners, aren’t we?”

Tendou’s words were arrogant and completely unserious.

But Caroline knew that this half-joking, half-genuine tone was his unique way of comforting someone.

Because despite how Tendou acted—reckless, disobedient, like no one in the world mattered to him—in reality, his thoughts were more delicate than anyone’s, and his heart gentler than anyone’s.

Thinking of that, Caroline’s eyes gradually filled with tears, and in a trembling voice she said:

“Thank you, Tendou… truly, thank you.”

“A–ah—hey, Caroline, don’t cry. Why are you crying?”

Seeing Caroline suddenly laughing and crying at the same time, Tendou immediately panicked.

Wait, he was just trying to look cool—Caroline, why are you getting emotional!?

He’s really bad at comforting girls, okay!?

And so, Caroline’s flashback ended frozen on the scene of Tendou clumsily trying to comfort her.

Through this flashback, the dimensional audience finally understood why Caroline always followed Tendou so closely.

It was because the two of them were… the bestest of partners.

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