Motoko messaged you using one of Mitsuru's phones and asked to drop by for another training session. She stepped through the interdimensional rift wearing another one of her rather distinct outfits. A pair of thick, blocky black sunglasses, a tight grey bodysuit, and a long black trench coat. She looks like she just stepped out of a cyberpunk movie, which she technically did.
"Let's train."
And just like that, you were sent spiralling back into the depths of hell. Motoko isn't giving you any slack today. It seems the better you get, the harsher she is with her criticism. Her biting sarcasm and perfectionist mindset forces you to run the course a dozen plus times before she's finally happy. And that's before she demands co-operative drills where you need to properly use squad tactics with her.
After finally coming to a stop and resting, you notice that she's moving a little slower than last time.
"You feeling okay?"
Motoko waves you off, "This is a civilian grade body, since we aren't doing anything special today."
You laugh, "I didn't know you had the ability to turn off from business mode. What's the difference between this and a military body?"
Motoko cocks her hips to the side, "Lighter, the joints and muscular system are less robust, there's no armour, and it also comes with all of the comfort features. Like eating, defecating, anatomical accuracy."
"Oh, you did say that your 'combat' body didn't come with nipples."
"They don't. No need for things like that on something you're only meant to use occasionally. If you're going about your everyday business - people like to be reminded that they're still human. Missing out on functions like those can lead to depression and dissociation, where the mind rejects the body."
You listen attentively and quickly come up with another question; "I don't mean to bring up something personal but you've been in a cyborg body for a long time, right? Do you still feel that way?"
Motoko's face shifts to a dissatisfied look, "I've been in a mechanical body for as long as I can remember. It's something that you can never get used to. The human brain is wired to think a certain way. I have a collection of spare bodies in my apartment. Some for work, some for leisure."
"That's wild. Is it really that easy to swap between them?"
Motoko nods. "If there was someone out there who'd be willing to transfer themselves into a 'non-human' body for good, I could only conclude that there's something wrong with them."
"I guess. Hey, are you planning on doing something else while you're here?"
She shakes her head.
"Not interested in seeing the world before cyberbrains became a thing?"
Motoko doesn't seem interested, "This world isn't so different to mine, even though the technology is less advanced." Figures. She seems like a hard woman to entertain and interest. Speaking of entertainment…
"Mitsuru told me that everyone we summon already knows the score – I forgot to ask you last time. Are you familiar with us?"
That confident smirk falters for just a second. "Ah. Are you trying to ask me if I'm a big 'fan' of yours?"
"Sure. Let's go with that."
She sighs, "It's no good dancing around this one is it? I am."
"What's our story like in your world? How similar is it to this universe?"
"The core elements are the same. You and Mitsuru fighting alien invaders, summoning characters from other media franchises, set in a quaint retro-future city before the invention of most modern technology. All of that is mixed in with a large amount of sexual comedy and meta commentary. It's a very guilty pleasure. Don't start trying to make fun of me-"
"I won't," you cut her off, "In fact, it's flattering that someone like you would enjoy 'our' adventures that much."
"Hmf. I started reading it on a whim when I was younger and still in the military. Some of my platoon mates handed me their leftover copies just to kill some time. When I returned to Japan and joined section nine, I kept up with it. I got invested. I didn't know most of the crossover characters who were introduced, so I had to enjoy the original content as it was."
"Oh, so you don't know any of the Occult Research Club."
"No. There are similar characters, but not identical."
It seems that in all universes, anime and manga are horny. You are not surprised to learn this. You badly want to broach the subject of her affection for you – but Motoko will probably crush your balls if you try anything like that on her. She's going to reveal the truth on her own terms, you're just going to have to wait.
"Coming here does make for a good change of pace from my usual routine. I can relax for a few hours without having to worry about the world falling apart."
"Your idea of relaxing is more training?"
She titters, "Of course. Shooting dummies and targets is my 'happy place.'"
You can only hope that you aren't counter amongst their number, because you are a dummy.
"How do you feel about this whole harem thing anyway? I still haven't gotten used to it."
Motoko folds her glasses and slips them into her pocket, revealing her red eyes. "As impractical and improbable as the function of a relationship like that is – I can't feel surprised with it. I've seen a lot of strange things in my time. People modding their bodies to extremes that I couldn't have imagined before, choosing to live inside of a cyberbrain in their own closed-off world… so a romance with multiple partners is almost tame in comparison."
"Improbable, that sounds right to me."
"But not impossible," she emphasises, "If there are infinite worlds with infinite personalities, I'm sure that amongst those possibilities are a group of people willing to give it a try."
"Are you one of them?" You cringe internally as the real thrust of your questioning slips out, every bit as bare faced and brazen as you were trying to avoid.
Motoko doesn't reach out and crush your balls with her robotic grip, instead she smirks and leans into your personal space, "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
You sigh and close your eyes, "We both know how this works. But I'm not going to insist that you have to do anything. Like you said, improbable and impractical. I'm waiting for the moment where one of you starts thinking that I can't divide my attention in enough ways."
You don't know what you expect her reaction to be. Motoko is such a mixed bag of emotions and moods. Deathly serious, teasing, mature or even childish. She can be all of those things and more. What she doesn't do is take advantage of your position to sneak in a kiss. She puts her hands on your chest and pushes you back a touch.
"Then you'll have to do your best to make sure that doesn't happen. It might hurt if someone spurns you, but would you prefer to keep them with you even if they weren't enjoying it?" She speaks with a firm conviction that fills you with a sudden burst of confidence. She's right. You just need to do what you can and see how things play out.
"Alright. I get it."
But Motoko can't resist the chance to jab at you with another comment, "And if you want me to join this little 'harem' of yours – you're going to have to impress me." Impress her? How the hell are you going to impress a woman who rips tanks apart with her bare hands? You get the sense that she's more interested than she lets on.
"Easier said than done…"
You finish up the last few rounds of firearms training with Motoko. She can't stick around for long, so after you're finished you send her back home so she can take on some real threats instead of ones that Mitsuru and Lala built. You towel off the sweat and clean up the mess, resetting the training system to its normal settings.
But speak of the Deviluke and she shall appear. As you move to leave the elevator doors open and the violent bundle of pink alien energy dashes you, pulling you into a tight hug, "Mitsuru and I finally finished what we were working on! So now we can spend a bunch of time together!
"Hey Lala, did Mitsuru summon you again?"
"Yep! Come with me, there's something I want to show you!"
You follow the peppy girl into the elevator. The elevator begins to shift and move for only a short distance, coming to a stop two floors below. How many floors did they build down here? And how did they avoid hitting any pipes in the process? Lala presses several buttons, seemingly entering a password that only she knows.
The doors open again to reveal a strange room. There's a wooden platform that runs along the entryway of the chamber, but the rest of the floor is seemingly made from one gigantic mattress, complete with sheets and pillows. It's large enough to comfortably bed several dozen people. White curtains hang from each wall, giving it an almost heavenly appearance.
"So… what's this room?"
"This is Lala's personal chamber! Mitsuru said I can do whatever I want in here! So I decided to turn it into a super awesome harem bedroom for all of us! We can all snuggle up together and maybe do something lewd too…"
Your eyes drift to the left, where a single standing whiteboard is perched atop the thin strip of solid ground. Leaving your shoes in the provided rack, you walk around and get a proper view of what's contained on it. To put it bluntly, it's a crazy ass conspiracy theory chart, with images of all of your present harem members connected with pieces of coloured string. "HAREM PLAN," is scribbled across the top in red marker.
"Harem Plan?"
Lala trots over with a smile, "Oh, Momo heard about me being added to a harem and she was super excited about it! We made this together. The red string connects girls who are already in love with you, and the yellow string is for girls who haven't realised how much they want you just yet!"
Some of the other interpersonal relationships have also been connected with blue string. Rias, her mother and her peerage are all strung up with each other. The candid images of Akeno and Rias lying seductively on crumpled white sheets make it immediately obvious that they're both in on the joke. By contrast Koneko and Asia have normal profile shots of their faces. Xenovia is also hovering around the bundle of devilish ladies, but she isn't connected to you yet – presumably because you haven't met her yet.
"This way, we can make sure that we plan carefully and capture their hearts in one go!"
You were just kinda' winging it until now. How helpful could this chart really be?
"It's interesting, but aren't you going to run out of space eventually?"
Lala hums, her tail wagging in the air behind her. "We can worry about that when we get there! Oh, maybe we could get one of those super cool touchscreens and make a really big digital version! But there's something so fun about having a physical board here…"
You chuckle and pat her on the back, "Okay, okay. We'll do this board for now."