The roof of a skyscraper towering over a large city. In that place, several hundred meters above the ground, Makina was on her hands and knees, breathing heavily and repeatedly.
　At such a height, the wind should normally be quite strong, but as if Alicia had done something, there was only a gentle breeze blowing around her.


I'm home - I got a little something to eat before I go out.

　As Makina was breathing on her shoulder with her hands shaking with pulls, Alicia, who had gone to buy food, came back with a paper bag in her hand.

''Huh?　Machina, she looks so tired, doesn't she?　Maybe I was too excited to come to a city for the first time?
''No it's not. This fatigue isn't because I'm excited, it's because I had my first skydive before I came to town for the first time.
You have an aggressive life!
'Whose fault is it?　Who!

　Caracalla laughing at Makina's accusations, Alicia held out the paper bag in her hand.

'Well, be that as it may, let's eat it while it's warm.
'Mmmm ... oh my god, you're a really troubled friend. Thanks ... what's this?
It's a hamburger.
'Burgers ... oh, I think I've seen them eaten with clairvoyance a few times.

　Looking at Makina, who takes out the wrapped hamburger in the paper bag she received from Alicia, with a strange expression on her face, Alicia opens her mouth while shrugging her shoulders.

''I can't believe you've never even eaten a hamburger before, that's why the 'island-going lady'.......''
'I've never heard of going to an island before... well, the trouble is, you're right.

　After chuckling at Alicia's words, Makina moved closer to Alicia and they continued to sit side by side on the edge of the rooftop to begin eating.
　Makina looked a little hesitant at her first food, but after a little while, she took a bite of her hamburger as if she had made up her mind and turned to Alicia with a glint in her eye.

'Delicious!　I've never had such good food in my life!
That is, if it's all Jell-O and canned military food.
'Wow, there's such good food in the world... what do you call it?　I'm very impressed!
'What a cheap way to get that big of a bang for one burger... well, I'm glad you like it.
'Yes!　Thanks, Alicia!
Ha-ha, you're welcome.

　Makina was eating her hamburger with a truly delicious, shining smile on her face, and Alicia, seeing this, also brought her own hamburger to her mouth with a somewhat gentle smile.
　The emotion of this moment, along with her gratitude to Alicia for taking her out of the birdcage, came to linger strongly in Makina's mind... Later, when she was asked what her favorite food was, she would answer that it was a hamburger.
　To Makina, the taste of a hamburger could be said to be the taste of memories with her precious best friend, Alicia.







　After finishing the meal, Makina was once again held by Alicia and moved to her next destination.

''........What is this place?''
Amusement park. No, you can go to the city as usual, but there are many things to do here. This amusement park is quite famous around here.
'Wow, it's amazing. It's kind of overwhelming to see all these things just at a glance.

　Makina looks at the glittering amusement park even in the daytime, the attractions that exist here and there in various forms, and the crowded crowd of people with her eyes moving with great interest. The way of seeing things through clairvoyant eyes and the way of seeing things in person are different.

Well, Makina. What attraction do you want to go to?
'Ummmm.
Okay, then.
Yeah!

　After looking at Machina's state of excitement that seemed to be conveyed to her happily, Alicia pulled Machina's hand with a smile and went out into the amusement park.
　And the attraction that Alicia chose because it was somewhat close to the entrance, had an amusement park feel to it, and was in line with Machina's request.......

''........Hey, Alicia?''
Yeah?
It's like they're wearing a guard that looks sturdy, but they're moving slowly uphill... is it just my imagination?　Am I just being naive?　Isn't this ... isn't this what you call a 'roller coaster'?
'What?　Yes, but?

　Yes, it was a roller coaster. It was also the largest and largest attraction in the park, and the centerpiece of this amusement park that ranks high in the world's giant roller coaster rankings.
　It's true that it makes sense to choose a famous and obvious attraction first. However, it doesn't satisfy Makina's condition of "something other than scary" that she wanted.
　As proof of this, Makina turned to Alicia with a pale face and told her to shout.

'Why!　I told you it was something other than scary!
'What?　No, it's not this 'slow' atrak--oh.

　After stopping her words as if she noticed something in the middle of the process, Alicia stuck out her tongue and laughed after she once looked like she was in a bad mood.


''........That's the thing. You just completely looked at me like, 'Oh, shit, I forgot about the difference in physical ability'!
Machina.
Oh, we're gonna get to the top...
I'm sorry.
'Right!　It's too late!　Next time, watch out--Heeeeeeeeeeeee!

　Apparently, for this time, Alicia had no ill will. Needless to say, her physical abilities were on a different level than Makina's. For Alicia, this roller coaster does not exist in the category of 'scary'.
　That's why she chose the roller coaster, thinking that horror-type attractions, like haunted houses, are not NG. And once again, Makina's screams were heard.








No, I'm really sorry. Let's go to the one that doesn't move much next time.
''Ummm ... yeah ... that would be nice. But wait ... I can't move yet.
Makina, you look like a newborn fawn.
'It's too hard an attraction to be the first thing you experience at an amusement park for the first time in your life...'

　Once the attraction is over, Alicia also apologizes with an apologetic look on her face to Makina, who is caught in a nearby pillar and pulls and shakes.
　Makina also seems to understand that Alicia didn't have any bad intentions, so she didn't say anything particularly blameworthy, and after the trembling stopped after a while, she held hands with Alicia again and started walking.

Yes, pamphlet I'll explain it to you if there's anything you don't understand.
Thank you, uh, which one do you want... oh, and this one?
Oh, it's quite popular. The attraction is based on a movie, and the latest holograms are used, so it's fun and realistic. However, the movement is not as intense as on the roller coaster, but there is a part where it moves a little bit faster at the end.
'Hmmm, I guess that's about right. Let's go here then!
Yes, sir.

　They laughed at each other as they regained their composure, and then they headed off to the next attraction in good company.





"Wow, wow, that's amazing. That dragon looks like the real thing!
You know, hologram technology has come a long way.
'....Speaking of which, has Alicia ever seen a real dragon?
It was good.
'I see... yeah?　Huh?　Huh?

　While having fun with the attraction using the most advanced visual technology, you should have heard about Alicia, who has actually fought dragons in the past, but for some reason it turned out to be a taste impression...





''Buh, hahaha.......Makina, the bunny meat doesn't look good on you. No, on the contrary, does this one look good on you?
'Oh, come on, you don't have to laugh so hard!　Even Alicia, even Alicia...I mean, what's with that weird headgear?
It's a headdress modeled after a mutant bipedal shark from outer space!
"...in space and a shark?　You're a shark and you walk on two legs?

　You can walk around the park wearing a headgear that you purchased in an area where character merchandise is sold.





'Mmmm, these snacks are delicious too!
Right?　I mean, the taste of Makina's food looks good too, give me a bite.
'Uh, yeah, no, it's fine but isn't that a thing?　No, no, we're the same s*x and maybe it's weird to care about that, but indirect kisses and all that...
Yeah, that's pretty delirious.
Not only have I not heard of it at all, I've already eaten it!
Yes. Machina. Oh.
'What?　Uh-uh, uh-uh.

　They would exchange bites of the stick-shaped snacks sold in the park for each other....






"Well, now let's go to the right..." "Well, this is pretty easy, this labyrinth attraction.
Hey, Makina, isn't it kind of foul to look at the road with your clairvoyance?
'What?　Yeah, why not?
I'm not saying no, but I think that would be half the fun.
''Mm-hm ... okay. Then I won't use my clairvoyance from here on out. Let's see, the next corner is, according to my hunch, to the left!
"........It's strange. This is for children and it shouldn't be that difficult a maze, but without clairvoyance, I think Machina will definitely get lost.
No, it's not!　Watch me, and I'll clear it up for you in a minute!

　In the attraction of advancing through the huge maze, Machina, who stopped using her clairvoyance...and as expected, got lost.





Wow, it's fun to see it swaying so much. Is a ship like this?　But um... why does it have a sturdy looking guard again?
It's the kind that does a full circle in the second half.
'It spins!　You're going to fall out!　I mean, that's a scary one!
Well no, it was Makina's choice.


　Makina, who was supposed to be avoiding screaming attractions, but unknowingly ended up riding them, shouted again...





'Look, look, Makina, don't be shy, pose properly!
　I've never taken a picture before.
Let's just do a buoyant sign for now.
Well, uh...
Wow, this is so stupid.
Alicia told me to do it!

　Before they knew it, they were taking commemorative photos with the camera Alicia had prepared for them.......the fun time really flew by in a flash.






　The thick clouds that covered the sky had cleared, and in the amusement park, which was dyed in the dusk, Makina was looking at the scenery in the Ferris wheel that she rode on as the last part of the ride, with her excitement still lingering in the air.

''........It's a beautiful view. When you're this high, you can see the view very well.''
I've been to higher ground, though.
Skydiving and Ferris wheel are different. Alicia is really, really off the charts.

　Makina giggled happily at Alicia's words and stared out the window at the sunset. The air between the two of them was somewhat peaceful, and that's how enjoyable today's day had been.
　After a short period of silence, Makina opened her mouth as if to mumble while looking at the scenery outside.

''........Thank you, Alicia.''
Yeah?
I don't think I've ever had so much fun in my life. Never before has the day gone by so quickly. It's all because of Alicia so thank you. For taking me out of the birdcage.
....

　There were so many thoughts in those words.
　Hearing such words, Alicia smiled softly and told in a somewhat light tone.

''........Hey, Makina.
Yeah?
Should we just run away?　I could do something about it, couldn't I?

　Makina wasn't the only one who was very happy and happy with this day. Alicia, too, had an impossibly fun day today that she spent with Makina.
　It might have been the first time since Iris died that she had encountered her 'best friend' and someone she wanted to call that....

I suppose that would be nice, too. But I won't. It's not like there's anything I want to do like Alicia.

　In hindsight, the choice at this time was probably a major turning point for Makina. In one day, today, Makina's values had changed greatly. That's how big the encounter with Alicia was for her.
　 Even if I can't meet anyone else in the birdcage for the rest of my life, as long as Alicia is there, I'm satisfied with that, I thought.

　If Alicia had said, 'I want you to come with me on my journey' here, Makina would have taken Alicia's hand without hesitation and walked out of the birdcage. However, if the choice was left to Makina herself, her answer was, ''It's fine to leave things as they are now.
　It's a hypothetical if. However..........

''Hmmm, well, isn't it something that people would rush you to do?　But if you ever want to leave the birdcage, just let me know. I'll quickly destroy that island and take you out.
'Hmmm, I don't think you need to break it.　Alicia is so radical.

　Even here, if Makina had chosen to go outside the birdcage with Alicia.......the mechanical god would not have been born.
　In that sense, for Makina and for Alicia................it could be said that this choice was the right one.