The Ex-Machina on a Dimensional Journey

Hm?

A computer tower?

Whatever. It didn't matter.

Finally, after ten "long" seconds of staring at each other, the one being stared at made the first move.

"Why are you just staring at me?"

That tone was unmistakably Number One's. After all, only Number One treated Xiu Er like that.

"Question: Why did you turn off your facial expressions?"

"Making faces gets tiring. Can't I turn them off for a while?"

Number One's face was blank, but his tone was sharp as he lied right to Xiu Er's face.

His remark immediately drew Number Two's attention from the computer desk.

Number Two stared, dumbfounded, at Number One standing with his hands on his hips, facing their original.

Tiring?

Wow... Of all the excuses you could've made up.

Never mind how tiring making expressions might be. We can't even feel tired in our current state, can we? Maybe metal fatigue at most?

But can an Ex-Machina body even suffer metal fatigue?

Listening to Number One's nonsense, Number Two nearly lost his composure. All he could do was complain silently to himself.

And it wasn't just Number Two. The other Doppelgangers outside Xiu Er's field of vision were just as taken aback by Number One's words.

They knew Number One liked trying things that might move their original. The slightest flicker of emotion from Xiu Er was enough to satisfy him.

But that excuse was a bit... hard to take seriously.

"..."

Yet Xiu Er fell silent again.

Unlike the Doppelgangers, she said nothing about it. Not even a trace of emotion crossed her face.

She seemed to be thinking about something, but it had nothing to do with Number One.

She could forcibly review what the Doppelgangers were doing or had done whenever she wanted. But as long as they didn't