"Thank you for everything, Rock. I'll never forget you."
When I pressed the button on Rock's back for a little longer, the flower mark on his abdomen started to flash.
"I'll be back"
With those words, Rock turned off and stopped moving.
I removed Rock's body from the caterpillar and put it in the cardboard box it was delivered in. I attached the shipping slip with the destination written on it, which was sent by the clinical trial support center, to the cardboard box, and after a while a familiar delivery man came and took Rock away.
"He was a noisy robot, but it's lonely when he's gone."
I missed him more than my mother, but I knew I had to return Rock when the clinical trial was over, so I had a farewell party for him last night.
On the first Monday after Rock was gone, I went to see my regular doctor for a checkup and explanation after the clinical trial was over. When Rock was still here, we often visited the doctor by video call, or rather through a hologram of Rock, but this time it was an actual visit. After the general tests were completed, I listened to the doctor's explanation while being examined.
"Sakura, the clinical trial you participated in has now finished collecting all the necessary data, so it will be over now. You did a great job. The results for the patients, including you, seem to have been very good, so I think the drug will be launched in the near future. However, in your case, if you stopped taking the drug at this point, it would have affected your life until the drug is released, which was what I was worried about. However, it has been decided that the drug will continue to be provided to the clinical trial participants for maintaining the quality of life of patients."
"Is it possible!?"
"Yes, you can rest assured that we will continue to prescribe the drug while examining you regularly. What I am worried about is you are forgetting to take it. It will be difficult now that the robot is gone, but we will have to ask you to do your best, Sakura-san. Thank you very much."
When I got home, I found a letter from the clinical trial support center.
Dear Ms. Sakura Yaeno,
Thank you very much for participating in our clinical trial over the long term.
As you may have heard from your doctor, Dr. Isono, we will continue to be able to provide you with the investigational drug. We appreciate your continued support under Dr. Isono's guidance.
In addition, to prevent you from forgetting to take your medication, please use this QR code to download the medication management app and enter the following authentication key on the initial setup screen. The Clinical Trial Support Center will continue to handle any malfunctions.
Authentication key: ABC112334
Magoneko Health Science Co., Ltd. Clinical Trial Support Center
Contact: XXX
I scanned the QR code with my smartphone and the download screen for the "Medication Management Support" app appeared, so I started the app and entered the authentication key written in the letter. Then.....
"Hey Sakura, it's been a while!"
"What? Is that Rock?"
"I've possessed Sakura's smartphone and am back! By the way, it's long past time for you to take your evening medication..."
Thus, Rock had returned to me, although his appearance had changed.
"Sakura, take your temperature."
"Rock, the clinical trial is over now, right?"
"It's only natural to take your temperature as part of a health check. And Sakura is still taking your medicine, so I have to take good care of you."
It's still the same as always.