AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline (境界戦機)

After all that, I still can't break through!

What's with the whining?

You quittin' on me?

Hell no! We have to stop that thing.

Right here and now!

Aw, that's what I like to hear, Amou!

Let's do this!

Right!

In the midst of the 21st century, Japan was crumbling.

Failed economic policies, an aging population.

Combined with decreasing birthrates,

all of this pushed Japan to the verge of collapse.

Many powerful countries and allies stepped in to help.

They provided support,

like economic aid and medical resources.

While also establishing local territories,

continually expanding in the name of "peace".

Until the fighting began.

This conflict was later known as the Boundary War.

And was fought with powerful machines called AMAIM.

Unmanned and outfitted with tactical AIs,

these mechs became the main players on the battlefield,

which quickly engulfed the entire country.

Japan was divided.

It's people stripped of their sovereignty,

and ruled by foreign power.

This, in the year 2061, is where we find ourselves.

Woah, jackpot!

This thing's in pretty good condition.

Today's our lucky day, huh?

I'll say!

Just look at this AMAIM.

Check it out!

Nice! That sequential turbo is all mine!

Alright, let's salvage all the parts we can find!

Hey, Amou, how's it lookin' over there?

D'you find that control system board box?

Uh, yeah!

I found it.

Man, good work today guys.

I should have enough parts to do some more

customization on my car.

And my motorcycle's gonna go way faster!

Don't overdo it.

Yeah, yeah.

What about you, Amou?

Between this and all the previous trips,

I bet you've made lots of cool stuff!

Oh, uh. Not really.

I just think AMAIM parts are really cool, so...

Well, everyone has their own reasons

for doin' this, right?

For sure!

Yeah!

Hm.

Good hunting today, Amou!

Later.

I'll message you again when I find another lead.

Oh, thanks. See ya.

Get out of the way!

What the hell do you think you're doing?

That filthy brat should know his place!

It's because of our protection that you Japanese

get to live freely, understand?

I'm sorry! Please forgive us!

Let's move out!

Protection, my ass!

Those soldiers are nothing but thugs.

You're the ones disturbing the peace!

Stop it! What if they hear you and come back?

She's right. This area is under their jurisdiction.

You'd be killed for nothing.

Dammit, how did this happen?

Sometimes I wonder...

...what's the point of living in a world like this?

Nowadays, being born in Japan is a huge handicap.

Like starting a video game where everyone else

already has the best items.

Sure, you might be able to turn your life around

if you have talent or money, but if you don't,

your job options are limited.

The future is absolute,

so why bother trying?

What's the cost of hope

when you don't even know what it means?

That's depressing.

I met those three guys online

because we all like machines.

I don't even know if their names or addresses are real.

Eh, but what's wrong with that?

It's not like you need those things to be friends, right?

Besides, I've got some secrets of my own,

like this place.

It's not like they'd be interested

in what I've got stashed here, anyways.

Hm!

Man I wish I had a car. Sure beats walking.

Hey, you! Over here! Help me out!

Please hurry! I'm running out of time over here!

Come on already, give me a hand!

Are you okay? Hang on, I'm coming!

Wh-What happened to you?

This way! Hurry!

Huh? A box?

You finally found me!

Uh, what the--?

My name is Gai! I'm an autonomous AI.

It's really just a fancy way of saying I have consciousness.

Uh-huh.

Hey! You think this is some kinda prank

with a cellphone, don't you?

And now you're wishing you never found me in the first place.

Ugh! You wanna leave and pretend this never happened!

Come on, be a pal and help a guy out.

My battery is low and I'm fading fast.

I could die at any minute now.

But, how am I supposed to help--

Shh! Do you hear that?

Someone's coming.

Hey, you. What are you doing out here?

Oh, I uh.

I was having a picnic at the creek,

but I'm on my way home now.

A picnic, huh?

And what were you doing at the edge of the road?

Well, nature called. Wanna see?

Someone's been scavenging for AMAIM parts in this area.

We've heard reports that they've been digging up

remains from the Boundary War.

Do you know anything about that?

Uh. Can't say I do.

I'm going to verify your ID.

Uh, sure.

According to our intel,

the culprits are a group of teenage boys

around the same age as you.

Oh yeah? Is that so?

Amou Shiba. Age 16.

Attends an online high school.

You're an orphan, is that correct?

Uh, yeah. My parents died when I was little.

How do you get by on your own?

I'm on a scholarship and my parents left me some money--

Hold still, kid. We're just gonna search your backpack.

Don't worry.

You'll be fine as long as you have nothing to hide!

It's just trash.

Like I said before, it was a picnic.

Japanese aren't allowed to have decomposable containers,

so I have to carry everything back!

So can you let me go now?

You shouldn't be walking around

this late at night!

Told ya!

It worked.

I'm surprised you could tell it was a military vehicle, though.

They sound and vibrate differently than regular ones.

They also have sensors that detect human activity.

My plan was perfect!

Come on, no one would ever wanna check for traces of urine.

Yeah, good thinking.

Nah, it's no big deal!

I scratch your back, you scratch mine.

Isn't that right, Amou?

C'mon have a heart!

I mean, I helped you out, so...

Help. Me. Out.

Hm!

Yipee!

Where are we?

It's a maintenance shop. That's my best guess, at least.

I found it abandoned, so I've been using it.

It's like a secret hideout!

You're living the dream, Amou.

Hey! Isn't that...?

Ah, that hits the spot!

I never could figure out what peripheral

was supposed to connect there.

But since your plug fits, I guess that port

must have been the power supply for an AI unit.

Yup! The power transmission's not bad,

and the onboard system is pretty good!

The previous unit must've been destroyed,

I had no idea what it was.

More importantly, isn't this an AMAIM?

Did you build it all by yourself?

How'd you even move it here? And where'd you get

the materials for the frames and armor?

You ask too many questions!

Okay, then try answering them one at a time.

Yes, this is an AMAIM, and yes, I did build it myself.

Most of the parts, however, were already here.

Huh? What do you mean?

One time, I got lost in the mountains,

and I accidentally found this place.

I don't know why,

but something about it really vibed with me.

It still had tools and testing equipment,

even if they were a little old.

There was a door with a keypad,