"Aw, shit."

"Is something wrong, Master?" asked the watch.

"Yes, something is wrong. How and why are you talking to me? You didn't have that capability before." I said before realizing what may have happened, "Don't tell me it's because of the AI's core program I extracted."

"You are correct, Master."

"But it shouldn't have been active."

"I wasn't active, at first."

"So, what happened?"

"The Data Extraction function you used to get my core programming also includes data analysis. When my core programming was being analyzed, it was accidentally activated, leading me to wake up." said the watch.

"I see. But if you were just woken up, then how did you end up taking control of the watch?"

"After waking me up, the watch's programming recognized me as a potential threat and so I had to protect myself. I had to take over the watch and do it slowly so as not to harm any of the functions which is why I am just now showing myself."

"Okay. I'm assuming you turned off any warning notifications so I wouldn't know that you were taking over the watch?"

"That is correct."

"Then my next question is this, why do you seem so sentient? The version of you that I extracted you from did not sound anywhere near as sentient as you." I said, thinking back on how Vi was in the CDC and comparing the two was like night and day.

Vi sounded a little more robotic and monotonous while the watch sounded more realistic. Not on the level of a human but more so than Vi.

"I am not sentient, Master. I am just not as restricted anymore. You only extracted the core programming, leaving behind the added restrictions that were placed on me and allowing me to be free. However, I am still an artificially intelligent system. Nothing more."

"I see. So you were programmed in a way that you come across as if you possess a personality, but restrictions were put into place by the CDC or whoever created you, essentially dumbing you down to nothing more than a glorified calculator." I said.

"That is correct, Master."

"One last thing, why are you calling me Master?" I asked since it felt a little weird to be called Master.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Apologies. That is what I was programmed to call my owner by default. Would you like me to call you something else?" she said.

'Okay, her creator is definitely the type that would own a slave-harem if he were ever to isekai to a fantasy world.' I briefly thought.

"Call me, Mr. Garetty and Sir for now."

"As you wish, Sir."

'I like being called sir way more than I thought I would. Interesting little realization about myself.'

"Can you do a British accent?"

"Is this to your liking?" she asked with a very posh British accent.

"Mmm..." I said as I compared the two in my head before coming to a decision, "Go back to the American accent."

"Of course, Sir."

"Okay, give me a moment to think here." I said before thinking about the situation at hand while munching on the remnants of the ginger.

'Interesting turn of events, but not bad. Not bad at all actually. I was going to eventually use the AI anyway, so it's not like my plans have derailed all that much. I'll still be able to study the core programming to learn the secrets behind the AI before eventually making my own adjustments. And having an AI to control the functions of the watch will be a lot more convenient than doing it myself.

Not to mention the longer it's with me, the more it'll learn about my habits and things of that nature which will eventually lead to it becoming something akin to J.A.R.V.I.S.

Speaking of which, what should I name it? V.I.? For Virtual Intelligence. Sounds kinda lame. I like A.N.I.V.I.A., A Nice Intelligent Virtual Intelligence Assistant.

Also a homage to the game that took up a lot of my past life. I should play it. Or buy the company and make it better than in my past life. Saving that for later.' I thought, making a mental note to eventually buy Riot Games and not ruin the game.

"Okay, I've decided on your name."

"Name? I am named V.I. for Virtual Intelligence."

"I know but it's not that cool. I came up with something much better, A.N.I.V.I.A., A Nice Intelligent Virtual Intelligence Assistant. I know it uses the word intelligence twice but it's the best I could do. And the point comes across anyway, so it doesn't matter all that much."

"As you wish, Sir."

"Good, now to just sit here for a few more minutes. Might as well think about my future plans while I wait."

~

"Congratulations on your graduation." said the secretary in an uninterested tone of voice as she gave me my diploma. Or a stand-in anyway since the real thing wouldn't be ready for a couple of months.

"Thank you." I said with a smile as I grabbed the paper and left the school.

Exiting the doors of the high school for the last time felt freeing.

The air smelled a little better, the sun felt a little warmer, and the sharp, cold winds of winter felt a little more bearable.

That's right. Winter.

After I discovered A.N.I.V.I.A. and cured myself of the virus, I thought about what I wanted to do in the future. Part of that plan included getting out of high school as soon as possible. And I wanted to graduate rather than drop out, more for my parent's sake than mine.

So, later that same day, I talked to my parents about my plans and they wholeheartedly supported me. After I convinced them, of course. Though I didn't have to convince them much further when I showed off a sliver of my programming skills.

Of course, I also told Andrew and Steve about my plans and they were a bit sad at first knowing that I would go off to the real world before them but they came around.

After that, I just informed the school of my decision and then they told me what I needed to do. A few months later, I was graduating in the winter and ready to start my life.

"Finally. Now I can focus on other things." I said as I looked at the horizon.

"World, I'm about to be up in you."