Made in Abyss Chapter 003

Former Detention Center, Riko's Bedroom（元置仕部屋, リコ私室）is the third chapter of the Made in Abyss manga.

Synopsis
After a strange child was found unconscious by Riko in the 1st Layer, he was brought back to the orphanage. Riko, Shiggy, Natt and Kiyui then attempted to awaken the child. As the boy neared consciousness, he heard the chatters of the four, apparently trying to use an electrical instrument attached to his helmet to wake him up, though he brushed off the voices and attempted to sleep again. However, he was then immediately and painfully jolted into full consciousness, screaming, Riko having mistakenly set the dial to 20 instead of 2.

The four cheered in astonishment at the child's awakening, Riko bombarding him with questions while the boy stared into thin air, wondering where he was. He then began speaking, to Riko's further astonishment, asking where he was. Riko, calling the boy "Robot-kun", replied that he was in her room, in the city of Orth, at the top of the Abyss. The boy then asked if Riko, Shiggy, Natt and Kiyui were torturers, and was told by Natt that they were actually apprentice delvers from Belchero Orphanage. Riko, rudely interjecting, asked "Robot-kun" to introduce himself. The boy answered that he himself was not sure of that, then asked Riko if he really was a robot. Riko, greatly excited, proceeded to explain her methods of confirming the boy's robotic nature, much to the shock of "Robot-kun".

As Riko and Natt wondered about the boy's memory loss, Shiggy hurriedly came to them, warning them that their misuse of the electrical device has caused an orphanage-wide blackout, and that their teacher, Leader, was coming to their room. The children hurriedly prepared for Leader's arrival, with Riko hiding "Robot-kun" under a sheet, asking him not to come out or Leader would punish them. Only a few seconds later Leader was already heard yelling at the door, asking for Riko to come out and explain. However, he rushed into the room almost immediately, ignoring Riko's explanation. Noticing something under the sheet, Leader immediately removed it, but only found the electrical device attached to a helmet, to Riko's surprise. The teacher then turned to Riko, asking about what she had to say. Riko replied weakly that she would not do so again. As Leader begin lecturing Riko, she spotted "Robot-kun" dangling from the ceiling, through a rope extending from his left arm, watching, though the boy quickly pull himself up the rope, disappearing into the ceiling again upon noticing Riko spotting him. Leader then noticed Riko not paying attention to him, thus pulled her away to receive her punishment. As Riko yelled "Sorry" weakly while Leader dragged her out of her room, "Robot-kun" nervously watched from the ceiling bars.

The boy, dropping down from the ceiling, began contemplating himself. He recounted his experiences, and then checked his body, trying to confirm if he really is a robot. He wondered if looking like a robot will actually make him one. A strange emblem appeared on his helmet's glass lens when he wore it, when Riko suddenly made an appearance, managing to make it back by slipping away when Shiggy, Natt and Kiyui were caught. As Riko inquired to what "Robot-kun" was doing, Leader was once again heard yelling at the door. Leader then furiously dragged Riko away to write her soul-searching apology while "Robot-kun" yet again watched nervously from the ceiling.

Character Appearances

 * Reg (unnamed at this point)
 * Riko
 * Shiggy
 * Natt
 * Kiyui
 * Leader

Unanswered Questions:

 * Reg's nature and abilities.

Continuity:

 * Reg (unnamed as of this chapter) discovered in the 1st Layer last chapter, is brought back to the Orphanage
 * Reg is seen using his Extendable Arm for the first time.

Quotes
"Reg contemplating whether he is robot or human."

- In the first place, does looking like a robot mean I am one?