Beatless

In a near future where human-like robots known as hIEs have become everyday fixtures as public and private helpers, high schooler Arato Endou stands out for treating them as equals—even if his finances keep ownership out of reach. That changes in an instant when a simple trip to the grocery store turns violent, and Arato is nearly killed by a hacked hIE.

He’s rescued by Lacia, an unusual hIE who arrives with a weaponized coffin and a dangerous reputation: she is one of five cutting-edge models that have recently escaped the enigmatic MemeFrame Corporation. When another threat closes in, Lacia proposes a binding arrangement—she’ll keep Arato alive, but only if he registers as her owner and accepts full responsibility for what she does. With little room to refuse, Arato brings her home, drawn to her presence even as Lacia reminds him of a chilling truth: she doesn’t have a soul.