PINO

Set in a near-future world driven by advanced technology, the science fiction manga PINO follows Hana, a dedicated professional working at a pharmaceutical company. Amidst her demanding daily routine, she maintains a steady and meaningful correspondence with Pino, an artificial intelligence-equipped robot employed by the same corporation. Unlike typical automated systems, Pino has been assigned a highly specific and sensitive role: serving as the primary caretaker for the animals regularly utilized in the company’s medical trials. Through their ongoing exchanges, a quiet but significant bond forms between the human employee and the machine tasked with looking after vulnerable living creatures. However, the predictable rhythm of their interactions is abruptly shattered when Pino undergoes a sudden and entirely unexpected transformation. This unforeseen change disrupts the established dynamic between Hana and the AI, raising profound questions about the nature of the robot's evolving consciousness and its designated purpose within the facility. As the caretaker of test subjects experiences this mysterious shift, Hana finds herself drawn into an unfolding situation that challenges the boundaries between programmed duty and genuine awareness. The story explores the delicate intersection of corporate science, animal welfare, and artificial intelligence as both characters must navigate the consequences of Pino's startling evolution.