The huge stack of paper slowly tipped forward.
“Careful!” called Ben.
The mayor stumbled a step back.
Folders slipped. Pages came loose.
XR-3000 reacted immediately.
“Danger detected!”
He rolled forward lightning fast. With both gripping arms, he supported the falling stack.
Paper drifted like snow around him.
His eyes glowed focused blue.
“Stabilization in progress…”
Slowly he pushed the stack back. Folder by folder. Page by page.
Finally, everything stood safely again.
Silence.
The mayor took a deep breath. “That was close.”
XR-3000 looked at the many sheets.
“A lot of paper,” he said calmly.
Everyone waited.
Ben grinned slightly. “And?”
XR-3000 slowly closed his mouth.
“Paper must be protected.”
Lena clapped.
Max nodded proudly.
The mayor smiled broadly. “From today you are officially the city’s sustainability advisor.”
XR-3000 blinked surprised. “New task accepted.”
Ben crossed his arms. “But only with rules.”
“Rules saved,” answered XR-3000. “Ask first. Then optimize. Never eat.”
Everyone laughed.
Later, Ben and XR-3000 stood at home again.
On the desk lay a math workbook.
XR-3000 looked at it.
Ben looked at XR-3000.
A long pause.
“Would you like help?” the robot asked kindly.
Ben smiled. “Yes. But only explain.”
XR-3000 nodded.
“Version 3.0: Paper Saver.”
He sat down next to Ben.
No sucking. No crunching. No chaos.
Just a robot who had learned that helping is more important than eating.
And deep inside his system a small, stable rule glowed:
Homework is NOT a snack.