The soft glow of dawn crept through the bedroom curtains, casting a warm light on a man's sleeping form. A gentle buzz gradually increased in volume, rousing him from his slumber with a groan.
Raising his arms, he fumbled across the nightstand, attempting to silence the persistent alarm. With a simple click, the noise stopped as his eyes adjusted to the morning light.
While his hand found a smooth, rectangular object, he lifted it and the tablet powered on with its screen illuminating the Schale's logo.
"Good morning, Sensei," the device chirped with childlike cheerfulness.
Sitting up and suppressing a yawn, Sensei ran a hand through his disheveled hair.
"Morning, Arona," he mumbled, addressing his AI Assistant. "What's on the agenda today?"
Arona adopted a more professional tone. "Ehem," she faux coughed. "You have quite a busy day, Sensei." She began displaying his tasks on the screen.
"There's the Eden Treaty paperwork, documents for one special transfer student to Trinity, two enrollments for Millennium High School Branch, one enrollment for Millennium Middle School Branch, and don't forget Schale's status report for the Acting GSC President, then there's also the..."
As the list continued, Sensei let out a long groan, already feeling the weight of the day's responsibilities. Rubbing his eyes, he asked, "Right, right. Anything else?"
"Yes," Arona added, her voice clear in the quiet room. "You asked me to remind you to check on your new guest before starting on those tasks."
Recognition flickered across Sensei's face. "Ah, right, Kodou," he said, recalling the pink-haired nurse's instructions for the little fox girl's medication.
Standing up and stretching, he prodded, "Is that all?"
"Yes, that's all for now, Sensei," Arona confirmed.
"Alright..." With a busy day ahead of him, Sensei sighed as he gently held the tablet, its screen now showing a small white-haired child smiling at him. "Thanks, Arona," he said.
"You're welcome, Sensei," Arona replied before her figure disappeared into the screen.
...
As the morning progressed, Sensei found himself approaching the Arius group's room. The hallway was quiet, but as he neared the door, a commotion from within suddenly caught his attention.
"Hm? What's going on?" he wondered, approaching the door.
Putting his ear close, he could hear muffled voices, each tinged with panic and urgency.
"Sacchan, get the bucket! She's going to-" Atsuko's voice rang out.
Soon after, Misaki's frustrated tone followed, "Oh god, why is this happening? This is why I hate mornings!"
Lastly, Hiyori's concerned voice rose above the others, "Kodou-chan, hang in there! Azusa, help me hold her hair back!"
Sensei's brow furrowed with worry. Tightening his grip on the door handle, he swiftly swung the door open and was greeted by a sight that would be etched in his memory for years to come.
There, in the center of the room, was Kodou, hunched over and barfing rainbows. The iridescent stream seemed to defy the laws of nature, painting the floor with a spectrum of colors.
"———Bleeegghhh..."
- - - - -
The scene shifted to the clinic section of Schale's Lounge Area, a quieter change from the earlier chaos. With a clinical bed in the corner, along with various medical supplies arranged on the nearby shelves, there stood a horned white-haired nurse tending to the young patient.
With steady hands, she held a glass of water to the girl's pale lips. "Here, drink this," she instructed, her voice calm and steady, while the smell of antiseptics permeated the air.
"Sena," Sensei called, his normally composed face etched with concern. "Is she going to be alright?" he asked.
After the young girl had finished sipping, Sena replied, her monotone voice doing little to ease the tension in the room. "Don't worry, Sensei. It's just minor symptoms. She'll be fine after some hydration."
"Really?" he asked anxiously.
Hearing the man's question, the girl looked at him with unfocused eyes as she slurred her words, replying, "I'm fiiiine, Shenshei. Never better!"
With her head lolling to the side nearly hitting the glass of water Sena was holding, the nurse's quick reflexes prevented a spill, but a few droplets escaped, landing on the girl's already damp onesie.
"See, the corpse says so herself," Sena stated, her deadpan delivery causing some doubts from the group behind Sensei.
As much as the man wanted to say something, Sensei already knew the nurse well enough to understand her peculiar way of speaking. Since Sena had already said that the girl was going to be alright, he sighed in relief but didn't fully set aside his worries.
However, reacting to this, the girl giggled, seemingly unconcerned to the situation.
"Hehe... Corpse... that's funny. I've already died a few timesshh, nothing new!" she hiccupped.
Hearing this, Sena's lips twitched slightly, feeling happy that someone was willing to play along with her. "Yes, very amusing," she told the girl before adding, "Now, let's get you properly hydrated before you really do become a corpse."
"I-I see..." Sensei awkwardly muttered, hoping the little girl was joking about what she had just said.
Either way, while that was being sorted out, he then narrowed his eyes as he turned to address the group, who stood huddled near the door. "Now, about what happened..." he sighed, seeking an explanation for the early morning chaos.
As the mint-haired girl, who was known as Hiyori, nervously stepped forward to explain, the girl on the bed shouted, "Shenshei, no!" while she tugged at Sensei's sleeve with her weak strength.
Though the group was surprised, her eyes, though glazed, were wide with determination as she attempted to stop him from scolding her friends.
While stumbling over her words as she tried to formulate an excuse, what came out of her mouth was far from what anyone expected.
"I'll... I'll yank your c*ck and run over your b*lls with my wheelchair if you look scary again!" she declared, her pointing finger way off target, gesturing at empty space near Sensei's left shoulder.
The room fell into stunned silence. Sensei's eyes widened, his mouth agape as he struggled to process what he'd just heard. The Arius group behind him also seemed to shrink back, as if trying to blend into the wall.
"P-pardon?" Sensei stammered, his usual composure completely shattered.
As if on cue, the girl lurched forward. Hiyori, who had been hovering nearby, hastily thrust a bucket beneath her chin.
With the sound of rainbow-colored vomit splashing noisily into the container causing everyone to wince, Sena, maintaining her professional demeanor despite the bizarre situation, cleared her throat, clarifying, "It's the confusion talking, Sensei. It'll pass in a few hours."
Sensei took a deep breath, visibly trying to regain his composure.
"... Either way," he began, his voice steadier now as he gently wiped traces of vomit from the girl's mouth with a nearby cloth. "Confused or not. That's not a nice thing to say, Kodou."
Kodou, seemingly oblivious to the lecture, giggled without a trace of remorse.
Suddenly, her fluffy ears perked up, and her unfocused eyes sparkled with childlike excitement.
"Ah, right!" she exclaimed. "Can I use the Blu-ray discs now? Pleeeease?" she begged as she clasped her hands together, her tail nearly knocking over the water glass in the process.
"Later, once you've recovered," Sensei stated while gently pushing her hands down.
"But I wanna try them nooow!" Kodou whined, her lower lip jutting out in a pout.
Sensei sighed deeply, before smiling, finding this behavior oddly adorable compared to her usual reserved demeanor. Curious, he humored her, "Why the rush?"
A mischievous giggle escaped Kodou's lips, her eyes twinkling with an unsettling gleam. "Hehe, I wanna see if I can make some meth!"
Sensei's composure, barely recovered, crumbled once again. Before he could respond, another wave of nausea hit Kodou. This time, Hiyori wasn't quick enough with the bucket, becoming an unfortunate collateral of Kodou's technicolor yawn.
Sensei, with his voice a mix of exasperation and firm resolve, declared, "Kodou... You're banned from the disc player for today."
- - - - -
The world slowly came into focus, a blurry haze giving way to the familiar surroundings of the infirmary. My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, and a dull ache pulsed behind my eyes. I blinked a few times, trying to piece together how I'd ended up here.
"Ugh... what happened? Did I get hit by a truck again?" I groaned, my voice raspy and weak.
The last thing I remembered was going to bed last night after experiencing bath time 'Nirvana', but everything after that was a blank. Had I been punished for resting my head against Hiyori's unexpected but bountiful assets?
As I struggled to recollect the missing pieces, a familiar face suddenly came into view, blurry at first but slowly sharpening.
"Atsuko-neesan?" I muttered, barely above a whisper.
Her usually kind demeanor was replaced with an uncharacteristic nervousness. "Ah, Kochan... How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. Her eyes darted back and forth, as if afraid to meet mine directly.
I frowned, confused by her tone. "What's going on?" I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness forced me back down. The room spun momentarily, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the vertigo to pass.
Atsuko took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Well, you see... we might have accidentally given you a bit too much of your medication. We're really sorry about that."
"Oh? Is that why I feel like shi-I mean sick?" I asked, catching myself before the my tongue slipped something out.
Atsuko nodded, her purple hair swaying gently. "Yeah... you were quite... lively earlier," she added, her voice dropping to almost a whisper, "Do you remember anything?"
I screwed my eyes shut, willing the memories to surface. "Not really..." The effort made the room spin again, and I had to take a few deep breaths to steady myself.
"I see..." Atsuko sighed, looking back at someone with a strange expression. Her eyes held a mix of relief and something else I couldn't quite identify - was it embarrassment?
When I managed to scan the room, my eyes landed on Hiyori. Droplets of water still clung to her uniform, and she seemed to be standing slightly apart from the others. "Hm? Hiyori-neesan, did something happen?" I asked, my curiosity piqued by her disheveled appearance.
An awkward silence fell over the room. The tension thickened, making the air feel heavy and oppressive. Atsuko shifted uneasily, avoiding my gaze. "I-It's better worth not remembering..." she stammered, her voice trailing off into the uncomfortable quiet.
As I noticed the rest of the Arius group gathering together, their hands resting on each other's shoulders in a shared gesture of pity and sympathy, a cold feeling of dread settled in my stomach.
What the hell happened?!
- - - - -
The infirmary's clock ticked away relentlessly, each second stretching into eternity. The sharp antiseptic smell had faded, but was now replaced by the faint scent of card stock and the subtle fragrance of Hiyori's shampoo.
As I sat cross-legged on the carpet, hunched over yet another round of cards with Azusa and Hiyori. Frustration built in my chest as I flipped over another matching pair of cards whispering softly against the carpet.
'Why the f*ck am I banned from the classroom?!' I pouted in annoyance. 'Did my Breaking Bad Experiment Plan slip up or something?!'
The round ended quickly—another win for me. Hiyori clapped awkwardly, while Azusa's brow furrowed, her eyes darting between me and the cards as if trying to solve a hard puzzle.
As Hiyori began to shuffle the cards for the next round, my mind wandered to today's events.
No matter how much I asked the Arius Squad, they didn't seem to budge as they could only say is sorry or telling me about the vague things I kept asking them on something.
Some of which that confused me was Azusa's apologetic tone for being unable to provide me her 'freshly' made omelets, Atsuko not wanting to be one with the flowers, Hiyori's reluctantance to give me a jug of milk, Misaki rejecting my idea of bandage present, and Saori's puzzled look upon the concept of pistol fun play.
Either way, I gave up on asking. Because judging from their faces, they truly meant that it's best for me not to know about it.
Aside from that.
The rest of the Arius squad seemed to have a busy schedule ahead so I didn't stop them. Only Azusa and Hiyori stayed behind; given they were partly responsible for the morning incident.
In any case, how about a recap on what we're doing?
Well, first things first, I felt bored doing nothing and I wasn't also in the mood to study. Luckily, Hiyori found a deck of cards hidden between the crevices of the lounge's sofa, so we decided to play a card matching game.
The rules were simple: pick a pair of cards, if they match, keep going. Rinse and repeat until all pairs are found or you screw up.
While Hiyori was setting down the cards on the carpet, I sighed, running a hand through my greasy hair. "Azusa-neesan, Hiyori-neesan... Are you guys holding back or something? I don't mind losing if you took this more seriously, you know?"
Hiyori's face scrunched up as she told me, "That's easy for you to say!" she whined, "You didn't even give us a chance to take our turns."
"Wait... R-really?" I asked, taken aback by her sudden outburst.
"That's right." Azusa confirmed. "This was also her 5th loss in a row."
As I watched Hiyori sniffle with eyes shimmering with unshed tears, I found myself looking at the small indoor garden beyond the room awkwardly avoiding Azusa's curious gaze.
M-moving on.
The more rounds we play, the more I start to notice something strange about the result on all of our games. I always won, and not just by a little. I'm talking about crushing victories here.
Hiyori or Azusa might get lucky early on, flipping over a matching pair with triumphant grins. But when it would be my turn, I'd then proceed to match all the remaining cards flawlessly.
By the time I'd collected more than twenty pairs in a row, the game already ended with either of them barely getting a single match.
Not only that, but during one of these rounds, a sudden thought hit me: I bet I could find all twenty-seven pairs in one turn if I went first. And then, an even weirder realization crept in: How the hell was I consistently getting twenty pairs each time without even breaking a sweat?
"Hey, do you wanna go for another round?" I asked, wanting to test something out.
"Got it," Azusa nodded with a determined glint in her eye. "This time I'll get two pairs instead of only getting one," she declared, her voice carrying a hint of steel.
Hiyori, on the other hand, just flopped onto her back, mumbling, "Okay..." while scattering the cards as if expecting another defeat to add to her loss streak.
Uh... Sorry, I guess?
...
Before the round began, I focused harder, trying to understand what was happening. I sat next to Hiyori, taking note of every card and where they were placed. As my turn came, the cards seemed to reveal themselves before my eyes.
Images flashed in my mind like a video, and I paused and skimmed through the timeframes to find the other pairs. Before I knew it, the game was over. All pairs found. By me. In one turn.
When the final card slapped down on the carpet with a satisfying thud, Hiyori's sigh was barely audible as it was muffled by the seat of the sofa she'd buried her face in.
"I knew this would be the case..." she groaned.
"Kodou-san," Azusa then leaned forward, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and confusion. "How are you doing that?"
As much as I wanted to answer her, my mind was racing, causing a grin to spread across my face when the realization hit me like a truck.
You know what that means~?
Hehehe... Wahahaha! I have a cheat skill! It's like Noa's perfect memory! Oh man, I'm gonna abuse the shit out of this skill!
Hey, Remember when I first tried recalling things about myself and got a headache from the barrage of information that felt like being suddenly dropped into a library of my memories?
Now, though, it's easier to navigate like I'm now my own search engine. The flood of information no longer overwhelmed me; instead, it felt like a well-organized shelves at my fingertips.
At first, I thought this was just me remembering my past life, but no - this is way beyond that. I can now freely access any of my memories just by thinking about it. And we're not talking about typical memory recall here. This is like having 'almost' full control over what information I want to recover.
Recent memories are crystal clear, like high-def videos playing in my mind. I could recall every detail, from the subtle changes in facial expressions to the exact words spoken. Older stuff, especially from my past life, is hazier - more like rough concepts. But if I focus on the right 'keywords', the details snap into focus, as if adjusting the lens of a camera.
There are some exceptions, though. For example, I still can't remember much of what happened earlier this morning. All I can 'see' is a replay of a heavily compressed 144p video with earrape-quality audio. Inconvenient, but it is what it is.
Either way...
This explains why meeting people here felt so familiar sometimes. Their presence inputs the correct 'keywords', triggering recognition. When I focus on that feeling... bam! I get a detailed gist of things.
After confirming the existence of my cheat ability, I turned to Hiyori, suddenly eager to test this out properly. "Hiyori-neesan, could you get my wheelchair? I want to see Sensei."
"O-okay?" she replied, looking confused but complying.
As for why I want to see him, let's say I'm going to attempt a 100% score RTA speedrun.
- - - - -
The wheels of my chair squeaked softly against the polished floor as I quickly approached Sensei's office. My heart raced with anticipation, and my fingers twitched nervously as I reached for the door handle.
In that moment, I caught snippets of conversation from inside. The voices were muffled but clear enough to make out the words.
"Sensei, I'm pleased to report that Kodou's dorm accommodation arrangements are progressing smoothly. We should have everything ready by the end of the week," a familiar voice said, the tone professional and efficient.
Sensei's reply was warm, a stark contrast to the business-like report. "That's good to hear, Yuuka. Thank you for taking care of that."
Taking a deep breath, I shook my head and pushed the door open.
"Sensei!" I announced my presence, my voice carrying more confidence than I felt.
The room fell silent as both occupants turned to look at me. Sensei's eyebrows raised in surprise, his pen hovering over the papers on his desk. "Oh, Kodou. What brings you here?"
As I opened my mouth to respond, my gaze caught on something extraordinary. Yuuka's figure shimmered before me, translucent and ethereal.
A hologram!
My eyes widened with wonder, a part of me itching to ask a thousand questions about the technology. But no, I reminded myself. Focus on the mission. I can always ask later.
Swallowing my curiosity, I raised my hand and declared, "I want to take the test today!" My voice echoed slightly in the quiet office.
Sensei's face immediately creased with concern. "Are you sure about this, Kodou? After what happened this morning..." he reminded me, his voice tinged with worry.
But I insisted, leaning forward in my wheelchair, "I'm fine, really!" My mind was more focused on the new entertainment I wanted to try for myself than on the morning's incident.
As my eyes remained glued to Sensei, trying to hide my eagerness to test my cheat skills, Yuuka's hologram flickered. She turned towards me, her voice a mix of concern and amusement. "You know you can study a bit more if you'd like. There's no need to rush."
However, a smug grin spread across my face, as I told her, "Don't worry, I have already gone through all my technotes yesterday. In fact, I bet I could even ace it!"
Yuuka's eyebrows shot up, her lips curving into a smile. "Oh? That's quite a statement." Her tone grew more serious as she continued, "While I'm still skeptical about the progress on your technotes, you know, no one in Millennium's history has ever received full marks on an entrance exam. Can you truly back up your words, Kodou-chan?" The challenge in her voice was clear, however, that only fueled my determination more than necessary.
I replied, "If the contents of the test can be found in my technotes, then yes!" I declared with my hands gripping the armrests of my wheelchair tightly.
Yuuka and Sensei exchanged a look, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Yuuka shrugged, her holographic form shimmering with the movement.
"Well, Sensei, it's your call."
Sensei sighed, rubbing his temples. I could almost see the gears turning in his head as he weighed his options.
"Alright. If you're still sure about this... Then how about we go after lunch."
Excitement bubbled up inside me, threatening to overflow. I couldn't help but pump my fist in the air as my wheelchair rocked slightly with the movement.
"Thank you, Sensei!" I cheered and reveled in my small victory.
After leaving his office like a passing storm, I giggled as I passed Azusa and Hiyori waiting for me in the hallway.
"Hehehe~ Let's try for a sub-15 minute this time XD," I muttered to myself, wanting to beat my personal best.
- - - - -
As the girl's excited figure disappeared down the hallway, Sensei leaned back in his chair, a mixture of pride and concern etched on his face. He turned to Yuuka's hologram, which now perched on the edge of his desk.
"You know, I'm glad Kodou seems confident about the exam," Sensei began, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "But I can't help feeling a bit... I don't know. It's only been a day since she arrived at Schale. Part of me wishes she could've spent more time here, gotten to know the place better."
Yuuka's holographic form smiled softly. "I know what you feel, Sensei." Her expression then turned slightly concerned as she added, "But as much as I agree with you... I really hope she takes the exams seriously though. It would be awkward if she fails after all that talk about acing it."
Sensei's brow furrowed. "Is the exam really that hard?"
"No," Yuuka shook her head, her holographic hair shimmering with the movement. "If what you said is really true, then she'd definitely pass." She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "However..." Her eyes sparkled with amusement. "I'm more curious about how she would answer the last few questions we prepared for her in this exam."
Sensei's expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, we can always believe in her."
Yuuka nodded, her holographic form flickering slightly. "Alright, I'll trust you on that, Sensei."
With those final words, Yuuka's hologram dissipated into thin air, leaving Sensei alone with his thoughts and the anticipation of the girl's upcoming exam.
- - - - -
Hours had passed since my conversation with Sensei and Yuuka, and now it was time for my departure.
My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nervousness as I approached the Arius squad, ready to exchange contacts before leaving.
Hiyori stepped forward first, her energetic voice breaking the silence. "Kodou-chan! Let's keep in touch, okay? Here's my contact info!"
[_Tsuchinaga Hiyori has been added to Contacts_]
Azusa followed quietly, a gentle smile on her face. "I'd like to stay in touch too, if that's alright with you," she said softly, extending her phone.
[_Shirasu Azusa has been added to Contacts_]
Atsuko approached next, her gentle smile warming her features. Showing me her phone's screen displaying a QR Code, she said, "Kochan, here's my MomoTalk contact." I scanned the code with my phone, and within seconds, her details appeared on my screen.
[_Hakari Atsuko has been added to Contacts_]
"Even if it wasn't long, it was really nice meeting you," Atsuko added softly.
"Thanks, Atsuko-neesan!" I replied, "I had fun too."
Atsuko's expression turned slightly apologetic. "By the way, Saori wanted me to apologize on her behalf. She's still at her part-time job and couldn't make it to see you off."
"No, it's okay. I understand," I assured her quickly. "Please tell her I said goodbye!"
"I will," Atsuko promised with a nod.
Misaki stepped forward next, her usual cool demeanor softened by a hint of awkwardness. "Here's my number too," she said, tapping her phone against mine.
[_Imashino Misaki has been added to Contacts_]
She then added with a slight grimace, "Though, it feels a bit awkward seeing you off after... you know, this morning's incident."
"M-misaki!" Hiyori interjected, however Misaki continued regardless, "Anyway... I hope you can find yourself some close friends in your new school, kid."
I felt a mix of emotions, not quite sure how to respond to her unexpected show of concern. "Uh, sure," I managed to reply.
Misaki's lips curved into a small smile. "Right..." she said, seeming satisfied with my response.
Hiyori chimed in, her voice warm and encouraging. "Kodou-chan, take care of yourself, okay? And don't forget to message us sometimes!"
Azusa added her own well-wishes, her quiet voice filled with sincerity. "Good luck with your exam. I'm sure you'll do great."
Touched by their kindness, I replied, "I will, thanks!," while trying to keep my voice steady.
Finally, Sensei approached, his familiar presence reassuring. "Alright, Kodou. Are you ready to go?" he asked gently.
I looked up at him and nodded firmly. "Un!"
- - - - -
The soft hum of the bus engine faded to silence as we approached the Millennium library. Rustling filled the air as passengers rose from their seats, disembarking one by one. Then, Sensei's voice called out to me.
"Kodou, we're here," he announced.
My heart raced as our turn to exit arrived. I nodded, hearing the softening hiss of the bus doors closing behind us, followed by the sound of the vehicle driving off. Sensei pushed my wheelchair as we headed towards our destination.
Still wearing my blindfold, I let Sensei be my guide. The inconvenience of not being able to see my surroundings nagged at me. Although this measure was meant to prevent stress given how common those 'things' were, I couldn't help but think that sooner or later, it would be best to find an alternative that didn't hinder one of my senses.
Then, as if on cue, Sensei's soft voice broke through my thoughts. "Kodou, you can remove your blindfold now if you'd like."
"Oh, right," I replied, my fingers fumbling slightly with the fabric.
As I removed it, I blinked, adjusting to the sudden influx of light. The grand building of the Millennium library came into focus, its modern glass windows and classic stone columns reflecting the afternoon sun.
Upon nearing the library entrance, a familiar voice greeted us. "Welcome to Millennium Academy's vast Library, Sensei, Kodou-san."
"Hm?" I muttered, recognizing the speaker.
"Yo, we meet again," Sensei called out casually.
"Hehe, indeed," Noa replied, her voice carrying a smile.
Surprised by her presence, I couldn't help but ask, "Noa-neesan, what're you doing here?" Wasn't she supposed to be busy with her duties as Secretary of Seminar?
As if answering my unspoken question, her voice held a hint of amusement as she replied, "Of course, it's because I will be the proctor for your exam today, Kodou-san."
Sensei seemed to grasp the situation immediately. "I see... If you're the proctor, then Yuuka must've gone all out."
Noa nodded. "Well, she wanted to ensure everything was handled properly. You know how thorough Yuuka can be." Then, her tone turned teasing as she addressed me, "In any case, I heard from Yuuka that you challenged her, saying you'd ace the exams. Quite a bold statement there, Kodou-san."
I felt a wave of nervousness and embarrassment wash over me. "Well..." I started, not quite sure how to respond.
Noa's voice softened. "Don't worry too much~ We're all rooting for you." Turning her back, she then announced, "Come, follow me."
...
Upon entering the library, I marveled at the vast interior. Rows of shelves filled with books stretched to the high ceilings, interspersed with modern study areas and quiet reading nooks.
Large windows flooded the space with natural light, creating a serene, studious atmosphere. I was genuinely impressed by how large this place was, storing such an immense amount of knowledge.
Well... if there's one thing that comes to mind when it comes to storing knowledge aside from that, it would be me going on a field day when I get to memorize all of these books inside my head to assert my dominance, hehe.
While I was busy thinking about how to effectively exploit this cheat skill of mine, Noa began explaining, which snapped me out of my thoughts.
"Since we didn't give you much time to prepare," she said, "we've lowered the passing score from 80% to 75% as consideration."
"Not much but fair," Sensei commented, his tone neutral.
"Indeed," Noa agreed with a nod. "We also want to give Kodou-san a fighting chance."
As we continued walking, we reached an isolated corner. Noa stopped in front of a glass door and announced, "Here's the examination room." She opened it, gesturing inside. "We've prepared a quiet space for you to concentrate fully on your test, without any distractions."
Thanking her and trying to keep my nerves in check, I glanced around the simple yet functional room. A large table occupied the center, accompanied by a comfortable chair. On the table, I spotted a pen and a suspiciously towering amount of scratch paper, likely for calculations. It was weird, but I paid it no mind as we settled in.
"How long will the exams take?" Sensei asked for me.
"Approximately 4 hours," Noa replied. "One hour per subject: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics."
Makes sense given what Millennium is known for.
I maneuvered my wheelchair towards the table and carefully transferred myself onto the provided chair. Noa then placed the exam papers upside down before adding a stern warning.
"Before starting the exam, let me remind you that any signs of cheating will result in the paper being taken away immediately. Please don't attempt to hide cheat sheets or access the internet using hidden devices."
Gulping, I asked, "Has someone else tried any of those?"
"Yes," Noa sighed before smiling, "But none escaped my eyes or got away scot-free."
"T-that's reassuring..." I looked away awkwardly as a thought crossed my mind...
Would using my 'cheat skills' result in disqualification?
...No... She has no proof of that.
In a way, there should be no difference between my 'cheat skill' and Noa's near-perfect recall. If Noa's memory talent is okay, then relying on my discovered skill should be too.
Yes... I'm not cheating... Yes... Technically not by any means...
"Are you ready, Kodou-chan?" Noa-neesan asked, her eyes meeting mine.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I took a deep breath. Noa looked confused for a moment, but I met her gaze, determined to ace this exam.
"I-I'm ready!" I declared, gripping my pen.
"Alright~ the timer starts now," Noa announced.
- - - - - -
Starting at exactly 2:15 pm, I picked up my pen and flipped over the exam paper.
Since I'm doing a speedrun, I only needed to glance at each question and rely on my cheat skill to retrieve any relevant information. Efficiency was key.
As I readied my hand to shade the multiple choice answers, time slowed down while I rewatched my memories from my internal library until I found the answer. Shading the circle, I immediately looked at the clock again. I couldn't help but let out a smug smile as barely a second had passed since I answered the first question.
Given how all these questions related to the technotes I studied the day prior, it was only a matter of time before I finished this exam. My estimate? Around three to five minutes.
Hehe, this is going to be a personal record for sure~
While the idea of speeding through these questions with ease felt strangely familiar, I continued pushing through the four subjects until I reached the final page of the test paper.
... However.
"Hm...? It's not multiple choice anymore?" I muttered as I was left with a page containing seven questions in total.
Q194. Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture:
Provide a solution to the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture. Specifically, demonstrate how the rank of an elliptic curve's group of rational points relates to the behavior of its L-function, and discuss any necessary mathematical tools or techniques required.
Q195. Hodge Conjecture:
Present a comprehensive proof or approach for the Hodge Conjecture. Explain how the conjecture connects the cohomology classes of a non-singular projective algebraic variety to algebraic cycles, and outline any relevant theories or methods that could be utilized.
Q196. Navier-Stokes Existence and Smoothness:
Devise a method to prove the existence and smoothness of solutions to the Navier-Stokes equations in three dimensions. Address the challenges involved and propose any mathematical strategies or theories that might lead to a resolution.
Q197. P vs NP Problem:
Provide a proof or a definitive argument for either proving or disproving that P = NP. Include a thorough discussion on how this result would impact computational complexity, algorithm design, and related fields in computer science.
Q198. Riemann Hypothesis:
Formulate a solution or present a significant insight into the Riemann Hypothesis. Detail how the hypothesis about the non-trivial zeros of the Riemann zeta function affects the distribution of prime numbers, and propose any mathematical approaches that could be employed.
Q199. Yang-Mills Existence and Mass Gap:
Develop a proof or approach to establish the existence of a quantum Yang-Mills field theory with a positive mass gap. Discuss the implications of such a theory on quantum physics and particle interactions, and outline any mathematical frameworks or techniques that could support your argument.
Q200. Poincaré Conjecture:
Provide a proof or substantial argument for the Poincaré Conjecture. Describe how you would characterize 3-dimensional spheres among 3-manifolds, and outline the key ideas and methods that would be involved in solving this problem.
"..."
Upon reading these questions, I dropped my pen as realization dawned on me.
Did... Did they seriously put the Seven Millennium Prize Questions in a Middle School Entrance Exam?!
Suddenly, I understood what Yuuka meant when she said no one in Millennium's history had ever received full marks on an entrance exam.
Aaaagghhh!!! My 100% RTA speedrun!
As I clutched my head, troubled on how to solve these questions, Noa noticed where I had suddenly stopped. She passed me the towering stack of papers that had been suspiciously placed on the table moments prior.
"Kodou-san, I noticed you've reached the final section," she said with a smile. "You have two options now. You can finish the exam as is, or you can attempt these last questions with the remaining time. The choice is yours."
"Mmngh..." I grumbled, weighing my options. On one hand, I could still have my personal record, but the accuracy would be compromised. On the other, I could waste my time attempting to solve these for only one point each...
'Damn it, the reward for solving this isn't worth it! One point? Why are they so stingy!' But then, I immediately reminded myself that if these questions were worth more in the exam, I doubted anyone would be able to reach a passing score...
Well... the logical choice was obvious. But would I be satisfied with that? No! If Yuuka knew about these, then I might as well try and solve them out of spite!
"G-give me the papers..." I muttered, giving Noa a pained look as I accepted the towering stack.
"Heehee~ I look forward to your solution," Noa smiled, handing me the papers.
- - - - -
Diving deep into my memories, I found myself drowning in countless recollections, surrounded by endless shelves of past experiences.
"No..." I muttered, tossing a memory aside. "Not this..." Another irrelevant snippet discarded. "... Or this..." My hands grasped at yet another set to sift through.
Frustration bubbled up inside me. "Come on! There has to be something about these problems in my past life memories..." I shouted internally, realizing this search was proving far more challenging than anticipated.
Time seemed to stretch as I sifted through countless memories concurrently. From the time I spent, I only stumbled upon one lead.
One of these problems had actually been solved in my past life!
I was ecstatic of course, but it was short-lived because finding the actual solution was taking far longer than I'd hoped for.
You know what?
God, this is so fucking annoying! Here I am, stuck in my own head, desperately searching through a lifetime of memories like some deranged librarian. And for what? A math problem? I swear, if I don't find something soon, I'm gonna fucking to lose it!
As this mental excavation was starting to take its toll—
"This is...!" A snippet of an old memory flickered to life from the current set I'd filtered.
Rewinding the memory to confirm what I'd glimpsed, I increased the volume and watched the playback with laser focus.
'Now that the school year's over, time to delete all the handouts...'
Before me, a first-person view of my past self deleting hundreds of PDF files from an old tablet. At first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But as I watched myself scroll through the list of soon-to-be-deleted files—
There it was. A single file that stood out like a beacon.
(X) Poincaré Conjecture.pdf
"Finally!" I shouted.
- - - - -
——FUCK!!!
I cursed, returning to the real world, frustrated and disappointed.
'What the hell is the point of downloading a PDF file when I didn't even bother reading a single page of it?!' I berated myself silently.
As I tapped my pen against a piece of paper, mind racing to formulate a new strategy after hitting this maddening dead end, Noa's hands suddenly gripped my shoulders. Her voice was tinged with worry, "Kodou-san... You know there's no harm in not answering these problems. Most students don't, and those who want to can take their time at Millennium to find solutions. So... if you feel unwell, now is the time to stop."
Sensei nodded in agreement, his expression mirroring Noa's concern.
Confusion washed over me. 'Why is she asking me that? Is the time already up?'
A quick glance at the clock revealed only 5 minutes had passed since I delved into my library of memories. It was surprising, since I thought I had spent all the remaining hours of my entrance exam.
However, I was more puzzled by her request to stop. True, it's mentally exhausting to remember so much at once, but... Is it because I haven't written anything yet?
Feeling a bit offended, I shook my head. "No," I said, still believing I could remember the solution somewhere in my memory. My impulsive desire to do random things wouldn't let me sleep at night if I did things half-assedly.
Although seeing Noa and Sensei's worried faces made me uncomfortable, I told them, "Even if I can't do all of them, I can still solve the Poincaré Conjecture. I just need time to organize my thoughts."
Taken aback by my statement, Noa seemed unsure how to take it at face value. Of course, she had doubts. It's understandable because I wasn't even confident saying that. Even I wasn't sure if I had truly read the solution or was just clinging to false hope.
But in my new life in this world, there's no harm in taking this insignificant risk. Worst case scenario, I would only get a zero on this exam, which is very unlikely.
"Anyways, I still have a little less than four hours, right?"
"Correct..." Noa confirmed, her voice sounded hesitant.
"Well, there's no harm in taking my time." I shrugged. "Remind me when the time is up."
"... If you insist." She agreed reluctantly, her concern still evident.
With that settled, I closed my eyes, steeling myself to once again plunge into the depths of my memories. The solution was there, hidden in the vast expanse of my past life – I just had to find it.
- - - - -
Walking inside a long hallway of shelves, I found myself looking at the gradually declining state of my surroundings. Shelf after shelf, I sifted through years' worth of memories. While the contents grew hazier and the pieces more fragmented than I could decipher, I persisted in filtering through them all, hoping to find the solution.
'There must be something...,' I kept telling myself.
But at the end of the nth hallway of shelves, I found little to no avail.
I was surprised that I could even manage to go this long, but for whatever reason, my mind kept its focus on one thing only.
As I kept moving forward aimlessly, there, in a dark space in a far-off corner, I noticed an isolated section of shelves that looked abandoned and ruined beyond repair.
'That place looks creepy,' I thought to myself.
Then again, this was the last section of all my memories I had yet to check. If I couldn't find anything there, then there was no way for me to solve this problem in a million years...
Shaking my head, I realized I'd already come this far. It wouldn't hurt to check one more section before giving up completely.
With that in mind, I sighed as I made my way there unenthusiastically.
...
Upon reaching the last section, I picked up a memory to see what this place had to offer. With a flick of my finger, the memory played a blurry vision with the sound of cheering in the background.
I pieced together the context: it was me staring into empty space while the DLC club of my high school years practiced at the covered court. A trivial memory with nothing much to offer but... well, a forgettable memory.
Well, if it's forgettable, then the solution to the Poincaré Conjecture must be here, if I thought about how boring that is. With my mood lifting a little at this careless thought, I picked up another memory. This time, my surroundings suddenly changed.
There I sat, in the center of the class, listening to the teacher's discussion. Suddenly, I felt my stomach twist into a knot as a gassy feeling became prominent. The memory-me shifted uncomfortably, trying to hold it in. But alas, nature called, and it wasn't taking "no" for an answer.
When I realized what 'came' out, I screamed higher than a dog whistle.
"W-WHY DID I REMEMBER THAT?!?!?!" My face burning redder as I snapped back to my library of memories, mortified.
"Of all the memories to play... My brain decided to give me the SHIT of ⁽ᶜˡᵃˢˢ⁾ 87?!"
Not wanting to relive that shameful moment from my grade school life, I covered my face as I started to feel steam brushing off my hands.
As the memory continued to play, past-me was desperately trying to survive the topic of smell with a convenient scapegoat nearby. Poor Kyle, conveniently taking the fall for being the most suspicious person at the time of the incident.
"My god... No wonder I haven't found one of these while searching everywhere..." I muttered, torn between laughing and crying. As I begged to god that the solution is not found in one of these sort of memories, I slowly recovered myself from the devastating blow to my mental health.
"Moving on... To not repeat the same mistake, let's just sort these memories through based on their 'contents'."
As I said that, the contents of the shelves in front of me began to sort themselves in midair. Still, no matter how many times I see this, it still impresses me how I can do this unconsciously.
Anyway, once the memories had been sorted, I then strongly thought of what I wanted to find. With that, a bright flash of light appeared from the rightmost shelf, causing me to brighten up and filled with hope.
"I knew it! I do remember the solution!"
However, my temporary victory was then short-lived as I noticed the memory's location. There, labeled the 'Things I want to forget' section.
'Oh god no...' I frowned, thinking that the solution got mixed up in something abhorrent enough to make me want to forget it.
As I craned my head, contemplating my life's decisions, I sighed in defeat. There wasn't much I could do about this now.
Walking up to the memory, I thought, 'Time is ticking... Let's just get this over with...'
Upon grabbing the memory, a bright flash of light blinded my eyes.
- - - - -
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the empty classroom, its warm glow softening the harsh lines of desks and chairs.
In the far corner, a solitary figure hunched over his desk, lost in his own world.
The room, usually bustling with activity, now stood silent save for the soft tapping of fingers on a phone screen and the faint leak of music from earphones.
The boy sat motionless, his dark hair falling over his eyes as he stared intently at his phone. He seemed oblivious to the world beyond the small screen in his hands, content in his solitude.
Suddenly, the door slid open with a gentle swoosh, breaking the room's tranquil atmosphere. A shaft of light from the hallway spilled in, silhouetting a slender figure in the doorway.
As she stepped inside, the warm glow of the setting sun illuminated her features: a curtain of white hair framing a face alight with a cheerful smile.
"So this is where you are," the girl's melodious voice rang out, filling the once-quiet space.
The boy's head lifted slowly, his eyes narrowing slightly at the intrusion. He regarded the newcomer with a mixture of confusion and mild annoyance. Her presence was like a spotlight, threatening to illuminate the shadows he so carefully cultivated around himself.
He blinked languidly, his mind working to place her familiar face while simultaneously calculating the least amount of effort required to extricate himself from this unexpected social interaction.
After a moment of awkward silence, he finally spoke, his voice carrying a hint of deliberate disinterest:
"Uh... Who are you again?"
- - - - -
[A/N: The classroom image is not made by me.]