Chapter 13 ~ Tea
The morning sun had just risen, casting a soft golden glow across the February sky.
Its light spilled gently over the university grounds, where a crisp, refreshing chill still clung to the air.
The stone pathways of the campus bustled with life—students hurrying along, some alone, others chatting in pairs or groups as they made their way to morning lectures.
Along the walkways, green trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling lightly like whispers of the coming spring.
Cherry blossom trees stood among them, still bare, yet visibly ready to bloom—waiting for their season with patient anticipation.
A bluebird and a white one fluttered together between the branches, dancing playfully in harmony.
Inside the university, the hallways echoed with footsteps, voices, and the occasional burst of laughter.
Students walked with backpacks slung over their shoulders, some clutching books, others scrolling through their phones as they navigated the busy corridors.
Among the crowd moved Hikari.
His blond hair was slightly tousled, and his deep blue eyes were calm, sharp—focused.
This time, his complexion looked natural and well-rested, unlike the day before.
The weight of fatigue no longer lingered on his face.
With his bag slung over one shoulder, he walked alongside the wall—his usual path.
It was the side of the hallway where those who lived quietly often walked, away from attention and noise.
He moved comfortably—until a door along the hallway suddenly opened beside him.
Out stepped Professor Kusanagi.
Tall, composed, with refined silver-gray hair, and dressed in a dark graphite-accented suit, he looked more like a corporate executive than a professor.
His eyes lit up with pleasant surprise as they met Hikari's.
"Oh! Hikari! Perfect timing!"
Before Hikari could even respond, Kusanagi grabbed his wrist.
"H-Hey, wait a second—" Hikari muttered, startled.
The professor pulled him inside just as the slim wooden door closed behind them.
Above it, a small plaque read: "Faculty Lounge."
The room inside was calm and spacious.
Soft gray couches lined the walls, with matching cushions inviting rest.
Three low tables in the center held teapots and neatly arranged homemade sweets.
The atmosphere was almost like a warm guest room in a traditional home.
Professors sat in small groups, some sipping tea while chatting, others quietly reading or tapping at their phones.
Hikari stared around, slightly overwhelmed.
"What was so important that you had to drag me in here?" he asked.
Kusanagi replied casually, "Isn't it obvious? We need to talk about our project."
Hikari raised a brow as they moved toward a nearby sofa.
"Since when did I become part of your project?"
They both sat down.
Before Hikari could even settle, a soft voice came from beside him:
"My, my... what a charming young man. Who is this, Kusanagi?"
He turned slightly, finding himself seated between Professor Kusanagi and a woman he hadn't noticed before.
Her long black hair was tied into a sleek ponytail, and she wore thin glasses above bright green eyes that held a spark of curiosity.
Hikari instinctively leaned away—his sense of personal space clearly not respected.
Kusanagi chuckled lightly. "This is Hikari Mimosa. My favorite student.
First-year, Mathematics-Informatics department."
The woman tilted her head, thinking.
"Hikari Mimosa... That name does sound familiar.
Where have I heard it before...?"
Kusanagi's voice rose with a note of pride.
"He scored the highest mark in this year's entrance exams."
The woman smiled so brightly her cheeks turned pink.
"Ohhh yes, yes! That must be it!" she clapped her hands lightly.
"I don't know if that's why I remembered the name, but he's clearly impressive!"
Hikari gritted his teeth subtly, whispering to his professor under his breath:
"Sensei... how many times do I have to tell you to stop showing me off like I'm your personal achievement?"
Kusanagi smiled, leaning in as if to whisper back:
"Well... I'm not married, and I have no children.
So yes, you are one of my greatest achievements."
Hikari exhaled with mild frustration and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.
It was plain, beige, and without much decoration.
Professor Kusanagi...
He was my math teacher in middle school.
I spent three years under his guidance.
He's the one who noticed my hidden potential—sharpened it, refined it.
I still remember... the day I graduated, he cried.
The memory returned vividly—Kusanagi standing with a white handkerchief, dabbing at his eyes during the graduation ceremony.
"You're truly my masterpiece," he had said with a teary smile.
"You've grown so much these past three years."
"Sensei, don't cry," Hikari had replied awkwardly.
"You're embarrassing me..."
After that, I went to high school.
Another three years.
Top scores.
Zero friends.
Just like middle school.
My only real companion was video games.
I worked out regularly, but I wasn't shy or antisocial.
Just... quiet.
Focused.
Always chasing the next challenge, the next update, the next world.
Then came university.
And when I saw my name at the very top of the entrance exam results, I felt... nothing.
Until he came up from behind and said—
"Your name shines at the top, just like always. That's you, isn't it?"
He had become a professor here.
Not surprising.
Even back in middle school, his thoughts were too big for that system.
Even now, I wonder... is being a professor really the end for him?
Or just another step on the ladder?
A gentle aroma brought him back.
The scent of tea.
A cup was suddenly close to his face—offered by the woman beside him.
She smiled softly, her tone light and hopeful.
"Well then...
Shall we begin our discussion?"
Hikari blinked, staring at the cup.
"Take it," she smiled.
"You're a guest too, after all."
Hikari held the teacup in his hand, its ceramic warmth spreading into his fingers.
He took a soft sip and murmured quietly,
"...It's good."
The woman beside him placed a hand over her cheek, her green eyes shining with delight.
"I'm glad you like it," she said warmly.
Hikari leaned toward Professor Kusanagi, whispering under his breath,
"Why does she look so... genuinely pleased about that?"
Kusanagi whispered back, smirking,
"She made it herself."
Hikari blinked in surprise.
"Huh? A university professor... personally brewing tea?"
The professor shrugged.
"Beats me. She's always shooing away the kitchen staff and insisting on making it herself.
But hey—no complaints. I get to drink this masterwork every morning, my friend."
Hikari looked down into the tea, his reflection floating faintly across the surface.
He thought silently,
If he married her, he could drink this every day...
Not a bad deal.
He took another sip, returning to his usual calm, composed state.
"So," he asked with a quiet seriousness, "what exactly did you want to discuss?"
The woman's green eyes sparkled with confidence.
"It's not me who'll do the explaining," she said. "After all, this wasn't my idea to begin with."
Professor Kusanagi leaned forward slightly, drawing Hikari's attention.
"This is Professor Fushihora Kina.
She's a university professor in Life Sciences and holds certifications as a cardiovascular surgeon."
He smiled. "But for reasons unknown, she prefers lecturing here."
Hikari's blue eyes regarded her steadily.
She's more than she appears... definitely.
"Stop it with the dramatic introduction," Kina said, a bit flustered. "You're embarrassing me."
Kusanagi raised a hand casually.
"Titles and backgrounds don't matter right now. What matters is the real topic—games."
Hikari tilted his head slightly.
"...Wait. Is she part of that company you mentioned before?"
Kina chuckled.
"More accurately, I'm someone he's trying to recruit.
And let's just say... he hasn't been very persuasive so far."
Hikari rested a hand under his chin, a subtle smile forming.
"I see.
To replicate full sensory immersion for a player, someone with her expertise is indispensable to your system."
Kina lifted a single black eyebrow and gave a soft, amused sound.
"Hmm.
Seems he has a brain after all."
Kusanagi laughed, slapping a hand on Hikari's shoulder—his sweater a soft navy blue knit.
"Remember what I told you?
That I had a trump card to convince you?"
"Yes," she replied.
"That trump card... is Hikari."
Hikari took another sip from his cup, his face unreadable.
Professor Kina studied him closely, then closed her eyes with a light smile and reopened them with calm certainty.
"He doesn't respond to praise," she said. "He probably won't—
not when someone already knows their value runs far deeper than a few flattering words."
Then she looked him directly in the eyes.
"Let's say this is a job interview, Hikari.
You need me on your side.
What would you do to make me accept your offer?"
Hikari began to stand.
"This isn't my business.
Convincing you is his problem, not mine.
I'd rather leave—my lecture's starting soon."
But before he could step away, Kusanagi gently pressed a hand to his shoulder.
"You're not escaping.
Your first lecture is with me—
and it won't begin for another ten minutes."
Hikari sighed in quiet irritation.
His eyes shifted toward Kusanagi.
"Fine.
I'll say this, and that's it."
He turned to Kina, his expression calm, voice cool and composed.
"Trying to replicate that game...
and surpass it...
is borderline fantasy."
Both professors fell silent.
Other quiet conversations drifted in from the lounge, but the space around them seemed to tighten.
Hikari continued, his tone deepening, voice low but certain:
"I broke everything down from my first experience into three core components:
Sensory Engineering, World Engineering, and AI Engineering."
"First, Sensory Engineering—
They didn't just simulate vision or sound.
They integrated all five senses, including touch and smell.
That shouldn't even be possible without something as advanced as the Wystoria device."
"Second, World Engineering—
This part... is what impressed me the most.
The concept of elixirs, for instance—pure fantasy.
Yet everything is governed by mathematics.
Every step, every move—calculated.
It's like a football player on a field of infinite choices.
Talent reveals itself instantly."
"I've played many games.
None like this."
He paused, then looked at Kina directly.
"The third point...
is not just important. It's frightening:
AI Engineering."
"They didn't build a hyper-intelligent system.
They simply embedded lightweight AI into every character.
Each NPC is given a base structure, movements, and roles.
But here's the catch:
They converse using modern natural-language models.
It's not just programmed speech—it feels real."
"And that's what scares me.
Because these characters don't just talk...
they tug at your emotions."
He clenched his fingers slightly around the cup.
"How...
was this game not banned for that alone?"
Kina sat back slightly, visibly impressed.
Her voice was soft, satisfied.
"...I understand now."
Hikari narrowed his eyes.
"Understand what?"
She smiled again, her cheeks lifting gently.
"Just one thing.
That you managed to analyze all that...
in a single night."
Then she moved her green eyes to Kusanagi.
"Alright.
I get it now."
She stood, brushing off her coat with calm confidence.
"I'll join your ridiculous plan...
to revolutionize the gaming world."