Chapter 169

Trinity Academy, 1st Floor Main Lobby.

To complete [Living Fireworks], the professors of the Science and Technology Department and Miyu had been preparing for the event whenever they could find the time.

Jjjrrrk-!

In massive special-glass tanks, several times taller than a person, android workers and machines were busily moving about. They connected hoses and slowly poured in dark-gray liquid, creating an environment similar to a “night sky” inside the tanks.

-What’s that? What are they preparing?

-Dunno. Looks like it’s something for the festival.

-Seeing that makes the festival feel real. Guess we’re actually doing something after all.

Beyond a holographic sign that read “No Entry Except Authorized Personnel,” students whispered as they watched the preparations. Hearing their voices, Miyu’s mechanical tail swayed happily.

Miyu was at one of the smaller tanks, carefully working the control panel. When she tapped the keys a few times, the liquid flowing in through the connected hose changed color.

‘Would it look prettier if I added a bit more turquoise here? Like the image of a supernova exploding…….’

Comparing the holographic image displayed on the panel with the tank before her, Miyu diligently continued her work. As though painting a picture on canvas with a brush, she used the machines connected to the panel to delicately fill the “night sky” where the fireworks would unfold.

“Hm~ hm~”

Miyu even hummed as she immersed herself in the task.

Those nearby tilted their heads, wondering what kind of song it was, but regardless, it was clear that she was in a good mood.

“How’s it going? Coming along well?”

Someone approached, asking brightly. Startled, Miyu immediately moved to block the tank she was working on with her body.

“A-Ah, Assistant Feng Wei!?”

The young man, called Feng Wei, was an Asian researcher under Professor Adam Richardson. Miyu had gotten to know him naturally after she became acquainted with Professor Adam.

“Why are you so surprised?”

He had curly hair, round glasses, and a gentle, honest impression. Seeing Miyu’s flustered reaction, he scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.

Realizing her reaction had been somewhat rude, Miyu quickly bowed her head.

“S-Sorry…… I was just too focused on the work……”

“No, no, it’s fine. My bad for startling you. Should’ve called ahead before coming.”

Ha ha ha—Feng Wei laughed.

He really was just as he looked—his manner of speaking was polite and kind. Thanks to that, even Miyu, who struggled with interacting with people, had been able to grow closer to him rather quickly. After calming herself, Miyu asked cautiously,

“……S-So, did you come here for something?”

“Ah, nothing major. I was hoping you could take a look at this.”

He handed her a data chip.

Tilting her head, Miyu inserted it into her mechanical tail and checked the file inside.

[Research on the Electronic Vibrational Waveforms of Mana-Type Elements.]

-Focused on the Application of Cyclops Mana-Carbon Steel.

“A g-graduation thesis……?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“O-Okay, I’ll take a look……”

A request to review a teaching assistant’s graduation thesis.

For a student, it was quite an awkward favor. But Miyu accepted it naturally.

After all, she’d received similar requests many times before.

Ever since her interactions with Professor Adam, rumors had begun spreading that she was a “genius.” Before long, it became something of a trend among others to ask Miyu to review their research.

Though the situation was burdensome for her, Miyu, who had zero interpersonal courage, couldn’t bring herself to refuse. So it became routine for her to carefully review requests from professors and their assistants.

“This part here is a little unclear…… I-I think, from what I know, the ‘essence of Cyclops’ doesn’t have that property……”

“But if the experiment gave this result, doesn’t it make sense that the mana-type electron vibrations are the cause?”

“N-No…… I mean…… if you compare it with the ‘essence of Titans,’ it should be clearer…… I think there was a paper about it……”

Remembering the scolding she got from Aaron when she had tried making a module for Iri in the past, Miyu was extra cautious with her wording.

But even that was sensational enough for an ordinary researcher. Feng Wei couldn’t help but shout out.

Eureka!

“T-There was such a thing!?”

“Eek……”

“Ah, sorry. You don’t like loud voices, right……”

“N-No, it’s fine……”

Miyu shrank back like a frightened bug.

Realizing his mistake, Feng Wei once again scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Still, you’re amazing. Just a first-year undergrad, yet you can converse with professors as an equal.”

“It’s n-not really like that……”

“Oh. Is that the ‘Living Fireworks’ you’ve been preparing with the professors?”

He turned his gaze to the tank Miyu was working on. Inside, the special liquid filled about halfway and shimmered.

“I heard you even figured out the right ratio of solution to make the fireworks bigger. Is that true?”

“I just found a small substitute material……”

“You really are incredible.”

“……Eheh.”

At his repeated praise, Miyu’s expression softened involuntarily. Though her long bangs covered her rising lips, there was no hiding the excited wagging of her mechanical tail.

Watching Miyu’s joy, Feng Wei smiled warmly, then carefully spoke again.

“By the way, I’ve got one more favor……”

“Yes?”

“Feng Wei!”

It happened then.

Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp voice rang out. It was none other than Professor Adam Richardson.

“P-Professor?”

“Why are you out here instead of in the lab? If I recall, now’s the time to check the samples!”

Professor Adam looked furious. And standing beside him, unexpectedly, was Aaron Stingray.

Seeing the two of them, Feng Wei straightened up in shock.

“Sorry, Professor! I’ll return right away……!”

“Hurry back and get to checking!”

“Yes, sir!”

Casting a brief glance toward Miyu, Feng Wei bowed slightly before rushing back to the lab.

Clicking his tongue in disapproval, Professor Adam then turned to Aaron, bowing apologetically.

“Forgive me for showing you such a disgraceful sight.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Then, shall we go meet Miss Miyu?”

Aaron nodded and walked over, gently patting Miyu’s head.

“Looks like you’re enjoying yourself.”

“S-So-so, I guess……”

“What’s that you’re working on right now?”

“This one…… I’m trying to represent the Milky Way using a chrome solution…… this part is the galaxy, and this is a nebula……”

At first Miyu hesitated, but soon she grew excited. She not only explained the tank she was in charge of but even dragged him around to other tanks to explain them too.

How each professor had taken charge of a tank as if submitting a project for a school fair, how they planned to control the life cycle and evolutionary stages of the “living fireworks” to produce different flame shapes, and so on.

Aaron surely must have been far too busy with foundation work, and he probably didn’t understand half of what she was saying, yet he listened patiently and calmly to all of it.

When Miyu finally finished her rambling, Aaron smiled warmly and whispered,

“Yours looks the best.”

“Heh……”

Once again, Miyu’s lips loosened into a smile.

Too embarrassed to show it openly, she twisted her body awkwardly. Seeing that, Aaron patted her head again, as if finding her endearing.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“A-Are you going to come watch……?”

“Of course. I promise.”

Then Aaron checked his watch, said it was about time for him to leave, and bid her farewell. After exchanging a few more words with Professor Adam, he left with his secretaries.

“Ahh……”

Miyu stared blankly at his departing back, feeling a vague sense of wistfulness, until Professor Adam approached her.

“You seemed to be having a lot of fun.”

“Eh? W-Who, me……?”

“Yes, you. The moment the Chairman came, your face bloomed like a flower. Well, of course, you’d prefer a young Chairman over an old man like me~”

“D-Don’t tease me……”

Professor Adam laughed heartily at her reaction.

Then a thought crossed Miyu’s mind.

Just earlier, hadn’t Aaron seemed to be asking Professor Adam for something?

“Um, excuse me……?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“What did Mr. Aaron say to you? It looked like he was asking you for something before he left……”

“Nothing major. He just asked me to look after you. It seems he’s heard that you’ve been coming to my lab often these days.”

“T-That’s all……?”

“Yes. It’s surprising enough that he takes such interest in students.”

At his answer, Miyu blushed a little, pressed her lips together, and quickly fled back to her seat.

Watching her scurry away, Professor Adam laughed again—but once she was focused on her work, his expression changed.

“……”

Aaron’s words, asking him to “look after Miyu,” hadn’t been a lie. But that had only been a polite wrapping—beneath it lay something much heavier.

Earlier, when Aaron had visited him directly, he had made a sudden and burdensome request.

-Please delay your research presentation.

-W-What on earth do you mean by that?

-I know your research, which had been stuck, has been making progress since you met Miyu. It will be completed soon. I’m asking you to delay the presentation for about a year.

Then Aaron handed him several documents, apparently written by Miyu.

-That girl is a “genius.”

-Of course I know that. I was planning to list her as a co-author on this research paper……

-No. Look over the documents carefully.

Following Aaron’s words, Professor Adam examined Miyu’s documents one by one. They were more like idea notes than proper papers, making them hard to read, but still, he managed to grasp fragments of their content. And with each revelation, his shock only deepened.

-T-This is……

-I can’t make sense of it myself, but when I consulted another scientist, he said some of this could be quite dangerous. What do you think?

-……

Professor Adam could not answer.

Aaron continued.

-Once more, I’ll say it: Miyu is a genius. But as a person, she hasn’t grown enough to support her engineering talent. If no one applies the brakes, her life itself will collapse first.

-I understand what you mean, but……

-What she needs more than a “teacher” right now is a “family.” This is the time to complete her humanity, not to expand her stature. Do you agree?

-……I agree.

Professor Adam nodded.

Through that conversation with Aaron, Professor Adam decided to postpone his presentation.

Though his research was nearly finished, he judged that, for the sake of future scholars, it had to be shelved for now.

Just moments ago, he had still been wavering, but after seeing Aaron and Miyu talk together, his resolve had solidified.

Yes, it should be hidden.

For the sake of that child’s future.

“Feng Wei. Yes, are you back at the lab? Sorry for scolding you earlier.”

Professor Adam immediately placed a call.

To the assistant who should have just returned to the lab.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep