The story we started

That voice was obviously very different from that of her brother. Whether it was the tone or the emotions contained in it, there was almost no similarity that could connect the two. But when she heard this voice, Hikigaya Komachi still subconsciously called out the familiar name.

"elder brother?"

[“Hachiman, you…”]

【Looking at Hikigaya's back, Zaimokuza, who was half-kneeling on the spot, fell silent after hearing the name he said, and his fists slowly clenched.】

[You still haven't gotten over that incident? ]

【Click! 】

[At this moment, there was another loud door opening noise behind him, causing Zaimokuza to turn around in surprise, but Hikigaya was still standing there holding the photo frame, not even moving his eyes.]

【“Assistant Hikigaya!”】

[An old man wearing the same white coat as Hikigaya, with gray hair and a circle of white beard on his chin walked in. He looked at Hikigaya Hachiman's back with an excited expression. He didn't care even though the other party didn't look back after knowing that he came in. His eyes were filled with great ecstasy and excitement, and he was completely in a state of mental excitement.]

[“Professor Martin, are you ready?”]

[Hikigaya held the photo in his hand and asked without turning his head.]

[“Well! Now the energy supply of the Cornerstone Mirror has reached the critical point. Everything is ready. Everyone is waiting for you!”]

[Professor Martin walked quickly behind Hikigaya, waving his hands excitedly and speaking. His face, which was as wrinkled as tree bark, showed the pure enthusiasm and curiosity of a pure researcher who was about to open a brand new door.]

[“Now you, as the chief engineer, just need to enter the connection activation password yourself, and we can start the experiment immediately.”]

[“Really? That’s good.”]

[Hearing this, Hikigaya slowly put down the photo frame in his hand and turned it upside down on the table, speaking in a calm voice.]

[“It’s already this late, aren’t you happy? Hikigaya!”]

[Professor Martin came to his side and looked at his expressionless face with a puzzled expression. He could not find any emotion that could be related to happiness or excitement. He was like a piece of stone that sat and watched the changes of the sun and the moon without any change.]

[“…It’s just a result that must be reached after calculation. Why should I be happy?”]

【Hikigaya turned around and looked at the other person, and said calmly. 】

[“What are you talking about! Do you really understand what this experiment means if it succeeds!?”]

[The old professor looked at Hikigaya in disbelief, stretched out his hands and pressed them on his shoulders, turned around, and shouted at Hikigaya with an extremely excited expression, spitting on the other's glasses.]

[“Once this experiment succeeds, the numbers of this day and this moment will be recorded in history forever. Even the day when Einstein created the mass-energy equation cannot be compared with our achievements - because we have successfully defined the world today!!!”]

[“Our names will be engraved in the history books of science and become monuments that future generations will forever admire! Our discoveries will create a whole new discipline that has never been seen before, and countless people will build skyscrapers that reach heaven based on our discoveries! Before the door to truth, our names will serve as the stone steps that seekers must bow their heads to in respect as they set out on the road! In the scientific community, our names will be equated with Jehovah forever!”]

[“And the door to the new world is now within reach, just waiting for you to pick up the key and open it. How glorious and glorious is this!? Doesn’t this make you happy?”]

【“…Perhaps.”】

[Faced with Professor Martin, who looked almost insane, Hikigaya Hachiman's expression never changed at all, as if the name that was about to be engraved into history was not his own.]

【"you--"】

[Looking at him like this, the old professor was so angry that his face turned red and his chest rose and fell violently, but in the end he could only sigh helplessly.]

[“Ah…are you still thinking about your sister?”]

[Professor Martin's eyes passed through Hikigaya's side and looked at the upside-down photo frame on the table. Knowing the family background of this scientific genius whose talent in scientific research could be compared to that of Albert Einstein II, he could not help but sigh and patted Hikigaya's shoulder vigorously.]

[“Look at it more positively. The dead cannot be resurrected. Besides, so many years have passed. Your sister wouldn’t want you to stay like this.”]

【“…”】

[Faced with the teacher's consolation, Hikigaya fell into silence for the first time, lowering his head without saying a word. ]

【But at an angle that the other person couldn't see, he slowly clenched his palm into a fist, then gently loosened it. 】

【Professor Martin did not notice his abnormality and continued to persuade him earnestly.】

[He really likes this student of his, both in terms of character and ability, so he is willing to give him more guidance and help in interpersonal relationships.]

[“Don’t always act like you’re indifferent to everything except research. Don’t you still have friends who care about you? For example, that great guy with white hair. He came to the academy to look for you several times before, but you asked others to reject him on your behalf.”]

[“Even the things I sent you were always left at the storage place and I had to bring them to you. Although I don’t know if there is any conflict between you, you are both adults now, so it’s time to reconcile, right?”]

[“Regarding this matter with your sister, I have always hoped that you could get over it as soon as possible and think it through. If she knew in heaven what you are about to achieve today, she would definitely be proud of having such an outstanding brother like you!”]

【"……No."】

[Hikigaya Hachiman, who was lowering his head, suddenly spoke softly when Professor Martin said this, his voice was so low that it was almost like a whisper.]

[“She won’t…it’s impossible.”]

[“Hmm? Did you say anything?”]

[“No, Professor… Since the time is up, let’s get down to business.”]

[While the old professor was still confused, Hikigaya had already raised his head and said with a calm expression.]

[There was no trace of abnormality in his expression. He reached out and gently pushed the instructor away, then walked towards the machine in the corner of the room.]

[“If everything is ready, then it’s time to use this thing.”]

[Beep, beep, beep——]

[Hikigaya entered the password on the machine's number pad, and then this scientific research device that looked like a 3D printer sprayed white gas from the base, and then the top cover slowly opened to both sides.]

[When the top cover is fully opened to both sides, the object inside is revealed.]

[It was a golden-colored thing embedded in a device connected to various wires, shaped like a card clip, with patterns similar to bird tail feathers on the four corners, giving it an indescribable sense of luxury.]

[And in the gap that seemed to be deliberately created in this card holder, there were several cards with black background and blue borders stuffed in it. ]

【“…”】

[Hikigaya gently reached out and pinched a corner of the card clip, pulling it out of the device. As the card clip left, the transparent wire lights on the device went out one by one.]

[“Is this the key to open the door to the new world?”]

[Professor Martin came to his side, looked at the card holder in Hikigaya's hand and said curiously that due to the confidentiality process, this was the first time he had seen this legendary "key".]

[“Hmm… This is the key that can open a new world. It is also the wishing machine that can fulfill… our wishes.”]

[Hikigaya stroked the surface of the card holder, and his deep eyes reflected it, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.]

[“Now that everything is ready, let’s go!”]

[The old professor couldn't wait to speak. Although he was already in his sixties or seventies, his expression at this moment was like a child who was about to see the action figure of his dreams.]

【"……professor."】

【But Hikigaya did not respond to him immediately, but asked an irrelevant question out of nowhere.】

[“Before you left this time, did you say hello to your family? Something like, “I’m going out…”?]

【“Hmm? Why are you asking this question?”】

[Professor Martin looked at him strangely, but still spoke.]

[“Every time I go out, I always say hello to my family. If research requires too much time, it is normal for me not to go out for a month or two. They are used to it.”]

[“Have you told them about your work? For example, what experiments you were doing?”]

【“???”】

[The old professor was really surprised this time. He looked at Hikigaya with his back to him in confusion. He felt that there was something wrong with this student today. He was always indifferent to things other than research, but he actually asked about other people's daily lives? ]

[But at the same time, he was also a little happy. This proved that Hikigaya was not an unkind workaholic as outsiders thought and as rumored in the academy, but a normal person with his own emotions. ]

[“Of course not. This is a job that requires a confidentiality agreement. How could I possibly tell them? Even if I told them, they might not understand.”]

[“But my grandson is quite talented. He is much better than his father and has always studied hard. Although he is not as good as you... Sigh, if you were my grandson, I don’t know how happy I would be. I wouldn’t have to worry about inheriting his legacy in the future.”]

[Professor Martin looked at Hikigaya's thin back in a white coat with envy, thinking of his grandson who was still troubled by his studies. Although he was proud of him, after comparing him with Hikigaya, who was about the same age, he understood for the first time what it meant to compare people to death and to compare goods to waste.]

[In this world, for some people, the starting point of their talent is the end point of others’ efforts. ]

[And Hikigaya Hachiman's talent is undoubtedly superior to 99.99% of the people in this world. Even in this school that gathers geniuses from all over the world, there are only a few people who can barely be compared with him. ]

[“…Is that so? If you’ve already told your family, that’s good.”]

[Hikigaya put the card holder into the pocket of his white coat, turned to face Professor Martin, raised his head and spoke softly.]

[For some reason, his eyes seemed even deeper and deeper than usual at this moment, like two dark tunnels without light, which even made Professor Martin, who was looking directly at him, feel inexplicably eerie and terrifying.]

[Hikigaya Hachiman opened his lips and said:]

[“Now that everything is ready, then…”]

[“It’s time for us to get going, Professor.”]

I believe you're evil

Author's message:

PS: It's the third time positive, send...

But fortunately, the symptoms were not as terrible as the second time. I just had a low fever last night. After taking medicine, I feel much better today. At most, I feel a little dizzy.

Chapter position: 162 / Chapter price: 22 / Word count: 4738 / Update time: 2023-06-17 23:17:58

24. The Door of Memory: A Corner of Truth (4.7K)

[After saying this, Hikigaya Hachiman walked around Professor Martin, who was looking somewhat uneasy, and headed out of the laboratory.]

【"etc--"】

【Zaimokuza looked at Hikigaya who was walking by him, not caring whether he was dreaming or not, his eyes gradually widened.】

[Knowing what will happen next, he tried his best to reach out to Hikigaya who was walking out the door, despite his weak body like a seriously ill patient.]

[“Don’t go, Hachiman!”]

【boom--】

[Zaimokuza's eyes widened at the feeling of obstruction in his hand, and he looked at the mirror that his palm was pressing on in disbelief.]

[I don't know when, a thick layer of transparent glass separated me and Hikigaya, blocking all of Zaimokuza's actions. 】

[Now he is like a spectator standing outside the screen, who can only watch the development of things but cannot make any intervention. ]

["What's going on!? Hey! Hachiman!!!"]

[Zaimokuza held the glass with both of his hands, and spoke anxiously as he watched the two people walking toward the door. His hands kept hitting the glass, making a dull sound of collision.]

[But no matter how hard he hammered, the seemingly transparent and thin glass did not budge at all. Each time he hammered, only ripples appeared on the mirror surface, and not even the slightest crack could be created.]

【"hateful!"】

[He clenched his fists and hammered hard on the mirror, watching Hikigaya and the others walk through the long corridor, open a door and walk in.]

[The two iron doors opened to reveal the scene behind. A group of researchers were standing in a circular laboratory that was as wide as a football field. Dozens of tables were spread out in a circle around a center. Each table had a computer and researchers standing in front of it typing on the keyboard. Countless characters were reflected on their glasses like a torrent.]

[In the center of this research room, there stands a huge, towering, transparent glass structure that is as long and wide as three stories high.]

[“What on earth is this…”]

【Zaimokuza stared at the huge piece of glass, and for the first time he felt at a loss.】

【Since his body in reality seemed to have problems, this dream composed of his own memories has gradually deviated from his imagination. Many scenes that he had never seen before in his memories came one after another, pushing Zaimokuza into an unknown abyss.】

[If Zaimokuza's original dream was likened to a play that was read according to a script, then now it was as if another person had replaced the original script and arranged it with their own script.]

【Zaimokuza has been completely distracted by this series of events, and can only follow the deviated script step by step, like a puppet controlled by strings, heading towards an unknown destination.】

[At the same time, he couldn't help but continue reading, because Zaimokuza was eager to know——what happened in the first place? ]

[After the accident, Zaimokuza and Yukinoshita did ask the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for help. They sent countless letters, not to mention phone calls, but all of them fell on deaf ears.]

[Not only did MIT pretend to be dead every time they asked about it, but its attitude was also very strange.]

[Even though the experiment caused the death of so many senior researchers and professors in the school, it did not cause any waves. Not to mention the news reports, even everyone in the school was ordered to keep silent and was not allowed to mention it even once. It was as if the tragedy had never happened and no one died. The world seemed to remain unchanged.]