The lunch break ended, and the hum of student chatter settled as the class resumed.
The routine monotony was broken by the shrill sound of the intercom crackling to life.
"This is the principal speaking. All students are to gather in the auditorium immediately. This is a very important announcement, and attendance is mandatory."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the classroom.
Riku's expression subtly changed—a faint glimmer of interest flickered in his otherwise cold eyes. But just as quickly as it appeared, he suppressed it, his face returning to its usual stoic, indifferent state.
Don't get too excited, he thought. This is a big opportunity, but no one can know I care. Act like this is just another boring day.
Students began packing their bags, the shuffle of feet and chatter filling the air as they moved into the hallways, converging toward the auditorium.
The auditorium was massive, its grandeur enhanced by a colossal banner of the prestigious company everyone had heard about: Mizuno Scientific Industries.
Rows of chairs filled the expansive space, and students gradually settled, their voices a chaotic blend of excitement and disinterest. On the stage stood a podium, flanked by the school principal and a few distinguished figures.
The principal stepped forward, tapping the microphone to quiet the room. "Settle down, everyone. I know you're eager, but let's maintain decorum."
What followed was a long, meandering speech about the school's achievements, the importance of science, and collaboration with prestigious institutions. Most students tuned out, their eyes glazing over.
Riku, seated inconspicuously in a corner, watched silently, his expression betraying nothing. Get on with it already, he thought, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.
Finally, the principal gestured toward the stage. "And now, let me introduce the chairman of Mizuno Scientific Industries, Sakura Mizuno!"
The room stilled as she appeared.
Sakura Mizuno was unlike anything the students had imagined.
She was young—perhaps only a few years older than the students themselves—with radiant dark green hair cascading over her shoulders. Her tailored suit exuded authority, but her stride carried the confidence of someone who had nothing to prove. Her piercing gaze swept over the audience as she took the podium.
Riku's heart raced. Here we go.
But he kept his expression neutral, blending into the shadows of the auditorium.
Sakura adjusted the microphone, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Hello, you dummies."
The room erupted in a wave of shocked whispers.
"Did she just call us dummies?"
"Who does she think she is?"
Sakura remained unbothered, her voice cutting through the noise. "If your attention is here, you already know my name—Sakura Mizuno. Some call me a genius or a prodigy, but I prefer to think of myself as someone who gets things done. At sixteen, I stabilized the nucleus liberator, arguably the most significant invention of the century."
She paused, letting her words sink in before continuing with a hint of mockery. "And what have you done? Taken your girlfriends to the arcade? Passed your exams by the skin of your teeth?"
Laughter and groans rippled through the audience.
Unfazed, Sakura continued. "Currently, my team and I are working on a revolutionary project: the Quantum Expulsionary Management Dimensional Convergence Accelerator, or QEMDCA. In simple terms, it will make even the most complex scientific endeavors as easy as pie."
The room exploded in murmurs again.
"What is she even talking about?"
"She's crazy."
"Quantum what? I'm just here for lunch!"
Riku watched as Sakura's confidence remained unshaken, her smirk daring the crowd to challenge her.
Then, cutting through the noise, a voice rang out. "Wait a second. I'm interested—well, a little."
All eyes turned toward the speaker.
Riku sat upright, his posture confident, an air of nonchalance masking the glint of interest in his eyes.
Sakura tilted her head, intrigued. "Oh? And who might you be?"
Riku leaned back slightly, his tone casual but clear. "You said something about a QEM… something. Mind explaining?"
Her lips curled into a playful smile. "Quantum Expulsionary Management Dimensional Convergence Accelerator. What's it to you?"
Riku shrugged. "What does it do?"
Sakura stepping closer to the edge of the stag, "Ok fine lets see how much u can Handle". She took a deep breath. "This is an extraordinarily sophisticated and highly refined paradigm of Quantum-Entropic Interface Mechanization, officially designated as the Quantum Expulsionary Management Dimensional Convergence Accelerator (QEMDCA). Despite its deceptively simplistic nomenclature, its underlying operational architecture and procedural complexity delve into the hyper-advanced realms of transdimensional manipulation and temporal-spatial reconfiguration. The QEMDCA facilitates the systematic transmutation and reengineering of fundamental physical laws, enabling unprecedented control over the very fabric of universal sciences, allowing its operator to seamlessly interface with and govern the multidimensional continuum at will." She paused, her gaze sharp. "Did you understand that?"
The audience stared at Sakura, their expressions blank, their minds tangled in the web of her overly complex explanation. Her words, like a storm of advanced terminology, flew over their heads, leaving them dazed and confused.
Whispers and murmurs filled the air, a ripple of frustration spreading through the auditorium.
"What the hell is she even talking about?"
"Is this a science class or a headache competition?"
"Why did that guy even bother asking her? Now we're all lost!"
A few annoyed glances shot toward Riku, some students quietly grumbling, "It's his fault. Why did he have to provoke her?"
Unmoved by the chaos, Riku sat calmly, his expression unchanged as if he hadn't just unleashed a storm of confusion among his peers. His eyes remained fixed on Sakura, his thoughts racing behind an ice-cold exterior.
Riku stayed quiet for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a faint smile, he said, "So basically, you're trying to create an energy source that lets you manipulate elements at will—like mana. But you're missing one key problem. If you try it now, you'll blow up the universe. Every particle would need to be reconstructed simultaneously, and you're not ready for that."
A collective gasp swept through the auditorium. The room fell silent, a mix of awe and confusion spreading among the students.
Sakura's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with newfound interest. "Well, well. It seems we have a genius among us. What's your name?"
"Riku," he replied smoothly.
Sakura leaned forward, her tone teasing. "Work with me, Riku. I think you're my type."
Riku chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "I'd love to, but here's the thing—I'm not exactly qualified. I barely scrape by in class."
"Oh?" Sakura's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "And why is that?"
Riku's gaze met hers, his voice steady. "Because I don't like studying."
The auditorium fell into stunned silence.
Moments ago, the room had been filled with chaos, but now every eye was locked on the two of them, their exchange captivating and surreal.
Sakura's smile returned, this time tinged with amusement. "Interesting. Very interesting."
Riku's thoughts spiraled into a chaotic haze, his mind adrift. The vibrant energy of the crowd buzzed around him, but his focus was elsewhere.
Then it began—that sharp, glitching sound tearing through his thoughts. A mechanical distortion, like static clawing at the edges of his sanity. His vision blurred, and the world around him wavered, the colorful surroundings draining into a cold, monochrome haze.
"…Poll…" The faint, distorted whisper broke through the static, sending a shiver down his spine. The sound wasn't just noise; it was alive, invasive, and laden with an ominous intent.
Riku's breath quickened. He clutched his head, trying to steady himself, but it was futile. Bloodshot eyes scanned the room, seeking something—anything—to anchor him. The faces of the students around him twisted and morphed, their features dissolving into indistinct shapes. Their laughter and whispers melded into a haunting, droning hum.
And then he saw her.
The woman. The one he'd seen before. Her figure flickered in and out of existence like a broken hologram. She stood amidst the crowd, impossibly still, her presence an undeniable anomaly in the sea of motion. Her pale, fading outline exuded an eerie stillness, her lips moving as though whispering his name. But the sound—it wasn't hers. It came layered and warped, like multiple voices trying to speak in unison.
"Poll… Poll…"
The name struck him like a hammer. It resonated deep within, not just as a word, but as a mirror to something buried in his soul. The pain in his temple grew sharper. Memories—or were they visions?—flashed through his mind, jagged and fragmented. Faces he couldn't place. A room bathed in flickering, dim light. Shadows stretched and twisted, wrapping around him.
"No… stop it," he whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible over the cacophony in his mind. Sweat trickled down his face as he gripped the sides of his chair, his hands trembling. The world around him dissolved further, the auditorium unraveling into a chaotic mesh of light and shadow, dragging him deeper into an abyss.
And then—
A sharp intake of breath.
Poll's eyes shot open. His chest heaved, and the darkness of the dream faded, replaced by the soft, amber glow of the room. He was in his bed. Not the auditorium. Not the void.