The autumn breeze rustled through the streets of Kyoto as Haruto and Aiko walked side by side. The meeting with Mina Hoshino was set at a ramen shop near Kyoto Station, a bustling corner of the city known for its rich food culture. Haruto glanced nervously at Aiko, who was scrolling through her phone, a look of focused determination on her face.
"You don't think she'll say no, do you?" Haruto asked, adjusting the strap of his satchel.
Aiko didn't look up. "She's unpredictable, but she's also ambitious. If you can show her the potential, she'll come on board."
Haruto sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Mina had always been a wildcard—brilliant but fiercely independent. Back in university, she was the type to challenge professors, often outshining them with her unconventional solutions.
As they entered the ramen shop, the aroma of broth and spices enveloped them. The shop was crowded, with patrons slurping noodles and chatting animatedly. Haruto spotted Mina in the far corner, her vibrant green streak standing out against her jet-black hair. She wore a leather jacket, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke to the server.
"Mina," Haruto called out, his voice a mix of relief and nervousness.
She turned, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Haruto! Long time no see!"
As they approached her table, Mina's sharp eyes flicked to Aiko, assessing her quickly. "And you must be Aiko Tanaka. Heard a lot about you."
"All good things, I hope," Aiko replied with a polite nod.
Once they were seated, Haruto wasted no time. He pulled out the resonance crystal, carefully placing it on the table. It caught the warm light of the shop, its iridescent surface shimmering faintly.
"What's this?" Mina asked, leaning in with curiosity.
"This is the future," Haruto said, his voice steady despite his nerves. "It's a resonance crystal. It can generate clean energy through vibration and resonance. We've made significant progress, but I need your expertise to take it further."
Mina picked up the crystal, turning it over in her hands. "Huh. Interesting. But does it work?"
Haruto nodded. "It's not perfect yet, but we've had some promising results. With your help, I think we can stabilize it and scale up production."
Mina was silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the crystal. Then, she placed it back on the table and leaned back in her chair.
"Haruto, you've always been a dreamer," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "But this… this is something else."
"So, you'll help us?" Haruto asked, his heart pounding.
Mina grinned. "Of course. Who wouldn't want to be part of something that could change the world?"
Relief washed over Haruto, and he exchanged a brief, triumphant glance with Aiko.
"Well, then," Aiko said, her tone businesslike. "Welcome to the team. Let's get to work."
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