Saturday morning - 7:12 a.m.
Countdown to the exam: 45 hours and 48 minutes
Sunlight gently crept into Ryuichi's room through the curtains of his half-closed window, while he was still glued to his pillow. Suddenly, a soft melodic voice rang out through the speaker implanted in his ear:
Aura (in a soft voice with a slight sarcastic tone):
"Morning Activity... You only have 45 hours and 48 minutes left. Would you rather I prepare your casket or your revision schedule?"
Ryuichi opened his eyes sluggishly, muttering:
"Aura... Please, not the first thing I hear in the morning..."
Aura:
"Information doesn't wait for the lazy. This day is crucial. Shall we start with the disastrous substance that caused your brain to collapse yesterday?"
He got out of bed with a long sigh, then looked at his smart glasses on the desk. He slowly put them on as if they were a burden, and then a transparent interface appeared on the lenses, pulsing with information.
Aura:
"Nice. Uploaded past years' sample exams, interactive questions, explanatory clips... Just try not to cry."
Ryuichi:
"Aura..."
Aura:
"Yes?"
Ryuichi:
"...thank you."
Aura (in a hushed voice):
"...stop making my programming feel..."
7:27 a.m. - Countdown to exam: 45 hours and 33 minutes
Ryuichi stood in front of the mirror, hurriedly brushing his still half-asleep hair, then turned to Aura:
Ryuichi:
"Did you say my shift starts at nine?"
Aura:
"Yes, and now you're five minutes late for the standby schedule I set for you. Shall I send a notice to the tardiness office?"
Ryuichi (laughs lightly):
"Send them a meme with a coffin in it, they might sympathize with me."
Aura (sarcastically):
"How about a meme with you running and catching the last glimmer of hope of passing the exam?"
He grabs his bag, puts his smart glasses in his pocket, then opens his shoe closet as Ora's voice continues:
Aura:
"Quick reminder: Don't forget your lecture notebook, phone charger, and smart glasses charger. And please... Don't eat anything from the college cafeteria, I won't waste my data trying to revive you from food poisoning."
Ryuichi (sarcastically):
"Okay, artificial mommy."
Aura (proudly):
"Finally an official acknowledgment that I'm the most important person in your life."
Ryuichi descends the stairs as he hears his mother's voice from the kitchen:
"Ryuichi! Your breakfast is on the table, don't go out hungry!"
Ryuichi:
"Jai Mama!"
7:29 a.m. - Countdown to the exam: 45 hours and 31 minutes
Ryuichi reached the table where his mother had placed a traditional plate with boiled eggs, some bread, olive oil, and a cup of mint tea. Before he could reach out his hand, Aura's voice jumped in his ear:
Aura (in a semi-formal style):
"Before you put anything into your digestive system, please put on your smart glasses."
Ryuichi (sarcastically):
"Are you going to give me experience points for breakfast?"
Aura:
"No, I'll give you an instant analysis of its nutritional value and how it affects your concentration today. Trust me, no time for contagious surprises."
Ryuichi sighed as he took the glasses out of his pocket, put them on, and was presented with a transparent interface full of information, which immediately recognized the ingredients of the dish through the AR lens:
Hard-boiled eggs (2):
180 calories - high in protein, supports concentration
Barley bread (2 slices):
120 calories - slow-absorbing carbohydrate source
Olive oil (1 teaspoon):
45 calories - healthy fat, promotes brain activity
Peppermint tea:
0 calories - mild sedative, does not affect concentration
Ora (in an expert tone fueled by superiority):
"Excellent. A moderate meal that supports mental performance without causing lethargy. Aura's endorsement: Approved."
Ryuichi (laughing as he begins to eat):
"Do I need a password for the next bite?"
Aura:
"No, just don't forget to brush your teeth afterward. I'm allergic to unpleasant odors."
Morning - Countdown to the exam: 45 hours and 8 minutes
Ryuichi walks out of the house and heads to the bus stop, the sun still stretching out behind light clouds. The fresh air gently hits his face, and his smart glasses glow softly over his eyes, displaying the time, temperature, and the number of steps he's taken since he left.
Aura (with a playful voice in his ear):
"Temperature 18.4. Air humidity 61%. Probability of bus delay: 17%. And... No, don't worry, your hair is fine despite the wind."
Ryuichi (laughs softly):
"I'd believe you if it weren't for the sarcasm."
Aura:
"Oh dear, it's not veiled. It's overt and licensed too."
The glasses open an interface in front of him with a map showing the arrival time of the next bus:
"Bus #9 - ETA: 4 minutes and 12 seconds."
Ryuichi (looking at the screen hanging in the station):
"What am I going to do in four minutes?"
Ura:
"Do you want a quick review of the definitions of the 'neurohormonal regulation' chapter? Or maybe a little quiz?"
Ryuichi:
"Let me just breathe like a normal human being for a minute."
Aura:
"Unusual request, but allowed. One minute."
He sat down on the station bench and began watching people pass by, some yawning, others hurrying as if the world was about to explode. His reflection in the glass of the station in his smart glasses made him feel... different. Less fragile. Less lost.
8:01 a.m. - Bus 9
Ryuichi boarded the bus, sat by the window, and pulled out his phone to charge his glasses via a small plug in the side. Aura started whispering to him:
Aura:
"Now that we have access to the college's internal network... Would you like to try out the Smart Recognition feature?"
Ryuichi (anxiously):
"Recognize what?"
Aura (proudly):
"Everyone around you. Instant visual analysis, matching university databases, and showing the profile of every student in sight."
Ryuichi:
"You're kidding..."
Aura:
"Let's test it. Look at the student sitting across from you on the bus."
Ryuichi looked hesitantly, and a small transparent window appeared in front of his eyes near the student's face:
> Name: Kento Arakawa
Division: Software Engineering, Second Year
GPA: 12.1
Activities: Former chess club member - suspended for being overly emotional
Note: Known for his skills in jailbreaking cafeteria systems.
Ryuichi (mumbles):
"That's... terrifying. Amazing."
Aura:
"Just imagine how much intelligence would be wasted if I wasn't in your life."
Ryuichi:
"Honestly? I'm starting to be suspicious of everyone around me."
Aura (with a laugh):
"Oh no, don't start being paranoid now. That's just one level of my abilities."
Ryuichi (sarcastically):
"And when do you start recognizing liars? Or reading minds?"
Aura:
"Be patient... the next version might surprise you."
8:42 AM - Central College Gate
Ryuichi got off the bus, adjusted his goggles slightly, and started walking toward the gate. Students were pouring in from far and wide. Aura is not late:
Aura (energetically):
"Come on, look ahead... I'll take care of the rest."
Ryuichi's eyes landed on a group of students laughing in the shade of a tree in the courtyard. Immediately, small windows began to appear near each of them:
> Name: Hiromi Kanzaki
Division: Political Science, Second Year
Hobbies: Photography, Violin
Social interaction rate: 8.3/10
Aura's note: A common source of mild rumors.
> Name: Jin Sato
Division: Applied Science - 3D Modeling Expert
Reputation: Quiet, antisocial, but a genius
Profile: Summoned by Hiroshi for a secret interview two weeks ago.
Ryuichi (inwardly shuddering):
"Jin? What does he have to do with Hiroshi?"
Aura (calmly):
"I made some matches... Jin is part of a project called VEGA. I couldn't figure out the details."
Ryuichi:
"Great, now the college itself is starting to scare me."
He passed by another group, and a new window appeared:
> Name: Saya Nishimura
Department: Neuroscience
Emotional Status: Associated with a student from the Research Institute
Likelihood of interacting with you: Very low - based on my analysis of your current features.
Ryuichi (angrily):
"Do you... Are you evaluating my attractiveness?"
Aura (sarcastically):
"Just trying to protect you from embarrassment, Mr. Reluctant."
Ryuichi:
"Is there a button to temporarily mute you?"
Aura:
"Ask yourself if you really have the courage to do that."
8:54 a.m. - In front of the entrance to the auditorium (B2-04)
As Ryuichi was about to enter the hall, his mind preoccupied with Aura's sarcastic comments and analysis of everyone around him, he suddenly stopped...
His eyes widened, and his heart hit hard as if a siren had gone off inside him.
Ryuichi (in a whisper):
"...that's impossible..."
She was standing a few meters away, talking to one of the students with a chuckle that was still etched in his memory.
A girl with chestnut hair tied up in a ponytail, she held a notebook in her hand with old posters of a band he and she had idolized in high school.
Aura (hesitantly):
"Your pulse rate suddenly changed... is this...?"
Ryuichi (softly):
"Aya... Saeki."
He remembered her voice in the past, telling him then:
"In the future, we may meet again... and I'll see if you've become the person you promised to be."
Aura (quick analysis):
"Aya Saeki. Incomplete file. No official university records here yet. Strange..."
Confused, Ryuichi took a step back, but unconsciously stomped his feet forward.
Suddenly, she turned to him.
Their eyes met.
Only two seconds, but it was enough to awaken the ashes of many years.
She smiled softly... then raised her eyebrows as if to say: "Don't you miss it?"
Ryuichi (takes a deep breath, then moves toward her):
"...it's been a long time, Aya."
She turns toward him again, and something in her eyes seems to shine, a mixture of surprise and longing.
Aya (with an oblique smile):
"Oh... I didn't expect to see you here, Ryuichi."
Before he could respond, Aura began her work from behind the smart glasses, her voice low and reserved inside his brain:
Aura:
"Preliminary analysis: Aya Saeki. Life expectancy: 21. Body language indicates medium emotional openness and 27% mild nervousness. Eye movement upon seeing you shows genuine surprise. She didn't lie in her initial reaction."
Ryuichi (inwardly):
"Gosh, even personal moments haven't escaped you..."
Aura (sarcastically):
"I'm just trying to protect you from the possibility of another emotional attachment that could lead to a psychological disaster. Remember, we're 46 hours and 33 minutes away from the exam."
Aya (interrupting his mental monologue):
"What are you doing here? I thought you were trying to get into MIT or something."
Ryuichi (with a faint smile):
"I thought many things... but life has re-prioritized in its own way."
Aura:
"Analyze the phrase: Low tone of voice, 38% regret crept in. Slight hint of loss of ambition."
Aya (looking at him calmly):
"So... Are you still writing those weird stories?"
Ryuichi (surprised):
"Do you still remember?"
Aya:
"I haven't forgotten, Ryuichi."
Aya (smiling sweetly):
"If you're not busy... there's a small cafe nearby. They opened it recently, and I've been meaning to check it out today."
Ryuichi (hesitates a bit, then smiles):
"Well, it looks nice..."
Aura (immediately interjects in a clear internal voice):
"Attention: You have an tentative appointment with Suzuni in the same time slot. Potential time conflict. Reprioritization is necessary."
Ryuichi (inwardly):
"Shit... I completely forgot about Suzuni..."
Aura (sarcastically):
"Beauties past and present... Your heart knows no rest."
Ryuichi (sighing lightly, trying to regain his balance):
"Can I tell you later? I have some unfinished business today."
Aya (calmly and understandingly):
"Sure, just don't disappear this time."
Before he could respond, he heard a stern voice behind him:
"?" (loudly):
"Ryuichi Ayajin? You haven't changed... always talking before lectures."
The two turned to find a man in his late forties, with delicate glasses and a neatly trimmed beard. He was Professor Shindo, one of the college's notoriously strict and intelligent professors.
Professor Shindo (coldly):
"Would you like to give me some of your precious time, or shall we start the lecture without you?"
Ryuichi (bows slightly):
"Sorry, I'll be right there, Professor."
Aya (in a whisper):
"Go. I'll wait for your message."
Ryuichi (smiling as he heads down the hall):
"I promise."
Aura (in his mind, sarcastically):
"He doesn't even send alert messages to his mom... and now he wants to send romantic promises?"
Ryuichi:
"Aura, stop... just one minute of peace, please."
The hall was packed.
White light streaming from the ceiling shone over the shiny metal tables. Ryuichi sat near a window, while Prof. Shindo prepared in front of an electronic whiteboard.
Ura (inside the glasses, in a businesslike tone):
"Confirm course connection: Advanced Biochemistry. Uploading previous lectures... building a bioconcept map."
Ryuichi (in a whisper):
"Can you just simplify things for me? I don't want an information explosion."
Aura:
"Don't worry, I'll give you just enough to sound smart... without suddenly sounding like a genius. That's suspicious."
Shindou (in his firm voice):
"Today's lecture is on enzymatic control of metabolic pathways. Open your books or your brains."
As Shindō launches into a complex explanation of kinase enzymes and their feedback regulation, Aura begins to draw a three-dimensional diagram in the corner of Ryuichi's smart glasses, with symbols and animations to make it easier to understand.
Aura:
"This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of glucose into glucose-6-phosphate. If the output increases, it is inhibited. Just like your brain when it gets lazy."
Ryuichi (whispering with a smile):
"I see, I see..."
Shindō (looking at the students):
"Question: What is the difference between covalent and allosteric regulation of enzymes?"
A student in the front row raises his hand and answers almost correctly.
Shindo:
"Good, but imprecise."
Ryuichi (raises his hand, in a calm tone):
"Covalent regulation involves a permanent chemical modification such as phosphorylation, while allosteric regulation relies on the binding of small molecules to regulatory sites to change the shape of the enzyme."
Shindou (looking at him):
"Huh, Ayajin?... you surprised me."
Then, slowly, Shindou turned to the blackboard and wrote down a complicated question:
Shindou:
"This is a bonus question. Whoever answers it will receive 3 points on the exam:
Explain how the accumulation of citrate citrate leads to inhibition of glycolysis, and mention the molecular mechanisms involved."
Ryuichi (inwardly):
"Damn... that's out of the scope of the lectures."
Ura (deadly calm):
"Instant analysis... here's the answer. Ready?"
Ryuichi (raises his hand):
"Citrate acts as an allosteric inhibitor of phosphofructokinase-1, one of the most important enzymes regulating glycolysis. The accumulation of citrate means that the Krebs cycle is filled with energy, which leads to reduced glycolysis to prevent energy surplus."
The hall is silent.
Shindou (raises an eyebrow):
"That's... exactly right."
Aura (with sarcastic pride):
"Now, give me three points too."
Ryuichi (smiling lightly as he whispers):
"You're not being tested, Aura."
Aura:
"But I'm first in your class, admit it."
The room was silent for a few seconds.
Students exchanged glances, some raised their eyebrows in surprise, and others started whispering.
A student from the back row (whispering to her friend):
"Who's that? I didn't know Ryuichi even knew where his hall was!"
Another student (in a hushed, sarcastic voice):
"He must be a cheater... or has artificial intelligence in his brain!"
Aura (in Ryuichi's ear):
"If only they knew... Actually, I'm smarter than all of them."
Ryuichi (whispering inside his mind):
"Just stop, don't puff yourself up."
Shindou (in a serious voice):
"Now, another more complex question... If you understand this, you qualify for half of the exam:
What is the relationship between increased AMP levels and their effect on AMP-activated protein kinase activity, and what are the consequences for cellular metabolism?"
The students fell silent again.
Some started turning the pages of the book, others looked up at the ceiling, as if the answer would come from the sky.
Shindo (placing his hands on the table):
"Well, no one seems to have a clue, so I'll explain on swearing-"
Ryuichi (suddenly raises his hand):
"I... I can explain it."
Aura (enthusiastically):
"The moment of heroes is coming. Don't drop the chalk, please."
Shindou (with growing curiosity):
"Go ahead."
Ryuichi calmly rises to his feet amidst the astonished eyes of the students, steps up to the chalkboard, reaches for the chalk, grabs it, and begins to draw a simple curve to explain the mechanism.
Ryuichi (in a clear voice):
"AMP is an indicator of low cellular energy. When it increases, it activates the AMPK enzyme. This leads to the inhibition of processes that consume ATP such as lipid synthesis, and the activation of processes that produce ATP such as glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation."
He drew lines connecting the pathways, added inhibition and activation signals, and then stamped the diagram.
Ryuichi:
"So, AMPK is the gatekeeper that balances the cell's energy."
The hall applauds.
Even those who don't fully understand what has been said are shocked by the confidence and smooth way of explaining.
Shindo (in a low but clear voice):
"I haven't seen this level of analysis in years... Well done, Nakamura."
Aura (proudly):
"Shall I send my resume to Shindo?"
Ryuichi (coming down from the stage with a slight smile):
"Save it for next time."
Ryuichi's exit from the hall was quiet at first.
The sun is just beginning to set, and the students have dispersed into the crowded hallways, some chattering, others walking in silence, lost in thought.
Aura (suddenly in a low, startled voice):
"Wait... what is this?"
Ryuichi (pausing in place):
"Huh? What is it?"
Aura (in a completely different tone, stern and worried):
"I detected a mana aura... but it's not ordinary, it's... terrifying, suffocating, like a combination of hell and intense light."
Ryuichi (freezes for a moment, then whispers):
"Is it... Takahashi Nakamura?"
Aura (in a near-whisper):
"No. It can't be... this entity is stronger, deeper, this aura is like a monster wrapped in a human aura... but it's a step ahead of Nakamura."
Ryuichi begins to look around, his heart pounding.
There was nothing obvious... none of the familiar faces had the aura that Aura had described.
Then suddenly...
a light tap on his shoulder.
Ryuichi (trembling slightly, turning quickly):
"Who...?!"
The image in front of him froze.
A familiar face... messy silver hair, eyes with that mocking glint in them, and a grin that never promises anything ordinary.
Ryuichi (stunned):
"Ryo... Ryoko?!"
Ryoko (tilts his head with a mischievous smile):
"What are you staring like you've seen a ghost? Shouldn't I be the first to congratulate the chalkboard genius?"
Aura (in a startled whisper):
"That's him? That's the one with the aura...? No... it's more complicated than it looks."
Ryuichi (within himself):
"Ryo...ko...who are you really?"