TBBT 4A Apartment.
"Dr. Adler, this is Penny, our new neighbor."
Leonard could only suppress the ache in his chest as he introduced Penny to Paige.
"Hi~"
Penny waved enthusiastically.
"Hello."
Paige gave her a glance.
"..."
Penny froze.
She had already felt somewhat awkward, and now, under the gaze of the legendary genius girl mathematician, that awkwardness was magnified to the extreme.
Paige's gaze felt strange somehow, giving her an indescribable feeling.
Emmm.
In short, it made her uncomfortable.
"So, how are things over in Nebraska?"
Leonard at least understood a little social etiquette. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, he quickly handed Penny the mail in his hand and smoothly changed the subject.
"Better than North Dakota~"
Penny took the mail and habitually made a joke from back home.
Unfortunately, no one appreciated her humor.
"I guess that joke is only funny in Nebraska..."
Penny said awkwardly.
"With the current data, you can't draw that conclusion."
Sheldon was blunt as usual. "The only thing you can be sure of is that this joke isn't funny here."
Penny looked at Sheldon without speaking.
Sheldon naturally looked back, completely unfazed.
Seeing that Sheldon, unlike a normal person, showed no pressure or apologetic expression, Penny could only helplessly look away. She prepared to admit defeat and leave.
"Nebraska's economy was already pretty bad, and North Dakota's is even worse."
Paige cut in. "Other states mock Nebraska as the countryside, while Nebraska mocks North Dakota as the middle of nowhere. Is that what it means?"
"..."
Penny looked at Paige and didn't want to speak.
Sheldon was right. That joke really wasn't funny here.
Howard had already leaned back strategically and entered spectator mode.
His best buddy Rajesh had stopped lowering his head to count ants as well. He secretly raised his head to