Probing Failure

She grew more and more excited as she spoke, like a mad scientist who had uncovered a world-shattering secret.

"So, through rigorous, scientific, and logical deduction, I've arrived at one and only one conclusion!"

She stopped walking, slammed both hands down on Kazehara Tetsu's desk with a sharp smack, leaned forward, and fixed her eyes on him.

"You, Kazehara Tetsu, must have mastered some kind of black tech in your dreams that lets you download knowledge data directly into your brain! Right?!"

"Learning just by sleeping saves time and guarantees efficiency! This is the ultimate form of Human Evolution! So, Kazehara Tetsu..."

"...Please, teach me this method! I'm begging you!"

With that, she swiftly bent over and gave him a perfect ninety-degree bow.

The entire classroom fell into Deathly Silence.

The few remaining students stared at Morishita Ai, dumbfounded, as if she were an idiot putting on a farce.

Kazehara Tetsu looked at the back of her head, crowned with Deep Blue hair, still bowed low, and for the first time, felt his own Brain Circuit stutter just a little.

He had never expected things to unfold in such an absurdly over-the-top way.

What material was this woman's brain made of?

He was silent for a long time.

Morishita Ai was equally persistent, holding her bow motionless, as if she wouldn't get up until he agreed.

Finally, Kazehara Tetsu spoke.

"Morishita Ai."

"Yes!" Hearing her name, Morishita Ai snapped upright and stood at attention like a schoolkid waiting for a Teacher to scold her.

Kazehara Tetsu picked up the textbook from his desk and stood up.

"If you want to know my 'method,' it's simple."

He walked over to her, looking down into her eyes, which were brimming with "expectation."

"First, go home and copy this book, from the first word to the last, ten times without missing a single character."

"Huh? Copy... copy a book?" Morishita Ai froze.

"This is the first step. If you don't even have this much perseverance, then there's no point talking about the later steps."

Kazehara Tetsu spouted nonsense without changing his expression, his face as serious as if he were imparting some legendary secret technique.

"W-wait a minute! Ten times?!"

The thickness of that book alone would be enough to wreck someone's wrist just copying it once.

"Too much?"

Kazehara Tetsu raised an eyebrow. "It seems your desire to evolve into a 'New Human' is just lip service. If that's the case, forget it. My method is only for those who are qualified and determined."

With that, he ignored Morishita Ai, who had turned to stone, walked right past her, and headed for the classroom door.

"Ah... w-wait! Kazehara Tetsu! I'll do it! I'll copy it, okay!"

Behind him came Morishita Ai's wailing cry.

Kazehara Tetsu walked out of the classroom, automatically filtering out the mournful shriek behind him.

"Kazehara Tetsu! Wait for me..."

Just as he was about to reach the Stairwell, that energetic figure chased after him again.

After a burst of hurried Footsteps, Morishita Ai appeared at his side, walking in step with him.

"I Say, Kazehara Tetsu, about that ritual of copying it ten times, is there any simplified process?"

She leaned in. "Like, projecting the book's content directly into my subconscious? Or sleeping with the book as a pillow and using osmotic pressure principles for knowledge transfer?"

Kazehara Tetsu didn't stop walking. He didn't even turn his head, just glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"You could try writing it in your own blood. They say that liquid containing your personal genetic information, as a medium, resonates more strongly with knowledge. Maybe it'll let you skip a few copies."

"Write it in blood?!"

Morishita Ai's face twisted into a complicated expression. She instinctively looked at her slender fingers. "Th-then how much blood would that take? Wouldn't I get anemic? Does the school's Medical Room cover medical expenses from performing a 'Mysterious Ritual'?"

This woman's mind always easily leaped past the boundaries of an Ordinary Person's logic into some baffling territory.

"That's your problem to figure out." Kazehara Tetsu's tone carried not a hint of joking.

"Alright, alright. The risk assessment for the blood-writing plan is too high. I'll temporarily list it as a backup option."

She quickly abandoned that impractical idea and shifted topics again. "But seriously, Kazehara Tetsu, just give me a little hint of the theoretical framework. I promise I won't leak it!"

She leaned in even closer, lowering her voice as if they were conducting some secret underground deal.

Kazehara Tetsu finally stopped.

They had reached the school's main gate. Ahead was the intersection leading to the Cafeteria and Shopping Mall.

He turned around and faced Morishita Ai directly.

"Morishita Ai."

"Here!" She immediately stood at attention, her eyes brimming with anticipation.

Kazehara Tetsu looked at her and asked, "Do you know what a theory needs, from the moment it's proposed to the moment it's proven?"

"Uh... a massive amount of experimental data? Rigorous theoretical calculations? And peer review?" Morishita Ai answered uncertainly.

"No." Kazehara Tetsu shook his head. "It needs a first 'fool'—someone willing to believe in it and put it into practice."

He reached out and gently patted the top of Morishita Ai's head.

"Whether it's the Scripture Copying Ritual or the method of writing in blood, they're all just gateways to 'possibility.' If you just stand here and probe the framework of the theory with your mouth, you'll never get the answer."

He finished speaking, withdrew his hand, and gave her no chance to ask further questions.

"I have things to do. Excuse me."

With a simple farewell, he turned and merged into the crowd streaming toward the school gate.

Morishita Ai stood alone in the bustling hall, staring blankly in the direction where Kazehara Tetsu had disappeared.

She raised her hand and touched the top of her head where he had patted it, as if a faint trace of warmth still lingered there.

The noise around her seemed to fade away in that moment.

The signature, vibrant smile on her face had completely vanished at some point.

But those big eyes, sparkling with curiosity, still shone brightly.

"The first 'fool,' huh..." She murmured this sentence softly, in a voice only she could hear.

Hmm... probing was completely useless.

Whether it was using pranks to stir his emotions or exaggerated words and actions to test his reactions.

This man named Kazehara Tetsu was like a bottomless black hole, absorbing all her tricks and then bouncing them back unchanged—no, with even greater force.

He never saw her as a peer, a classmate worthy of equal conversation.

He was playing a game with a "little kid."

How infuriating...

This roundabout probing method, disguised as an innocent girl, was completely nullified against him.

She slowly clenched her fist.

Maybe next time, she should try a different approach.

For example... using the most direct straight ball, putting her intentions on the table.