Divorce

Overall, Link felt pretty good at his new school. Before he knew it, he had finished eleventh grade, and summer vacation had begun. By his reckoning, he had been in this world for more than sixteen years.

That day, Peggy dragged Link around the mall for an entire morning. After returning to Link's house, she sorted through their purchases and casually asked, "Come to think of it, you've been at your new school for over a month now. How does it feel?"

"Not bad. The cafeteria food is quite refined, there are pretty girls, and when I chat with them, it's easier to find suitable topics than it was at my old high school.

"The only problem is that there's a lot of homework, so I have to bring some of it home over the weekend. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"What kind of homework?" As Peggy spoke, she took Link's assignments without waiting for his answer.

"Hmm, advanced chemistry and mathematics. It looks a lot like our school, but I find it hard to believe you actually enjoy this kind of high school life."

"Maybe my previous life made me accustomed to this sort of high school experience." Link answered casually, then asked, "Have you run into anything interesting lately?"

"Hmm, I actually have encountered some very interesting things. Not long ago, I met Sheldon, whom you mentioned before, in Dr. John Sturgis's class. He really is a very interesting person."

"Dr. John Sturgis?"

"Yes. He's a professor at East Texas Institute of Technology. After hearing my presentation on quantum dynamics at high temperatures, he invited me to sit in on his classes. He's a very nice person."

"Well, it seems you've already done quite a bit of research in physics."

"That's right. Actually, I want to go to college earlier. Even in high school, there isn't much I can discuss with my classmates. Most of the time, they ignore me.

"Several universities have already sent me invitations, but my mother is still hesitating. After all, I just turned ten.

"By the way, when I met Sheldon, I heard that he doesn't seem to be studying at Wilmott Academy for Gifted Children anymore. Do you know why?"

"Hmm, actually, his mother's thinking is somewhat similar to your mother's. She isn't comfortable with Sheldon boarding at a school so far from home."

"Fine, parents always treat us like children."

"But you really are only ten, aren't you? It's only natural for parents to worry because of that."

"Maybe you're right, but I don't like that feeling."

"Trust me, once you get a little older, you'll start missing your childhood."

"Oh, do you know, Link? A lot of the time, I feel like you're the same age as my parents. You always like saying the sorts of things old men say."

"...Then let's change the subject. Tomorrow afternoon, one of my classmates is holding a party at his house. A friend from school invited me. Do you want to come?"

"Didn't you say that your schoolmates usually don't hold parties, and even when they do, they're pretty boring?"

"That's true. There's usually too much homework, so most of them don't have the time. And parties at school have very strict rules, so they really aren't as fun as the ones here.

"But it's summer vacation now, so everyone will have time. Besides, when people are usually kept under strict control, they tend to let loose a little."

"So you're planning to go to the party with your girlfriend?"

"No, Iris isn't my girlfriend yet, and I don't plan to officially get a girlfriend. We get along well, though, and we're used to discussing problems together.

"She likes music very much, and her dream is to become an outstanding conductor. I've mentioned you to Iris too. She's also curious about just how smart you are. Maybe you two would get along well..."

"Maybe..." Peggy thought for a moment, then said, "I'm interested in parties too, but tomorrow I'm planning to attend a lecture at the Natural Science Museum."

"What's the lecture about?"

"It's mainly about Carbon Isotope Dating, a method used to determine the age of prehistoric artifacts and fossils," Peggy said.

"I read that doctor's paper on Accelerator Mass Spectrometry before, so I want to learn more about it. Do you want to come with me?"

"Uh... it sounds a little interesting, but..."

"Great. I'll go tell my mom so she can drive both of us there." With that, Peggy stood up from her seat and ran out.

Seeing this, Link also stood and rushed ahead of Peggy. "Wait, Peggy. You know I still have to attend..."

"I know, but I really want you to go to the lecture with me..."

As Link spoke, he suddenly noticed that something was off about Peggy's expression. A thought struck him, and he asked, "Peggy, is something bothering you?"

"It's nothing." Peggy shook her head.

"You can tell me." As Link spoke, he pulled Peggy back to sit on the edge of the bed. "We're friends, aren't we?"

After a long while, Peggy finally said, "I think my parents are going to get divorced."

"Why do you think that?"

"They're always arguing."

"About what?"

"Mostly because of me. Lately, I feel like the whole world has changed. Dad and Mom are always arguing, and you went off to school far away..."

"All right, Peggy. I'll call Iris and tell her there are some things I need to handle at home. Then tomorrow, we'll go to the Natural Science Museum together."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"That's great. Then it's settled."

"It's a promise."

After Peggy left, Link could not help sighing. He remembered that in Young Sheldon, Peggy's parents did seem to divorce in the end, and it dealt Peggy a heavy blow. Her personality changed drastically because of it.

When it came to parents divorcing, children around the ages of eight to fourteen suffered the greatest harm.

If children were younger, they did not have a clear understanding of it. If they were older, their minds were more mature, and they could accept it more easily.

No matter how high Peggy's IQ was, she was still only a ten-year-old girl. As Link remembered, after her parents divorced, Peggy began doubting herself and turned into a girl who liked causing trouble.

If things continued developing that way, she might even fall completely into ruin. Of course, Link had not seen any later plot involving Peggy in the television series in his previous life.

When Link had first been reborn into this world and gotten to know Peggy, he had indeed had selfish motives and treated her as a useful tool.

But he was not a cold-blooded person. After nearly two years together, he had come to see Peggy as a little sister.

Link knew he could not stop Peggy's parents from divorcing, but he thought he might be able to find a way to lessen the impact it would have on her.