The wristwatch showed exactly 2:00 PM—lunchtime. After walking through a couple of empty hallways, I entered the Uji Campus cafeteria. The spacious room was nearly deserted: it was Saturday, after all. Only three people were there—excluding myself. Still, the university remained open on weekends, so the buffet was operating.
I took the simplest lunch—rice with a side dish and a cup of green tea—and headed to a table by the window.
"Dr. Katsuragi. He's taken an interest in me. One day, he'll publish the Super Solenoid Theory—S²—which the scientific community, by all accounts, will meet with skepticism. What do I know about him? A specialist in energy and theoretical physics. A complicated figure. Dangerous. Connected to SEELE and the UN. But potentially useful. We have a meeting tomorrow; I'll decide how to proceed then. For now, I've got plenty on my plate without him."
After eating, I decided to head home—returning to the lab seemed pointless. I didn't live in the dorms for two reasons: first, I had a family estate in Kyoto—my great-grandfather was a samurai, practically a feudal lord. Second, I preferred solitude. Especially at my age—roommates were unnecessary. Besides, the house was just a kilometer from campus, near the Kyoto Gyoen National Garden.
I boarded the train and drifted into thought.
"Yui Ikari has also taken an interest in me. But likely due to my work, not under SEELE's orders. They know my nature—of course they sent Katsuragi first. Sure, I'm interested in women, but... I'm eleven. And she's twenty. I've never shown her any particular attention. At least, that's what they think. Let them."
At one of the stops, I switched trains, still lost in thought.
"I hope SEELE's agents aren't tailing me. Then again... they already know nearly everything about me that's on the surface."
Outside the window, houses, streets, and people flashed by. Each lived in their own little world, like hermits in shells. Yet even so, we inevitably form connections. Sometimes strong ones. Everyone has their burdens.
"But mine isn't heavy... it's insane."
The train hissed to a stop—I had arrived. Walking through the park, I felt the tension begin to ease. Thanks to Professor Fuyutsuki, I'd have a quiet evening. Almost. One more task remained.
The weather was pleasant—around eighteen degrees, warm for Kyoto this time of year. I was lucky: my clothes had stayed at Katsura's campus.
I stood before my house—an old Japanese home, about 90 square meters. A kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, a hall that looked like a dojo, a small study, and a courtyard with an acacia tree. I had to make a few changes: tatami mats weren't my thing, and the low table had to go. Otherwise, everything was just as it had been.
Taking off my shoes, I headed to the study. It used to hold only a katana stand—now, it had a computer too. Built from scrap and secondhand parts, it ran a Pentium processor and a custom OS I had modified from Linux. Well, not quite Linux anymore... more of a homemade AI I called Grail. Not GPT, of course, and nowhere near Magi, but it was a start.
I'd already hacked Kyoto University's system and gained access to relevant files: Gendo Rokubungi, Kozo Fuyutsuki, Yui Ikari. Of course, the data couldn't be fully trusted—SEELE was behind them. Their internal network was off-limits—either air-gapped or closed. Logically so.
Remotely, I installed spyware on Yui's PC. One interesting detail: she occasionally connects an external encrypted drive. There's no way to access it online. I'd have to break into her apartment.
Risky. But information is power. It might contain cutting-edge research. And honestly, I'm curious.
For now, I shelved the idea—but I hadn't abandoned it. That's why I was at the PC now. I hacked her monitor: it now streams footage to me, and Grail will start recording when needed. All I had to do was wait.
"Interesting… in the original timeline, Fuyutsuki and Yui didn't meet until 1999. The butterfly effect is inevitable—my presence is changing things."
In the kitchen, I made instant ramen while reviewing exoskeleton schematics. When Evangelion tech emerges, I want to build a mobile version—something like an Iron Man suit. For strength, protection... and the future.
After eating, I went to bed. Tomorrow would be a long day. Fuyutsuki hadn't completely spared me from work.
With that thought, I fell asleep at 11:00 PM.
---
Morning. 9:30.
Alarm. I knew I'd regret it. I'd set it myself.
In the kitchen—an empty fridge.
"Having memories of a past life is nice and all... but with all the mental overload, I forgot the simplest thing—buying food."
Yesterday's ramen was still there. Fine, it would do. Naruto ate ramen—and he became Hokage.
After eating, I turned on the radio:
"Kyoto, sunday, 10:00 AM. Clear skies, temperatures from 10 to 15 degrees. Rain possible in the evening..."
I headed to the Shinkyogoku shopping district. A couple streets in, I found the right store—a nondescript secondhand shop tucked into an alleyway. A bell chimed as I walked in.
"I'll be right there!" came a voice from behind a pile of junk.
A moment later, Kuroda Hajime appeared. About twenty-five, slightly taller than me, and looked like a Japanese gangster from the '90s.
"Oh, it's you, kid. Long time no see. What do you need?"
"Morning, Kuroda. I need five Pentium Pro processors, if you've got them."
"Five? Last time you hauled off ten hard drives. What are you even doing with all that?"
"Didn't haul—bought. As for what I'm doing, that's a trade secret."
"Yeah, yeah, you bought them... practically for free," he grumbled, digging through boxes.
"You talk like a man of little faith."
"Hey, keep it down. Someone might hear… Alright, here are your processors. That'll be 440,000 yen. Now scram."
"351,000," I said calmly, handing over the cash.
"This is robbery!" he shouted, but took the money anyway.
"See you around, Kuroda." I left to the sound of him muttering curses.
Why did he give in so easily? Simple—I'm blackmailing him. He used to study at Kyoto University until he got expelled. No one knows what he did back then. But I do.
That's life. Either he sells me tech dirt cheap, or the police pay him a visit.
And the money? My stipend is 117,000 yen a month. I've saved up.
Back home, I got straight to work. The idea was simple—combine several processors on a single board, distribute tasks, boost performance. COM-type modules were the perfect solution.
And just like that, the day passed. Tomorrow's a big meeting—I need to get to bed early.