A Name To Remember

I ended up accompanied by Michelle, after she made a purchase of the latest car model under my name, with a special package that came along for the sake of instant delivery. And now, a bonus motorbike is already sitting in the parking lot of the apartment, from what I heard.

One hour later, the class ended.

I was able to perfectly present the material that Kanya made, after the intense stare-off against the lecturer with an intimidating aura. Approaching me while doubting the material as an AI-generated one.

Well, he's right about that, but thanks for my quick response, I could answer those questions he gave.

Not that I'm complaining, but, it feels overwhelming how much power I have so far.

Buying a new car. Having the priciest and most advanced devices. Repairing my living space in an instant. Having assistants to help me earlier and the OHD fitted in my iris to search for answers.

Sure it is convenient, yet unfair at the same time. Feels like I'm cheating, you know?

Sometimes, a glance of modest life is needed to drag us down back to earth, or something.

Here I am, sitting all alone by myself in the college's square. Throwing my gaze to the surrounding after taking the OHD off my iris.

If you ever wonder how it feels, perhaps those with glasses and contact lenses know it better than anyone.

Among the underground facilities, this campus is the one along with the central hospital and military headquarters. Acting like storing chamber for essential facilities if a bad case scenario were to happen above the ground, like earlier this morning.

There are also some underground housing estates, offering better security and response to threats since located near the military branches.

Price? It's on par with the Lunar Housing Project, which surely will make you wonder if it's just a bunch of numbers on documents or leaves falling in the forest.

*PING!*

I was startled when a notification rang. I hurriedly open the message on my E-Gauntlet. A holographic display is projected above it, with a physical touchscreen on the forearm for typing.

.

<Need help!>

<Come to the Lab now!>

.

Ah… it's from her. My old friend.

She rarely messages me first. But when she does, she's usually in a pinch. Good grief.

I quickly left the spot as soon as I read it. Covering the ground with wide strides. Pointing my vision to the view around me.

Out of all the places that I've been to, I think it's safe to say that the campus is one of my favorites.

First, apart from the isolated giant space underground that is enough to contain the whole campus and faculties like a dungeon, the walls and ceiling are covered with matrix panels.

Hexagonal in shape, replicating the feel of the outside, complete with blue sky above and natural ambiance around the campus, both visual and audio alike.

Strangely, even the air feels fresher down here. It's easier to breathe freely.

No, that's not it. I think it's because not everyone can just come pouring down to the campus. This is a closed space, not for the public. The only place where people seem to be unbothered by my status, which is the second reason.

Be it wealth or fame, they only see me at face value, classmates and lecturers alike. And I love it.

Things that I can do, how useful I am, unaffected by the fact that I'm the son of one of the most influential people, on a global scale even. Ending up giving his son the same shoes as his without looking back at me.

Do I despise my situation? Well, I pray that heaven would collapse on his face, and earth would swallow his sorry self along with his proud achievements for dragging me into his useless fortune.

What a bothersome father…

Before long, I arrived at the Lab. Pushing the door open, my forgetful polite self just took off the shoes nonchalantly, before a staff dumped all the confusion in one glance.

What? Are you gonna frowned after reading or listening to this information of mine? Don't blame me, it's a good ethic, you know!

The second room before the end of the hallway, I quickly enter it. This is where she's usually busy doing her things. Opening the door wide, just to be greeted with unnerving stares from the Lab staff.

A sudden complete silence.

"Is Miss Ardhiona here?" I asked politely, hoping to drive off their unfriendly gaze.

"Sasha Ardhiona? She's on the third floor with Professor Taka, discussing some important matters. Did you already have a prior appointment with her? An outsider poking our busy work shouldn't be barging in without any manner in the first place."

Whoa, whoa, chill out dude. He wasn't even putting his attention away from the test tubes while talking to me. Am I that insignificant to these researchers?

"All right, thank you for the information, sir. Have a nice day." I replied with a big sigh for him to overhear.

After that, I quickly take off with no backward glance. I don't want to see his reaction after I said it. Just at the right amount to pay back the annoyance he gave me with that attitude.

Third floor, which means three levels under the current floor. I take the elevator. It's a normal sight to be this crowded during lunchtime, no matter where you are on campus, even in this Lab.

After a 10-second snippet of jazz waiting music, I swiftly leave the elevator while throwing my gaze around. I should've asked which room she is before walking away earlier.

But, what did I expect from a short-tempered person like that? He's not even in his period, I bet that.

"Do you understand, Miss Ardhiona? To withstand the force, the material should've been, at least five times stronger than this. This is not good enough, dear."

The voice of a middle-aged man is caught in my ear. I swiftly follow the trace of it.

"I-I get that, sir. But, with our current condition and capability, this is the best that we can afford to make." A feminine voice, it's Sasha's. Which means, this is the right place.

Sneaking my way through, the room where the voices come from is already before my eyes. Trailing my body carefully to the wall, I don't care how many weird gazes pass by on me.

"Hm? Is someone there?" The man's voice floated at me. Crap, seems like I've been snuffed out, am I?

I sigh heavily, then show up from behind the door frame. Sweeping a glance at the surrounding before lowering my sight.

For a glimpse, it's a room filled with many devices and computer parts scattered around. What caught my attention, is a big tube chamber in the middle, with lots of cables connecting to it. The two are talking, sitting against each other in front of that thing.

I… completely feel out of this place. Scratching nervously with their gaze on me, now what?

"I'm sorry for disturbing your work." I gulped my saliva. Pause. "It's just, that Miss Ardhiona asked me to pay a visit to her. But if there's some still important thing to do, then plea-"

My voice trailed off. Not even allowing me to finish, Sasha winked her eyes furiously. Her short black hair swayed as she did so. Signaling an SOS to me.

I get it. How troublesome.

"Ahem, I mean, I was about to have lunch with my good friend, 'cause it's been a while since the last time I grabbed one with her, and she was the one inviting me first, on top of that." I can see a sigh of relief coming out of her. "But, if you wouldn't mind, you also come with us, professor." I added for the sake of politeness.

Right at that moment, Sasha launches a full-scale death stare at me. I reply with an innocent smile.

"Chill, I got this." I moved my mouth silently.

"Wait, did you just say, lunchtime?"

The professor abruptly came nearer, right to my face, holding both of my shoulders. I nodded confusedly. The more I look at him, the more I realize his eccentric features.

Wavy yet upright brown hair, skinny but have enough force to make me wince from his grasp. Different kinds of rings and jewels cover his boney fingers, with a hint of tattoo revealed just past his coat sleeve.

"It's lunchtime? My apology for keeping you so long with this conversation. I didn't even know you have an appointment, Miss Ardhiona. You may leave now."

Eh? That's it? I thought he was gonna smack me in the face, or chew me out like with the staff earlier. The change in his expression, I never saw something as fast as that. Even the speed of gossip spread on Twatter is nothing compared to this.

"Thank you very much, prof. I really appreciate it. Until next time, then." In a hurry, Sasha swiftly pack her bag and waltzed to my side. "Let's go." She beckoned as she grabbed my arm. Dragging me even.

'Wait a minute, mister."

Suddenly, the professor pull my other arm right before we step out of the room. Hence, a tug of war occurred. I can see how irritated Sasha's face has become. Even so, she let it go.

"Would you like to introduce yourself first, mister? Encounter like this might not come twice." He added after tightly grasping my arm. "I'm Professor Victor-Blaine-Hubert-Irving Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorffwelchevort­-"

"He's Professor Taka for short." Sasha cut abruptly. She looks tired just listening to him. Well, I get why. But where's the word "Taka" come from?

"Daniel Jumantara." I shake his hand warmly. "Miss Ardhiona's long-time acquaintance."

"Wait, I thought my eyes were fooling me, but aren't you the one from defensive forces? I've seen you in media before."

Crap, suddenly pointing it out like that, my breath stuck in my throat upon he brought it up out of nowhere. I have had enough share of people recognizing who I am and impulsively asking me for some personal favors.

In response to him, I chuckled nervously. Surely, this person won't ask anything annoying, right?

"Ah, see! I know I'm not wrong when glancing at you. Then… would you mind paying a visit again, somewhere in the future? I would love an extra hand to help me and Ardhiona with the experiment."

"Huh?" I tilted my head, while he points to the tube chamber or whatever behind him.

"Y-Yeah, prof. Time out, see you later. I need to get that limited edition sandwich now, you hear me?"

As Sasha directed her eyes at me, she dragged my arm out of the room and across the hallway, snarling at the professor. For a glimpse, she looks really irritated, with nerves as if about to pop out.

Into the elevator, up to the ground floor, and out of the Lab we are in an endless motion of strides

"Haa… why are you taking so long, Dani?"

"Why? Cause you weren't in the usual place." I pull my arm from her grasp forcefully, "I got chewed out by, I dunno, one of your peers or staff."

"…Sorry about that. I forgot to tell you the specific room."

"Is that the professor you told me about? He's quite… eccentric…"

"Bet he does! He keeps shoving me with his quantum realm project, time travel, alternate universe, and that sort of thing. I can't focus on my study at this rate, you know?"

"Aside from his antics, is that why you're there?"

"Part of it, yes... You overheard it, didn't you? The material I'm making was originally for the military, but somehow he caught a gist of it…"

Quantum realm… huh…?

I always have this kind of uneasy feeling after initiating the Dimensional Rift. You know that I mentioned before, that I have no idea what happened to those creatures after that, other than removed from existence, from the physical world.

But, is that really the case?

No one told me if they couldn't come back again in the future or if there was a period they stuck to this "Dimensional Rift".

If they were removed, that doesn't explain why those underlings protect their brood mother so hard from my last punch. Carefully covering the whole body.

Why not do the same thing when the other troops bombarding the Kaiju? Why not with Mia relentlessly trying to blow it off? Why is it only with me?

Did I transport them somewhere else before? Did something from the past encounter tell them to be aware? Did I confront the same monster in the past?

Either way, I might have to take on his deal, sooner or later.

"Dani, are you listening?" I came back to my senses as Sasha showed up on my face. "Don't tell me, you're planning to see the professor again?!"

I… didn't say a thing, rather than a nervous chuckle.

And this is the first I've seen her this upset, since last time in high school.